Setting Up A 6.5/06..

[psinclair]

Anybody out there load and shoot one of these? I have a bud who has one and I'm looking to help him out with reloading for it. Brass? Neck up or down?

Starting from scratch...thanks in advance!

 

[cav has been]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

From the 6.5 X 284 H4350 thread, bohem seems pretty well versed on the 6.5-06. He certainly appears to have done his homework and his apprenticeship!

 

[psinclair]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

Thanks!! Just sent him a PM...

 

[bohem]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

PGS- PM replied. Let me know if you need anything else, I'll try to help out however I can.

 

[jwill350]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

I'd love to hear any info on it as well. I'm going to put one together in a month or two as a relatively light hunting gun.

How about necking down 30-06 Lapua brass?

 

[bohem]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

You'll probably end up having to turn the brass. I've managed to neck from 30 down to 6.5 in a single stage but it was a lot of force and left some sizable runout in them.

I usually use Win 270 brass because it's easy to make work, but Lapua brass could be done easily enough with a 2 step process. I neck turn for a loaded round to be about .289-.290 either way so it's a wash IMO.

 

[kyreloader]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I usually use Win 270 brass because it's easy to make work, but Lapua brass could be done easily enough with a 2 step process. I neck turn for a loaded round to be about .289-.290 either way so it's a wash IMO.

</div></div>

Just remember .270 Winchester brass is longer than .25-06 brass or .30-06 brass, so you have to trim prior to shooting.

.270 Winchester

.30-06 Springfield

 

[DocB]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

PGS,

Done both, using 25-06 brass and necking up was faster and much easier. I used three steps to go down. As well as neck turning if you go down, annealing will help the process if you are going down.

HTH,
DocB

 

[bohem]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

Doc and Kyre, both spot on from my experience.

I forgot to mention that I trim the 270 brass before loading it. Good catch

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

+1 on using Winchester brand .25-06 brass. With boattail bullets you can stuff them into virgin cases without expanding the neck. .007 difference.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[cav has been]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

Any half competent machinest can make a long taper expander that just screws into the threaded die holder of your press. A little lube inside and it expands the necks no muss no fuss.

 

[bohem]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jerry M</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 on using Winchester brand .25-06 brass. With boattail bullets you can stuff them into virgin cases without expanding the neck. .007 difference.

Good luck

Jerry </div></div>

How's the accuracy with that much neck tension?

Considering the barrel life on this round I don't understand why you'd sacrifice initial load development and barrel life for the short time investment with just expanding the necks up a little bit.

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Setting Up A 6.5/06..

I was just pointing out the closeness of the .25-06 to the 6.5-06. For precision I did expand neck.

Jerry