Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5x06 & the 129gr Hornady bullet

For the most part I do agree with you. In my yearly hunts for deer & elk the over whelming amount of game I've taken has been under 200yds.Taking steady accurate ethical shots in the field is considerably more changeling than shooting off a bench. Bullets like the Barnes 120gr TSX , 127gr LRX & the Hornady 129gr bonded are out standing performers with the 6.5-06. The velocities I quoted with my rifle ( 24" bbl ) are what my chronograph shows with excellent brass life. . If more shooters understood the abilities of the 6.5-06 it's popularity would increase . No worry about an abundant supply of inexpensive brass, as opposed to expensive specialty brass like PRC.. Uses a standard readily available action.

With the 6.5 craze that's going on I'd not be surprised if someone came out with a 6.5 Ackley Improved , - I sure wish they would .

Think of the amount of rifles out there that could welcome that cartridge .
If/when my old 25-06 barrel is gone that's the route I'm going .
How well would a Rem. 700 26'' barrel heavy sporter with an 8tw barrel sell ?

I'm with you ol Mike.I've been sending e-mails & writing letters to Manufactures to encourage the production of this ( 6.5-06 ) very over looked & underestimated cartridge. The selection of 6.5 bullets is constantly growing from 85gr varmit ,100gr mono's to the sleek 143gr+ C&C styles. A bullet selection there for every thing from mice to moose, & long range competitive shooting.

Yep. Meant that but didn't state it very clearly.

I'd like factory rifles in it also but don't think you'll see it.
First, to a factory, the ASquare didn't make it with that chambering.
Second, short to medium actions are the thing currently; doesn't fit there.
Third, lot of 6.5s out there currently that ballistically are very close, thus it's redundant.
It's pretty much a cartridge for rifle looneys however much I like it personally.

It is true that oxygen is contained in the powder. But atmospheric pressure , oxygen density of the surrounding air, moisture content & ambient temperature all effect velocity of a given load. The throat length of my particular rifle , my powder lot from at least 10 years ago all contribute to individual rifle performance. There is also the fact that two rifles of the same make & cal can produce different velocities. What is know as a slow barrel or a fast barrel. This is why loading manuals always have starting loads . I'm using a 1/2 grain more powder than the manual shows as max. After six loads my primer pockets are still snug. My load has proven to be perfectly safe for my rifle.

Some of my load velocities for a 6.5-06AI, 24", 1-8 Krieger barrel.

3161fps, 130g Scirocco II, IMR 7828SSC
3012fps, 140 A-MAX, Hodgdon H100V
3075fps, 140g BT, Hodgdon H100V

The 140g bullet loads appear to be below max but were so accurate I quit adding powder (.6" and .5" at 100, respectively). The 130g load is a bit below max but also accurate enough for my needs.

The 6.5 Creedmoor was of some interest to me but couldn't be justified in a bolt gun since my .257 Roberts with +P loads pretty much covers the same ground. The new 6.5 PRC seems to more or less duplicate the 6.5-06AI and my 7mm RM can beat it, so again not a lot of interest on my part. If I add a new upper to my AR10, one or the other might get a look. I bought a Savage .243 with the intent to rebarrel it to a 6.5 but the first .243 load I tried in it convinced me to leave it alone.

Too many cartridges, too little time.