6.5/06 AI Questions

[GLTaylor]

I'm thinking about a new toy. I have a 25/06 AI I had set up to try and chase .257 Wby velocities.
Obviously, it fell kinda short, even with a 26" bbl.
I'm now thinking about having it rebarreled to the 6.5/06 AI for much better bullet selections.
My question is, I have several hundred pieces of once fired fireformed brass for the 25/06 AI. Would it be wise to just expand the 25 cal necks to 264 and use in the new chamber?

 

[elkaholic]

I'm thinking about a new toy. I have a 25/06 AI I had set up to try and chase .257 Wby velocities.
Obviously, it fell kinda short, even with a 26" bbl.
I'm now thinking about having it rebarreled to the 6.5/06 AI for much better bullet selections.
My question is, I have several hundred pieces of once fired fireformed brass for the 25/06 AI. Would it be wise to just expand the 25 cal necks to 264 and use in the new chamber?

I use to use 25-06 fired and unsized in my 6.5 A.I. chamber. The bullet fit perfectly. It depends on your individual chamber though? Side note: If you want to keep up with a Weatherby, build the Sherman version instead of the A. I.
shermanwildcatcartridges.com

 

[lancetkenyon]

What powders are you running. I ran RL23 in my 28" 1:10" .25-06AI w. 115 Bergers @ 3450fps.
I would look at rebarreling with a 26" fast twist 1:7.5" and shoot the 131 Blackjacks. They have better BC (.330 G7) than almost any 6.5mm bullet I can think of unless you go heavy which will slow it down significantly around 3000-3070fps (156 Berger @ .347 G7, 150 SMK @ .362 G7, 153 Atip @ .355 G7), will shoot faster (3200-3300+), and are wicked accurate in my new 25SST.

Plus, you already have the brass, dies, etc.

 

[Ross1147]

As long as the chamber is cut the same you'll be fine just expanding the necks to .264. I love my 6.5-06AI. I got the 156 Berger up to 3100 and some change before I hit pressure. Dropped it back down to 3030fps and holds 1/2 MOA our to 500 (furthest I've taken it).

I've recently been thinking of another 257 cal, was torn between the 25-06AI, 25-284, or the 25 SST. Heck, a 25 RPM is in that list too. The 6.5mm is cool but my first rifle was a 25-06 so I have a soft spot if the 257 cal.

 

[keithcandler]

PTG has a reamer for 257 Weatherby as a parent case. Take 264 or 7mm Rem mag cases, neck down. This reamer has zero freebore. Neck is a tad shorter than Weatherby brass, so you could never fire weatherby ammo in a rifle chamberd with this reamer.

You run the 264 or 7 RM cases through the 257 Weatherby full length sizer and the double radius shoulder is formed perfectly...I mean perfect. I used Lee sizing wax as a lube on the shoulder. I did not loose one single case.

I used Winchester brass.

100g at 3850 with 26" barrel, 4000 fps on a 30" finished barrel
115's at 3600
R#22 with Fed 215's
Groups below .300

I used #5 tapered barrels from Hart, 26" finished length, 10Twist, with a gentry muzzle break, and I saw the water vapor fly off the animals when hit. Amazing how accurate the 100g Partitions were in this cartridge, 1/2" groups.

Deer NEVER run after being hit, they are dead before they hit the ground, 300 and under. I shot 100g Nosler ballistic tips, 100g Hornady, 100g nosler partitions, 100g ttsx.

I have never seen any other cartridge kill white tails as fast as this cartridge, lung shot.

 

[BEEMAN]

I agree with Lance on going with a fast twist 25 cal. My 25-06 AI shoots the 115 Berger at 3350 fps out of a 25" Krieger with H1000. Or as elkaholic suggests the 6.5 Sherman works as advertised. Mine with a max load of N570 shoots 140 Bergers at 3339 fps out of a 28" Hart.