6.5-06 HOB-NOB

[tbear826]

I recently picked up a 6.5-06 on a ruger platform. I am anxious to shoot it, but in N.D. it's to cold and the snow too deep as yet.  Any input as to the round is welcomed. also, any inpuut as to handloads would be great.

[shot1]

Most anything shooting a .264 bullet is a good deer rifle. I could never understand why Remington or somebody never brought the 6.5-06 into the fold. I myself have never owned a 6.5-06 but do have a 6.5X55 and a 264 Win mag. My buddy has had a couple of 6.5-06's over the past 19 years I have been hunting with him. Both were real shooters. They really need at least a 24" barrel, 26" is better. You can come close to 24" barrel 264 Win mag velocity with a 26" barrel. My buddies 6.5-06's liked IMR-4350 and 120 gr Nosler ballistic tips and Sierra SPT bullets. He used them for bean field deer hunting in east NC. From my experience this past season with my 264 Win mag if I had to pick just one bullet for deer through elk I would not look any farther than the 130 gr Nosler Accubond. Flies like and starts to open up like a ballistic tip but holds together and keeps on trucking like a partition. 

[nomosendero]

Most anything shooting a .264 bullet is a good deer rifle. I could never understand why Remington or somebody never brought the 6.5-06 into the fold. I myself have never owned a 6.5-06 but do have a 6.5X55 and a 264 Win mag. My buddy has had a couple of 6.5-06's over the past 19 years I have been hunting with him. Both were real shooters. They really need at least a 24" barrel, 26" is better. You can come close to 24" barrel 264 Win mag velocity with a 26" barrel. My buddies 6.5-06's liked IMR-4350 and 120 gr Nosler ballistic tips and Sierra SPT bullets. He used them for bean field deer hunting in east NC. From my experience this past season with my 264 Win mag if I had to pick just one bullet for deer through elk I would not look any farther than the 130 gr Nosler Accubond. Flies like and starts to open up like a ballistic tip but holds together and keeps on trucking like a partition. 

Yep to all the above!!

[tbear826]

I presently have a .260rem and a swede. The 260 is a h-e-a-v-y rifle and I only use it for target shooting with 140 gr lapua scenars.  The swede is a CZ550 and it is used for hunting with 129 hornady bullets.
This 6.5-06 I acquired is supposed to shoot like a banchee. I will load it with 123 lapuas and would like to see at least 3150fps. I hope someone comes across with their secret load for this.  I do have a list of loads I may try ,but in my experience, if a certain recipe works well for someone,,,it'll be close to a winner for another. I think I will start with Re22 with a healthy charge of it.

[shotgun31]

I use a Bullberry 6.5-06 on an Encore.  You'll like the 6.5-06;  it's my favorite caliber! 

RL-19 has been working the best in mine, I have used either 140 grain (Hornaday interlocks, Nosler partitions or Berger VLD's) or 95 grain V-Maxes.  All work good in the 1X9" twist on my barrel.  The Berger VLD is superbly accurate in my rifle, I'm using 48 1/2 grains RL-19.  That's not a hot load for the 6.5-06, but I load for greatest accuracy and consistency.  Of course, even work up to that one.  Crony's at 2750 FPS from my 24" barrel.  It's killed an antelope, and several deer, dead right there--never moved.  The VLD goes right through from over 200 yards;  full penetration, 2" hole on the far side.
Shotgun     

[tbear826]

Yo shotgun! Thanks for the response.  I am also a fan of the encore.It's sorta tricky to get subperb accuracy, but once you get it,, it's there.  I'll be using my 6.5-06 mostly for paper targets, But I know I'll be killing a deer with it.  The VLD recipe is a good start,and yes I always work up slowly. I am not a speed freak, I am an accuracy freak.  But,if I can acheive both in a load, I sleep with a smile on my face.

[Justin10mm]

I would think the 6.5-06 would be closer in performance to the 270 than to the 25-06.
How would you compare the three?