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6.5-06AI advice needed

sambar

New Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2016
Messages
1
I just acquired a 6.5-06AI and would love advice on how best to reload for it. After lots of searching, I think using 270 brass and neck turning seems to be the way to go but I know there are other options so open to suggestions
 
I just acquired a 6.5-06AI and would love advice on how best to reload for it. After lots of searching, I think using 270 brass and neck turning seems to be the way to go but I know there are other options so open to suggestions
A belated welcome to LRH, and enjoy! You can also use .280 RM/AI. The .280 AI might be the easy button.
 
Well depends on what brass you want to use. Lapua 30-06 brass is in stock places, if you are going to turn necks and go through the process of all that I would use lapua, might not have too either. Smith might have chambered it using a no turn neck. Unless you are 100% sure you need to turn.
 
I just formed 100rds of 6.5 Sherman which is very similar to the 6.5-06. I used Petersen .280 AI brass and it was very easy. Simply neck straight down to 6.5 with a bushing die and then loaded a 140gr Berger with 60.0gr of Retumbo and a 210 Federal primer. It made for a well formed piece of brass without any pressure symptoms.
 
Necking up is always easier than necking down because the brass in the neck CAN thicken when necking down.
However, this is not a given with every brass brand.

Necking up 25-06 brass is the way to go for simplicity.

I have tried 35 Whelen brass to form my 338-06 and necking up 30-06 brass was more successful in the fact the Whelen brass ended up inconsistent in neck thickness.

Your choice.

Cheers.
 
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