Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5-06 or 6.5-06 AI

I am looking into building my first custom gun. I have a remington 700 BDL in .270 that is going to be my donor action. I am leaning toward the 6.5-06 should I go with the AI or not? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Let me know if you have any more suggestions. Thanks

My 6.5-06 is not AI. The only real advantage I can see to going with an improved version is that with at least some cartridges the AI seems to have slightly better case life. I think in real terms the blown out shoulder will just not add enough to the performance of the cartridge to make the process of fire forming cases and finding dies worthwhile. The unimproved version is a very accurate round and not difficult to reload for. Simply neck up 25-06 brass or neck down 270 brass and you're good to go. I have fed mine a steady diet of 140s and it is an outstanding performer in the field.

If you want to save some time, mine is for sale, all action barrel work done by Hart...stock done by Mcmillan. It comes with RCBS dies.

Ranchhand,

I had Ray Montgomery of Grand Junction, Co. build my 1st 6.5x06. Actually it is a 6.5x64 Brenneke. But the only practical difference is the case neck is .050" longer on the 6.5x64. This means one can simply run .270 brass into a 6.5x06 die and load and shoot.

The advantage to this is the fact that one CANNOT accidentally chamber one is a sloppily chambered .25-06. (The longer neck precludes that...) It may not be an issue to you, but you may not always own said rifle.

I used a 1~9 Shilen barrel on mine. If I had it to do over, I'd specify a 1~8" twist. It won't matter on 120-140 gr bullets, but you ever want to load 140 gr. Barnes X-bullets or 156-160 gr. RNs, you'll be better served by the faster twist. Also, I have a theory that the faster spun bullets kill quicker and are more deadly. (I could be wrong, but it certaily doesn't hurt anything to hedge ones bets. )

Edw

The 6.5-06 AI is finely comming into its own with all these
new powders available for over bore cartriges.
3200fps w/120gr bullets including Barnes ttsx and no high
pressure sighns
If I can find the combo 264 win. mag look out.

I've recently had this debate with myself concerning a Parker Hale Mauser action I picked up recently.

From my point of view, the advantage is improved case life and maybe another 100 fps.

The disadvantages are several; increased cost of dies, potential issues with feeding, and harder to find load data. The middle might not be as big of an issue for your push-feed Remington, but more so in my Mauser.

Good luck on the build; I look forward to hearing what you decide on!

I've been told with 270 the cases are too long so you must trim them. I've used 30-06, 270 and 25-06 cases in my 6.5-06. The easiest for me is the 25-06. The 270 needed trimming. The 30-06 tended to dent in the RCBS trim die.

I've got a 35 Whelen AI. I wouldn't do that again. With the 6.5-06 AI, you might be able to squeeze a little more velocity out of it.

Why's that? I've got a 6.5-06AI and am building a 35 Whelen AI. Curious to hear your Whelen experience.

I have a 6.5-06ai. RL22 & Ramshot Hunter and IMR7828SSC all seem to work well.I use 25-06 brass and open the neck up then fireform.My rifle feaures a 26" tube with 1-9 twist. Shoots 120 & 130grn bullets pretty well.Fun round.....shoots flat, low recoil etc.Not reel sure the ai part is needed...but I enjoy tinkering and it probably adds 75-125 fps.

If you have a competent smith do your barrel work there
will not be a feeding problem in any good long action bolt gun
And the jury is not out on velosity gain,My FN Mauser has
a min.chamber,min.throat and min. freebore it was built to
long range match specs. mothballed it 20yrs ago, I could not
reach the velocity I wanted, Now its out shooting again and
have already picked up 200fps.

3200fps +or- 120gr

3000fps +or- 140gr

Ranchhand02, the 6.5x06 was my only "big" rifle for several years during the 70's so I used it alot and came to know it as a very fine round. In the 90's I finally shot out the barrel, but I didn't re-barrel to the 6.5x06. I came to the conclusion it just didn't offer anything beyond what the .270 could do. But, don't let me rain on your plans, the 6.5x06 is a good one.

Is that a function of the new slower powders?.....If not try some RL22 and expand your horizons! :)Regards, Rick.

Ed, I normally prefer an 8t as you know in 6.5s, but I feel a 284 or '06 case, and of course the 264 WM are fine w/8.5 and even 9t. Running more powder/speed, rpms are higher, and the tad slower twist might ease pressures a bit w/long bearing surface 6.5s and I believe that is why many 264s have a tad slower spin then say a Swede, but just my hunch.

I think a 6.5RM would be a neat round if wanting the '06 performance, but in a short action. The 284 should get it done also.

Had the 6.5 been made in WSM, barrel burner or not, it would scream and recoil not so bad (as say a 300), esp. w/lighter well constructed bullets.

This is an old post about the 6.5-06. I sure need one.

John Barsness has spoke at length about the 35 Whelen Improved being a worthless conversion, at least as far as ANY notable improved ballistics is concerned.

The std. 35 Whelen case is also not a known stretcher and the heaspace on the std. cartridge works just fine.

The 6.5-06 Improved will effectively increase case capacity to 270 Winchester levels, allowing 270 Winchester ballisitcs with 6.5 bullets in like weight bullets.

See "The Rules" in Gun Gack or ask John; he's always a great source on verified information.

Ooops, missed the OP date. Still stands nevertheless!

As a 6.5-06 shooter I can see no practical reason to go to the AI. What fps you gain would only amount to a fraction of an inch flatter trajectory at 300yds. You would also waste many bullets powder & pimers blowing cases out. Also unnecessary extra wear to your barrel. Just leave your rifle as is & enjoy it. My 6.5-06 with it's 24" Bbl will safely drive Barnes 120gr TSX bullets to 3277fps with IMR-4350. No big trick. If you will check Barnes drop tables you will I believe be impressed with it;s trajectory. Me & mine have use this bullet over the years to take many elk cleanly.I have seen no need to use bullets heavier than 120gr. Using the Sierra 6.5 120 gr has put down so many mature muley bucks it would be hard to remember. If you require more fps than this go to the 264mag.

I am building my 3rd 6.5-06 right now, three years in a row.
From last year....

range report 10-15-2017
6.5-06
fire 8 rounds to seal bore coat treatment on new barrel:

129 gr Accubond 3.34" 52 gr IMR-4451
Quickload prediction 24" barrel 66.7 kpsi 3075 fps
chronograph:
3075 fps
3079 fps

I worked with 257 Roberts Ackley in a couple rifles I built. Too much trouble fire forming for no useful gain.
I am building two 280 AI rifles this year, but buying pre formed brass.

If starting from scratch I would go 6.5x280 AI for the slightly longer neck. I have the reamer and body dies already so not too much more expense than standard.

If you wanted to be practical I would screw on a 1 - 8 twist barrel in 270 Win. so I could use the 170 grain bullets. This would not give up too much to either the 6.5s or 7mms and you could still buy ammo at Wally World if you had too.

I think some of that marginal performance enhancement could happen with the new powders.

I'd try RL-26 if it was mine.

DF

The difference with 140s is about 100 fps.