I'm considering selling my 7-08 VLS and building a 6.5x06 on a new Zastava sction that I have. I'll probably go with one of the Pac-Nor barrels at 26". It will be used primarialy to 'ring the gong' at various distances to 400yds and ocassionaly when I need a longer range deer/coyote gun. I plan on using 120gr BTs, for plinking and 125PTs or 130 Scirrocos for hunting. I really have no need or want to shoot much farther than 400yds because I dont believe in shooting farther than one can practice. I reload because It is cheaper and that I can buy custom ammo. As far as accuracy goes anything below MOA is acceptable. I would like to get 3100fps with the 120-125s and 3050fps with the 128-130s. Is this 'doable' with the 6.5x06 and using sane loads or am I dreaming a little? I have also considered the AI, but it seems too much trouble, for the gain, to me. Also, which twist would you get if the heaviest bullet that I will ever shoot is a 140PT and probably not that? Please give me your opinions. thanks, capt david

In the 5th nosler manual, they have loads for a 6.5,06. They are shooting with a 24 inch tube, and get3110 with a 125 grain partiton
and 3144 with a 120 grain B-tip.
if you are going to go with a 26 inch tube It might be worth while to get an A-I.
A 6.5 06 should be a real fun rifle to play with and for plinking and such you might want to look at bereger bullets.
...tj3006

easily doable with the 120's from a 26" tube.

CaptDavid,

I've been real hot on the 6.5's since I built my first a 6.5/284 a number of years back. The 6.5/06 is also considered to be one of the best of the big 6.5's. Now I have the hot's for a .260 Rem for the same reason you are thinking, under 400 yards. You just don't get to use the extra the '06 version offers until you really reach out. I'm not saying that the '06 version isn't faster and flatter, just don't think you need that much horsepower for the ranges mentioned. I totally agree with the 26" choice for barrel length and think you should be able to shoot the 120's approaching 3250 ft/sec's, the partitions a bit slower. My 27" 6.5/284 will do those numbers and the powder capacity is about the same. Regardless of your choice, enjoy the 6.5's.

My 6.5-06, gives me 3175+ with a 120 grain Sierra Bullet and IMR4831. The barrel is 24", and I built this rifle on a 1903 Remington Modified action. Pac-Nor is a good choice, you can't go wrong. An 8 or 9 twist would be perfect, nothing slower than 10 though.

Jerry

quote:

I would like to get 3100fps with the 120-125s and 3050fps with the 128-130s. Is this 'doable' with the 6.5x06 and using sane loads or am I dreaming a little? I have also considered the AI, but it seems too much trouble, for the gain, to me. Also, which twist would you get if the heaviest bullet that I will ever shoot is a 140PT and probably not that?

IMO the 6.5-06 should be a factory round as it's really that good. Here's a few loads from Load data.com

