6.5/06 Anybody shooting this?

Foul Mike

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 18, 2001
3,082
4,909
Eastern Colorado
Probably not the best thing to go with but it does work in a long action.
I have one and am shooting 48.3 gr. of H4831SC behind Hornady 140 HPBT Match bullets.
The rifle is a Rem 700 with Shilen barrel and it shoots out good but there is always a lot of carbon to deal with.
Not a lot of shots between cleanings and you sure as hell know when to do it as they will start to wander.
Is anyone else shooting one and how are you loading for it?
Thank you, FM
PS I do have a 6.5 Creedmoor also but like this rifle better. until the carbon creeps up.
 
Had one, loved it! Switched it years ago to a 25-06 due to the pain in the rear making brass. 6.5-06 brass was hard to come by back then. Don’t know about now. Can’t commit on you carbon issue. I never noticed anything out of the ordinary As compared to other 6.5s. It’s been so many years I’d be lying if I stated a load I used. IMR 4350 reduced my carbon issue in the CM. Not completely, but better than others. Good luck and I hope others chime in with better help. I’ve got another Mauser action getting lonely, this thread might inspire me to spin up another 6.5-06.
 
Most people that want a 6.5 in a long action shoot a 6.5-284. Brass is readily available. Same performance. Usually more accurate.
 
I upper limit my 6.5mm chambering to the .260. I would suggest the 280 Rem (essentially a 7mm-'06). With good bullets, I believe it's a better, more efficient chambering based on the '06 case. I have tried it with 120, 140, and 150gr bullets, and it's accurate.

H-4350 and H-4831 both work, most barrels (if I can remember it right...) are 1:9" twist, and the 168gr seems to be about the upper weight limit with that twist. This is a chambering that can take full advantage of longer barrels. I would try the 28" length, and have tried the 26" length.

Unfortunately, the rifles are no longer in my inventory.

Greg
 
I am too old to do much competition as I can't any longer get into some positions so speed is not a thing for me. I load lite.
375 fan, how many rounds do you shoot before you have to re-barrel?
I have about 2000 down now and still accurate as long as I keep the barrel clean.
My rifle started off as a Hebrew Deal from Wally World 30/06 clearance type deal. but the barrel that came on it was never much good from the start.
Accuracy was at best mediocre and brass life was not good but the action is good.
I had my gunsmith re-barrel it to 6.5/06 with a Shilen barrel and leave it as long as he could but put on a good muzzle brake so I have 27" of barrel then the brake. Long fucker and not light in weight.
I put it in a Magpul stock as soon as they came out with the long action and use a Harris bipod and Burris XTRII 4X20 Mil dot scope and it shoots great, as long as I keep the barrel clean and it lets me know when it is time to clean.
Thanks for your input. I really wonder why others don't shoot this and use up some old _06 brass? Most necks down fairly good..
Regards, FM