6.5-06 or 6.5x284 Rebarrel Question?

[CaptnC]

Getting ready to hang a barrel on a Savage LA and struggling with the caliber. Plus I have the 6.5mm bug...can't seem to get rid of it.

I want the bolt face to stay the same, donor action originally had a 270 barrel on it.

I already have a 6.5-06 built on a Colombian mauser action which shoots great. I built it for my Colombian wife. I thought it was a cool idea seeing how they both came from Colombia.

Anyway, I already have the dies 6.5-06 and even though head stamped brass is hard to come by. It is very simple to make brass for it.

Is it worth the cost of buying new dies for a 6.5x284 and buying new brass? Will the velocity gain be enough to add a new caliber to the herd? I want to get the most bang for my buck, but don't want to buy a bunch of new accessories if I don't need too.

My next project is to rebarrel my 300wsm to 6.5wsm so I already have plans to make a 6.5mm bullet really zip along.

Thoughts?

 

[Plinker147]

I have 2 6.5-06s and have pondered this same question. If I was starting from scratch I would do the 6.5-284 just for quality stamped brass. But since I'm already in the 6.5-06 not enough difference to justify for me. The two cartridges are ballistic twins. There is a slight speed advantage to a 6.5-284 but it is so close it can very from rifle to rifle.

I would put your money towards the 6.5 SAUM or WSM build

 

[CaptnC]

Thank P147...

I found some 6.5-06 head stamped brass but once fired 30-06 is laying around the range all the time so I've been using that in the wife's 6.5-06.

I have guns in 270 and 25-06 in my herd so I don't use those two calibers to make brass.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Either one will work well, I vote 6.5x284 only because I have one and love it .

 

[Greyfox]

While the two are very close, I'm very impressed with the 6.5x284. So much so that I scrapped plans a few years ago for a 6.5 cartridge with more juice. Lapua brass is superb. Using 140's at 3000FPS, it's exceptionally accurate, and deadly on game to 1000+ yards.

 

[stomp442]

Really not an ounce of difference between the two performance wise. All depends on how much you want to work on brass. Do you want to neck down cases then turn necks or just buy brass and go? If it was me and I was leaning toward the 6.5-06 I would go ahead and opt for the Ackley version and just add one more step to the process and make the work worth my while.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

6.5/06 any day everyday....much much much easier to make work! Lots of components available forever and ever...I never have kind words for the other, *"%#$ %$*$** $&---&-?"$#, @#@@#$#$%%$ !!!!!!!

 

[WeiserBucks]

6.5x284 is very easy to load for, what are you having trouble with ?

 

[B23]

I've got a 6.5-284 with a 26in tube and a 6.5-06AI with a 28in tube. Once you settle on an accuracy load, there just isn't that much difference between the two to make the extra work for the 6.5-06AI worth it. Improving the 06 case yields very little extra case capacity anyway and if you want more case capacity, IMO, there are much better ways of getting it, like just simply going to a larger case. If you want more case capacity take a look at doing a 6.5 SAUM or 6.5 WSM, otherwise, I'll take the 6.5-284 every time.

 

[CaptnC]

Thanks guy...

B23...I have a Savage SA 300wsm that will soon get a 6.5 pipe...so I have one in my future.

The reason I originally went with the 6.5-06 was because I didn't think there was enough difference between the two. Even though I have to make my brass, is was easier to come by than 6.5x284 brass. Both have expensive dies, so that was a wash.

My dad built a 25-06 when it was a wildcat cartridge so I've seen him making brass for years.

Still a tough call to make...

 

[CaptnC]

Just remembered something that I wish I had put in the original thread...

Barrel twist?

In the 6.5-06 I currently have...Douglas Barrels recommended 1:9 even though I originally ask for it to be 1:8...

 

[.30US]

Neither of your calibers are bad choices. I went with 6.5x55mm AI, which uses the cheapest brass Lapua makes, approaches 6.5-284 load data without a rebated rim. You get the hassle, if you consider it that, of fireforming an AI, but I don't mind shooting standard 6.5x55mm in it.

 

[jrock]

If you are looking for cost effective, the 6.5-06 is the route to go especially if you already own the dies. I really don't seen any use in having to guns that are the same cartridge in the closet so I would got some other route than a 6.5-06. If you are speed freak, go with the SAUM or WSM. If you don't need top speed, then the 6.5x284 is probably the best option other than a 6.5 Creedmoor which on long action wouldn't be worth the effort. Bolt heads are cheap so don't be afraid of swapping a standard head for a magnum head. You can even put a long baffle on the bolt to make it more like a short action for the short mags. Most of these are so similar I would advice going with what you really want or just whatever's most convenient. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[Jerry M]

6.5-06 can be made with one pass of the resizing die on .25-06 brass. 6.5-06 feeds slick as goose poop...