My growing '06 family

[jmayton]

So after years of shooting my beloved 30-06, I had an old 1917 Enfield rebored to 338-06.  Now that project is pretty much finished, I'm thinking about building something else, most likely a 6.5-06.  I've been looking at the ballistics of it and with a 140gr it doesn't have as much energy as the 338, but beats the 30-06 in both trajectory and energy.  So to me it seems like the best balanced in the '06 family.  Though the 280 has some appeal as well.  It will mainly be used for the range as well as Mulies and occassionally Antelope.  Thoughts?

[RevJim]

 I considered a 6.5/06 before, it has lots of potential. I used a 6.5/284 on a short action 700 a couple years, and only used the Nosler 120/125's with awesome effectiveness on deer/exotics. I suppose the 140's may be worth it, and for sure, if you built it on a Mod 700, you could seat them out far. May as well go for it!

[jabey9210]

I would choose the 280 over the 6.5/06 for a couple of reasons.  If you're gonna shoot at mulies the 280 offers better bullet choices as in berger 168 gr hunting vld's that you can use for hunting and long range shooting.  The second reason if you're gonna shoot alot at the range the 6.5/06 is known as a barrel burner and you will get quite a few more shots out of a .280 than a 6.5/06 before the barrel gives up the ghost.  Either one you choose is a fine cartridge though I love all 6.5's and 7mm's...  as far as I'm concerned they are the 2 best calibers out there...

[Lloyd Smale]

first ill say improving on the 06 in real world hunting with a non mag round is tough to do. that said i do like the 280 and have killed many deer with it. Is it better or worse then an 06? I dont know as both have gotten the job done. My buddy is a big fan of the 6.5x06. Hes got a couple custon rifles chambered for it and has killed many deer and some way out there with it. Id say you probably cant go wrong with any of your choises. Just dont expect a majical increase in any catagory over the good old o6.

[charles p]

280 Ackley is a good option.

[RevJim]

 I'm having a Mod 700 Mountain rifle rebarreled right now...to 30.06. It will have a Shilen #2 LwtWt 24', just slightly heavier/longer than the factory barrel that came on the rifle. ( it was in 30.06 and someone had neglected it, rust/crud) I wanted a slim/trim rifle but in a caliber I can use on elk too. I "almost" picked the 6.5/06 as I have never had one. However, i have '06 ammo/cases/bullets/dies out the wazoo, ha, so decided to stick with Ol Warhorse. While I have good loads from 125 to 240, I am going to work up a load with the new Barnes 130 TTSX as my flat shooter/deer load. I like the 165/168 TSX on elk size. I have a little experience with the .280 and it is a fine round, although I think a .280 Ackley Improved is the way to go in a 24-26" barrel. It would crowd a 7mm Remamg factory load ( heck, some new .280 ammo does that already) but for targets, occasional deer/elk, a fast twist 6.5/06 on a 700 long action would be hard to beat! I never worry about shot out barrels, if I can afford to have a semi-custom rifle made up, I can always afford a new barrel, ha.

[nomosendero]

Well, with 6.5-06 & 338-06 you would sure have North America covered, if you wanted to with 2 guns you could. The 280/280AI is a great choice too, but with the 338 for Elk & bigger, the 6.5 or 7 would be pretty much equal for Deer/Antelope & the 6.5 would be better for big Varmits & with 140's the 6.5 excells for target work too. Just thrown in a 223 for volume & small Varmits & really you would lack nothing, though most of us would "want" more.

[roper]

Since we have to draw for deer tags here if I get drawn for a buck tag I'll use a 280AI same cal if drawn for buck antelope and cow elk tag.  Bull elk tag use a bow this year.

Don't own a 6.5 cal rifle.  Lots of good calibers.  Well good luck

[Savage_99]

So after years of shooting my beloved 30-06, I had an old 1917 Enfield rebored to 338-06.  Now that project is pretty much finished, I'm thinking about building something else, most likely a 6.5-06.  I've been looking at the ballistics of it and with a 140gr it doesn't have as much energy as the 338, but beats the 30-06 in both trajectory and energy.  So to me it seems like the best balanced in the '06 family.  Though the 280 has some appeal as well.  It will mainly be used for the range as well as Mulies and occassionally Antelope.  Thoughts?

jmayton,

Let me argue against the building of guns. 

