Contemplating a 6mm-'06

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Wyoredman

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I'm thinking of having a Rugger 77 action rebarreled to 6mm-'06. Anyone have any experience with this cartridge? Is there a source for brass? Does the brass last? How has the performance been for you? Thanks
 
What are you intending to use this rifle for, stationary targets, varmints or deer?

The problem with this wildcat is that it is so overbore that your barrel would not last very long, probably less than 1,000 rounds. Case capacity is almost identical to the .240 Weatherby Magnum. The 6.5-06 would be a much better choice for hunting or long-range shooting, because of the better ballistic coefficents of the 6.5mm bullets.
 
I just built one last year, it is one of my favorite cartridges. I was somewhat apprehensive about it due to a friend's experience with this cartridge causing very rapid bore erosion, but he was pushing 80 gr bullets as fast as he could, so I decided to step up to a fast twist barrel to shoot heavy bullets. With the Berger 115 gr bullets, it will shoot flatter than you have ever seen and not be too hard on the bore. Dies are not very pricey, and just about everyone has a reamer for it. I say go for it!

I used 25-06 brass, just run it into the die and you're good to go.

The first test target I shot measured .217" for 5 rounds.
 
I don't know much about that cartridge, but I've never been a huge fan of the .24 calibers, unless it's designed to be a long range coyote gun.
However, the 6.5 X 55 Swedish mauser is a dandy deer cartridge. It drops deer WAY out of proportion to what you would think. 140 gr bullets have an outstanding sectional density, and just penetrate like the proverbial hot knife through butter.
So, depending on your intended use, I'd have to second the motion for a 6.5-06... or the 6.5-284 for short actions.
 
I looked up this cartridge in my old Ackley manual. It looks to be capable of around 3200 fps with 100gr bullets and over 4000 fps with 75 gr bullets. Ackley describes the cartridge as being 'somewhat over bore capacity' with 'relatively short barrel life'.
Your only looking at velocities slightly greater than a .243 Win when using 100 grain bullets while using around 10 grains more powder.
But, so what? If you want one, why not go for it?
Obviously with the size of case to diameter of bullet ratio it prefers slow powders with Ackley liking IMR 4350 and H 4831. But lots of new powders have come around since the 50's so reloading this thing oughta be a lot of fun.
I imagine a 75 gr bullet stepping out at over 4000fps would knock the dilly right out of a coyote.
 
I've never done the 6x06 but have done the 6x284 with standard twist and 1/8 for the VLD bullets. I've also done couple 6RemAI,6br,6x250,6.5x284 and I'm shooting a 243AI now beside the standard 243.

Not sure what you want with the 6x06 but one thing to consider is recoil if it's going to be used for any type volume shooting or lot of shooting from a bench.

If you look at LR match shooters their shooting the 6BR type cases with VLD bullets. I used the 6x284,6.5x284/6RemAI for antelope and LR varmints and I'm sure a 6x06 as a hunting rifle be a good caliber Berger got those 115gr hunting VLD bullets need a 1/7 twist.

Got lot of good 30-06 brass you can neck those cases down be my choice. Well good luck
 
The 6mm-06 would is .24 caliber. You could just neck the '06 to .25 caliber instead and call it the 25-06. Seems like necking it to .24 caliber is not substantially different (not a big enough difference from 25-06 to be earth shaking) from what already has been done. It begs the question: For what purpose are you wild-catting, what do you hope to gain?
 
You'll be much happier with a 6.5-06. You can get 3400 from 100s, 3200 from 120s, and 2900 from 140s. And that's Chrono, not guesstimate. You can use 25-06 or 30 brass, too.
 
Now you have me thinking. A 6.5 x '06?

I shot a friends 6mm-06 the other day, and it was darn fun! I am not sure what his twist was though? Fo the lighter bullets, is a 1/9 twist ok? Would it also stabilize the 115 grainers?

I intend the gun to be a coyote/fox, pack around shooter! Most likely would never shoot enough rounds through it to burn a barrel, 200-300 per year max.

I have abunch of factory rifles (.220, .223, .243, .270, ..270 wsm, '06, .325wsm....) so I just want a cool wildcat for the hills.
 
A 1 in 9" twist is adequate for any 100 gr bullet in the .243s.

The more ballistically efficient 105 gr Hornady AMAX and the Sierra 107 and 115 HPBT bullets require 1 in 7" to 1 in 8" twists for max stability.
 
Cool. Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to stick with the 6mm (just cause thats what i have my mind set on) and a 1 in 8" twist. I should be ok with the lighter bullets (75 gr) and the heavier ones (<115gr) also?

As far as the brass, it was mentioned to neck down .30-'06. Does that cause any problems I should know about? I have piles of the stuff.

Scorch - Who did you get your dies from?

Mamba- 1000 rounds? Is this a realistic barrel life expectation?

Thanks. This is what makes TFL great.
 
Just my opinion but it would be much simpler to just go with a 25/06. Factory ammo is pretty good in this caliber so you won't have to reload if you don't want to or if you do, components are as easy to find as 6mm. Plus it will give you real big game potential compared to the 6mm.
I'm a big fan of the 25's if you hadn't noticed.
 
Barrel life depends on three things: how hot you load, how well you clean the bore, and your level of expected accuracy. Long-range target shooters love hot loaded overbore cartridges because they perform, but for superb accuracy they only last 800 - 1,000 rounds. I have also read many times where people bought "shot out" rifles, gave them a thorough cleaning, and they shot fine.

If you load just 100 fps slower, and if you are happy with MOA instead of 3/4 MOA then you could stretch that to double the life or more.
 
I say go for it. I'm in the process of building a 6.5-06 on a Mauser action as a hunting rifle but I have a rem 700 action that I was thinking of trying a 6-06 on as a long range varmint gun. If it's what you want I say go for it because history has showed that basically any thing based on the 30-06 is a good round. I also love the 25-06 for deer and elk hunting.
 
The easiest way to get the 30-06 to 6-06 is to first size the 30 to 25-06 and then to 6mm. Be sure to anneal the brass first. You can get the 6-06 dies from RCBS. I always enjoy dragging mine out when someone at the range is raving about the qualities of their 243. :D
 
Over bore and barrel life was my first thought against.

As a match rifle, it wouldn't last long till you'd be rebarreling.

As a hunting rifle, it would perform fine, much like a 25-06, but not quite with the range of slugs
 
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