Looking for loads for the 6.5/06AI. Rifle will be ready in a couple of months so I thought I'd better get on it!

Is it safe to assume I won't have to screw with the neck thickness after sizing up from 25 06?

What do I do for neck sizing? Can I still use a RCBS neck sizer for the 6.5/06 or should I go with something like the Hornady New Dimension neck sizer that can be used on a varity of 6.5s? Will I need the 6.5mm short because of the shoulder angle?

Anyother out put on this wildcat would be much apprieciated.

You won't have to do anything to the neck thickness. I can't say if the RCBS neck sizer would handle it or not if it is a 6.5X06 necksizer I doubt it.

If your chamber is set correctly a necked up 25X06 should be a slight crush fit. Load and go.

I didn't understand the 6.5mm short question.

I have the 6.5/06 and the AI version is in the planning stage. I use the generic neck sizing die that Hornaday sells for all my 6.5 cartridges. Works well and you will want the standard neck sizing die not the short. I am making up a 6.5 BR and obtained the 6.5 short die just for that particular cartridge.

Since I am a very vocal advocate for the 6.5 bore I commend you for your choice. Good on ya!

Ol' John

I didnt quite understand the 6.5mm short neck sizer myself. Ol'John sheds light for me. Its not the neck but cartridge length the short applies to.

Thanks.

I'd like to claim the rifle as my own but I'm actually just helping him with the project and also I'll be doing his load work ontil he can get him self a place to learn to load. Looks like I'll be doing lots of shooting with his new toy though.

I necked up 25-06 brass and then fireformed,..then trimmed. Seat your pills well into the lands and load a mid range dose of the fastest powder listed for the 6.5-06 with the same weight projectile. You'll get a good complete shoulder the first time.

I have been working with some slow powders,.so I'll refrain from posting that until I know more.

RL22 and 4831sc will no doubt do the nasty with some 140gr pills.

In my standard 6.5-06, I resize 270 cases and trim to 2.494" and never had a problem. You don't have to use 25-06 cases unless that is what you want.

I get about 3125-3150 fps with 52g IMR 4831 with the Nosler 125g Part (25" bbl). I would be interested in knowing what velocities you get.....LR

quote:

I get about 3125-3150 fps with 52g IMR 4831 with the Nosler 125g Part (25" bbl). I would be interested in knowing what velocities you get.....LR

I'll let you know because the 125gr. partition will be one of the first of three bullets tested.

Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by oakrch708:
In my standard 6.5-06, I resize 270 cases and trim to 2.494" and never had a problem. You don't have to use 25-06 cases unless that is what you want.

I get about 3125-3150 fps with 52g IMR 4831 with the Nosler 125g Part (25" bbl). I would be interested in knowing what velocities you get.....LR

I also use 270 Win. cases necked to 6.5, and then trim as you do, works great. Also, I am getting 3150-3200fps out of my standard 6.5-06, 24"bbl, with sierra 120 grains spitzers, and 54 grains of IMR4831. This load really wacks antelope and coyotes.

Jerry

Jerry - two more loads in my 6.5-06; 53g IMR 4831/120g clocks at 3185 fps and 51g IMR 4831/140g at 2950 fps......LR

Heres the $64,000 question...is there any advantage in using the 270 brass over the 25/06?

If you neck up you won't need to turn the necks as soon you'd think.

Boilerroom:

Hell if I know, I just happened to have a bunch of 270 Win brass (Rem) that I wasn't using, soooo, it became 6.5-06. Really though, the only advantage I can see is----- trimming only once, otherwise use what pleases you.

Jerry

Ps the brandy in taking effect,LOL!

Before the barrel comes off this rifle, which is in 270 for the time being, he may go shoot a few boxes off factory ammo. If he does then it would save him a few bucks to start of with 270 brass in the same make.

Does anyone have to turn the necked down 270 brass?

Boilerroom:

Unless you have your throat cut to a "tight" dimension, neck turning is unnecessary, and not even a concern using 270,brass. 270 brass is however, usually thicker in the neck area than 25-06 brass. I learned this bit of information, when I decided it would be easier to use 25-06 brass for my 6mm-06 than 30-06 brass. After sizing the 25-06 in my 6-06 die, it would not hold a bullet. I then had to run thw 25's, thru a 243 die to decrease the diameter enough to hold a bullet. Not real scientific!

Jerry

I neck down 270 brass for my 6.5 Gibbs. I do it for two reasons...I need a false shoulder to headspace on during fireforming and because it gives me more brass to work with when I turn the necks (I have a minimum chamber, so I can't get away from it).

My pet load for my Gibbs is: 57gr RL 22, CCI 250, 140 gr Sierra GK for 3050fps from a 24" tube. Start with 54 grains (which gets me 2850 fps) and work up.

Cheers,
Canuck

Boiler
I am just now working up loads for the 6.5 AI - not done yet by a long shot. So far the leading loads are with RL22 and Sierra 142 match king. 56.0 thru 56.5 gr with the 142 seated 10 thou off the rifling. Working with Fed 210 & Winchester WLR primers. These first loads have produced initial groups of .4 to .6 MOA. I believe with some more work it will shoot to about .3 to .5 MOA.

I have very good results with RL22 and the 142mk in 6.5x55 Swedes- this load @ 2753fps goes into .5MOA and I have had good results all the way to 1000 yds.

I am hoping to get the good groups and be at around 3000 fps with the AI. Once I have settled on the final load I will chrono it and post the results.

Lee................

What kind of a rig are you shooting? Sounds nice and accurate. Keep me posted on that load devolopement. The barrel should be in soon.

I use 270 brass necked down and trimmed for my 6.5-06AI. I must have received a bad batch of 25-06 brass as the necks split on some of mine and I am using Redding dies and Imperial wax. I do not shoot mine for extreme valocity, so my best load has been 53G of IMR4350 and a 120 Nosler BT at 3000fps. It shoots .2s most of the time. 24" Douglas Sporter 1:9" on a Win 70 Classic put together by Hill Country Rifles. I got lucky in my opinion.

At any point are you guys having to turn/ream the necks when using the 270 brass?

Barrel should be in any day now. We dropped the rifle off on Sunday.

I've used 30-06 brass necked to 25-06 for years with no problems so .270 down to .264 should not be an issue. My necks are not tight but not loose either. BTW, I run them through a 6.5mm fl die before going to .257.

I'm sure someone will ask so.... why use 06 brass when I can buy 25-06 cheap and easy? Because there is a lot of bad 25-06 brass out there and lapua brass is good stuff. Lapua doesn't make 25-06 brass. Forming this brass is not much more involved that full-length resizing....

Someone mentioned earlier that you need to seat the bullets well into the lands to fireform. While it doesn't hurt anything, it shouldn't be necessary if your AI chamber is cut correctly aka a couple thou short. However, the sharp preasure spike will form the new bends in the brass a little sharper. What I usually do instead is load up a upper-level load for the standard round with the fastest powder listed im a manual and go shoot off-hand for practice. If you are inclined to break in barrels, this is a good time to do it (while fireforming.)

Suprisingly enough, fireforming is a good time to start developing loads. Even with ill-fitting brass, you can learn a lot about what your rifle likes...

Oppps... Looks like I got off on one of my long-winded senior moments...


Thought I'd add one more note. Another good brass to for 6.5-06 out of is 280 rem. the 280 shoulder sets out a little further and gives a very positive headspace when forming 06 length brass