finally got the mauser what now

[nastynatesfish]

I been looking at diferent calibers to re chamber this k98 in. Finally half decided on what. What do you think and does anyone have anything, good or bad, to say about the 6.5-06? My use is going to be a mule deer and under round and well as range gun. I'm looking at bullets in the 100-140 gr range. I have to say its fun shooting the 8mm openb sighted. The bolt face is .473 also. What do you suggest if the 06 isn't right? Also what would be some good loads? I'd be resizing 25-06 brass to use probally winchester or remington brand

 

[loadedround]

Why not just stick with a factory round like the 25-06? Your 6.5-06 would be an excellent flat shooting round, but if you're on a hunt somewhere out west and lose or damage your handloaded ammo you would be up the proverbial creek. You can always buy factory ammo in town. Think about it.

 

[NCsmitty]

Unless you have the ability and desire to convert your Mauser, by doing much of the work yourself, it can get quite expensive to have a reputable gunsmith do the work.

Purchasing a new rifle in the caliber of your choice, would end up being much less expensive and reduce the frustration that can be an issue when converting a milsurp rifle into a sporter.

The 8MM Mauser cartridge is a potent round, nearly the equal of the 30'06 when hand loaded to equal pressure levels in a good M98.



NCsmitty

 

[nastynatesfish]

Between myself and two buddies we do all our own rifle work. We did a 98 two years ago into a 25-06. I just want something different and without having to mill the bolt face to a magnum diameter.

 

[BigBob3006]

I had a 6.5mm-06 some years back. I think it's a real nice cartridge to load for. It's about as large a case for the .264 bullet that can be used for the .264 without being over bore capacity. Which is just a fancy way of saying a cartridge gets to be difficult to find an accurate load for. The bullet I used was the 125gr Nosler Partition bullet. I used it strictly for mule deer and antelope. I have to laugh when I think about that rifle. I built a 400 yd tack driver to use on a guided Wyoming antelope hunt. Boy was I ready. The guides called an end too hunting hours about 1445 hrs and I ended up guiding for a guy from Illinois who's time had run out. We got him a 16" buck and I got his twin. I shot that buck at 16.5 feet. The guy from Illinois about died laughing at me when a doe that had it's nose in my ear smelling me blew snot all over me when the shot went off. I can attest to the fact that the 6.5mm-06 driven 125gr bullet hits it at 16 1/2 feet.

 

[BigBob3006]

I guess I should read all of a log before I start replying to it, huh? IMHO Winchester makes the best rifle cases available to reloaders. Perhaps you might like to consider just rechambering the barrel you have and go with the 8mm-06. That's a pretty nice cartridge as well. So many Mauser's came home with GIs after WWII that the 8mm-06 was nicknamed the poor mans magnum. It will push back against your shoulder a little more than the 6.5mm-06, and gets tired past 200 yds.

Before you get carried away spending money on your Mauser take it into a good gunsmith and determine when it was made and should be considered for customizing. After about 1942 the metallurgy and workmanship on the Mauser went down. I guess slave labor isn't that dependable.

 

[redneck2]

I went thru the same thing a while back. Seems like the 6.5-06, 6.5x284, and 6.5x55 are the preferred choices. I'm not sure that there's a whole lot of difference in the real world.

I have two friends that both got prairie dogs at 1,000 yards with 6.5-06's.

 

[Kernel]

The article is a little long in the tooth, but still some good info on the 6.5-06....

Big Game Loads for the 6.5-06 by Steve Gash, Handloader Magazine May-June 1988:

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl133partial.pdf

Were I to work up loads for the 6.5-06 today, I would look to powders like IMR/H 4831 and VV N560/N160 for bullets 120 grain and under, and powders like RL22 and N165 for bullet weights over 120 gr.