Rebarrel time

[ksubuck]

Decided it was time to get the ball rolling on the old 25-06. I am not happy with the accuracy and low velocity the gun is putting out. Spoke with the gunsmith about it again and he suggested it is time to plan the rebuild and get a barrel on order.

I have been thinking about moving up to a 6.5 instead of staying at the .257. It would make sense to set up a 6.5-06 since I have a boatload of 25-06 brass. Any reason to consider a different 6.5 cartridge? I would like the gun to be a deer and speed goat gun, but it will spend lots of time at the range as well. It may have to pop a yote at long range every now and then as well.

If I build a 6.5-06, I am thinking a faster twist barrel like a 1 to 8 instead of a 1 to 10. Should let me spin the heavier bullets better.

Looking at the Bartlein 5R and considering a heavier barrel like a #4.

Lots of little choices to make.

 

[nvbroncrider]

6.5X55 6.5 Creedmore or a 6.5-06AI or 6.5 Gibbs 6.5-280AI this will actually maximize case capacity but with 25-06 brass may be tough to form since the shoulder is an additional .050" forward on 280 parent cartridge. Or just get a new 25-06 or 25 Gibbs tube. Nothing wrong with that for your needs. But if you have tinkeritis jump for something different.

 

[gerry]

If you have lots of 25-06 brass then doing a 6.5-06 like you are wanting is an excellent idea. A 1 in 8 twist is nice to have and it will be able to handle the sleek 140 gr + bullets. I have rounds on the small side like the 260 Rem and have used a 264 Win Mag for years now but a 6.5-06 can do pretty much everything those can do. The only thing I wonder about is that maybe a #4 contour will be a bit heavy unless of course you like them that way.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I think #4 is about right (.650" at the muzzle, magnum contour)...

Stiff enough for accuracy (especially in smaller calibers), light enough to carry.

This contour at 24" in a lightweight stock with an average weight scope will come out at ~9 lbs.... All set up and ready to hunt.

 

[gerry]

I guess it depends on how a guy hunts, I would do a #2 or 3 and keep it light but there is a reason they make all those contours since people have different tastes. Another option is to have them duplicate the factory contour so it can drop right into the stock. A 6.5-284 would be a good choice as well but in a long action a 6.5-06 would be super easy wildcat to have especially with all that 25-06 brass.

 

[ksubuck]

Weight doesn't worry me too much, for hunts in high country I have lighter rifles and I'm pretty stout myself. I suppose I could always have the barrel fluted to reduce weight a bit, that should take it down to the weight of a 3 or so.

Still can't decide 25 vs 6.5. Like getting up to 140s in the 6.5, but I have other rifles that cover that weight. The gunsmith says he has been turning out super 6.5-06s for several customers and would love to do another one.

Tinkeritis is a good term for it. What about a 6-06?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

6.5-06 Ackley Improved...

Your dies will cost a bit (one time expense).... But over time you'll save some money on brass, it will last longer in the AI chamber.

And it'll sure have some reach with a high BC 142 grain bullet....

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[gerry]

Weight doesn't worry me too much, for hunts in high country I have lighter rifles and I'm pretty stout myself. I suppose I could always have the barrel fluted to reduce weight a bit, that should take it down to the weight of a 3 or so.

Still can't decide 25 vs 6.5. Like getting up to 140s in the 6.5, but I have other rifles that cover that weight. The gunsmith says he has been turning out super 6.5-06s for several customers and would love to do another one.

Tinkeritis is a good term for it. What about a 6-06?

Pretty tough to beat what a 6.5-06 will bring to the table with all those high b.c. bullets out there from around 120 gr on up. I used to just shoot 140's pretty much but in recent years have been shooting the sleek 130's and have been quite impressed, they seem to shoot flatter at 260 Rem speeds anyway, a 6.5-06 will have to ability to move those bullets fast.

 

[sask boy]

Yes the 6.5 topic again :wink:. If you have all that 25-06 brass then 6.5-06 is a natural!! Now which barrel maker :mrgreen:. I have both PacNor & Kreiger barrels but there are a number of excellent manufacturers out there .

