Thread: 6.5mm-06 Loads Advice

Well I'd it's anything like the 264 win mag the two best modern powders are rl26 and rl33. Slower the better
H1000 minimum

I have 2 of the ai versions. Fastest powder is RL 26. I use 22 and 23 in one of my rifles to Dave 26. H1000 also gets good reviews and I've just bought 2209 to use in my shorter barrel one as that is becoming a more popular choice over seas as powder gets harder to come by

Greetings All,
I got to the end of my search for a load for my friends 6.5mm-06. After starting with AR2217 and experiencing very low velocities the likely charge needed was calculated which would not fit so it was back to AR2213SC. Previously with 140 grain Interlock projectiles the rifle has needed 2 additional grains of powder to reach Hodgdon or Nosler book velocity so 52 (Nosler max) and 53 grains were tried with 129 grain Interlocks. 2,744 and 2,787fps, a little less than expected. The 129 grain Nosler LRAB are harder than the Hornady and more velocity was expected and was delivered at 2,873 fps, or about the Hodgdons max for the 130 grain AB. More could likely be extracted but this will do for now.
So the question remains. Why is the chronographed data for this rifle so far below both the Hodgdons and Nosler book data? Previous testing in a 6.5x55mm has shown velocities for AR2213SC to be in line with the data and lot tests have revealed no significant changes in speed. Some data from the 80's gives a clue. This shows some data more in line with what I am finding.
So here is my theory. Up until the mid 90's Americans hated anything in 6.5mm (and 8mm) calibre with a passion. This all came crashing down when a certain cartridge appeared in 6.5mm. This unlocked the door and many followed including the previous wildcat the 6.5mm-06. The continentals developed rifling systems to suit the long 6.5mm projectiles with deeper grooves to keep pressure down. In the US tighter bores ruled and these were applied to the 6.5mm-06 when domesticated by A2 around 2,000 before it crashed a few years later. My friends rifle was rebarrelled in the mid 90's. Somewhere in my stacks of old Handloader mags I remember some load data for the 6.5 x 64 Brenneke (6.5mm-.270). Perhaps I should look them up.
Regards Grandpamac.

you have a 130ish grain projectile going between 2700-2900fps and its accurate...so where is the problem??????
JUST USE IT.
I mean the 6.5 crowd are forever crowing about the BC of these skinny projectiles so what you have will hold up pretty darn well as it is..unless said friend is intending to shoots gnats off the moon,will be ranging and dialing up after extensive range testing to verify drops out to beyond next week...what is the point of trying to wring out that last maybe posible 150fps??? it will kill anything you point it at IF YOU point it correctly and poke APPROPRIATE projectile into APPROPRIATE place....and lets be completely honest here...if thats hillar area from slightly rearward angle,pretty much anything will work ,especially if can munt farside shoulder on way out.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you have a 130ish grain projectile going between 2700-2900fps and its accurate...so where is the problem??????
JUST USE IT.
I mean the 6.5 crowd are forever crowing about the BC of these skinny projectiles so what you have will hold up pretty darn well as it is..unless said friend is intending to shoots gnats off the moon,will be ranging and dialing up after extensive range testing to verify drops out to beyond next week...what is the point of trying to wring out that last maybe posible 150fps??? it will kill anything you point it at IF YOU point it correctly and poke APPROPRIATE projectile into APPROPRIATE place....and lets be completely honest here...if thats hillar area from slightly rearward angle,pretty much anything will work ,especially if can munt farside shoulder on way out.

Greetings @Micky Duck,
And use that load is exactly what will happen. It is just my nature that when I see an anomaly I just have to dig into it to see what is going on with the load data that is so different to what I am getting. This is magnified by the shite weather we have been getting in HB lately. @Bos has kindly supplied some data in the previous post which will enable me to draw some conclusions in a separate post.

Bit late to the party but I get good results with n560 in the 130-140 range, have some 147s to have a play with pne rainy day