6.5-06AI shooters and 156 EOL

[Ross1147]

Alright, just got back from my first range time with the Berger 156 EOL and I was pretty impressed!

Rifle SPR built 6.5-06 AI. PTG trued Rem 700 LA with an 8 twist 26" Bartlein 2B. Using 3 times fired Norma 25-06 brass, CCI LRM primers and Reloader 26. All rounds were loaded to a CBTO 2.71", which was a .010" jump in my gun. I usually use 4831sc in this gun, but wanted to give RL26 a shot.

Anyway results are below. My LabRadar was sucking today and it only registered about 1 of every 4 shots, but it at least picked up one shot at each charge level.

56 grn. 2955fps
56.5 grn 2975fps
57 grn. 3001fps
57.5 grn 3019fps
58 grn. 3050fps
58.5 grn 3090fps
59 grn. 3120fps

At 59 grn 2 of the 3 shots the bolt felt a little sticky, So I stopped there. Best groups were at 56grns and 58.5 grns. 57.5 grns wasn't all that bad either so I'll revisit those. Overall I'm happy with the velocities!

 

[Cmrem700]

Thanks for the info. What do you use for a seater die?

 

[Ross1147]

I'm running Redding dies. I've only neck sized so far but I think I'll run them through a full length die this go around. As for the seating for it's just their basic one. I need a micrometer die but haven't taken the time to get one made.

 

[Don A Parsons]

I'm tapping it kool with my 6.5 A-square

143 & 147's for this year's hunt since the boolitz are frugal priced up here.

30/06 Lapua brass sized down.
CCI BR LR primers
46gr of IMR 4350
143 ELD-Ms
2740 ft-per seconds.

Same Brass
Same Primers
53.5gr of H1000
ELD-M's
2850 ft-per seconds

Same as above
51.2gr of H4831
2770 ft-per seconds

Not the fastest charge out there,,, not the slowest,,, best water-line was the IMR group @ 2 1/2" flat-line at 400 meters...

There must be some kind of magic at the 2700 ish ft-per second mark...

I'll definitely try the 156's when they show up next year,,, pretty much keeping it simple for this year as the thick skin hunt gets underway...

 

[SwampDog13]

Good to see all the testing going on. You're definitely seeing higher velocity per grain than I am with my saum. I'm running a 24" barrel that I'm thinking is still slightly speeding up @ 100 rounds. I hope to be able to fall into the same range you're at right now.

Did you do any accuracy testing?

 

[Cmrem700]

I haven't found anyone who makes 6.5x280 ackley dies or a seater die. I figured I could use a 280 ackley die with a smaller bushing but I can't figure out the seater. Trying to decide between a 6.5x280 ackley and a 6.5saum on a long action.

 

[Ross1147]

No accuracy yet. The 56grn was easily under .5" and the 58.5grn load was close to that as well. My gun seemed to like a .010 jump from the Berger 135s so I stuck with that for now. If I can replicate that I probably won't even adjust the seating depth.

 

[dirtytough]

Perfect thread timing. I just got my 6.5-06ai dies today. I have RL 26 and N565 I'm thinking of trying with the 156. Think N565 will be a little fast for the 156?

Mine is built on a Tikka with a 27" #4 Benchmark 8 twist. I've had it for years and haven't done anything with it.
Thanks for the info. I will add data to the thread when I get it.

 

[L.Sherm]

I haven't found anyone who makes 6.5x280 ackley dies or a seater die. I figured I could use a 280 ackley die with a smaller bushing but I can't figure out the seater. Trying to decide between a 6.5x280 ackley and a 6.5saum on a long action.

Get a 280AI seater and just change out the stem to 6.5

 

[L.Sherm]

I use a 300wsm Redding seater die with the stem changed to 6.5 for my 6.5x300 WSM

 

[L.Sherm]

Anymore I'm coverting all my seating dies to wilson inline seater dies out of my chamber reamers. Makes it especially nice do seating depth test at the shooting bench.

 

[FEENIX]

Those are impressive numbers. Looking forward to trying them on my .264 WM with 1:7" 5R 26" barrel.

 

[Cmrem700]

Get a 280AI seater and just change out the stem to 6.5

Thank you!

 

[Gibbshooter43]

This is all wonderful and practical information for me as I'm fine tuning loads for my 6.5 Gibbs which is the 6.5 06AI taken to the extreme. Not a lot of real life current info so it's slow going, but lots of fun.