A box of goodies from a deceased gunsmiths shop followed me home from a sale recently. A couple Brno 98 actions and a 1909 action were included in the box. One Brno action has a new 6.5 cal, 26 in barrel installed. As close as I can measure it seems to be a 1 in 8" twist and chambered for the 6.5-06 cartridge. Looking at shooting bullets in the 125, 129,130 to 140 gr range. Anyone have any favorite loads or bullet/powder combinations they would like to share ? I have a custom barreled 6.5 Rem so I imagine things that work in the Rem will be similar in the 6.5-06.

Snowman, that is a very capable cartridge. If you have access to past issues of Rifle or Handloader magazines, look for articles by Ken Waters, Steve Gash and Charles Benke on the 6.5-06.

Bill Thanks for that. I have an old Handloader magazine with an article by Benke in it. I was hoping for a little information using some of the newer powders like RL23, RL25 & RL26
or the new Enduron powders.

I've always liked the idea of a 6.5-06.

If it was a factory offered rifle with factory ammo, I know I'd own one.

I'm not sure why, as I own a 25-06 and a 270 Win., but such things matter little to gun nuts...

With reasonable caution, you should be able to use the starting loads for a .270 or .280 as a starting point.

Surefire, you don't have to 'splain nothing to me, señor. I have always been fond of the 6.5s. Dunno why.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
With reasonable caution, you should be able to use the starting loads for a .270 or .280 as a starting point.

Why would you do that when there is solid published data to be found?

https://load-data.nosler.com/l...data/65-06-a-square/

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
With reasonable caution, you should be able to use the starting loads for a .270 or .280 as a starting point.

I'm a little puzzled on this one!!! roger

Thanks to all who have responded. Perhaps I should have provided a little more information. I have relatively new loading manuals from Hornady and Nosler and both list data for the 6.5-06. So there will be no need to look for starting loads in 270 or 280 calibres. I have a couple old Handloader magazines with articles about the 6.5-06 and there is quite a bit of 6.5 data if you do a Goggle search but most of this data is with older powders. I was curious if anyone was shooting a 6.5-06 and using any of the newer powders such as RL23 and RL26 or the newer IMR 7977. Hoping that someone elses experience could save me some time finding that "sweet" load.

Lon Paul is in the process of assembling a 6.5X64 Brenneke (AKA 6.5-270) for me on a BRNO ZKK 600 action to add one more caliber to my battery of 6.5mm caliber rifles, dating back to 1958 when my gunsmith friend suggested running a .243 Winchester reamer in my 6.5X52 Arisaka chamber, thus anticipating the .260 Remington by several decades. With a 1 3/4-6X Leupold sitting on top of it, I will feel confident in using it against targets of opportunity at any reasonable range here in Tennessee.

quote:

Originally posted by xausa:
Lon Paul is in the process of assembling a 6.5X64 Brenneke (AKA 6.5-270) for me on a BRNO ZKK 600 action to add one more caliber to my battery of 6.5mm caliber rifles, dating back to 1958 when my gunsmith friend suggested running a .243 Winchester reamer in my 6.5X52 Arisaka chamber, thus anticipating the .260 Remington by several decades. With a 1 3/4-6X Leupold sitting on top of it, I will feel confident in using it against targets of opportunity at any reasonable range here in Tennessee.

xausu A question about the rifle you are having built. You call it a 6.5x64 and a 6.5/270. Which is it. I assume when you say 6.5x64 you are suggesting the 7x64 necked down to 6.5 cal. The body of the 7x64 case is slightly smaller in diameter than the 30-06/270 family. The 6.5-270 chambering would allow you to use 270 cases without trimming. To further confuse things there is a relatively new European caliber the 6.5x65 which has a case diameter slightly larger that the 06 family. It is the same diam as the 9.3x62 cartridge but 3 mm longer @ 65 mm. Brass for this caliber would be more difficult to obtain.

As you can see, cases for the 6.5X64 Brenneke are not the same size as the 7X64 Brenneke and cannot be formed from them. The dimensions for the 6.5X64 Brenneke cases are the same as those for the .270, except for the neck diameter, and the same as those of the 6.5X06, except for case length and neck diameter, which is the result of thicker case neck walls, probably caused by necking the case down.

My rifle will be marked 6.5X54 Brenneke, for which loaded ammunition is available in Europe, but, as far as I can tell, no cartridge cases. Both ammunition and components are available for the 6.5X65 RWS.

Not sure where the "6.5x64 Brenneke" originated but if you do a Goggle search on the Brenneke cartridges the 6.5x64 is not a Brenneke designed cartridge. Look for CIP specs for that cal. I couldn't find any. Also check with the "Cartridges of the world" and there is no mention of the 6.5x64 Brenneke. No doubt custom brass could be made with 6.5x64 headstamp but I did not find any European factory ammo. Yes the 6.5x65 RWS is a CIP cartridge and factory ammo and brass is available.....only not very common in North America.

Further searching for 6.5x64 ammo. I found some MFS brand ammo labeled 6.5x64. Not sure where it is made.

According to the DEVA (Deutsche Versuchs- und Prüf-Anstalt für Jagd- und Sport-Waffen) (German Experimental and Proof Testing Agency for Hunting and Target Weapons) loading manual "Wiederladen", the 6.5X64 cartridge was developed by gunsmith-engineer Hannes Kepplinger in cooperation with the Brenneke company to fill the gap between the existing Brenneke cartridges and to offer a means of converting pre-existing 6.5X57 caliber rifles to remove the long throat associated with that cartridge, which proved inaccurate with shorter, lighter bullets. Ammunition was manufactured by MEN (Metallwerk Eisenhütte Nassau) and is available through the Kepplinger Company. http://www.kepplinger-waffen.a...raesentation/aktuell

I am sure Kepplingers 6,5 Brenneke is a good caliber and basically a 6,5-06. However, due to good cases and cartridges I would go for 6,5x64 (Reb). Sax is providing ammo and shm quality cases. Heym even supports it in SR21/30.

xausa Thanks for that explanation. Interesting that they would basically use an American case for a European caliber. Now is the 6.5x64 Reb cartridge the 8.5x63 Reb cartridge necked down to 6.5 cal ? or is it based on a different case ?

Eschewing all these late arrivals, I decided to go with the 256 Newton. Seriously, I've built quite a few 6.5-06's and consider it to be an excellent hunting cartridge. The Newton takes more work to do less; perhaps a reflection on my personality. Regards, Bill

I have five original 1916 Newtons, all but one in .256. It really hammers deer and is a breeze to load. I also have a 1922 Newton, alas, rebarreled to .270 Winchester by Niedner back in the '30's. I have never shot my .30 Newton for fear of cracking the stock.

Take a look at data for the 6.5x65 RWS. There is some lod data with relatively modern powders.

I had a 6.5-06 that I shot a lot then had to rebarrel it to 6.5-06 Ackley. Shot that barrel out and it's on its second barrel. Also just built a target rifle in 6.5-06 Ackley.

In my experience even the Ackley versions do not do well with "very slow" powders. Could be my particular rifles but always get best accuracy with powders in the H-4831 to RL 22 burn range with 140gr bullets and 4350 to RL 19 with 120gr bullets. Depending on the bullet 129/130 grain bullets seem to do well with both.

I have tried IMR 7977 & 7828 with Nosler AB, Sierra MK, Berger etc with 140 grain and rarely got 1" accuracy. But 4831, RL22, & IMR Enduron 4955 does well if you want an anti-copper, non temp sensitive powder.

The Hodgon Annual reloading manual -- available on the web also -- has a few loads for Enduron powders in the 6.5-06

Barstooler