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lancetkenyon

6.5-06 AI or .280 AI? What would YOU build?

  

36 members have voted

  1. 1. Rebarrel choice for a lighter weight all around big game (deer/antelope/elk). .280 AI or 6.5-06 AI?

    • 6.5-06AI pushing a 140 @ 3150ish
      9
    • .280 AI pushing a 160/168 @ 2950-3000ish
      27


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A light weight 6.5 is what I would choose. You already have a good 7mm.

 

Harley

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Nothing wrong with either but I prefer the 280AI. 280AI only has a little more recoil than the 6.5 and has much better barrel life and a bit more energy. It's hard to find a better balance than the 280 AI.

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My go to rifle is my 7mm RM but we have 2 6.5-284's so I like both calibers just fine. I would go with the 6.5/06 because I have been fascinated with the 6.5 and all its hype the last couple of years. Cheap brass and great components available with a ton of recipes from the obsessive bench crowd make a good load fairly easy to find. I like the recommendation of a light-weight rifle you can still shoot out to the middle long ranges. You have plenty of other good tools for longer shots already.

 

Not sure why there are always so many comments on limited bullet choices you only need one really good one for killing critters!

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Bullet selection cripples the .257" and .277"...

Exactly. I wish Berger made a .257 130 HVLD.

 

 

 

Or, swag you own.

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How about a 6.5-280AI ?

No need to have to fireform to blow out the shoulders for an Ackley as it's already done. Should be able to get a bushing die in 280AI and use the appropriate bushing.

 

Would be a cool wildcat and you can have both lol with good speed. It's one of the few wildcats I'd like to build.

I have a .270 I was wanting to turn into a 6.5 myself and my options seem to be a 6.5-270, 6.5-06, 6.5-06AI, 6.5-284,

6.5 Sherman, or 6.5-280AI but didn't want to have to screw with fire forming for an ackley or the Sherman and the 280AI is already done.

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What did you decide and are all the parts at PCR?

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^^^^^^ What did you choose??

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I still have not decided yet. I need to make up my mind and order the barrel.

 

I am waiting on a new McMillan stock I ordered for my .300RUM, then will be dropping it off at PCR for bedding, Wyatt's extended box alteration, and Cerakote, finally finishing the rifle I started 2 years ago. Ordered an adjustable Game Warden in Coyote Ambush pattern. Probably Cerakote in something like Coyote Tan, Desert Sand, or maybe Burnt Bronze.

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I still have not decided yet. I need to make up my mind and order the barrel.

 

I am waiting on a new McMillan stock I ordered for my .300RUM, then will be dropping it off at PCR for bedding, Wyatt's extended box alteration, and Cerakote, finally finishing the rifle I started 2 years ago. Ordered an adjustable Game Warden in Coyote Ambush pattern. Probably Cerakote in something like Coyote Tan, Desert Sand, or maybe Burnt Bronze.

Which version of the Wyatt's extended mag are you planning to use? When I built my lightweight 7mm-08 AI I initially tried the center feed. I have never had so many feeding failures. No mater how I adjusted it I still had problems. Sent it back to Midway and got it replaced with the standard staggered feed version. With a little adjustment to accommodate the Ackley round it was very reliable. I have since installed them in my .300 RUM and .308 as well.

 

The poll results are interesting, I expected it would be closer than that.

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