6.5-06 Ackley Improved

Not a savage rifle but here is a range report and load data.

Rifle began life as a winchester model 70 chambered in 30-06. I purchased a 26" shaw barrel blank from midway a few months back on sale for $100 and had a local smith chamber flute and install it for me. I fire formed cases and broke in the barrel about a month ago using 140 sst and Retumbo powder. Results were good with five shot groups right around the 1" mark. Worked up to 61 grains of Retumbo with no improvement in group size and velocities topped out about 3050. Not really what I had in mind. Decided to try some H4831 and groups instantly shrunk and velocities increased noticeably. 59.0 grains of H4831 ended up being the sweet spot with a 140 berger at a velocity of 3180 fps. Here is a three shot group at 200 yards to verify zero and a five shot group at 800 yards on my steel gong. Not bad for a cheap barrel.

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps3bdc790a.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps27631328.jpg


Lake City Match cases neck turned and sorted by volume.
59.0gr H4831
CCI magnum #250 primers
140 berger vld.

As always this load is safe in my rifle. Start low and work up.

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Not bad for a cheap barrel.

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Or an expensive one either! Looks like you got a hummer.

Sent you a PM.

Stomp do you always use magnum primers? Please fill me in as the 6.5-06 will be my next build and i need all the info i can get!
Kelly

No I don't. I move to Magnum primers once powder charges reach 58 grains and above. I have found exteme spreads and standard deviations moves way down when switching to a magnum primer with larger powder charges. In a standard 6.5-06 I just use normal cci large rifle primers.

shaw supplies barrels for quite a few gun companies. they also have their own line of guns built on savage actions.
your rifle should be just the ticket for those coues deer. im curious as to the optics you use for glassing?

What dies?

I use Steiner binoculars. I have a pair of 12x40 predators that I really like and my brother uses the 20x80 military that are by far the nicest glass I have ever used. Very comfortable off of a tripod and easy on the eyes a lot less eye fatigue than with a spotting scope.

I'm using redding dies.

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Originally Posted by stomp442

I use Steiner binoculars. I have a pair of 12x40 predators that I really like and my brother uses the 20x80 military that are by far the nicest glass I have ever used. Very comfortable off of a tripod and easy on the eyes a lot less eye fatigue than with a spotting scope.

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is mirage ever an issue there with the 20x? are you familar with the twin spotter setup in machined adjustable brackets?
that is by far the most popular setup here. and for good reason. mainly changable eyepieces for power options, and on the
spot repair unless glass breakage is involved.

Mirage has never bothered me with the Steiner's. And no I am not familiar with twin spotter set up.

Stomp, is your barrel a 1-8" ?

Great shooting! Now that we've seen the targets we need to see the gun!

I've always switched to magnum primers any time I'm using 50 gr or more of stick powder,especially if it may be used in cold weather.