The 6.5-06 is possibly what the 270 should have been. But in most 6.5s the case capacity of the x54, x55 or Creedmoor is more than enough for a sweet shooting little cartridge. The likes of the 264 Win Mag was just a lot of noise / powder etc for not a lot more. The 6.5 PRC is the same. When we want more out of cartridge or calibre it’s usually a step up in killing power that is what we really want and a bigger diameter bullet that is a bit heavier will always have the edge. You want a step up from the 6.5x55 / Creedmoor you want the 7x57, 7x64 or 280, or indeed the 30-06.

While I love my 6.5X54 M/S, I am equally enamoured by my 7X57. Both fantastic calibres.

I really enjoyed building and shooting my 6.5-06. I certainly like building and owning cartridges on the 2.5" case. I fail to see how the 6.5X284, while a fine cartridge is a superior platform to the 6.5-06. As far as the 6.5'S go the 6.5-06 is as good or Superior to most of them, but that's what I wanted to build. I know I don't need one, just ask a lot of the experts here, cause I have a 270 and 280 also. So What! Oh lets see how this one goes, I also have a 6mm-06 with a 28" Pac Nor stainless match barrel. Why? Cause I wanted one. I don't shoot game at long range, just varmints, and both of these "06" rounds are prefect for that.

Jerry

craig48 nailed it. When the 6.5/06 first saw the light of day not one in 100 hunters/shooters had any faith in such a foreign sounding caliber as 6.5mm. I had a 264 Win. Mag and I bet not one in 50 knew that was 6.5mm. Today you'd think Americans discovered the caliber.

There are factory Germany cartridges in both rimmed and standard version of a 6.5x06.

The 6.5x65 and the 6.5x65R were introduced by RWS in the 1980's (1986, I think). The 6.5x65R is moderately popular in single shots and rarely combination guns in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

The 6.5x65 rimless is dead as a Dodo bird.

RWS still manufactures one load for the rimmed version.

Like a lot of cartridges it kind of needs a champion.

A 120 Grain Sierra out of my 6.5-06 @3150 fps is about as good as it gets. Much experimentation, which I really enjoy only results in superior performance for any cartridge. Oh, did I say "they are all good". I shoot from 22 Hornet to 375 H&H, and I don't put any cartridge down.

Jerry

Jerry, what is the barrel length on your 6.5-06?
3150 with a 120 sounds a little slow, unless it's an accuracy load?

quote:

Originally posted by theback40:
Jerry, what is the barrel length on your 6.5-06?
3150 with a 120 sounds a little slow, unless it's an accuracy load?

it's a 24" Pac Nor Barrel. I'm running 54 grains of IMR4831 and that's ABOUT ALL I can get with that powder. Funny my 6-06 likes the same load with an 87 grain bullet. Must be the 06 case.

Jerry

I am somewhat amused at how little some people reaserch a subject. No the 6.5-06 has not made it to commercial status in the US.Even the couple US 6.5 that made it never flourished. ^.5 Rem and 264 Win. 260 is a little more popular and the 6.5 Creedmore enjoys some popularity.The 6.5 PRC isnt setting many sales records. There is also the 6.5-284 which is a ballistic twin of the 6.5-06 but in a shorter case may be the most popular of the US 6.5s. In Europe there is the 6.5x54 6.5x55 6.5x57 in the smaller cases .There is the 6.5x64 Brenneke which is pretty much a 6.5-06. In the 1990s another 6.5 hit the market. The 6.5x65 RWS which is kind of an improved 6.5x64.Most of the European cartridges are also avail in eimmed versions for combination guns. There is also the 6.5x68 which is everything the 264 Win is. I think the 6.5s have done quite well world wide

I think the 6.5-06 did make it to commercial status. Never did flourish however.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5-06_A-Square

quote:

Originally posted by TexasJohn:
I think the 6.5-06 did make it to commercial status. Never did flourish however.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5-06_A-Square

Yup. I remember reading of it in Art's manuals. I sure like mine. - dan

Just another caliber, not magic because it killed 1300 elephants with brain shots by Bell, the size hole in the brain is deadly with about any calber and don't expect a DRT with any caliber..that claim comes from a lack of experience...I love my 6.5x54, MS, not the caliber but the gun itself but it requires accurate shooting like any other caliber..My complaint with all wildcats is the are duplications of factory rounds and improve nothing in the real world...

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
I don't know. Who can know? But I will guess.

If you already had a 30-06 (a lot of people do)and you could get good bullets to match the weight of what you would shoot in a 6.5-06 why would you buy a 6.5-06? And especially where there were already good rounds like the 6.5 x 55 already available if you just had to have a 6.5.

