6.506 vs 280 AI using 140 gr bullets

[loaders_loft]

I realize this is not for 140's but I am working up with the 120 TTSX using N560. Looks like about 56.0 gr yields a scalding 3270fps and at least MOA accuracy from a hunting configuration 26" barreled 6.5-06 rifle. Another round of tuning with seating depth is next, but looks promising.

 

[ND280AI]

I have had both 6.5-06 AI and still have a .280 AI. I personally love both cartridges and am planning on building another 6.5-06 AI. With that being said I think for a 140 grain bullet the .280 AI is the better choice. better selection of bullets in .284 in 140 grain options. Also you can buy headstamped .280 AI brass. dies are cheaper, more available, and the 6.5 is more suited towards a 130 grain bullet. The bullet selection is not great in 140 grain for 6.5mm bullets and you will have to spend time fire forming your brass. I own a .264 wm and feel that it is a much more suitable cartridge to shoot 140 grain bullets in .264 diameter. Im not a fan of the vanilla .270 which is a great cartridge, only for the fact everyone has one. That is why I am planning another 6.5-06 AI set up to shoot 130 grainers. it will be a dedicated Antelope rig. point in all my rambling is I would choose the .280 AI or .264 for 140 grain bullets, leaning more so to the .280 AI. just my thoughts

 

[elkaholic]

I have had both 6.5-06 AI and still have a .280 AI. I personally love both cartridges and am planning on building another 6.5-06 AI. With that being said I think for a 140 grain bullet the .280 AI is the better choice. better selection of bullets in .284 in 140 grain options. Also you can buy headstamped .280 AI brass. dies are cheaper, more available, and the 6.5 is more suited towards a 130 grain bullet. The bullet selection is not great in 140 grain for 6.5mm bullets and you will have to spend time fire forming your brass. I own a .264 wm and feel that it is a much more suitable cartridge to shoot 140 grain bullets in .264 diameter. Im not a fan of the vanilla .270 which is a great cartridge, only for the fact everyone has one. That is why I am planning another 6.5-06 AI set up to shoot 130 grainers. it will be a dedicated Antelope rig. point in all my rambling is I would choose the .280 AI or .264 for 140 grain bullets, leaning more so to the .280 AI. just my thoughts

Not sure I agree with the 6.5 not being as suitable for the 140's? It all depends on the twist. I have 8 twists in both my 6.5 Sherman and my 6.5 SS and they shoot the 160 Matrix with some authority. Both will exceed 3000' with 26" barrels and with a b.c. near .700, it is pretty hard to beat!.......Rich

 

[BrentM]

I am with Rich on this one. I have only shot 140 and 160 grain pills in the 6.5 and no reason to shoot 130 based on their performance. I would love to fling a 160 at the Sherman speeds but my 6.-5-284 in 24" barrel is only around 2700-2750 but they still shoot LR really well with such a high BC.

 

[elkaholic]

He also indicated the .264 WM is suitable but the 6.5 A.I. (or Sherman) is not? Truth is, the 6.5 Sherman will outperform FACTORY ballistics of the WM and if both had 24" barrels, the Sherman would be very close to equal with handloads with 7-8 grains less powder.There is starting to be more Shermans being built and when word gets around, I think you will see a lot more yet. It is pretty much a no brainer for the people who don't mind fire forming given the brass availability, performance, barrel life, accuracy, etc. of this round. Someone show me how many cartridges are around that (in an '06 sized case) will shoot a near .7 B.C. bullet with an off the chart SD at 3050'/sec. Also, a 140 .264 will easily outperform a 140 .284 in like cartridges with the ONLY edge to the .284 being muzzle velocity which quicky runs out!......Rich

 

[eddybo]

140s, 6.5 is going to be the winner. I have not shot a 140 in a .280AI in a really long time now. A fairer comparison would be 6.5/06 with a 140 vs a 280AI with 162s. 140 6.5s have comparable BCs to the 7mm 160 class bullets. The 6.5/06 has about a 80 fps velocity advantage with 140s over 7mms with 162s with both loaded to 65K PSI. IMO too close to call, both work great.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I don't have a dog in this fight ; but were I to pick one it would be the 6.5 AI. As a hunting round the 7 won't kill anything that the 6.5 won't within the same time frame. The 7 may be a little better in the breeze and at extreme range. In a heavy rifle. They are so similar but the 6.5 is like the biggest of the small and the 7 is the smallest of the medium bores.
Caliber wise anyway.
The op wanted something easier than the 300 for shooting and the 6.5 will fit that bill real well. Were it me I would go with a 7.5" twist. Stabilize the longer bullets and not need to load to Max pressure. May make for longer barrel life.

 

[rharfo]

Does anybody hunt with a lighter bullet than 140gr in the 280AI.

I'm loading 120 NBT in my 13 year olds 280AI. Using youth load data off Hogdon website. He killed his first PA buck with it at 80 yards. They don't exactly list data so I went between the 270 win and 270 wsm.

 

[moto450]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the 280ai necked down to a 6.5? It would be a lot easier to get brass. Any idea on velocity on a 140vld?

Thanks

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Have you tried ammoguide. They have lots of data there.

 

[elkaholic]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the 280ai necked down to a 6.5? It would be a lot easier to get brass. Any idea on velocity on a 140vld?

Thanks

You wouldn't be too far behind the Sherman with it. I would guess it would top out at 3125-3150'. The Sherman will exceed 3200' and is just as simple to work with.In fact, you could simply partial neck a .280 A.I., load a 6.5 bullet, and fire away...........Rich

 

[WildRose]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the 280ai necked down to a 6.5? It would be a lot easier to get brass. Any idea on velocity on a 140vld?

Thanks

It won't equal the performance of the 26 Nosler with the 130 or 140gr bullets and being as it's their new proprietary cartridge we can count on a good supply of quality brass and even loaded ammo.

If it lives up to it's billing this new caliber is really going to be something special.

 

[jakelly]

"P O Ackly he himself said the 6.5-06AI is not worth the trouble over the standard 6.5-06".

now read my post again I did not say the 6.5-06 was not worth while.
as for the 25-06AI it gains 400 fps over the standard 25-06 with a 87 grainer.
so yes it is worth it.
now both of these calibers are very good ones no one can say they are not.

He didn't have any magnum powders, either. Let P.O. play around with some 7828ssc and H1000 and say it's not worth it.

 

[WildRose]

Ackley was still working through the seventies and into the eighties. He didn't die until 89.