Your P-17 was already a 30-06.  How much was it worth as it was?   You did not say the barrel was defective so it must have been a viable 30-06 which is the worlds most popular and practical chambering! 

How much did it cost to bore and rifle that barrel to .338?

Any pictures of that P-17?

[jmayton]

Savage, first, the P-17's 30-06 barrel was in bad shape.  It had been shot with some old corrosive ammo and not cleaned properly.  Essentially it was a good action with a useless barrel taking up room in the safe.  I wanted a good shooter in an interesting caliber.  The rebore was less expensive than a rebarrel.  Total cost for rebarrel, stock refinishing, and trigger was right at $500.  Also, my primary rifle is a Savage 110 in 30-06.  The 338 has been a great project and I'm still working on it (they're difficult to bed properly), but I absolutely trust the 30-06. 





As far as pictures, here they are:  http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,233943.msg1099314138.html#msg1099314138


As for building guns, I generally agree with you.  I can go buy a good quality rifle in a popular (or in some cases less-than-popular) caliber for much less than I can build one.  And, as far as calibers within my battery go, the only "standard" I'm missing is a 30-30.  So if I build, it's to get something that I can't buy off-the-shelf.  I handload and like to tinker.  Next up, if I can't do the 6.5-06, I will build either a 6.5 grendel AR or a long slide Glock for USPSA limited. 


For all the others who mentioned the 280, thanks.  I feel like if I built the 6.5-06 I'd always think, "Why didn't I build a 280?"

[Barstooler]

jmayton,
 
I shoot 25-06, 6.5-06 AI, 270 Win, 30-06, 338-06, and 35 Whelen.
 
My 6.5-06 AI was originally just a plain 6.5-06, but discovered it had a burred chamber (chambered 3 years prior to getting the rest of the rifle built and in the meantime the gunsmith had passed away). So the easiest way to fix the bad chamber was to rechamber to AI version.
 
Either the 6.5-06 or the AI version is what I would recommend for either range or mulies.  The AI will run just under a 264 Win Mag with less powder. Cases are easily made by necking up 25-06 and fire-forming.
 
If you go with the 280 then get the 280 AI.   The standard 280, however, gives you nothing that you can't get from a plain-Jane 6.5-06 and you have better bullet selection for the 6.5. 
 
Lastly, if you go with a 6.5 build, be sure to get at least a 1:9 twist for 140gr bullets.
 
Barstooler

[Lloyd Smale]

Not to be a smartass barstooler but in what world does the 6.5 have a better selection of bullets then the 7mms. Im a big fan of both calibers but theres probably 10 times the bullets out there for sale for 7s then there is 6.5s and that includes varmit weight, match bullets and hunting bullets and a much bigger swing in weights

[charles p]

Agreed.  Bullets gallore for 7mm.

[nomosendero]

No doubt, facts are that the 7 has alot more bullets for the record.
 
Of course we all know that the 30cal. has even more, but who cares, all 3 cals. now have great selection.

[bigswede]

While the 6.5-06 standard or improved version would be a good choice for what you're after, I think you are just ass backwards.  You neeed a .400 Whelen

[Don Fischer]

I used to be in the camp that looked at bullet selection. Nothing beats a 30 cal for bullet selection. Then it occured to me that I only primarily only used one ot two of those bullet's. Then my cabnit grew and I found that for each rifle I could find one bullet and load that worked best and switch to a lighter or heavier bullet as needed by meerly picking a different rifle out of the cabnit. I don't have a safe, I have a cabnit. Anyway, for me, the idea of having a bunch of bullet's avaliable when your only gonna use one or two kinda defeats the purpose of having them all avaliable. Tell me, if you have a 243 and a 30-06 and you want to go varmit hunting, Would you choose the 30-06 with a 110gr bullet or the 243 with say a 70 gr bullet. The range of bullet's in different calibers doesn't necessarily mean they will all be great in any one rifle.
I have the 6.5x06. I stay with 140gr SMK to shoot target's and 129ga Hornady's for hunting. I have made case's for it by necking up 25-06 case's and necking down 30-06, 280 and 270 cases and trimming as needed.