Or just buy a nice pre-64 Model 70 back then in 264 Win Mag.

look up 6.5 brenneke or 6.5x64

I love my FN Mauser with 24 in 6.5-06 Douglas barrel. I have always kept a couple 270s and 30-06s around and I know I always will, but my 6.5-06 loves 120 gr TTSX and 140 gr Nosler Partitions and it works wonderfully on the local whitetails. When I return to Africa, I will carry my 30-06.

I have made a few 6.5/06 rifles and all have shot well. The 256 Newton (slightly shorter, slightly less capacity) is a favorite of mine. If Charles Newton could have worked with Winchester, they might have adopted his cartridges for the Model 54. We might never have seen the 270 Winchester. Didn't happen though, and the Newton cartridges died along with his rifle company. Some things are just doomed to fail. I have a Model 54 in 256 Newton and a Kimber Montana in the same chambering. The 54 is a fine plains rifle and the Kimber a great mountain rifle. The cartridge is near perfect in either environment. Regards, Bill.

because mericans don't like metric caliber designations, (7mm Express Rem) and .264-06 just doesn't roll off the tongue. And winchester didn't want to compete with the .264. In the end it is all marketing.

John

I have the components to build a long range rig in 6.5/06 on a Savage 110. 26" bbl, 8 twist, accu fit stock. Just need to get the time to do it. Already have a 260 Rem just like it. Should be interesting comparing the two.

If I were going to do a 6.5-06 today it would be the AI version. If I am already doing a wildcat why not maximize my case capacity and performance.

I agree with you, but then, I have always been fond of the AI conversions; specifically the 257 Roberts + the 7X57.

Years ago, I had a 1000yard benchrest rifle in 6.5 Gibbs (6.5-06 improved). It was made to use .270 Winchester brass, so a tiny bit longer. I once put 10 shots into 6.855” at Williamsport, PA with it. Another shooter there had one that he used for shooting bowling balls at 1400 yards. My rifle had a 34” barrel. Maybe a bit impractical for a hunting rifle.

AI versions have their perks, but so do standard chamberings. The cost of reloading components (mostly) has had me steering away from the need to fire form these days. That said, there are still a few AI chamberings I wouldn't mind adding to my battery. One being the 8mm/06 AI.

quote:

Originally posted by Norman Conquest:
I agree with you, but then, I have always been fond of the AI conversions; specifically the 257 Roberts + the 7X57.

I have the same fondness for both of those cartridges. I did have my 7x57 engraved 265 Rigby Improved.

I have a 338:06 AI tut is a joy to shoot as well.

My next one will either be the 250 Savage AI or the 6.5/06 AI.

quote:

Originally posted by yumastepside:
My thought on why the 6.5-06 never made it ( I have one in RCBS improved and love it ) is the American dislike of all things Metric. With all the 6.5 cartridges for the AR platform, a 6.8 ( .270 ) was made......just my opinion.......I loved my old 25-06 M17, but could only go up to 120 gr bullets, with the 6.5 I can go up to 160's. Anything above that weight I go to my 8-06...easy

Roger

Muricans don't like metric. That's why it's the 264 Win Mag

I think the 6.6-06 never really caught on (besides the aforementioned 270) is the 6.5’s inefficiency when searching for speed. The 6.5x55 pushes a 140 grain bullet at almost 2,730 fps with 43 grains of imr4350. The 6.5-06 can get 2,869 with 46.5 grains of imr4350. Stepping up to the 264 win mag gets you 2,980 fps with 57 grains of imr4350.

Basically from the 6.5x55 to the win mag, you get 250 fps more, but you are using 14 grains more powder (~25% more powder for less than 10% increase in speed.

That’s not saying I would pass on a pre 64 264 win mag should I stumble across one. And I seriously thought about building the 6.5-06 when I built my 6.5x55. (Edit: after reading the comments, Norman Conquest’s about the AI, I remember the 6.6-06AI was my number 2 choice) The 6.5 is extremely efficient cutting through the air and wind, but that trade off seems to be than it takes a butt load more powder to move it any quicker.

Question for the thinkers, would a radical case make a difference, like the RUM case (404 Jeffrey necked down to 6.5)? What about one of the Winchester super short magnums?

How many years did the 22-250 exist as a wildcat until Remington commercialized in 1965? 45 years? 50 years?
who's to say the 6.5-06 won't be commercialized as the cartridge game goes on and on.

We don't need another dang cartridge! My shop has to keep nearly 75 boxes of test fire ammo available that takes up an entire workbench area. I'd like to see a return to "old, good and mild". Easy on the shoulder and ears. Accurate and deadly. 99% of hunters only need what was available in 1940 to accomplish their task. I'd love to see a revival of the Savage shorties, the 22-250, 250 and 300. The Mauser family of 55-57mm length cases. If someone needs more, then the '06 family is plenty.

In my earlier years of rifle ownership and building, I thought I'd like to have all the popular calibers built on the 30-06 case. I went thru them all, the first to go "down the road" was the 338-06. The 6.5-06 though really impressed me, so I kept it and became a solid fan. Love the cartridge, maybe more of us should give it a try.

