As I await my re-barreled rifle, I was shopping for brass. My question is, would you buy premium brass such as Norma or Lapua in 30-06, or buy garden variety 25-06? Obviously I'd have to work the .30 brass more, but I like starting with really uniform cases. Thoughts?

Roger

Roger,

I'm twittling my thumbs also, waiting on my mauser to get back from the gunsmith with a 6.5-'06 Douglas xx premium barrel. I just ordered some Win. 25-'06 brass from Natchez yesterday, along with 8 lbs. XMR 4350 powder(on sale for $69.99), 120 gr. Nosler bal. tips and 120 gr. Sierra spitzers. My brother had one done on an '03 Springfield action and he said it was easier to just run the 25-'06 brass through a full length 6.5-'06 die to make brass.

Jim

Roger Can you get a measurement on the neck of your gunsmiths reamer. If it is tight you would be better off with 25-06 brass. If the neck is a little larger you may be better off with 30-06 cases so you wouldn't be working the case necks as much. Also if you have a 25-06 rifle as well I would lean towards using 30-06 brass just in case a 6.5-06 round got mixed with your 25-06 ammo.

I use 30-06 brass in my 6.5-06 and I have to turn the necks. I would use 25-06 but as Snowman says, I already have a 25-06 and don't want to possibly mix them up.
Hey, Snowman, do you live in Snow Lake?
- Dan

Normally, I prefer to neck down rather than up, since it is usually more consistent. However, going from .257 I.D. to .264 I.D. is not much of a stretch and should work just fine (in fact, some once-fired .25-06 will be nearly already .264 I.D. if the chamber is a bit loose in the neck area).

An alternative to using .30-06 brass would be .270's. They would have to be trimmed, but '06 brass might also require trimming.

As another poster mentioned, if your chamber neck is tight, you're probably better off with .25-06 brass; if your chamber is a bit loose, .30-06 brass may just "fill the gap" a little better.

Have fun!

I would go with 270 brass and have an extra 0.050 to play with, plus there wouldn't be any "'06" on the head to confuse things. I have a 25-05, a 30-06 and 338-06 and to keep things from getting REAL messed up I use 270 for the 338-06 because I can use the extra neck length, anyway.

By the way, how is the 6.5-06 in relation to a 6.5-284? I have a 6mm-284 that I like real well and have been thinking of going to the 6.5-284 because the brass is available, I like the 284 case, and I have an extra Ruger 220 Swift action I want to do something with, and I like to experiment with new things. I've heard the 6.5-06 is a very good deer/elk rifle.

Keep it real.

Roger,

Once upon a time I made 400 6.5-'06 cases using new W-W .25-'06 brass. In that period of reloading I was using Winchester brass for as many things as possible just to keep things simpler.

Another shooter has reported here that he remarks the heads of the .25-'06 to change the .25 to a 6.5 since he shoots .25-'06 as well. I didn't do that because I do not.

I loaded those cases with 50.0 gr of IMR 4831 and the 120 gr Nosler, and used most of them at a rifle class at Gunsite. The accuracy was great from my 9" twist Shilen barrel. I don't think I ever chronographed that load, but I expect it is stepping right along.

I also have about 240 Nosler 125 gr Partition bullets, make offer!...jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

MAKATAK the 6.5-284 has a slight velocity advantage over the standard 6.5-06, but is slightly behind the 6.5-06 Improved. Balistically speaking, they are all pretty much the same, any one of the 3 will suit any 6.5mm nut. I personally shoot a 6.5-284, if it has any advantage it's a short more efficient powder column.

Thanks for all the comments! I love this place! I went with the 6.5x06 because I've got a Sako Long Action, and figured I might as well use the length. I was very torn with the 6.5x384. Dan, I actually thought the 6.5x06 had a slight advantage over the 284, but I have no real world experience, and figured they were pretty close.

Roger

Thanks DanD. I haven't messed around with the 6.5 size at all altho' I do have a 6.5 x55 Swede M96 that looks very good for a military weapon. Just haven't tried it out yet to see what the chrono'd velo will be. It's mostly just a wall-hanger.

I'm inclined to go with the 6.5-284 because I don't have to mess with cases. I've been talking to Sharp Shooters about 4 other barrels for a Savage 11 and 111 including one in 6.5-284. He is getting ready to do a 22-243 AI and a 6mm-284 for me for sure, both 1-8 twist for heavy bullets and long range. If I can't get a Ruger MKII SS 223 to shoot, it goes and Fred will have a 223 barrel to do.