I'm at it again

RR,

Yes 6.5 has more respect in Canada but it remains that when you go into the field not matter where in Canada or the US you will see Big game hunters hanging on to .243 win,270 win, 7mm (Mostly 7mm RM), 30-30 win,308 win, 30-06, 300 winchester,WSM and RUM, 303 british, 338 winchester . (I didnt' cover the varmint Cals and ive left a few out)

This is what I see in the field....the popular Factory Chamberings.

When it comes to mainstream...I maintain that 6.5mm has never really been popular in NA.

One store in my area has 6.5x55 and of course its wimpy Federal and Remington stuff.....I dont' think they sell any rifles chambered in it either. I dont' see any 260 remington, 6.5 RM or 264 WM anywhere around .

Of course Target shooters, collectors, Gun-Nuts (im batching the hunters who reloadin there), arent' limited by what is on the shelf at the local sports store and have learned to take advantage of the 6.5 bore in its vairety of chamberings.
 
Actually there is one good reason to get an AI. My friend had a .30-06 that had great sentimental value to him, but it was suffering from fairly severe throat errosion. He had it AI's and he is still hunting with it.

The .257 Roberts AI is interesting too because it is available in a short action. The other thing is that playing around can sometimes be fun. It is part of a hobby. Otherwise we could all be shooting a .30-06!

Actually there is one other advantage to the AI vs a Magnum - you can have 5 in the magazine instead of 3. Unless you have a WSM then you probably have only 2... :)
 
I have 3 AI chamberings and a 303 Epps, and while I agree that they can be a PITA to get ready for the field at times, they are a lot of fun to play with most of the time. The argument that you wear out your barrel forming brass is a non-issue, since I form mine with the COW method, which wears barrels not even a tiny bit. My personal favorite "Improved" cases are the 6.5x55 AI and the 303 Epps. Both benefit from the straighter case walls [much less case stretch] and are ballistically superior to the parent without burning a spoonful of extra powder per round. As far as ammo goes, the AI & Epps chambering will shoot the standard round just fine, so not hard to find ammo if I happen to not have my reloads handy. Regards, Eagleye.
 
I shoot 2 - 260 rems,6.5x55,6.5-300 win mag.
I load my own. I don't care what the stores sell.In fact I load for 40+ calibers.The only factory ammo that gets shot arround here is 22 rimfire and a bit of shotgun .
I must hang out with the wrong crowd :pas 90% of the guys I hunt and or shoot with RELOAD.
Pathfinder said:
RR,

Yes 6.5 has more respect in Canada but it remains that when you go into the field not matter where in Canada or the US you will see Big game hunters hanging on to .243 win,270 win, 7mm (Mostly 7mm RM), 30-30 win,308 win, 30-06, 300 winchester,WSM and RUM, 303 british, 338 winchester . (I didnt' cover the varmint Cals and ive left a few out)

This is what I see in the field....the popular Factory Chamberings.

When it comes to mainstream...I maintain that 6.5mm has never really been popular in NA.

One store in my area has 6.5x55 and of course its wimpy Federal and Remington stuff.....I dont' think they sell any rifles chambered in it either. I dont' see any 260 remington, 6.5 RM or 264 WM anywhere around .

Of course Target shooters, collectors, Gun-Nuts (im batching the hunters who reloadin there), arent' limited by what is on the shelf at the local sports store and have learned to take advantage of the 6.5 bore in its vairety of chamberings.
Click to expand...
 
bearhunter338-06 said:
What do you think about these calibers:
25-06
25-06 AI
6.5-06
6.5-06 AI
280 Rem.
280 Rem AI.
30-06
30-06 AI

What are the pros and cons. of these calibers.
Click to expand...

Pros and cons depend what it is you want to do with them. There is no magic answer. Shooter? Hunting? Take it out and look at on sundays?

The AI versions are good if you don't ming ####ing up the resale value and you enjoy reloading as much as shooting. Actual velocity gain is not worth screwing up a good rifle in my opinion, especially in the 30-06 but if it turns your crank go for it.

If you are a big game hunter (elk, moose) the 280 and 30-06 are a better choice than the 25-06 or 6.5/06, but you can make any of them work.
 
RR said:
I shoot 2 - 260 rems,6.5x55,6.5-300 win mag.
I load my own. I don't care what the stores sell.In fact I load for 40+ calibers.The only factory ammo that gets shot arround here is 22 rimfire and a bit of shotgun .
I must hang out with the wrong crowd :pas 90% of the guys I hunt and or shoot with RELOAD.
Click to expand...

You're preaching to the converted, I load my own too own a 6.5x55 and used own a 264 .

Im pretty sure the gun culture is stronger out west because reloaders out here are greatly outnumbered . The great majority shoot half a box before a hunt and call it good......sad but true.
 
Pathfinder said:
You're preaching to the converted, I load my own too own a 6.5x55 and used own a 264 .

Im pretty sure the gun culture is stronger out west because reloaders out here are greatly outnumbered . The great majority shoot half a box before a hunt and call it good......sad but true.
Click to expand...

When I tell people I handload, they say..."What?! You MAKE your OWN cartridges?!?:eek: They think you have to be a scientist...:rolleyes:
 
With exception of the 6.5-06, which is a handloading cartridge, I like it and the 25-06. I also like the 280, which needs to be handloaded to achieve its potential. Same with the 30-06. The AIs are fine, but they require more work.
 
BigUglyFudd said:
AIs are a waste of time. You wear your barrel fireforming the brass and for what? A thoeretical increase in velocity and case life? What do you gain in a 30-06 class of cartridge...1 grain of powder? Has anyone ever fired and resized a piece of 30-06 brass to the point that it failed? Exactly how often does one have to trim the above noted brass? Add to the discussion the fact that P.O. Ackley didn't actually chamber rifles for many of his wildcats and simply estimated their velocities, I don't see any real benefit or validity to the whole exercise. I was going to chamber my 25-06 to AI when I built the rifle but am just as glad that I didn't in the end. If you want a hotter 25, buy the Weatherby.

The 6.5-06 is a good idea, but a lot of extra fooling around to get to damned near the same place as the 270. Brass and ammunition for the 280 is scarce at best. The 25-06 is reasonably obtainable and the 30-06 is ubiquitous. There's somethign to be said for readily available components and ammunition.
Click to expand...





I don't know what it is, but you've change recently.......;)



RR said:
I shoot 2 - 260 rems,6.5x55,6.5-300 win mag.
I load my own. I don't care what the stores sell.In fact I load for 40+ calibers.The only factory ammo that gets shot arround here is 22 rimfire and a bit of shotgun .
I must hang out with the wrong crowd :pas 90% of the guys I hunt and or shoot with RELOAD.
Click to expand...

X2 If you get no satisfaction from the art of handloading, OR, if you are constantly losing your ammo, then buy a 30-30. You can get ammo for that ANYWHERE.........:rolleyes:
 
I shoot alot of ackley's, and some other wildcats. I look at brass forming as "trigger time" practice for me. Sometimes I fireform with pistol powder and cream of wheat. No barrel wear to worry about then. I like dinkin' around with these things and thats why I do it. I have a .30-06, and .30-30, those rifles bore me and sit in my safe and I shoot my .30 gibbs, 280 AI, and .257 RobertsAI. My .358 STA is a neat one too.
 
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