6.5mm-06 or stick with .270 Win

[RCP Fab]

Which and Why?

6.5mm-06, 1:8" twist 26 - 28" barrel

or

.270 Win, 1:10" twist 24-26" barrel

I am not really considering anything else at the moment, so out of these two, which do you prefer for target shooting up to 600 yards, though one day I would like to take it further.

[Rumpelhardt]

270 Winchester will be easier to get ammo for. I like the 280 Remington also.

[RCP Fab]

Off the shelf ammo doesn't really matter to me. I will load for which ever works best.

[Buzzcook]

Right now 6.5mm bullets are more popular for longer range shooting. With the 1-8 twist you'll be able to use longer heavier bullets.

That being said it's the rifle and the shooter that makes the most difference not the cartridge.

[Bamashooter]

I hope to own a 6.5-06 one day and Im a reloader. I would love to be working on some test loads for my new 6.5-06. One day.......

[BIG P]

I like the whole fandamily of 06,so I would like to have them ALL.

[Lucas McCain]

What your talking about is a wildcat cartridge. This will require necking down, perhaps reaming the neck out, and turning the neck down and fire forming the case. And if the shoulder needs to be modified this becomes a PIA to fire form.
I had a 6mm catbird ( based on the 270 case) made and wish I hadn't had it done. Way to much hoopla to form cases.
The gun performs well but not that much better than a 243 AI. I did it because of all the 6MM bullet selection.
I would advise you talk to a custom rifle maker about it and compare it to the
6.5-284 win. Ballistics for it are impressive. Then you would be able to have a short action instead of a long action. Hornaday loads cartridge for that caliber, it's not a wildcat anymore.

[Scorch]

I owned a 6.5-06, and it is a really neat cartridge, shoots flat as a laser and has good terminal ballistics with heavy bullets. 6.5-06 will give you about 200 fps over a 6.5-284 in equal length barrels. 6.5-284 is a standard cartridge, ammo is available over the counter, 6.5-06 will have to be necked from 25-06 (or 30-06 and neck turned) and hand loaded. Not a huge deal but still a consideration. Given the two choices of 6.5-06 or 270, I would go for the 6.5-06. I never was a fan of the 270, no reason, just me.

[JD0x0]

Im in a similar situation. The .270 is a great caliber but it lacks the real heavy for caliber bullets. I actually found some 165 and 175 VLD grainers in .277 but you'd need a faster twist to use them. I'm sort of stuck between the 6.5mm and 7mm. The .270 win and 280 rem are slightly more efficient than the 6.5 resulting in more muzzle energy, which makes me lean towards the 7mm. Heavier bullets than .270 with higher BC's and SD's makes it desirable. the 6.5 will most likely shoot flatter because of the higher muzzle velocity, due to lighter bullets. There's also the option of taking it one step further and going to the .264 win mag. Im not sure how easily an 06' action can be converted to use the .264 win mag. AFAIK the case length is the same but the magnum has a slightly wider base.

I think either way you're going to have a nicer shooter. If I had the choice between the two you listed I'd probably choose the 6.5mm with the longest barrel that I felt comfortable with. The only reason i'd go for the .270 is because the availability of factory ammo over the 6.5mm

[Mobuck]

Since you're talking about shooting longer ranges, I'll assume you expect to be handloading. In that case, the wildcat with almost no chance of over the counter ammo is not a problem. If the 6.5/06 barrel has the accuracy, the longer length will help it reach velocities adequate for long range targets.
I'm not a 270 fan and prefer factory ammo availability(even though I load my own) so I chose the 25/06.

[Slamfire]

There may be people using the 6.5 -06 as a target cartridge but they are few and far between.

While 6.5 mm is currently the most popular caliber (I guess 308 is next due to F Class) barrel life for either the 270 Win or a 6.5 based on the 06 round would be dismal. Recoil would be harsh. Target shooters are trying to balance out highest ballistic coefficient, longest barrel life, lowest recoil. If a barrel blank is $300.00 and rebarreling is another $300, you want something that has an accuracy life of more than 800 rounds.

