Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5-06

Ready to test this one out on some live targets. Loaded up a batch of 120 NBTs over 55g R19 as that seemed to be the best during development. Going to zero at 200 and mess with the BT a bit this weekend.




Specs:
Pre '82 700 Trued
Sako Extractor
GTR assembly
Stock trigger tuned to 2.25lbs
Stock ADL box with solid follower
Holland .25 comp lug
Hart #4 8tw at 24"
MT bedded in an HS Sporter ADL, coated by Karnis
Leupold DD bases with Med Burris Sig rings
Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 BT w/ plex ret

I'm not finished with it yet, but plan to run it as it sits for this season. Thinking about a spiral flute on the bolt, skeletonized handle, and some coating just for looks.

Have a good one,

loder

I like that! I was actually scheming on a #4-ish contour 6.5-06 or perhaps the Ackley version.

That Dog will hunt... very very nice!

My 8 twist 26" like these to sub MOA

(magical speed is 3000 fps)

IMR 7828 and the 139 Scenar to touch.
H4831 sc and the 140 Bergers to touch runs right at .5 moa
H4831 sc and the 139 Scenar to touch ( this produced a 3" 700 yard group yesterday.)

Thanks Jpro! I started to go AI, but backed out. After getting it done, I would have been just the same as all I've done is neck size since fire forming. I can't really argue with the speeds she's giving, but my accuracy load aint a barn burner. That 55 R19 load will put 4 in the .4s-.5s, but only bumping along at 3130. I took 120NBTs and AMAXes to 3250 with other powders and hit on a few, but the above load is what I'm rocking for now. 140VLDs and 140 NBTs shoot pretty good as well. I was bumping 3100 with 140s, but pockets were going quick, so I had to trottle down a bit. I may end up rocking some 130 ABs next year if they'll shoot. Feel like they should be in the 3100-3150ish range.

May go AI one day if the urge hits.

Have a good one,

loder

Thanks Cocadori, I'll have to try some 4831, prob have 8lbs or so. IIRC all I've pushed 140s with thus far is 22, 25, and 7828.

Awesome rig bro.

4831 is a classic choice for the 6.5-06. Back in the day, I had a number of customers with 6.5-06's and they all used 4831. But then, we sold bulk 4831 for $1.00 a pound in a brown paper bag and that might have had something to do with it's popularity. Been around a long time, and like Unique and 4895 it still works great.

Mine liked R22 with 140s around 2870 fps. Seems a tad warm going over 3000 with mine. A noted gunwriter on here had great success with H1000 and the 140s. I used H1000 with 160 woodleighs for great accuracy in an 8 twist also.

Nice round and one I will use mostly from here on out. I went the lighter route with a #2 Hart and finished at around 7.1 or so scoped.

I like 120 BT's in my 6.5-06. I have had three of them and all liked H4831sc. Hunter and R22 also shot well in them with that bullet.

Were were shooting steel the other day at various distances. I'm not sure why but the sound my 6.5-06 was making with 139's launched at 3000 fps was making a much harder/solid/crisper sound than another rifle/cartridge launching 210 bergers at 2800+.

We both commented that the 6.5 seemed to "hit" harder. Probably has to do with speed I suppose.

Nice rifle!

I sure like the performance of the 120 NBT on whitetail and mulies.

Great rig. I have that scope and think it's great. For our hunting in Louisiana, I thought the duplex was too fine. I sent it back to Swaro for a German #4. I also added an Outdoorsmans turret set up for my best load. Could also get one in MOA.

DF

My 6.5/06 likes 140 AMAX and 56 gr. of IMR 7828.
Benchmark 9 twist barrel

Thanks fellas. I zeroed the mentioned load at 200 yesterday, but didn't have time to play with the BT. I used their calculator to arrange the turret, just haven't checked it yet.

let me know how the turrets work. i have a 6.5-06 coming next week that will wear that same scope.

I had first tried 4831 and R22 but Velocity was very plain...even after switch to R-25 I was still unimpressed with 130's at 3050 fps

This was with a Shilen barrel 1-8"....it might of been slower. The cartridge should be able to Push 140's at 2950 or 3000 fps with 24" pipe.

This did not end offering me anything over my 270 win so I did not end up keeping that barrel....although it did shoot well and shot a Whitetail Buck with it.

If I go through this again Ill probably go the AI route.

The secret is not to obsess over velocity...the critters will be more impressed than you will...jim

Berger 130 gr VLD

Drooling. Got all my parts sitting here, just waiting on the smith.

Can the 130's get to 3200?

That might be tough. My 24" pipe will run 140s to near 3100, but that's too hot in this pipe. Typical pressure signs were mild, but pockets went quickly, so I had to throttle down. 3k is just about right. I was able to get 120s to 3200 to 3250 depending on the powder before signs started to show. I settled on a R19 load that was only running 3130 for this season. For this particular pipe, I feel 3150-3200 with 120s, 3100ish with 130s, and 3000-3050 with 140s is going to be the limits for good case life.