Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Tell us about your 6.5-06

This probably has been discussed, but I tried searching for 6.5-06 and 6.5mm-06 and found nothing.

I like my 6.5x55 rifles a lot. How much of a velocity increase can we reasonably expect from a 6.5-06, or the AI version? My Swedes all have 22-inch barrels, but if I have a 6.5-06 made for long range shooting, I would opt for something longer, like maybe 26 inches.

My 6.5-06 is one of the semi-custom rifles E.R. Shaw puts together, with a threaded and blue-printed Savage action and a Boyd's laminated stock. It has a spiral-fluted 26" #4 barrel, and I get just under 3000 fps with 140's using 56.0 grains of H1000. That's the load I hunt with, but have tried a bunch of others and can provide some velocities with other bullet weights too if you're interested.

So about 300 to 400 more fips than the Swede. It would be easier just to get a 270. I know where there's a nice original transition safety model 70 that would fit the bill nicely. I think they want $1200 for it.

Wouldn't about half the 300 to 400 fps difference be due to higher pressure loads and barrel length?

On their website, Lapua has a 6.5x55 139 grain load for modern firearms that produces 2842 fps for a 139 gr bullet out of a 26.4" barrel.

The 6.5-06 is great at what it is - a specialty long-range round, but apples to apples, based on data I've seen, it gains about 150 or so fps on the 6.5x55 loaded to equal pressures with the same barrel length. I think that 150 or so fps falls in with one of Mule Deer's ballistic laws of 1/4.

That would be about right!

WELL WELL, LOOKIE THERE! !

Even Big Redhead COULD figure that one out !

Good For You B R ( I could not resist)

Jerry

Ramshot data for .270 Win has these lines showing pressures:

Hunter 130 BAR MRX 51.3 2,833 57.0 3,148 64,210 3.210
Hunter 130 SIE SBT 49.3 2,803 57.4 3,185 64,700 3.280
Hunter 130 HDY SST 51.3 2,829 57.0 3,143 63,430 3.230
Hunter 140 BAR TSX 48.6 2,670 54.0 2,967 63,490 3.200

6.5x284 Win shows similar pressure:
Magnum 140 SIE SBT 55.8 2,800 62.0 3,070 64,000 3.060

I would think that 6.5-06 pressures are supposed to be in the .30-06 range. Under 60k psi. I have not seen specs for the A-Square version. Even with lower pressures it might be able to keep up with the .270 because some of those 6.5 bullets are very smooth.

I wonder how the Scirocco 130-gr 6.5 bullet shoots from a 6.5-06. Or, a 140-gr VLD hunting bullet.

Hodgdon lists loads just shy of 64,000 psi for the 6.5-06 (at least one at 63,900 and more than one at 63,800 psi).

I'm getting 3,150 with 130 S2's and 140 VLD's at 3,040 with my 6.5-284.

The 6.5 is a long range caliber and its not for everybody.
If you don't plan on shooting past 500 then best to join the 270 Clone Club, it has more members.

Actually I'd say a bit more than half....the 6.5 X 55 loaded to equal pressures is indeed an impressive round and don't take much of a back seat to the 6.5-06

Yes, "Even Big Redhead" can think. I'm not sure if you complimented me or insulted me.

Big Redhead, I've used and loaded for the 6.5x06 a lot, actually shot the barrel out one. It had a 25" Douglas with a 9 twist. I never was able to get the kind of velocities I see listed here on the fire. With the 140gr bullets 2900 or so was tops and with the 120's 3050 or so was tops. I really like the round, it was very lucky for me. With it I killed my very best(so far) mule deer and before witness I killed a coyote at something over 500yds with it. But, when it came time to re-barrel the 6.5x06 became a 280AI. Never the less, the round is a great one. The 140gr bullets hold their velocity well way down range. It's worth a look.

Just joking man, Remember " I don't get even, I get ahead."

BR,

My 6.5-'06 is a custom Rem M700 with a 23.6" Shilen No. 3 contour, 9" twist barrel, aluminum pillar bedded in a McM. synthetic stock. It has an ADL type blind magazine. I have had a variety of scopes on it, latest is a VX3 2.5-8X.

I make brass from .25-'06 or .270 Win cartridge cases, and my favorite hunting load uses 125 to 140 gr pointed bullets with a case pretty full of Norma MRP powder. I am still shooting a powder lot I bought from a going out of biz gun shop so I won't quote what I use. By current standards it is quite accurate and fast.

This photo shows this rifle with its sister in .280 Rem on a scope testing session on my indoor range (I shoot there, don't own it).

The 6.5-'06 is for rifle loonies, it is much easier to go with a .270 Win...jim

Definitely a loony cartridge. I love mine. Mcmillan Hunters Edge stock, Hart 8 twist #2, PTG bottom metal and bolt shroud. Total weight with Leupold 3.5-10 is a few ounces over 7 pounds. Shoots 140 bergers and 160 Woodleighs really well.

Homer Strickland, when I asked him about barreling a M78 Remington to 6.5-06, suggested that he'd happily do the needed work at a very reasonable cost to screw on a re-worked, unused, take-off barrel in my choice of chamberings. That was how my 6.5-06 became one very ordinary, but accurate 25-06. The barrel roll marks were all askew and the barrel was a fraction of an inch shorter than when it starter, but that rifle would shoot, not a decision I regretted.

Nice whitey!

Dober

(give me a shout when you get a minute)

30338 - Very Nice

BUT you put the BLUE TAPE on the antlers not the barrel

Multiple uses for the blue stuff!