Tell me the benifits of a 6-06

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pyscodog

Active member
I have a Black Friday remmy in 30-06 and a buddy has a 6mm barrel he's trying to sell me. If I buy it, I was thinking about the 6-06. Convince me!!
 
Go with the 6X284. Throat it for the big 105 -115 grain bullets. Same case capacity as the 30-06 and works great in a long action. My 6X284 is built on a 700 long action, and feeds like a 30-06.
If you do go with the 06 version you can start with the 6X284 data that's out there, and there is plenty of it.
 
He already seems to have the action.

I burned out 2 6mm-06 barrels. If you build one and need info, gimme a shout.....
 
I would do the 6mm-06 AI for improved brass life and the extra little bit of case capacity. Might as well get the little extra. And to convince you how about running 70g bullets over 4000fps.... Fun fun

Jason
 
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Making a grossly overbore cartridge even more overbore doesn't interest me.

You will just burn up more powder and barrels even faster than in the 6-06, with no noticeable peformance gain......
 
I torched a 240 Wby, which is basically the same thing with expensive brass. Less than 1k rounds, but didn't really keep track. It was fun while it lasted...

Now I seem to be in the PCP.. (powder conservation program). I think the 243 is a big round lol!
 
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Psycho,

I recently built a 6-06 off a Remmy 700 25-06. I looked at doing the 6-284, 240 Wby and 6mm AI. In the end, the 6-06 won out. It was by far the easiest conversion. Brass is cheap and easy to find, no potential feeding issues like reported with the 6-284 and 6AI when using a long action. Also, no fire forming. Simply pass a piece of 25-06 brass through a 6-06 die and you're ready to load. Doesn't get much easier for a wildcat cartridge. Also, with the Remmy long action mag box, you've got ample room to seat the bullets waaay out.

I built my gun for long range Whitetail, hogs and coyotes. I used a 26 inch Brux, 8 twist, Rem Sporter contour and had it throated for long, heavy bullets. I have no interest in shooting light bullets, even though I could. My pet load utilizes MRP and the 105 Berger Hybrid for a skosh over 3300 fps. Run the numbers on a 105 Hybrid or VLD at 3300. It's a real eye opener. This is where the 6-06 really shines. Puts lot of cartridges using more powder and heavier bullets to shame. As an aside, from all the research I've done, most 6-06 guys are getting 1500-1800 rounds from their barrels, if taken care of properly.

If you do go the 6-06 route, I really recommend going with an 8 twist. It's a waist of time going the slow twist route imo, as there are better options for shooting light varmit and hunting bullets. The fast twist using heavy bullets is where the large case really comes into it's own.

As for reloading, I use 240 Wby data. The case shape and capacity is almost identical to the 6-06, with the 6-06 having just a skosh more capacity. Look to the slower burning powders. My 2 favorites are Norma MRP and RL-25. As I mentioned previously, reloading for this round has been a breeze. One pass through a 6-06 sizing die using 25-06 brass is all it takes. No neck turning or trimming either. The rounds cycle perfectly through my action, which may not have been the case with a 6-284 or 6AI.

Good luck with your decision. I think you'll be elated should you decide to go with the 6-06.
Let me know if you have any questions.



 

Psycho,

I just now noticed your thread.

As to the benefits of it, I guess it's velocity. But, there are other fast cartridges out there too, so not really anything special about the 6mm06 in and of itself.

The first time I learned about the cartridge was in the groundhog fields where I met a man and his wife who also had permission to hunt the farm. I had been shooting a 22-250 for many years, but the guy (whom I learned was a gunsmith and a darn good one) was using a 6mm06. I watched his wife take a distant groundhog with it, turned it a flip, upside down. Then I got to shoot it and was very impressed with it.

From my standpoint at the time, considering my 22-250, the 6mm06 would shoot a heavier bullet, larger diameter bullet to about 250 velocities. I decided right then and there that I wanted one, but it took me a few years before I had a suitable rifle and money to build one.

George, the gunsmith / groundhog hunter, rebarreled a Remington Sendero with a stainless 26" fluted Krieger barrel. What a dandy rifle it has become. It's very accurate and hard-hitting on groundhogs.

The downside, so I am told, is that it burns barrels somewhat if you shoot it much. I haven't shot mine enough to burn it out. I just worked up a load and once I got that, I only shoot it in the field and to check my sighting from time to time.

I like the cartridge. I shoot 75 gr. V-Max bullets at an average of 3621 fps. Not terribly fast but plenty fast enough. I have had it to over 3700 but I got good accuracy with a lesser velocity, so I have been quite content with it.

As to recommending it, all I can say is that it's a good round. I think if I were hunting the wide open spaces of the midwest or western states, the 6mm06 would most likely be my choice for coyotes.

Good luck. Keep us posted.






6mm06 on the sand bags.




 
I did one too on a savage. I use a 26" 8 twist. I shoot the 105 hornadys probably put it over the crony tomorrow's. I know it shots pretty well to 500.
 
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