Any 6.5-06 users?

[TK177]

TK177, thanks for the input. Just curious about using the 280 ai brass, did you run into any issues and and what prep is necessary? I also thought that 270 necks were too long which required extra steps?

I had an issue with the shoulders crumpling on the 280AI brass. I believe it was a shoulder and neck difference to prevent chambering incorrect rounds in factory rifles. I ended up sending my die back to RCBS with fired brass and sent them my reamer dimensions from PTG. The dude on the phone at RCBS was very helpful and I walked him through my issue. Not sure what the guy did but after that its been flawless.

Running larger brass like 270, 280, 30-06 or 280AI you need to trim. I have mostly used 25-06 to avoid extra trimming, but 280AI allows me to avoid fire forming.

 

[Yote Klr]

I know this thread is old but where can I get 6.5-06 Ackley dies?

Called RCBS and Redding, searched ebay, and all vendors like Precision reloading, Midsouth, Midway. Nothing.

Thanks.

 

[Gadjet]

My wife recently inherited her father’s Darcy Echols built 6.5-06. Sweet rifle that has a lot of history. It was originally his 1962 built Remington 700 chambered in .270. ( he was inspired by Jack O’Conner)
It’s up to me at this point to fine tune a load that works. Before her dad passed he was having fairly good luck with R22 and 140 grain sst’s. Not sure of the exact load, I’ll need to look at his notes.

 

[#publiclands]

I know this thread is old but where can I get 6.5-06 Ackley dies?

Called RCBS and Redding, searched ebay, and all vendors like Precision reloading, Midsouth, Midway. Nothing.

Thanks.

Hello! I am the originator of this thread … I have been going been going back and forth on getting a 6.5-06 or a 6.5-06 ackley barrel for some time now. I ran into the same problem finding ai dies. I do have the standard dies. This is one of the reasons that I haven’t gone with the 6.5-06 ackley and I’m kind of hesitant to go 6.5-06 just because anymore just because of the extra work involved.

 

[Gadjet]

Got out and shot the 6.5-06 yesterday. Seems to be doing pretty good.

 

[6mm Remington]

The donor rifle is a 30-06 so I wouldn’t need to change that out bolt face for 6.5-06. The 6.5-06 just sounds sexy also. The 6.5 prc sounds good also since brass would be available and well as loaded ammo if needed. Wouldn’t have to fire form any as with the 6.5-06.

Would not have to fireform with 25-06 brass necked up to 6.5-06 by simply running it over an expander ball, or running it through a 6.5-06 resizing die. Think I would just run them through sizing die.

 

[TaperPin]

I know this thread is old but where can I get 6.5-06 Ackley dies?

Called RCBS and Redding, searched ebay, and all vendors like Precision reloading, Midsouth, Midway. Nothing.

Thanks.

A 280 ai is slightly longer body, but you can whittle some off the bottom of the die and get a shoulder push back. For the 6.5-280ai West Texas Ordinance just suggests a 280ai bushing die, which seems reasonable.

 

[TaperPin]

I use a 6.5-284 die to neck size my 6.5-06 brass.

Judging by the used dies that come up on eBay I’m guessing 6.5-280ai is more popular than the -06ai version. Multiple sets of 6.5-280ai dies are on there now.

 

[chutinlead]

I used 270 brass for my 6.5-06 and found out after I got my reamer that there is also a 6.5-270 reamer that just leaves the neck longer. I had to trim close to 0.100 off after sizing down my 270 brass to 6.5 if I remember correctly.

 

[Yote Klr]

Got out and shot the 6.5-06 yesterday. Seems to be doing pretty good.View attachment 857698

Do you mind sharing your load and velocity? What barrel length?
Thanks.