One problem though, I built mine on a 1903 A3 action, and today, there ae not enough "cheap" donor actions to build upon. The cost of a custom rifle is just about prohibitive. Still if you have the BUCKS AND DESIRE FOR A wILDCAT WHICH i DID. bUILD ONE.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Everett:
I think the 6.6-06 never really caught on (besides the aforementioned 270) is the 6.5’s inefficiency when searching for speed. The 6.5x55 pushes a 140 grain bullet at almost 2,730 fps with 43 grains of imr4350. The 6.5-06 can get 2,869 with 46.5 grains of imr4350. Stepping up to the 264 win mag gets you 2,980 fps with 57 grains of imr4350.



Basically from the 6.5x55 to the win mag, you get 250 fps more, but you are using 14 grains more powder (~25% more powder for less than 10% increase in speed.

That’s not saying I would pass on a pre 64 264 win mag should I stumble across one. And I seriously thought about building the 6.5-06 when I built my 6.5x55. (Edit: after reading the comments, Norman Conquest’s about the AI, I remember the 6.6-06AI was my number 2 choice) The 6.5 is extremely efficient cutting through the air and wind, but that trade off seems to be than it takes a butt load more powder to move it any quicker.

Question for the thinkers, would a radical case make a difference, like the RUM case (404 Jeffrey necked down to 6.5)? What about one of the Winchester super short magnums?

A RUM is just a fired Jeffery case. A commercial 6.5 on a modified Jeffery case already exists bring the 25 Nosler. On this class there are 3 big 6.5s The 26 Nosler, 6.5 STW, and 6.5-300 WBY.

If the 264 WM is hard on barrels the 26 Nosler and 6.5-300 WBY are Satan in barrels.

If I were to went this way I would only shoot 160 grain bullets in the Big 6.5s

I went w the 264 WM because it consider it what people claim the Creedmore to be. A Creedmore drops over 40 inches at 500 yards w a 500 bc bullet. I am not a long range guy, but a 130 Grain Accbound w a 200 yard zero shows 7.5 inches of drop at 325.

The 264 WM’s 140 grain bullet at 3000-3100 (a few say 3,200 we will see) seems enough to me. If I need more, I need a bigger caliber and cartridge. This is a relatively balanced performance that gets a little edge in drop over the 270 win/30/06/280-7Rem Mag class.

The problem w the 6.5x68 is the 1:12 twist. If someone wanted to build a 6.5x68 nothing is stopping them from using a 1:9 to 1:8 twist. Well, the brass problem.

I do not know the percentages but there is a significant difference between 2700-2800 fps and 3100 fps.

The 26 Nosler, 6.5 STW, 6.5-300 WBY get you to 3300-3400 fps and north w a 140 grain bullet. That is significant over the WM 3000 (low end). However, the fuss to get there for what is the problem. Some claim accuracy is destroyed at this class. I do not know. Again, a more sensible option to me is more bullet-7mm STW is my personal choice, but a 300 WM is the most practical. The 300 WNY can only be argued w in terms of recoil or cost.

There you have it we have come full circle. In real life hunting scenarios the low 6.5 are fine deer getters to traditional hunting range w good bullets they can be pressed into elk at similar range. They are not 600-800 yards plus elk and moose killers.

The Med 6.5s ( 264 WM, 6.5 RPM, 6.5 PRC, 6.5/06 variants) get you to 400 yards on game easier w a little more umph to drive bullets. The extra velo on deer sized game can be overwhelming when compared to the little 6.5s. However, they were and are not significantly better than a 270 Win/30/06/7mm REM class of cartridges.


The large case 26 Nosler, 6.5 STW, and 6.5-300 WBYThey will give you the velo increase w bullet weights that make them on paper look like lasers, but at cost of recoil, maybe accuracy, barrel life, financial cost. Too many see them as think jacket drivers which hurts bullet performance over real game ranges or even at long range. The task this class is best at is best done w a larger bullet on a similar cartridge. Much like Jack O Conor wrote about the 264 WM and his 270, the improvement is not enough to make the switch.

[ I think the case capacity would probably be about midway between the 30/06 and 300 WSM. The Gibbs is a good case capacity for 25, 6.5 and 270 bore sizes.

I have and shoot a 300 SAUM a 300 WSM and a 30 Gibbs.
I have formed my 30 Gibbs cases from Win headstamped 06 brass. When compared to REm 300 SAUM brass and Win 300 WSM the Gibbs has about one grain MORE capacity than the 300 SAUM and a couple grains less than the 300 WSM. Ballistics are very close when loaded with similar loads.[/QUOTE]

should have called it 26-06

The 6.5/300 wthby has done well in the 1,000 yd matches, so no accuracy problems with that large a case.