Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Who is loading for the 6.5x280AI?

I know, another 6.5 thread...

I'm very interested in a 6.5 x ?. The Creed has no interest for me. Anything it can do, a 6.5x06 can do better. I want to up the game with a sharp shouldered, long necked 6.5 that uses common brass.

I'm looking for die manufacturer info and any ballistics info out there. I DO like Pac-Nor's polygonal rifled barrels, so they will get the nod when the time comes.

Thanks!

Ed

This round was discussed in some articles in the old Precision Shooting magazine--maybe you can track them down.

Thank you, sir. I'll go rooting around the web and see if I can find any of those articles.

Ed

My brother and I both have 6.5-06ai’s. For the next go round I’ll do either a 6.5-280ai so I don’t have to fire form. Or I’ll do a 6.5 Sherman. Only problem with the 280 version is not to many companies make 280ai brass so a guy would still probably be fire forming anyway if he wanted the best brass.

Ballistics as in load data? If that's your question, H-1000 has been golden in mine, around 60-61 grains for 140s and a little less for 143s and 147s. Seems to be made for the cartridge. 3050 with 140s and 2950 with 147s with excellent accuracy out of a 24" barrel.

Just got mine back from Kampfeld's. Will probably go with Redding 280AI body die with bushing. Barrel was Rock Creek throated for 143gr eld and will start with RL26. Saving for the March scope is what is keeping me from doing anything at this point and he delivered a 223AI at the same time which I started with first.

Thank you, sir! That is what I was hoping to get. Whose dies do you use for reloading?

Ed

Pardon my ignorance, but do any of the Redding bushings fit in their body dies or was that a special order to get what you needed?

Thanks!

Ed

It's their Type S bushing die.

Thanks again!

Ed

I use a Redding neck-sizer bushing die for the 280 AI, with the bushings sized for the 6.5.

Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

Ed