6.506 vs 280 AI using 140 gr bullets

[pyroducksx3]

I having been comparing calibers for awile now to have my custom built gun made of a 700 action. I started with the 6.5-284 vs the 6.5-06, then the 260, then the 280 and I still think the 6.5-06 AI is the better gun. Just looking for others views, maybe something I haven't thought of before I get the gun built. The final decision is between the 6.5-06 AI and the 280 AI. I have comapred the two using 140 gr bullets and the 6.5 wins using the hornady, sierra, and burger bullets, better energy, bullet drop, wind deflection. But if you compare the 140 6.5 to the 7mm in 162, the 7mm wins. I did the comparision using the hornady, barnes, nosler, and sierra reloading books and compared same powders, barrel length and put it all into ballistic programs. Also the 6.5-06 uses less powder (3-9 gr less when comparing same powder) to achive equal velecities as the 280. I have a tikka t3 in 300wsm so the advatage of being able to use the heavier bullets and therefore having a more rounded gun in the 280 makes this less important. I'm pretty confident that the 6.5-06 is capable of taking bear and elk, and the 300 wsm could be for maybe an elk specific hunt or moose. I like the tikka but it's a mule, maybe some people will think I'm a sissy but whatever, I shoot it fine but it's not that fun. Looking for a lighter shooter. I think the 280 AI is a better rounded gun but with the 300 wsm already in the safe and looking for the lightest recoil that the 6.5-06 AI is better for me. Oh will be hunting open country mule deer/sheep, black bear, varmints (coyote), and some elk. Just thinking out loud I guess. Thanks for the thoughts.

[stevescg80]

I have just about all the ackley calibers and the 257AI and the 280AI are my two favorites hands down this 280 which i got finished up in january this year is just plain awesome it was set up to run 140's this is a 1/4 moa gun with 140 ballistic tips it is built on a trued rem 700 action shilen #7 heavy barrel with the barrel and bolt fluted by karl kampfeld with a vais break in a hs precision stock if your wanting to maybe take this rig elk or mule deer hunting it would suffice well if you were building an elk rig i would use the 338 edge (jim see at centershot is building me one as we speak)Im running imr 4831 in nickel cases which i hate and winchester primers velocity is great and recoil is not a factor anything else you want to know just ask

Steve

[pyroducksx3]

stevescg80 any experience with shooting the 6.5-06 AI. Everyone that has the 280 says they shoot great, but haven't heard much come from the 6.5-06 shooters. I imagine its not the caliber that makes it shoot so well but the gun itself. I would speculate that the 280 and 6.5-06 are capable of shooting equally well given that they were both built by a compitent gunsmith, or another way to say it is they are both as capable as the other concerning accurancy given the standards of the rifle are the same, right? Hard choice I just hear so many good things about that 280. Many people say its the best rifle they got. MAybe I could hear some support from the 6.5-06 shooters.

[stevescg80]

Don't have the 6.5-06 but got a 6-06 setup as a lighter rifle but shooting the 107s don't have any experience with the 6.5-06 but have a 260ai setup for 142s it shoots very well too but you don't get the velocity of the larger case

[pyroducksx3]

yeah was looking at the 260 at first but this is a hunting gun first. So I went with the more power of the 06 vs the 308. I wanted to get something around the 270 win. But then looked at ballistics foung the 6.5-284 but even though it mimics the ballistics of the 6.5-06 in a short action most people build them on long actions because of the long bullets and seating depth can be a problem. So I figured if lon action why not the 06. Then staeted looking at the 280 and I thought Im getting away from the original plan of lower recoil in the 260 and getting close to a 7mm. Just finally settled on the 6.5-06 as a good balance, but my mind is open. I haven't shot a lot of guns. Started hunting with my dads 300 savage model 99, love to shoot it. Then got a tikka t3 in 300 wsm, good shooter groups about .77 at 100 with 168 barnes. But i kicks. I shoot it fine, without flinching, but I know it's coming before I pull the trigger. Not a big deal in the field but I want to practice a lot more and have it be more enjoyable. The only other gun I have shot is a 303 british in the enfield.

[Good]

Originally Posted by pyroducksx3

yeah was looking at the 260 at first but this is a hunting gun first. So I went with the more power of the 06 vs the 308. I wanted to get something around the 270 win. But then looked at ballistics foung the 6.5-284 but even though it mimics the ballistics of the 6.5-06 in a short action most people build them on long actions because of the long bullets and seating depth can be a problem. So I figured if lon action why not the 06. Then staeted looking at the 280 and I thought Im getting away from the original plan of lower recoil in the 260 and getting close to a 7mm. Just finally settled on the 6.5-06 as a good balance, but my mind is open. I haven't shot a lot of guns. Started hunting with my dads 300 savage model 99, love to shoot it. Then got a tikka t3 in 300 wsm, good shooter groups about .77 at 100 with 168 barnes. But i kicks. I shoot it fine, without flinching, but I know it's coming before I pull the trigger. Not a big deal in the field but I want to practice a lot more and have it be more enjoyable. The only other gun I have shot is a 303 british in the enfield.

Had someone tell me once that it's in the case design. The .284 Win case burns more consistently and efficiently than the '06 case due to straighter walls and sharper shoulder. Kinda like the 6mm vs the 6mmBR or BRDX or whatever, or the 300wm vs the 300wsm. But don't quote me on that. Other than that, they have nearly identical charge capacities.

[J E Custom]

Both are good rounds and very accurate if loaded right and the smith does his job ,so for shooting targets I would recomend the 6.5 because of recoil with lighter bullets.

If used for hunting I would definitely go with the 280 Because you can still load down with
light bullets and for mule deer,sheep and bear load the heaver bullets and with the 7 mms
there is still a better selection of bullets. (Weights and bullet designs).

As to the efficiency issue don't worry about it. Any well made rifle with well loaded ammo
will shoot !!!!

J E CUSTOM