I just recently stumbled upon an article that talked about the 6.5-06. I know the 6.5 projectiles are pretty popular in f-class shooting and I was curious about the advantages and disadvantages of this round? I would guess barrel life wouldn't be too terrible, and obviously bullet choice would be decent. How do you think it would stack up against other rounds for this type of shooting?
6.5-06 FClass?
- Thread starter SouthPaw700
- Start date
It isn't about the cartridge, it's about the bullet and how accurate and fast you make the bullet go. The Berger 6.5 140 grain is an outstanding bullet.
IF you can make one of these do 2850+ and do it with great accuracy, you would do very well.
The down-side to the cartridge is barrel life 12-1500 F-Class accurate rounds, and the need for a long action.
Personally, If I was going to build an F-Class gun off an '06 case, I would look at a 280 or 280 AI. The 190 Matrix and 180 Berger are great bullets and will outperform the 6.5's
IF you can make one of these do 2850+ and do it with great accuracy, you would do very well.
The down-side to the cartridge is barrel life 12-1500 F-Class accurate rounds, and the need for a long action.
Personally, If I was going to build an F-Class gun off an '06 case, I would look at a 280 or 280 AI. The 190 Matrix and 180 Berger are great bullets and will outperform the 6.5's
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
a 6.5-06 Imp has been campaigned by one of US top shooters for a number of years. He also shoots bullets we can't get up here.
As he does all his own installs, barrel life is moot. For us that pay to play, it is as good/bad as any other popular F class option.
Compared to the bigger 7's and now 30s, recoil is substantially less. Wind drift is proportionately more.
It has won alot of big matches over the years. Why it was not publicised or more popular is surprising?
Jerry
As he does all his own installs, barrel life is moot. For us that pay to play, it is as good/bad as any other popular F class option.
Compared to the bigger 7's and now 30s, recoil is substantially less. Wind drift is proportionately more.
It has won alot of big matches over the years. Why it was not publicised or more popular is surprising?
Jerry
rnbra-shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Brunswick
I shot a 6.5-06 in F-Class for a few years (around 2000). It was an honest 3/4 MOA rifle and it never really was a competitive rifle even back then (and things in F-Class have really advanced since then!). Not only could I not reliably get better than 3/4 MOA accuracy at short range, I also could not figure out how to get good uniformity of muzzle velocity and that obviously shows up as vertical spread at long range.
You can get almost as much velocity as a 6.5-.284 which isn't particularly surprising since they have very similar case capacities.
I found the cartridge to be in a bit of an awkward place case-capacity-wise, there weren't many powders that were "just right" for it, almost every powder was either too quick or too slow. I think a larger or a small case would be better. I would prefer a bit smaller (but larger than a .260 Rem), either a slightly shortened 6.5-.284 or a 6.5x55 Swede (as-is, or Improved).
Recoil wise it's basically the same as a .308/155 (i.e. a 155 grain bullet at 3000fps vs a 142 grain bullet at 2900-3050 fps), though because of the larger case and smaller bore the muzzle blast is noticeably louder than a .308.
Barrel life will be virtually identical to a 6.5-.284.
If you want a high performance 6.5mm rifle with that case capacity I can't think of a single reason to use the 6.5-06 instead of the 6.5-.284; the latter is just so absolutely proven you get to copy everybody's experience, plus there are several different kinds of very high quality brass for it.
You can get almost as much velocity as a 6.5-.284 which isn't particularly surprising since they have very similar case capacities.
I found the cartridge to be in a bit of an awkward place case-capacity-wise, there weren't many powders that were "just right" for it, almost every powder was either too quick or too slow. I think a larger or a small case would be better. I would prefer a bit smaller (but larger than a .260 Rem), either a slightly shortened 6.5-.284 or a 6.5x55 Swede (as-is, or Improved).
Recoil wise it's basically the same as a .308/155 (i.e. a 155 grain bullet at 3000fps vs a 142 grain bullet at 2900-3050 fps), though because of the larger case and smaller bore the muzzle blast is noticeably louder than a .308.
Barrel life will be virtually identical to a 6.5-.284.
If you want a high performance 6.5mm rifle with that case capacity I can't think of a single reason to use the 6.5-06 instead of the 6.5-.284; the latter is just so absolutely proven you get to copy everybody's experience, plus there are several different kinds of very high quality brass for it.
Terry Perkins
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Bruce County
One of my experiences firsthand against a 6.5-06 improved was in a provincial championship shoot-off. I was using a 6.5-284 at the time. We were shooting at 300 yards on the 1 moa bull. The RSO being of sound mind knew we could hold V bull all day, but had a schedule to keep. So, he used a loonie to draw an outline of a new V bull for us. Five shots later the 6.5-06 imp had outscored me 5 V's to 3 V's. He's still shooting that damn caliber.
6.5
Here is my 2 cents.
I recently bought and shoot GC 63 swedish target rifle(Carl Gustaffs).
Frankly I was freaking amazed what it does.
On 550 yards with peep sites I was able to shoot 1 sq. foot steel plates one after the other. Windage was almost at 0 on very windy day.
Could probably try @ 600 yards but I could barely see target through peep site.
So I am buying dioptric lens 1.5 magnification to instal in front site.
Friend of mine almost had a heart attack, so he is buying one as well.
Set up:
Brass: Lapua virgin 6.5 over 55
Bullet: 139 Gr Lapua Scenar
Charge: 46 Gr N 560
I bought the other one to install the scope and shoot 1000 yards.
Will keep you posted.
Here is my 2 cents.
I recently bought and shoot GC 63 swedish target rifle(Carl Gustaffs).
Frankly I was freaking amazed what it does.
On 550 yards with peep sites I was able to shoot 1 sq. foot steel plates one after the other. Windage was almost at 0 on very windy day.
Could probably try @ 600 yards but I could barely see target through peep site.
So I am buying dioptric lens 1.5 magnification to instal in front site.
Friend of mine almost had a heart attack, so he is buying one as well.
Set up:
Brass: Lapua virgin 6.5 over 55
Bullet: 139 Gr Lapua Scenar
Charge: 46 Gr N 560
I bought the other one to install the scope and shoot 1000 yards.
Will keep you posted.
Lonewolf, The OP is referring to a rifle for use in F-Class. Your achievement with your rifle is excellent, and it only adds fuel to my argument in favour of the 6.5 SE cartridge as being one of the best 6.5's around.
F-Class is a sport where it is imprtant to have a gun and ammunition that are capable of a minimum of .5 MOA accuracy to 1000 yards/900M in order to be competitive. While any sight is permissible in F-Class, the majority use very high magnification, top quality target scopes too.
F-Class is a sport where it is imprtant to have a gun and ammunition that are capable of a minimum of .5 MOA accuracy to 1000 yards/900M in order to be competitive. While any sight is permissible in F-Class, the majority use very high magnification, top quality target scopes too.
6.5
If I will instaled my scope S@B from AI on her it could be very close.
I will do it on my second one that that coming not a target one, will keep you posted.
Cheers.
If I will instaled my scope S@B from AI on her it could be very close.
I will do it on my second one that that coming not a target one, will keep you posted.
Cheers.
I am indeed sorry.... this makes no sense to me whatsoever.... if I need a translation form a more text-lexicon-savvy member, i will let them sort this out and paint me a picture that makes sense... I am very sorry if my own comprehension is the source of the confusion.
6.5
My appologies,
did not mean to hurt your feeling and i am not F class shooter.... so lets forget it.....
Cheers.
My appologies,
did not mean to hurt your feeling and i am not F class shooter.... so lets forget it.....
Cheers.
