I'm trying to decide which caliber to go with 6mm-06 or 6.5-06. I've got an old 110 30-06 I wore out and want to re barrel. I've narrowed it down to these two just having a hard time making a final decision. I mostly hunt deer, antelope, and coyotes. Those of you that have one or had one which would you choose? What length of tube would you go with? I know I want at least 26" but if I can gain enough will go longer. I really considered 25-06 just want something a little different.
6mm-06 or 6.5-06?
- Thread starter bigtime9
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just country
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morning 6.5x06 AIlightbulb
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Frank in the Laurels
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Agreed...either is a great choice, but the 6,5/06 is an awesome cartridge, never did get it rightful praise...never messed with the AI version but I can imagine it MUST be a tad better, maybe a switch barrel would work...shooting varmints gets a little expensive with 6.5 bullets compared to 6's... I often wondered why it was never legitimized by one of the big firearms makers, it's about the only one that hadn't been ....great cartridge !
RockyMtnMT
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6.5-06 with min 8" twist. I would do 7" twist. If you go with the 24 or 25 cal get 7" twist. 7" twist with the 25cal makes a different animal than what is typically out there.
Steve
Steve
Monttrap04
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I went with the 6mm-06 because I am mostly interested in coyotes and didn't want to shoot much over 105 grains. My goal for the rifle was a rig for those coyotes that hang up at 400-700+ yards.
I had originally thought 1:8 but Kirby Allen built it and he suggested at 6-06 velocities the 1:9 would actually work as well or better. I settled on the 1:9" Bartlein at 25" finished. Could have gone longer and got a bit more speed but not really looking to push the rig and I don't particularly care for long barrels on my rifles. 25" seemed like a good compromise. It is shooting the 105 bergers well. It has been tested closer to 3400 but I think I will settle around 3300-3350 fps or so for a nice comfortable load.
If I was mostly interested in larger game and didn't have an interest in pelt preservation I would have gone with the 6.5-06. I am actually intrigued by the 6.5 Gibbs but have other projects in front of that.
I had originally thought 1:8 but Kirby Allen built it and he suggested at 6-06 velocities the 1:9 would actually work as well or better. I settled on the 1:9" Bartlein at 25" finished. Could have gone longer and got a bit more speed but not really looking to push the rig and I don't particularly care for long barrels on my rifles. 25" seemed like a good compromise. It is shooting the 105 bergers well. It has been tested closer to 3400 but I think I will settle around 3300-3350 fps or so for a nice comfortable load.
If I was mostly interested in larger game and didn't have an interest in pelt preservation I would have gone with the 6.5-06. I am actually intrigued by the 6.5 Gibbs but have other projects in front of that.
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Axl
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The op said Deer, Antelope, and Coyotes. At about .06 cents more per bullet the expense shouldn't even be a consideration and you could buy a LOT of them for the price of a switch barrel.
6.5 is the way to go for the stated use
RockyMtnMT
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At the velocities you are pushing the Bergers may not have been able to hold up to the launch with the faster twist. There are other bullets out now that can and need faster twist.
Steve
MudRunner2005
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6.5 Sherman
+1 for the 6.5 Sherman
el matador
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It's a version of the 6.5-06 improved. The shoulder is moved forward a bit so capacity is about as high as you can go with the '06 case.
Between the 6mm and 6.5 I would for sure do the 6.5 if you're chasing deer. A regular old 6.5-06 is a pretty feisty cartridge if you give it enough barrel. One of the improved versions would add some velocity, along with some other benefits and the standard headaches of a wildcat cartridge.
You may also consider the 6.5-284. It uses the same bolt face as the '06 and gives performance very similar to the 6.5-06 when built on a long action. Brass and dies are readily available since this cartridge has become quite popular of late.
codyadams
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6.5-06 AI pushing the 147 eld-M at probably 3200 fps is rather impressive if you look at ballistics...
Wedgy
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I built my GF's 30-06 which shoots a 130 grain TTSX at 3305 fps with Varget, you could probably go faster with a different 130 grain bullet as Barnes tend to hit pressure sooner than typical lead bullets.
You can hit well over 3400 fps with a straight .243 WIN with Berger 105's and Reloder 26 so I wouldn't do a 6mm-06 unless you are looking for a much heavier bullet.
That leaves the 6.5-06 or 25-06, whichever you choose I would make sure it's in the "really fast" to "screaming fast" range otherwise just go with one of the mainstream cartridges.
The 6.5x284 and 30-06 have about the same bolt face and case capacity but the '06 brass is abundant so I would lean that way. I'm pretty sure you could launch that 6.5 124 grain Hammer at well over 3300fps or an even lighter bullet faster yet. I have no experience with the 25's so I can't comment on them other than my friends Weatherby that hits like a hammer.
I have 2 Savage 110's both in 30-06 waiting to be made into something. I am kind of curious to see what some of the 110 grain 300 Blackout bullets will do when shot out of a 30-06 case. I had not luck with the 110 grain TTSX.
You can hit well over 3400 fps with a straight .243 WIN with Berger 105's and Reloder 26 so I wouldn't do a 6mm-06 unless you are looking for a much heavier bullet.
That leaves the 6.5-06 or 25-06, whichever you choose I would make sure it's in the "really fast" to "screaming fast" range otherwise just go with one of the mainstream cartridges.
The 6.5x284 and 30-06 have about the same bolt face and case capacity but the '06 brass is abundant so I would lean that way. I'm pretty sure you could launch that 6.5 124 grain Hammer at well over 3300fps or an even lighter bullet faster yet. I have no experience with the 25's so I can't comment on them other than my friends Weatherby that hits like a hammer.
I have 2 Savage 110's both in 30-06 waiting to be made into something. I am kind of curious to see what some of the 110 grain 300 Blackout bullets will do when shot out of a 30-06 case. I had not luck with the 110 grain TTSX.
Monttrap04
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What is your setup to get that? Seems like it would be crazy high pressures but I don't have any experience with RL 26.
