Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Tell me about your 6.5-06

I have a rem 700 LA .473 and a rock #3 8 twist 6.5 barrel on order. Starting to wonder about a 6.5-06. I already have a 260, 6.5 creedmoor, and a 264 mag so I stock a lot of 6.5 bullets. What kind of speeds will the 6.5-06 do with 140's?

Bb

Velocity depends on barrel length, of course, but 2900-3k would be reasonable.

I had 6.5-06, but the neck was cut so wide that case life was poor. I had it rechambered as a 6.5-284, which I think is quite similar from a velocity perspective.

I've built three and loved all of them. One fine cartridge in my estimation and would highly recommend it on a LA. Can't comment on the 140's. I shoot 120's, 125's and 130's. I like the 120's the best but don't use it for anything bigger than deer.

BB-the 6.5/06 is a fun round, I've been around probably 8-10 of them. Barrel lengths from 22" to 26".

This much I've noticed, with standard barrel (22-24) lengths a lot of people want to push 2900 to 3K. I've noticed in all of the tubes that once one goes much beyond 2850 things begin to get a bit weirdo.

Meaning, primers can begin to pop from time to time especially if the bores a bit rough and or accuracy goes to heck in a hand bag. Several of the fellas had accuracy issues so I told them to drop below 2900 and get into the 2850 range and viola they perked.

The 26" tubes would run 3K but still, accuracy suffered and yet got better when they were dropped to 2900 give or take.

IMO if you stay within those speed guidelines or darn close to it and on average it'll give you plenty of accuracy.

For all practical purposes it and a .270 are the same to 500 yds.

Dober

I'm bummed to hear the speed numbers since I can hit 2850 in my 20" barrel 260 with 120s. I guess if you're shooting 140s+ the 06 capacity would rule.

Love my Creedmoor ,that said I'm thinkin a .264 dia. tube with higher speeds and much powder will take out a barrel to soon. Like the .264W mag.!!! 6.5/284 imo seems ok but bigger case cap. takes it's toll. Just get a .270?????....later

I just plod 140s out at 2870 and kill stuff with minimal recoil and tremendous effectiveness. Plus with my 8 twist, 160 woodleighs fly very well. Nice round. I could use it for everything and never worry.

Similar with the 6.5-284. With my Krieger barreled sporter (26"), the accuracy node is at 2,950 fps and Vv N165 seems to be the most consistent powder. This gun shoots teens and twos at a hundred, 4 1/2" at 600. I shoot 140 SST's and VLD's. I can push those to 3,100 with RL-17, but with early pressure signs and the accuracy is 1 1/2" at a hundred. It does pretty well at 3,000 fps with RL-17, but is a one inch gun. I prefer accuracy and am willing to give up some speed. With the turret, I can drop a bullet about where I want to. Accuracy trumps speed, IMHO.

DF

I sure have not had any issues combining speed and accuracy with the 120-130's.....

My 22" 260 runs the 130 NABs at 2900 and half moa. Might not be much gained by going to the 06 case.

Bb

I run 2 of em. One a Target/Tactical the other a hunting weight.

Both have 26" 8 twist tubes. Dober is similar in my funding but my numbers are higher. I found that accuracy is their below 3000 fps. Both of mine have sub .5 MOA at 2980ish with 139 gr bullets. That target/Tac is about .25 moa. The hunting weight is about .333 moa.

Many powders give .5 moa but I found IMR 7828 (thanks to Dober) is simply incredible with both mine.

I'll be using one for Elk and Deer this year. I've about 400 140gr NAB's I think I'll give a try see if I can get a load lined out. I'll be pushing the envelope and I'll run em at or over 3000fps I imagine.

The smith who built mine has screwed together countless 6.5-06 and has em figured out. HIs recommendations are run the 140gr. pills at 2950-3000 fps and that's where the accuracy is. So far he's been right.

What kind of ES are you getting pushing those 130's that fast from the short tube?

The new powders that we now have, do give the smaller cases a boost.

With 140's, I lean toward the greater .284/'06 case capacity. It's hard to beat 140's for their B.C.'s, long range stability and retained K.E.

DF

What powders are you guys running in 260s?

I have two 6.5-06 (from the same gunsmith as Cocadori, Roger Birch in SLC). The first is a sporter with a 26" bbl the second is a tactical with 26" bbl. I've found my accuracy node to be 3050fps using both 140grain Nosler Accubonds on the sporter and 142grain SMKs on the tactical. I push them both with 54.5 grains of H4831SC.

J,

I'm going to try your Accubond loan in my sporter. ;-)

Had a client come here and purchase horses few weeks ago we got to talking about huntin' ( usually goes that way )

He just ordered a 6.5-06 Sporter that mimics the ones we have... funny how people are seeing the light ;-)

I'm running a warm load of h4350 in my 22" 260. ES has been pretty low I clocked 5 in a row a few years back and they ranged from 2889 to 2906 but its hard to say for sure because i doubt my chrony is that accurate. When I tried a lower charge the accuracy went down and the speeds opened up so I just keep running them warm.

Bb

You need a 6.5-06.

That's a 500 yard group with a mild load at 2980fps

Yep. Funny how most times our conversation ends up about hunting or shooting. My visit to see cocadori was expensive! It was about 2 months ago and I am still spending money. I'm fired up about the new rifle. I have been a 7mm and up Guy for a long time but I think maybe the sweedes have had it right for awhile now. Now I am contemplating a stable mate for the 6.5-06. Maybe a 260 instead of the 7mm-08 or go old school 6.5x55

For me, it would be the .260 in a modern SA, the Swede in a Mauser.

DF

stevenantique...

I have your next 6.5 cal already spec'ed out for you... ;-)