6.5-06 build but to AI it or Gibbs it or leave it like it is?

[TAWS]

Wanting to build a 6.5-06 but the question is to A.I. it or Gibbs it or leave it like it is? I would like to get 2900 to 3000 fps with a 140 grain bullet. I am not sure I can get this with a regular 6.5-06. The barrel is a Hart 27 inch SS, sendero contour, fluted and threaded for a brake or ? I do not want to go with a build on a short mag case, cause I am using a std. long action Rem. 700. I am 75 yrs young and have been reloading since I was in my late teens. I need something a little more than the 6.5 creedmoore. I have a .264 win mag just want something in between. Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[FEENIX]

Wanting to build a 6.5-06 but the question is to A.I. it or Gibbs it or leave it like it is? I would like to get 2900 to 3000 fps with a 140 grain bullet. I am not sure I can get this with a regular 6.5-06. The barrel is a Hart 27 inch SS, sendero contour, fluted and threaded for a brake or ? I do not want to go with a build on a short mag case, cause I am using a std. long action Rem. 700. I am 75 yrs young and have been reloading since I was in my late teens. I need something a little more than the 6.5 creedmoore. I have a .264 win mag just want something in between. Thanks in advance for your time.

"IF" you are willing and able to do the additional time and effort and cost associated with it ... go for it. Otherwise, leave it as-is. Between AI and Gibbs, AI is the easier route. I have a .30 Gibbs and currently prepping to fire-form brass. Good luck!

 

[DocDoc]

Given you will have to reload your choices are 6.5-06, the AI, 6.5 Sherman, and 6.5 Gibbs. The last two have the largest capacity and will give the most velocity. The AI is about midway between the 06 parent and the Shermeb/Gibbs. The cost of the dies and reamer might be the deciding factor. All should give your minimum and the fast two well beyond. Personally I would probably choose the AI or Sherman and start with the best .270 Win brass I could get.

 

[elkaholic]

Wanting to build a 6.5-06 but the question is to A.I. it or Gibbs it or leave it like it is? I would like to get 2900 to 3000 fps with a 140 grain bullet. I am not sure I can get this with a regular 6.5-06. The barrel is a Hart 27 inch SS, sendero contour, fluted and threaded for a brake or ? I do not want to go with a build on a short mag case, cause I am using a std. long action Rem. 700. I am 75 yrs young and have been reloading since I was in my late teens. I need something a little more than the 6.5 creedmoore. I have a .264 win mag just want something in between. Thanks in advance for your time.

I went through the same process a few years ago. I had 6.5 A.I.'s that I really liked but decided to up the performance a bit after going through the second barrel. I decided on the Gibbs because I knew they were the most you could get out of an '06 head size. I went as far as ordering brass from Quality Cartridge, but when I looked at it, I thought the neck was waaaay too short for my liking.
This was when I decided since I was dealing with a wildcat anyway, I would design my own. That's when the 6.5 Sherman was created back in '08. I really liked the A.I. design but wanted Gibbs capacity so I started with a 270W case to gain .046" more length. I took more taper out of the case than the A.I., moved the shoulder forward and maintained the 40 degree angle. The result was a case that still had a .300" long neck and near identical capacity as the Gibbs. Around 75 1/2 grains with WW or Norma brass. The result was performance near a 264 WM with much better barrel life. There have been a bunch of them built and with the modern powders, people have reached near 3300' with 140 grain bullets.
Reamers and dies are in stock and cases are easy to form.
shermanwildcatcartridges.com

 

[25WSM]

Your 6.5-06 will easily hit 3000 with a 26 inch barrel. I've built 3 or 4 6.5-06ai and they do 3150. Rl26 will get them over 3200.
Shep

 

[Farmerboy78]

I'm over 3000fps with re26 and a 140gr berger

 

[TAWS]

Thank you all and thank you Shep as I am going with the Std. 6.5-06 as the extra inch (27 in.) should get me over the 3000 fps hump. That will save me a little in dies etc.. I plan on shooting the Horn. 143 grain or Nosler's 140 accubond . I did find a 1# can of Re 26 at my local Gun store, so I have that covered for a "little while". I will follow the Hornady book on the cartridge but sometimes they are very conservative.

 

[antelopedundee]

Given you will have to reload your choices are 6.5-06, the AI, 6.5 Sherman, and 6.5 Gibbs. The last two have the largest capacity and will give the most velocity. The AI is about midway between the 06 parent and the Shermeb/Gibbs. The cost of the dies and reamer might be the deciding factor. All should give your minimum and the fast two well beyond. Personally I would probably choose the AI or Sherman and start with the best .270 Win brass I could get.

Why not start with .25-06 brass whether you choose the 6.5-06 or the AI? I have a 6.5-06AI on the way and the smith said that it chambers a factory .25-06 round with a smidgen of resistance so that would eliminate any game playing when it comes to fire forming cases.

 

[TAWS]

I will do that as I have years of 25-06 brass. Hornady dies or RCBS .

 

[elkaholic]

Why not start with .25-06 brass whether you choose the 6.5-06 or the AI? I have a 6.5-06AI on the way and the smith said that it chambers a factory .25-06 round with a smidgen of resistance so that would eliminate any game playing when it comes to fire forming cases.

If you use '06 brass, you will end up with brass that is .015" shorter than it should be! This can cause carbon ring build up and other issues that can be avoided by just using 270 brass in the first place.
I would never use any 06 length brass to foem an A.I. or a Sherman.

 

[stel67]

I had the same dilemma, I ended up going 6.5x280ai . No need to fire form brass. Just get factory 280 ai brass and neck down. You can also use standard 280ai bushing die. I am getting 3100 using h1000 and Berger 140 bullets with no pressure

 

[25WSM]

Run some rl-26 in that and get more than 3200 if want a bump in performance. I like the temp stability and less throat wear of h1000 myself.
Shep

 

[fremont]

I have both an AI version and a 264 WM. I got the AI first but always wanted a 264 and got one when the M70 Super Grades came out. I didn't need the 264 IMHO; the 6.5-06AI does essentially everything my magnum does. I shoot the AI with a 26" Pac-Nor 1:8.

 

[25WSM]

264 supergrade nice combo.
Shep