Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Forming 6.5-06 cases, what to start with?

What is better to start with 25'06 or 270 win? The 25'06 looks to be an exact match with regards to base to shoulder at 1.948" and case OAL of 2.494".

I have seen a lot of people recommending the 270 though, but the case OAL is 2.540" which I would assume needs trimmed. Not sure how the 6.5'06 reamer is set up, whether it is longer in that area to accomodate a 270 case though?

The 270 brass is cheaper, but which works best?

Thanks.

I've had way better accuracy running 270 necked down and trimmed to length. Only way I'd run now.

i've often wondered which gives the most uniform results. better to neck up or neck down?

So you run it through the die, squeeze the neck to the correct diameter, trim (a good idea regardless of which case you choose), then load.

No need for a reamer to be set up for a longer neck.

270 headstamp brass is safer than 25-06. If you or anyone else grab one of your 6.5-06 loaded rounds and fire it in a 270 there won't be much of an issue. A 6.5-06 in a 25-06 would be nasty!

25/06, cuzz a .007 up ain't a big deal.

Thanks for all the feedback. Got the tube, just waiting on the 'smith. In theory I could go with a 6.5-284, but the 6.5-06 seems like a winner too, and I have a long action.

I've had better luck with .270 brass, even after several firings, but even after a few hundred rounds can't say the difference is definitive. Bought several hundred rounds of Remington nickle-plated .270 brass a few years ago. It might just have been an exceptional run, but it works great.

I use 25. It's easier for me and I have a 270 and don't want one of the girls to get them mixed up. Problem is, I have a 25-06 coming soon, so that's out the window.

Nosler Reloading Guide #4 page 219

Charles Benke is asked about pressure signs with standard loads in the 6.5_06,

"You're using .270 brass in an '06 chamber. Either use shorter .30-06 brass or .25-06 brass, or better yet, have your gunsmith lengthen the neck portion of your rifles chamber so it will be able to accept the longer neck of the .270 brass"

Can't say much from experience about this myself. Seems all would be equal with the trim length, but I'm sure this guy know a bit more about it than I do. Perhaps it's only true on new brass.

Not sure why trimming the brass is not considered an option, but it does work.

Yep.

And take all your rifles in after reloading any cartridge a few times, once the brass stretches, to lengthen the chamber.

It's SOOOO much easier than trimming brass to the proper length.

When I see "gun writers" publish crap like that, and editors that allow it to make it in to print, I really wonder how they continue to make a living.

FWIW, I use .270 brass for mine and it's been so accurate that I haven't seen a need to try anything else.

off topic but a I've always kicked around getting a 6.5_06 as I've been a huge far of the 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser on a modern action.


Looking at the Hodgdon load site:

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Their listed max velocities equal what I get with my 6.5X55's. Are the listed loads anemic or am I missing something for a change

Thanks,

Ned

My 6.5x55 certainly cannot hang with a 6.5-06 or a 6.5-284 for that matter.

I use 25-06 brass to make my case . Just run in the FL DIES and they are ready to use. I also take a Red Magic Marker and paint the heads on the brass necked up to 6.5 Red so I won't by accident mistake them for my 25-06 loads and chamber and fire in my 25-06.

Tried to intentionally chamber a 6.5-06 with 140 berger into my son's 25-06. Maybe he has a tight chamber, but there was no way it was going in there. That said, it is another reason I run with 270 brass.

I can't answer, mine is the AI version. I've read that people get 2950 with 140 vlds in the standard version if that helps.

My go to load for deer is Rel 22 and the Nosler 120 gr BT. Here is my rifle

Having my smith cut the 6.5x06 chamber/neck to accept 270 brass work for me because I HATE trimming and because I had a 25.06 and knew I'd eventually confuse the two. But there are several ways to skin this cat and they all work. BTW the 6.5x06 is one fine round, you'll love it. IMR7828 will be your friend.