Thread: The 6.5-06 gets an upgrade

Tuiman2 sent me a pm today of an improvement he has completed for me on my 6.5-06 barrel for the Blaser.
Dont worry BB you'll get there one day If I give you the reamer.

The standard version is excellent. But I had the reamer come in for another project tuiman is working on, so we decided to upgrade the long barrel while we waited. It should give a tad more velocity with better case life. A new March that arrived this week will top it off. I cant wait to get home and work up a load to shoot some LR targets.

L-R Standard and the new AI


Its now a sexy-er wee round I reckon.

Very nice what were you getting with the standard case and a 140gr and what are you hoping for with the new improved case?
Kiwi Gregs new 6.5 SAUM also looks mighty interesting pushing a 140gr in a short action at 3100fps

Originally Posted by Terminator

Very nice what were you getting with the standard case and a 140gr and what are you hoping for with the new improved case?
Kiwi Gregs new 6.5 SAUM also looks mighty interesting pushing a 140gr in a short action at 3100fps

3150 was easy to achieve but case life was shit in my rifle around 3 loads. I brought it back to 3080 and got a few more turns on the brass. Maily due to stretch, pockets and heads were fine.
I should/hope to get 3100-3150 comfortably with no trimming and way better case life. I have never owned an AI cartridge before so its all new to me.

Another .5mm in bullet diameter and the one on the right would be perfect

Originally Posted by sneeze

Another .5mm in bullet diameter and the one on the right would be perfect

Ha Ha I always wanted a .280 AI but I decided to stay straight.

Originally Posted by R93

Ha Ha I always wanted a .280 AI but I decided to stay straight.

The worst part is if you run the numbers the 140 @ 3100 beats the 162 @ 2900 in every way except energy but it is only a few ft,lbs behind right out to 1000 yards

I thought the 162 would be ahead

That 6.5 is looking better & better

What length barrel are you running Dave ?

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

The worst part is if you run the numbers the 140 @ 3100 beats the 162 @ 2900 in every way except energy but it is only a few ft,lbs behind right out to 1000 yards

I thought the 162 would be ahead

That 6.5 is looking better & better



What length barrel are you running Dave ?

I have a 26" barrel, my mate has a 24" in a blaser barrel as well and gets about 30fps less speed than I do with the same load.

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

The worst part is if you run the numbers the 140 @ 3100 beats the 162 @ 2900 in every way except energy but it is only a few ft,lbs behind right out to 1000 yards

I thought the 162 would be ahead

That 6.5 is looking better & better

What length barrel are you running Dave ?

Well it would but why would you run a 280ai with a 26 inch barrel at 2900 fps?

Originally Posted by sneeze

Well it would but why would you run a 280ai with a 26 inch barrel at 2900 fps?

True, ya wouldnt. Same case, so whats .5 a mil between mates?

Originally Posted by sneeze

Well it would but why would you run a 280ai with a 26 inch barrel at 2900 fps?

Well the data I have a few run 3000 but most are 2900 & even at 3000 the 162 is still just behind ballisticly but ahead in energy

The 280ai at 3000 puts the 7mmRem mag to shame unless you stoke it right up, most seem to do 3050-3100

Looking forward to getting my 280ai back with a 24" barrel instead of 22, won't be running N560 though

Originally Posted by R93

Ha Ha I always wanted a .280 AI but I decided to stay straight.

And yet you have Blaser

Originally Posted by sneeze

And yet you have Blaser

Nothing gay about perfection Sneeze. Theres a lot to be said about .280 AI owners though

That looks great R93

Then you should use the same source for the 6.5-06ai data where they also show a spread from 2975 up to 3110 but I think the powder choices are poor for both cals on most of those options. Vit n165 and n560 are the 2 best from what I seen, I'v stayed with the single based n165 as its been very consistant through the seasons. Recoil? you really think you'll notice the difference between a 140 at 3100 and a 162 at 3000? Be interesting to see some psi numbers on the ackley rounds. Mines lightish I think just going on brass life as as im over 12 reloads on the nosler brass but still pushing the amax at 2925 from a 23".