Ladies and gentlemen,

I first posted this in the medium bore section.I was advised to post here.So I will ask again here. What is your experience with the 6.5-06 cartridge?Performance,accuracy,effect on game,recoil etc. Appreciate your replies.Thanks in advance.



Best-
Locksley,R.

I owned the 6.5x.284 which is on the same performance level. With the heavy for caliber bullets on large Mule deer there is none any better.At the time it digested nicely the Barnes' 156 gr. originals and the Norma and Hornady 160 grain RNs.It was the macho years so the recoil was un-noticed. It fed on H-4831 and it reached out quite a distance. roger

I built one on a Mauser action, heluva cartridge but I've not used it on any live animals yet. It is so close to the 6.5-284, maybe a touch faster, but any performance on game would be the same (like bartche said).

I built one on a mauser action using a light weight 24" shaw barrel and it shoots great. I have only tried 120gr-130gr bullets.

Ended up finding a very accurate load using Sierra 120gr pro-hunter bullets and RL-19, running just a bit under 3100fps. took two antelope with that load in Wyoming fall before last, neither one took a step after the gun went off... I like my 6.5-06 just fine...

Z

mine is on a rem 700. it's a great cartridge with an almost cult following. i've heard it called "the thinking man's 270". i use cheap remington bulk 140 grn bullets and it has killed everything i've pointed it at. the 6.5x284 and 6.5 rem mag are similar performance wise.

works good on piggies

Hood:

I built a 6.5-06 on an Springfield action, and it is indeed a very good efficient cartridge!

I also have shot antelope, and a number of other critters at various ranges, and none of them went anywhere but right down.

I have a little experience to share with you, which could save you quite a bit of aggravation.
I notice one poster refered to a Shaw barrel. If you use Shaw, they will chamber for the 6.5-06 A-Square, which is throated differently than the 6.5-06 wildcat. Difference in throating, is about .220, with the A-Square having the long throat. Problem arrises, when you want to touch the lands, or be about .010 off, with the shorter bullets. As an example, I could not get near the lands with the Sierra 120 Grain Pro-Hunter, which is the bullet I wanted to use, so I had the barrel set back, to take up for the long throat. If you build a 6.5-06, please have this discussion with the barrel maker or gunsmith, FIRST, before building, you'll be glad you did. After about 800rounds, the rifle consistantley shoots 3 shot groups under .7

Great Cartridge

Jerry

I've built several 6.5-06 IMP on Model 70s. I chamber them deep to headspace with a 280 case which gives me a little more powder capacity. I mostly shoot 142 Sierra MKs. Great cartridge and I like it better than the 6.5X284 because you don't have any feeding issues. No rail work to be done. I like the 260 AI better than both of the above. They are all so close it doesn't matter which you choose.

While I do not have a 6.5-06, I do shoot a M-98 in 6.5 X 55 and it shoots identical (per loading data from Hodgdon's) to the 6.5-06 with 120 grain bullets.....so can attest to it's effectiveness on at least whitetails.....and will say that it's the equal to anything I've ever used! Two shots....two nice bucks and DRT both times!

It quickly became my #1 rifle for medium game!

Jerry maybe things at Shaw have changed..my barrel was purchased short chambered and I finish reamed it myself. I don't have a long throat at all on mine..in fact I have to be careful with my seating depth so that I am not into the lands...

Z

Many thanks for your inputs,gentlemen.Appreciate it.

Keep them coming please.

Best-
Locksley,R.

Z:

Here's my story with Shaw. I built a 35 Whelen on a 700 Remington, had Shaw barrel it, and it shot so well, I figured I'd use them again. As a matter of fact, I was going to send the Springfield (6.5-06) up to Pac-Nor, but the performance of the Whelen made me give them (Shaw) another try.

I called Shaw, and we talked about the 6.5-06. Now remember I am thinking of the 6.5-06 Wildcat, with a lead as similar to the 30-06. I was told they could handle it and off the action went. When it came back, it looked great, as they had fitted and chambered the barrel to the action. I had already drilled and tappped the action and modified the bolt as required for a scope. I loaded up some ammo, and off to the range. Most groups were 1.2 to 1.75" at 100 yds. I was not very happy, so I called Shaw. This time the guy I got told me they were using a SAAMI chamber reamer, and the throat was correct per the A-Square specs. I said but that is not what I wanted, as I perfered to use the shorter bullets, and that's not what I was told before I sent the action to Shaw for fitting and chambering. Now they did offer to rebarrel the action, but if I wanted a 6.5-06 that's the way it would be. I was too aggravated to deal with them anymore. I tried and tried to get the thing to shoot, but the groups pretty much stayed the same. Then I had Larry Komach up in Rawlins Wyoming, pull the barrel cut a thread and set it back to where I could get close to the lands with the 120 Pro Hunter. After that it shot under .7 which is what I expected in the 1st place. The reason my rifle has so many rounds thru it, is about 700 were trying to get it to shoot nicely, which it now does. Lesson learned.

Jerry

I've had a couple, and it's hard to beat as a medium-game cartridge. For whitetail, pronghorn, mulies, hogs, etc., it shoots flat and packs a lethal punch out farther than most people should be shooting anyway.

I used 120s to 140s but found it most effective with the 140s. There were no Accubonds back then. The 130 or 140 grain AB would only make a good cartridge even better.

Jerry...Sorry to hear that you had that experience with Shaw..I have never had them do my barrels...I just purchase the barrels, then finish the job myself. So I never had to deal with that aggravation! Don't guess I will have them barrel up any actions for me anytime soon.


Z

Z. I have mellowed a lot towards Shaw over the years. After all, my Whelen shoots lights out. My situation could have been completly eliminated, if me or the guy I talked with before I sent the action realized we were talking about 2 different cartridges, and he then could have offered the A-Square, upon which I would have passed, and sent the action to Pac-Nor. In the end the price of the barrel and work, didn't save me any money, but I have what I want now. For a hunting rifle, that a guy wants to shoot 1.5" or less at 100 yds, and he dosen't mind copper in some barrels, Shaw is great, and I'd use them again under those conditions.

Jerry