Blessings,
Dan

 

[preacher]

I had a short action Mod 700 rebarreled to 6.5/284 back in the 90's. I only used two bullets ( 120NBT/125NP) In that barrel and with 284 Win reformed brass ( tougher than either the later available 6.5/284 Norma or Hornady brass) I got 3200fps safely. This a very realistic speed for a 6.5/06 and especially the 6.5/06 AI. I shot (and a friend used it too) a bunch of Exotics from Blackbuck to Fallow Deer plus antelope in Utah with it. It was one flat shooting babe! My friend wanted it badly so I traded him for a different toy. "If it were me", I would use a 26" Sporter weight bbl and start off with just the regular 6.5/06 ( using your necked up 25-06 brass.) If you still don't get the speed you want, then you can have it rechambered to the Ackley. My 6.5/284 bbl was an Adams & Bennett .260 Remington to start with. I used it for one hunt but the 6.5/284 was my goal and I could tell a marked difference between the two! It was no problem for my smith to rechamber it. I still believe that the 140s do best in the magnum cases and that the 120/125 weight is tops in the standard case 6.5s. I shot through everything I killed with those two bullets out to around 315 yds. I would think the 130 AB or 127 LRTTSX would work long range too. Have a ball Pard.

 

[ksubuck]

120 to 130 grain bullets would fill a niche in my gun safe quite well. I should be able to push over 3000 fps easily. That is kind of my break point. Don't much care if I get to 3200.

Not too interested in the Ackley as fireforming is just more work.

 

[SJB358]

If your going 6.5 a plain Jane 6.5/06 seems to do a ton of stuff easily and makes forming pretty danged easy. Not much taper in a 25-06 anyhow so the actual gains would be minimal. I like both of the options and with 115 BTs or other sleek bullets they will reach pretty decent. I'd even go with a little more twist for a 257 cal, something like a 1-9 to make sure you can use everything. 1-8 in the 6.5's is a no brainer as well.

I'm with Gerry, a 2 or 3 with anything Bartlein is going to be like a 3-4 of most other barrel makers. Good luck. Sounds like it'll be a fun rifle.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Don't pay for fluting unless you want the look. If you want it lighter order a lighter contour (BTW there was a #3 Bartlein on Snipers Hide for 300 shipped a few days ago). Even the manufacturers will tell you that fluting does nothing for accuracy over the same weight un-fluted barrel. I'd do a 6.5-06AI and use your brass. It will be around 3100fps with a 140gr and you have way less trimming/case stretch.

 

[Dwh7271]

I did both.
Depends on how far you're going to shoot also.
If you're looking at 400 yds and down then the regular is fine. You can easily hit the numbers you mentioned with 120s and 130s in the regular 6.5-06. Add the 140s into the equation and the standard does just fine way out there.
If you're going to blast something way out there, then the AI. Past 450-500 the 140s just keep going and actually outdo the others. The AI version is going to let you shoot the 140s pretty comfortably and with 100-150 fps more speed. I would give you specifics on the AI but I'm still in load development. The first batch of loads with 140s are already as fast as the 130s in the regular thus far with no signs of issues at all.
The 6.5 bullets themselves are a high BC anyway, pretty much any reasonable weight you choose, although some of the 140s and up are crazy.
My regular 6.5-06 is on a Savage with a 26" 8 twist. I shoot the 130 ABs in it around 3180 with 58.5 gr MRP. I use Hornady 25-06 brass necked up for that one. Although after shooting the 140s in a 260 AI I may go to all 140s anyhow. Depends on how they shoot.
The AI is on a VZ24 with a 26" 8 twist #3 contour from Pac-Nor.
I wouldn't want anything other than an 8. Just for the option to shoot long heavies if I want.
But it's your money, have fun with it!


edit: Just saw IdahoCTD's post. Guess mine is a little redundant. :grin:

 

[bobnob]

6.5-06, 23 inch #3 barrel. 8 twist.

129 ABLR at 3100fps; 142 near 3000. Or just run a 125g NPT for everything....

Ooh yeah.

 

[Horsethief]

The 6.5-06 world be a fine move up from the 25-06. You wouldn't see that much of a difference between the 6.5-06 and the Ackley version and I agree the work isn't worth the improvement in speed. There are plenty of 120+ grain bullets in 26 caliber that will do well for big game.