[RC20]

For the really committed target shooters thats not bad! (money no object in other words)

The 270 is a great cartridge but its not some kind of long range target wonder

I would look at other options but thats just me.

[AllenJ]

As a reloader my choice would be the 6.5-06. I've always had a fascination with wildcat cartridges but only own one

[RCP Fab]

I am leaning toward the 6.5 also.

[tobnpr]

Up to 600 yards, there's no reason IMO to go with any wildcats or throat-burning chamberings.

Those few extra FPS make a difference at longer ranges- but most shooters would be hard put to be able to recognize the ballistic differences of any 6.5 chambering at that distance.

Suggest, that since you are new to long-range shooting, go with the .260 if you want a 6.5.
It is widely accepted as having the best compromise between barrel life, cost to shoot, and performance. And it'll be a looong time before you can outshoot a match-grade rifle in that caliber out to 1000 yards if you choose.

[RCP Fab]

This project is more about building a barrel than anything. I was going to stay with .270 (which I probably should do) and just learn what I learn on the barrel and it either works and I shoot the gun, or I screw it up and start over.

That said the 6.5-06 just intrigues me.

[taylorce1]

If you are building a LR hunting rifle then I'd go with the .270 Win 1:9 twist 26", and try some Matrix bullets or the new LR Accubond when it arrives on the shelves. There is nothing wrong with the 6.5-06 and I had one for a short time, still have the dies. I may go back and revisit it later. I just felt that the 6.5 didn't offer anything special over the .270, and I could always buy factory ammunition in a pinch.

I'm assuming this will be built on your RAR action, correct? Are you going to build a new stock for it as well? I can't imagine the original stock holding up very well with the added weight of the heavier barrel, even with the fore end reinforcements you did. I'd probably order wood stock from Richard's Micro Fit and with your milling skills build an aluminum bedding block for the action and run it as a single shot.

[ndking1126]

The 270 is a great cartridge and I own a rifle chambered in. But even at 600 the better ballistics of the 6.5 will be an asset. You mentioned you'd like to go farther some day so I would definitely recommend the 6.5.

If it's just about learning the barrel, honestly it won't make a difference. They are very similiar chamberings. 270 offers better energy on impact at most ranges, 6.5 offers better ballistics. That means at some point it will ha e more energy on impact. I havent looked at a chart to see what that distance is though.

[steveNChunter]

6.5-06 AI

[GeauxTide]

I went with the 6.5-06 because it splits the difference between a 25-06 and a 270. It will push 100s to 3400 and 140s to 2900 in a 24" barrel. Mine is throated for a SGK 140, seated to the base of the neck. Chrony, not guess. Can use either 25-06 or 30-06 brass, too.

[hooligan1]

I'm planning on having one built on a Turk Mauser reciever, but I'm forced to move, and it'll wait but heres the particulars that I talked with the smith about:
1. remove ring and true reciever threads and face.
2. square bolt face, lap lugs, and reforge bolt handle.
3. 26 inch 1in 9 inch Douglas premium barrel chambered for 6.5-06.
4. Muzzlebrake, (because they will do it rather economically).
5. Drill and tap reciever for Redfield one pice base.
6. Parkerized, without removing the old battle scars.

That was where the smith and I left off, but it's a starting point..

[hammie]

@RCP: Since many rifle loonies (and I use the term kindly) hang out here, you will probably get a biased consensus for the 6.5-'06. I land on that same spot also. Practically, the .270 win makes more sense, but I've always been intrigued by the 6.5-'06. Matter of fact, I thought it should have been commercialized before the .25-'06, but given the current fad of short fat cartridges, its time for commercialization has likely passed.

I always thought the .338-'06 should have been commercialized instead of the 35 whelen, too. (or does the .338 A-square count? not sure.)

[Axelwik]

My 270 is the most accurate rifle I own out to about 400 yards, then my 300 Win Mag takes over.

[hodaka]

Since you reload, go for the 6.5. No question about it. Many more bullets to choose from. I sold mine but I'm going to rebarrel another soon.

[taylorce1]

While the 6.5 has a ton of bullets, there are plenty to make the .270 a viable long range rifle. .270 Win article