120 Nosler Solid Base Hodgdon H-205 51.0 3,149
Remarks: consistent load, maximum Federal 210 M Primer; oal 3.327 inches; group size 1.5 inches
120 Nosler Solid Base Hodgdon H-4350 50.0 2,950
Remarks: best 120-grain load; W-120 Primer LC-63 case; oal 3.327 inches; group size .62 inches
120 Nosler Solid Base Hodgdon H-4831 51.0 2,954
Remarks: consistant load; W-120 Primer LC-63 case; oal 3.327 inches; group size 1.4 inches
120 Speer Spire Point Hodgdon H-4350 50.0 2,898
Remarks: mild, practice load; Federal 210M Primer LC-63 case; oal 3.272 inches; group size 1.2 inches
125 Nosler Partition Hodgdon H-870 65.0 3,060
Remarks: compressed charge; fair accuracy; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 2.4 inches
125 Nosler Partition IMR IMR-4831 55.0 3,218
Remarks: best 125-grain load; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 1.1 inches
125 Nosler Partition Accurate Arms MR-3100 54.5 3,089
Remarks: good accuracy; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 1.28 inches
125 Nosler Partition Winchester W-785 54.5 3,062
Remarks: some one inch groups; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 3.5 inches
129 Hornady Spire Point Hodgdon H-870 65.0 3,041
Remarks: heavily compressed; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.318 inches; group size 3.6 inches
129 Hornady Spire Point IMR IMR-7828 59.0 3,177
Remarks: maximum; poor accuracy; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.318 inches; group size 3.5 inches
129 Hornady Spire Point IMR IMR-4831 54.5 3,163
Remarks: best 129-grain load; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.318 inches; group size 1.6 inches
129 Hornady Spire Point Accurate Arms MR-3100 54.0 3,044
Remarks: poor accuracy; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.318 inches; group size 3.5 inches
129 Hornady Spire Point Winchester W-785 53.5 2,989
Remarks: good all around load; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.318 inches; group size 1.55 inches
140 Nosler Partition IMR IMR-7828 57.0 3,065
Remarks: hot, poor accuracy; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 3.4 inches
140 Nosler Partition IMR IMR-4831 52.0 2,998
Remarks: best 140-grain Nosler load; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size .9 inches
140 Nosler Partition Winchester W-785 52.0 2,870
Remarks: slow, fair accuracy; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 1.8 inches
140 Nosler Partition Hodgdon H-870 63.5 3,011
Remarks: compressed charge, consistant accuracy; CCI-250 Primer; oal 3.311 inches; group size 1.7 inches
140 Sierra spitzer boat-tail Hodgdon H-870 64.0 2,994
Remarks: compressed charge, fast, poor accuracy; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.280 inches; group size 2.65 inches
140 Sierra spitzer boat-tail Hodgdon H-4831 52.0 2,825
Remarks: maximum; W-120 Primer; oal 3.280 inches; group size 2.4 inches
140 Sierra spitzer boat-tail Accurate Arms MR-3100 52.0 2,811
Remarks: accurate but slow, maximum; W-120 Primer; oal 3.280 inches; group size 1.1 inches
140 Speer Spire Point Hodgdon H-870 64.0 3,006
Remarks: compressed charge; fast load; Federal 215 Primer; oal 3.272 inches; group size 1.3 inches
140 Speer Spire Point IMR IMR-7828 57.0 3,004
Remarks: best 140-grain Speer load; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.272 inches; group size .95 inches
140 Speer Spire Point IMR IMR-4831 52.5 2,976
Remarks: good all around load; Federal 210M Primer; oal 3.272 inches; group size 1.2 inches

To the question of the AI verson I can only say that I agree that it's more baloney than performance.

Wow...those loads are pretty hot for a 6.5-06. I check a few aganst the Hornady 6th edition, page 265 thru 267 and they are over by several grains.

BTW the 6.5-06 AI gives me about 100 FPS over the book loads for the non AI.

I'm playing with a 6.5-06 that is still going through the finishing up process.
What you are after is no problem as others have stated.
Mine is built for longer ranges, VZ24 action, Kipplinger trigger, chapman safety, 28"oly 1/8 heavy barrel in a Fagen T'hole stock.
Just playing with it, 3,000 fps is easy with 142MK.

I agree that the cartridge should be factory again. Then again it is fun to play with.

Don

quote:

IMO the 6.5-06 should be a factory round

I thought A-Square standardized this cartridge a while back? It's listed in their cartridge manual.

It must be standardized like the 338-06...standard drawings, but no rifles?

quote:

Originally posted by Tex21:

quote:

IMO the 6.5-06 should be a factory round

I thought A-Square standardized this cartridge a while back? It's listed in their cartridge manual.

It must be standardized like the 338-06...standard drawings, but no rifles?

I believe you're right on this....this round is standardized....but the big brands are not chambering for it nor are they making the ammo.

Making these two rounds standard and available made a lot more sense to me than the SAUMs and WSSMs.....

FYI, the 6.5-06 was "standardized" in Europe under the name 6.5x64mm. I believe it was done in the 1990s by RWS, along with their 6mm Freres, which is the 6mm-06. Sneaky those Europeans! I have seen both chamberings listed for Steyr-Mannlicher rifles.
LLS
Mannlicher Collector

I built a 6.5-06 in 1993 and it is my number one rifle for mountain game to this day. Built around a Model 700 ADL action, stainless barrel with a 1 in 9 twist(needed for the heavy,long bullets I intended to shoot), kevlar pnd'er stock, 6x Leupold. I designed it to shoot the long for caliber 140 grain Barnes X of the day. I could never stabilize the Barnes but it sure shot 140 gn Nozler Partitions well so that is what I shoot to this day. I use 55 grains of Reloader 22, Fed 210 primers and this load shoots sub 1" MOA all day everyday. I get an honest 3050fps over the chrony. I should note the gunsmith used an original Clymer chambering reamer and it is actually based on the 270 case (so actually a 6.5-270) This gives the rifle a little longer throat and allows the bullets to be seated out farther which is necessary with such a long bullet and allows you to experiment with ample powder room in the 'ol boiler. The rifle still shoots the lighter bullets as accurate. If I didn't already have a 6.5-06 I would be building one today. Great under-rated caliber!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

Making these two rounds standard and available made a lot more sense to me than the SAUMs and WSSMs.....

I could not agree more!!!!