Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Finally got the 6.5-06 done

I picked up a barely used Savage 116 30-06 a while back for pretty cheap. Had plans to build it into a 6.5-06 for bench shooting. It was a bottom-bolt release and the magazine is the "new" Axis-style with the mag release as part of the magazine and the cheap plastic stock and plastic trigger guard. Trigger is the Accu-trigger.

Well, I finally got it done and got to the range today.

Build Specs:
Action - Savage 116
Barrel - X-Caliber pre-fit that I got for 45% off for their Trump birthday special. 8-twist, 5R rifling. Six straight flutes. Savage Varmint profile, finished at 24" and threaded 5/8"-24.
Bolt Handle: Glades Armory tactical
Barrel Nut and Recoil Lug: Patriot Valley Arms
Stock: HS Precision PST-129
Base - EGW 20MOA
Rings: SWFA SS-Tac 30mm Low
Scope: SWFA SS 3-15X42
Other mods: New trigger spring from The Gun Shack (trigger pull is right at 1.75# now), converted the magazine to the older style with the release on the bottom metal and the magazine to the all metal type. Stainless steel trigger guard from The Gun Shack. New bottom metal from Numrich, which I painted with Aluminum Krylon 2-in-1.







The PROS - This thing will shoot. I loaded up some basic ammo (50.5 grains of Rx-19 with a Hornady 120 grain A-Max bullet) just to get the scope sighted in. I shot three 3-shot groups to zero the scope and then shot this 5-shot group. This is with just a bipod and rear bag.





They talk about "a group you could cover with a dime." Well???



Another pro is that the stock fits me pretty well. It positions the gun well when using the bipod. It also works with the Bottom Bolt release without any modifications (there is a gap where the top bolt release would be, but it isn't very noticable).
Final pro is that while I really don't like the blade type trigger safeties, the trigger on this one is pretty solid with the new trigger spring.

Cons:
- The primary extraction is not optimal as it is very near the end of the bolt throw. I am going to try a new bolt, but I might have to modify the bolt shroud to improve the primary extraction.
- The throat on the barrel seems pretty short. The book COAL for the 120 A-Max load is listed at 3.250". I had to seat them at 3.205" in order to chamber them. I have the drill bit and tap to make a modified case to use with my Hornady bullet seater tool and bullet comparator, so I will be able to confirm. It may have been the cases I was using that were contributing (PPU 270 brass sized down and trimmed).
- The threaded for the suppressor / muzzle brake are a bit long. Longer than any of my other guns, so if I use my direct thread suppressors on my other guns, I have to clean the threads really well to get it to fully seat on this barrel.
- The bottom bolt release. Whoever at Savage thought this was a good idea needs to be kicked in the nuts, repeatedly.

Overall, the Cons don't outweigh the Pros at this point as long as it keeps shooting this well. We shall see.

Nice, I have one built in a Mauser action. It is a fine caliber.

R#22 or 23 with the 140g Hornady SST has proved to be very, very accurate in mine.

Enjoy the short throat, it will not stay long.

Purchase a die and chase the threads on the end of the barrel, sounds like they are cut for a class 3 fit and you need a class 2 fit.

Keith,
What kind of velocities were you getting with those RL22, 140 Hornady SST loads? Wondering about getting 2900+ with those 140's in my new 6.5-06

Working off of memory, 2900+, groups were single bullet hole opening up, Pac Nor super match with regular leade which is not real long. 140 SST has proved a great bullet on hogs and deer...they flop.

53g of R#22, cci 250 proved to improve accuracy, and bullet liked a .020 jump from the lands, produced groups in the .375 and smaller.

I killed quite a few does with 120g Sierra match kings, 52.4g of R#22 with cci 250, with this load grouping a single bullet hole.

Brass is from Winchester 25/06 brass.

I have had this barrel for quite a while, 2006 I think.

Just replaced my 6.5-06 barrel. RL22 was very good. H1000 was good. RL26 proved best with 140s. In a 24" should get you 2950 - 3025 range. Not that speed matters that much. Those 3 helped me burn that first barrel out. Now went 6.5-284 for something different. Good luck, looks like a shooter

6.5/06 and 6.5/284 are kiss'en cousins on barrel life. I prefer the 6.5/284 on long actions since I am running 700's.

We pushed the 130g accubond to 3150(easy on pressure)in the 6.5/06 with R#26 and fed 215's with 5/8" groups but at 2950, they were shooting a single bullet hole, 26" Pac Nor super match with shortish freebore,.090

Neither of these calibers are easy on throats, but as a hunting round, they are supurb.

The longer case on the 6.5/06 allows the bullet to be stuffed in the case(monitor doughnuts) while the 6.5/284 will usually have a longer freebore to allow for more powder capacity. Both will shoot close to the same powder charge.

R#17 will fire crack the barrel badly in 600 rounds, speed with accuracy is great....choose your poison.

R#22 and 23 are fantastic in the 6.5/06 with 120-140g bullets I have shot.

N 550 eats barrels in these calibers.

Shooting 5 shot groups is ROUGH on barrels in these calibers. Limit your groups to three shots, verify a load with three groups, cooling in between.

My 6.5-06 liked 7828 or H1000. I usually ran 140's at 2950. The old 140 sat is a good bullet that does get overlooked a lot. I started using them in my 264 win years ago after trying several different bullets. It had a good combination of BC and expansion characteristics.

I found the sst to shoot like the BC was a bit higher than hornady lists. I think I used a G1 of about .58 IIRC. I used the same BC I used for the 139 scenar I think but I don't recall the scenar BC.

I was thinking the other day how I missed my 6.5-06. It just fed and functioned so well in a 700. Mine had an 8 twist Rock at 24" in a rem mag sporter IIRC. Next time I want a 22" standard sporter. Maybe I need to look for a good remage barrel in 6.5-06. I think I'm going to start going to remages when I can. Just seems easier than the conventional build route and easier to deal with one if it doesn't turn out.

Bb

Looks like a shooter nice work those Savages are hard to beat!

I just finally got mine up & running; going out w/ 120 GMXs & Hunter & N160, 130 VLDs w/ 7828, and 140 NBTs w/ Hunter & N165 Saturday morning. Any of those three bullets outta stabilize from my 1-in-9” twisted tube & do nicely on whitetails.

I had to use an 03-a3 for mine:











Topped w/ Leupold VX3 3.5-10x 40mm CDS going to South Dakota w/ me. Intend to get bolt body & extractor jeweled.

Love blonds... very cool

Very nice!

Thanks guys. Picked her up from the ‘Smith in April of ‘17 and haven’t ever even gotten a group measured. Really excited to finally see what she’ll do.