Caliber decision

[WRO]

I will be rebarreling/rechambering my rifle..

I am thinking in no particular order, the primary use will be deer and antelope, possibly a cow elk here and there. I am leaning towards the 6.5 just so I can shoot 140's..

25-06
6.5-06
6.5-06AI

 

[Clarktar]

I went with the 6.5-06 AI after much debate and talking with Justin Crossley....

 

[WRO]

I went with the 6.5-06 AI after much debate and talking with Justin Crossley....

What do you think so far? How has making brass gone? What kind of velocities are you getting?

 

[Justin Crossley]

Making brass is pretty easy. I just load standard 6.5-06 cartridges and go shooting.

With a 26" Brux barrel, I'm shooting 140 Bergers at 3215fps. I'm on my fifth loading with my first bunch of brass.

 

[Clarktar]

Dang Justin, I hope I can get up near the same fps you are.

 

[Clarktar]

WRO I wont have the gun in that caliber until late spring.

 

[JG358]

I'm partial to the 6.5X55 AI Jordan. Hard to go wrong with any 6.5.

 

[Cahunter805]

If you go 6.5-06ai I would set it up as a 6.5-280ai and use nosler 280ai brass. No need to fireform just neck down and run it.

Nothing wrong with a 6.5-284! What action are you building on?

 

[WRO]

It's going to be on a m77 mk2 action. My dad bought me the rifle for graduation, it's never shot worth a shit.. I've put a new stock on it (the boat paddle was ruthless even in an 06) put a timmney trigger in it. . I'd just get rid of it, if it didn't have the sentimental value. .

 

[WRO]

Nothing wrong with a 6.5-284! What action are you building on?

I should get an extra 100-150 FPS over a 6.5-284 shooting 140's with the AI and I already have a bunch of 25-06 brass.

 

[Justin Crossley]

25-06 brass works really well. I've used that and .270 and prefer the 25-06.

 

[bradb]

I have 6.5-284 and a couple 6.5-280ai. Shoot very good and shi* hits the dirt very quick.

 

[Justin Crossley]

What exactly is the difference between the 6.5-280AI and the 6.5-06AI?
Thanks

 

[Cahunter805]

Justin
I'm not 100% sure but I think that the 280 case is longer than say a 270 or 30-06 case.
The main reason for a 6.5-280ai would be so you could just buy nosler 280ai brass and neck it down and run full charge Ai loads. No fireforming needed. If it were me I would have a set of dies cut with the same reamer also.

 

[shotgunwilly]

What exactly is the difference between the 6.5-280AI and the 6.5-06AI?
Thanks

The overall length of the .280 parent cartridges is 2.540" and the overall length of the 30-06 parent cartridge is 2.494 "
it is so minimal , but the difference in case capacity

 

[mtnkid85]

WRO, it sounds like I am considering a very similar build. My M77 mkII has a lot of sentimental value and Id like to do something new with it. What stock did you go with?
I believe I am leaning towards 6.5-06. I have done the Ackley thing with other cartages and the fire forming is a step I would just as soon skip with this rifle. Like you I want to build it to shoot a specific 140gr bullet and would like to just develop a single load for the rifle with that bullet.

Any way, keep us updated on the rifle build.

 

[Cahunter805]

If your a handloaded and are gonna be fireforming I would also look into the 6.5sherman. Pushed 160s 3100 and 150s 3200 and cases are formed from 270 or 280 brass.

 

[bradb]

I went with the 280 ai case for the reason stated, take nosler brass neck down and good to go

 

[WRO]

What about a 264 winchester mag? I was kicking it around a bit more today and fire forming the fire forming aspect may take a bit more time than if like to spend..

 

[MRidge]

Great..... just what I needed was to read this thread.
I have a mid 80's M700 Mtn Rifle in .280 I've been wanting to rebarrel into a 6.5-06. The 6.5-280AI has definitely peaked my interest now.