I have a limited selection of powders to experiment with (as most people do these days) but have settled on a couple loads that work well in my 24 inch barreled FN 98. Always interested in hearing other's results for this wildcat cartridge. my selection is currently IMR 4350, IMR 4064, H4831sc, RL19 and Rl22.

best results for accuracy are: 50gr 4831sc under Barnes 120gr TTX and 52gr Rl19 under 140gr Nosler Partition. Also 50gr 4064 under 140gr Nosler Partition. Sorry, my old chrono died years ago, so no velocity data.

Every rifle may have its own favourites but my 6.5-06 likes 129 gr Hornadys with H4831 and 140 gr bullets with IMR 7828

For my 6.5-06 Brno ZKK600 with a Douglas 24" barrel I had a very accurate load using 51.0 grs AR2213sc (H4831sc) with Sierra 140gr SPB Gameking bullets and Federal 215M primers in Federal 25-06 cases run through the 6.5 FL die. Chrono velocity averaged 3050 fps.

My 6.5-06 FN98 with a 24" Bartlein barrel likes N560 51gr and 7828sc 54gr with a Sierra 140gr #1740. Shoots equally well with both loads-.2 to.3 @ 100 yds. Still working up a a 129 gr load.

I had some RL-25 left over from load development on my 264WM. The RL-25 increased velocity in the 3 shot group. A much more normal was a decrease as things loosened up. But in the 6.5-06 ,it behaved itself. I got good groups, I even bought a couple of more pounds. I used Hornady SP 140gr bullet . My notes show I used as much as 54grs but that may be excessive. That was the edge on my high pressure slow barrel. 52grs and work up. A 6.5-284 Norma is 2 grains larger capacity, so you can check those velocities and see where you want to go. Book 6.5-06 tends to be slow.

Be VERY!!! wary of all loads that you get off the internet!!!

Hip

quote:

Originally posted by swm:
I have a limited selection of powders to experiment with (as most people do these days) but have settled on a couple loads that work well in my 24 inch barreled FN 98. Always interested in hearing other's results for this wildcat cartridge. my selection is currently IMR 4350, IMR 4064, H4831sc, RL19 and Rl22.

best results for accuracy are: 50gr 4831sc under Barnes 120gr TTX and 52gr Rl19 under 140gr Nosler Partition. Also 50gr 4064 under 140gr Nosler Partition. Sorry, my old chrono died years ago, so no velocity data.

I have one I built a few years ago on a Mauser 98 action. It absolutely loves R22 and R23. I got best results with accuracy and velocity. As I recall with 142 Nosler Accubond LR group size was .48 inches and were running at 3050 fps.

I had decent results with R19 and IMR 4831. I have not tried 7828ssc yet.

here's loads for 6.5 brenneke
https://www.xxl-reloading.com/6.5-x-64-Brenneke

Other than ackley, are there any other manuals with 6.5/06 data? None of mine appear to have it.

Nosler Reloading Guide fifth edition (2002) has fairly extensive data for loading the 6.5-06.

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
Other than ackley, are there any other manuals with 6.5/06 data? None of mine appear to have it.

Sierra Manual has some too

Hornady 10th edition has a section for 6.5-06

Thanks guys. I forgot about my old Nosler 5th manual, also found some data in the Hornady 6th. I got a barrel to install then will finally be a 6.5/06 owner. Been wanting one for some time now.

I had one someyears ago l960 best I recall, hot some deer and antelope, saw no advantage it had to the 270,30-06,280 and it was wildcat, so opened it up to a Ackley and even more, still showed me no advantage so peddled it to a neighbor...Good caliber but thats it another good caliber like most wildcats..