6.5mm-06 or stick with .270 Win

I'm planning on having one built on a Turk Mauser reciever, but I'm forced to move, and it'll wait but heres the particulars that I talked with the smith about:
1. remove ring and true reciever threads and face.
2. square bolt face, lap lugs, and reforge bolt handle.
3. 26 inch 1in 9 inch Douglas premium barrel chambered for 6.5-06.
4. Muzzlebrake, (because they will do it rather economically).
5. Drill and tap reciever for Redfield one pice base.
6. Parkerized, without removing the old battle scars.

That was where the smith and I left off, but it's a starting point..;)
 
@RCP: Since many rifle loonies (and I use the term kindly) hang out here, you will probably get a biased consensus for the 6.5-'06. I land on that same spot also. Practically, the .270 win makes more sense, but I've always been intrigued by the 6.5-'06. Matter of fact, I thought it should have been commercialized before the .25-'06, but given the current fad of short fat cartridges, its time for commercialization has likely passed.

I always thought the .338-'06 should have been commercialized instead of the 35 whelen, too. (or does the .338 A-square count? not sure.)
 
Since you reload, go for the 6.5. No question about it. Many more bullets to choose from. I sold mine but I'm going to rebarrel another soon.
 
I feel that the 6.5 is what I am after, but it may be my second barrel down the road. I'm not willing to risk spending more than $100-150 on a barrel blank that I very well my screw up. I have yet to find a 1:9" twist barrel blank in .270, which leads me to think that when I do, it's not going to be cheap, so if I go with .270, it will be a standard 1:10" twist

Now that leads to a few other questions....

What is the optimal barrel length, for either caliber? I will be going with a straight, or near straight contour.

What do you prefer, chromoly or stainless (ignoring finishing, I only care about which performs better)

Green Mountain Barrels has chromo and stainless in 27", but the bore and groove specs are on the loose side of SAAMI tolerances. They go for $100 and $140 for chromo/stainless.

Shilen Match Grade go for a little bit more, and are 28" long, but only the chromoly one is in my price range. Stainless pushes close to $250.
 
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With the greater number of high quality 6.5mm heavy bullets, I'd pick the 6.5-06 over the .270. It's barrel life for tack driving accuracy (that is, starting out at 1/4 MOA biggest groups at 100 yards) will be about 800 rounds compared to 1000 for the .270, it may be worth it. Both are overbore cartridges therefore, barrel life will be short.
 
Just one caliber away from each other. But the 270s has an outstanding track record. 6.5s got what? On the other hand 25-06 is a reloaders dream to play with.
 
Sure Shot, 6.5mm/26caliber cartridges have a long track record of excellent accuracy in competitive shooting disciplines. 27 caliber cartridges do not. But that's 'cause good match bullets have been made in 26 caliber for decades whereas 27 caliber ones have not.

Had the .308 Win case been necked down to 27 caliber and Sierra made three weights of good match bullets some years ago, the .270-.308 wildcat may well have been the round to go with instead of the 7mm-08.
 
Well bart. Should of. Could of. But it didn't happen!! 270-08. And I doubt it ever will. I don't see a commercial 6.5-06 either. Just to much competition for it to overcome from the already established 25-06 and 270. You have to wonder why the gun manufactures haven't mass produced the 6.5-06. I certainly don't expect it to be what I supposedly think.
Kind of reminds me of the 6.5X 57mm Mauser. Another one of those go no place kind of cartridge's. But this info shouldn't bother the OP as he may be able to chamber and change barrels. Having that ability is certainly a plus for him.



S/S
 
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I would prefer a 6.5X284 to an 6.5 x 06. Reasons being that they are commercially produced, bit faster, more accurate, and awesome high end factory brass is available from Norma And Lapua. I personally dont see the 06 as having enough advantage over the .270 to justify building one.
 
As to barrel length with either if you are going for max velocity 26" or longer on both. The GM barrel blank at 27" might finish at 26" long, hard to say but there will be some loss on both ends of the blank. The 28" Shilen will easily finish at 26", however I wouldn't be upset with a 22-24" barrel in either round.
 
steveNChunter said:
Have you also considered a .270 weatherby mag?
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It won't work in his RAR rifle that he is re-barreling. Ruger hasn't offered the American rifle yet with a magnum bolt face. When and if they do then the .270 Bee would be a viable option.
 
I would prefer a 6.5X284 to an 6.5 x 06. Reasons being that they are commercially produced, bit faster, more accurate, and awesome high end factory brass is available from Norma And Lapua. I personally dont see the 06 as having enough advantage over the .270 to justify building one.
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As an individual owning both, I have a couple of questions?

The 6.5 X 284 is faster? That is not my experience, based upon what? In my short action I have to load longer bullets deeper in the case and that encroaches on my powder capacity? I can get much faster velocities in my 6.5X 06.

More accurate? Again based upon what. For me I have only two rifles, so I have a N of 1.... It is hard to make an intelligent assessment of that. I find my 6.5X06 to be as accurate... possibly more accurate, but again I have an N of one.. What are you basing your experience on?

While I agree 6.4 X 284 brass is easily avaialbe. I promise I can make make 6.5 X 06 quickly and cheaper.

I own both. Both have their place. I find the 6.5 X 06 to be a pleasant, accurate cartridge that is easy to load for. I am happy with it out to 1000 yards!
 
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It won't work in his RAR rifle that he is re-barreling. Ruger hasn't offered the American rifle yet with a magnum bolt face. When and if they do then the .270 Bee would be a viable option.
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I didn't even think about the bolt face not being large enough, good point. I guess it couldn't be opened up enough to allow for a magnum. Thats a heck of a cartridge though.
 
Charles, as to velocity I get my information from published data. Published data has the 284 based cartridge faster than the 06 based one. Both my 6.5 X 284's are running much hotter than published data and I have never had any luck pushing anything based on an 06 case up much in pressure.
As to accuracy, 20% of the 1k guns I am seeing at the present are 6.5 X 284. I have never seen a 6.5-06 in a 1k match. I am guessing there is probably a reason for that.:)
 
I dont think the American's design can stand magnum cartridges. I think they will have to add a recoil lug, but I could be wrong.
 
I haven't seen the RAR bolt face, but there might be some problems with opening up the bolt face. The extractor might not work properly and require a lot of work to get it functioning properly. Not to mention with the detachable magazine may not be able to handle the magnum case, and the rails and possibly feed ramp would need reworked to have it feed properly as other than a single shot. There is a lot of work needed other than just opening up a bolt face to make it work as a magnum cartridge.

reynolds357 said:
I dont think the American's design can stand magnum cartridges. I think they will have to add a recoil lug, but I could be wrong.
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The RAR has plenty of recoil lugs, they are just built into the stock and not the action. So I'm pretty sure the design will hold up to the magnum cartridge. Tikka's and the Savage Axis are two that handle magnum cartridges that have the recoil lug built into the stock as well.
 
I agree with Taylor. My love affair with my Ruger American was short lived. I dang sure would not build a custom off it until someone starts to make some good stocks for the rifle.
 
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