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Shot out 6.5-284 Norma

Desert Demon

Keep Your Senses Sharp And Your Powder Dry
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 19, 2020
207
39
Phoenix, Arizona
I'm at over 1000 rounds on my 6.5-284 Norma. I think I can have it set back and get some more life out of it.

I lieu of setting it back, are there any calibers would I have it reamed for start a new chamber? Thanks
 
Is it not shooting? Set backs are not worth it IMO, especially when you’ve gone that long with a cartridge that’s hard on throats.
 
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Is it not shooting? Set backs are not worth it IMO, especially when you’ve gone that long with a cartridge that’s hard on throats.
I thought the point of a set back was to get a new throat. Why wouldn't it be worth it in this case?
 
Is it not shooting? Set backs are not worth it IMO, especially when you’ve gone that long with a cartridge that’s hard on throats.
ok. but is there a cartridge that is longer than the 284 with a .264 projectile that I can repurpose this barrel for?
 
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I wouldn't bother my mate. All require a bolt face change except the Weatherby RPM, even then that's new brass and dies for best case scenario 100 - 300 rounds. Worst case, barrels still cooked (likely).

Put that retooling cost to a new barrel.
 
ok. but is there a cartridge that is longer than the 284 with a .243 projectile that I can repurpose this barrel for?
That’s not really the point. Even if you found such a cartridge, it would be shooting over the same cooked rifling the original chambering was. It’s a waste. I’m guessing .243 is a typo?
 
View attachment 7530893


I wouldn't bother my mate. All require a bolt face change except the Weatherby RPM, even then that's new brass and dies for best case scenario 100 - 300 rounds. Worst case, barrels still cooked (likely).

Put that retooling cost to a new barrel.

Well the rifling looks pretty good to me. Its the throat that is eroded from the barrel eater 6.5-284. I hate to paperweight the schnider barrel if i dont have too. I was think the 6.5-300 Weatherby. I was unfamiliar with the 6.5 Weatherby RPM until you mentioned it.

For a few hundred, I imagine I can get a gunsmith to retool the chamber. Then a few hundred for brass and dies.

Why do you think only 100-300 rounds?
 
View attachment 7530893


I wouldn't bother my mate. All require a bolt face change except the Weatherby RPM, even then that's new brass and dies for best case scenario 100 - 300 rounds. Worst case, barrels still cooked (likely).

Put that retooling cost to a new barrel.
What application / site is that chart from? And what is columns 2-4?
 
Nothing wrong with setting the barrel back. Buddy of mine did this on his 6-284 and it still shoots lights out.
 
Set it back and shoot it. Only significant performance gain is with a magnum bolt.
 
Far be it from me to out words in @Supersubes mouth but I think what he is getting at is the barrel will be scaling probably 18-20” up from the throat. These can flake and imbed or otherwise damage the jacket, at which point you’ll start getting fliers at best and blowing up bullets at worst.

I have set back a 6.5x 284, as well as has one cut off and rechambered to 6.5x47L. (5” parallel) If you have enough parallel, setting back and changing to a smaller chambering may be possible. A 2 thread set back and rechamber to 6.5x284 may get you a couple hundred rounds, may not. Usually guys set back around 800 rounds to get to 1500. Guys have covered going bigger, 6.5-06 might get you the length you need with a standard bolt face. @Jwhuskey would be the resident expert here.

I’ve burned down 13 FagMag barrels and have another with 300 rounds in it now plus a barrel with 150 for another rifle. I’ve been shooting it since North Dakota Pat ( there’s a call back for some old timers) and 1100 rounds is the most I have ever gotten out of one accurately. I’d say you’re close to the end. If you’re shooting at 600y or in this may seem like a hammer to 1500 rounds. That same barrel and load will almost certainly be giving you unexplained fliers at 1k.

Long way around the barn to say you lay your money down and take your chances but it’s by no means a safe bet. Especially if you try to turn the heat up with an even faster chambering.
 
300 bucks to set back = the cost of another barrel. Several hundo in dies and brass= Chambering new barrel. I understand wanting to get Max life from the barrel but unless it’s being done for free, I don’t see much point. Barrels are meant to be shot out and tossed.
 
i have a 31" 6.5 creed 1.25 straight

i expect that barrel to go 8k rounds

but i can set it back in 3-5" increments 3 times

and don't pay for setbacks

if i could set the barrel back (enough shank to do 1-2+ inches) and not pay for it, then yeah it makes sense

if you're paying to set it back then fuck no
 
300 bucks to set back = the cost of another barrel. Several hundo in dies and brass= Chambering new barrel. I understand wanting to get Max life from the barrel but unless it’s being done for free, I don’t see much point. Barrels are meant to be shot out and tossed.
I get what you are saying, barrels are expendable. The op is is asking about setting his bbl back to gain extra life. He already has brass and dies...

He will have the cost of the bbl plus getting it chambered. Either way it’s going to cost him.
 
He did mention reaming out to another cartridge however. That’s where my comment regarding that came from.

Well the rifling looks pretty good to me. Its the throat that is eroded from the barrel eater 6.5-284. I hate to paperweight the schnider barrel if i dont have too. I was think the 6.5-300 Weatherby. I was unfamiliar with the 6.5 Weatherby RPM until you mentioned it.

For a few hundred, I imagine I can get a gunsmith to retool the chamber. Then a few hundred for brass and dies.

Why do you think only 100-300 rounds?
 
Gotcha. If another chambering is in order he is better off getting a new bbl.
He did mention reaming out to another cartridge however. That’s where my comment regarding that came from.
 
I get what you are saying, barrels are expendable. The op is is asking about setting his bbl back to gain extra life. He already has brass and dies...

He will have the cost of the bbl plus getting it chambered. Either way it’s going to cost him.
Thanks. Yea. I was just wondering if it was feasible and economical to retool it for a different cartridge in 6.5.
 
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i have a 31" 6.5 creed 1.25 straight

i expect that barrel to go 8k rounds

but i can set it back in 3-5" increments 3 times

and don't pay for setbacks

if i could set the barrel back (enough shank to do 1-2+ inches) and not pay for it, then yeah it makes sense

if you're paying to set it back then fuck no
I'd like to know where you can get a set back done for free!!
 
Far be it from me to out words in @Supersubes mouth but I think what he is getting at is the barrel will be scaling probably 18-20” up from the throat. These can flake and imbed or otherwise damage the jacket, at which point you’ll start getting fliers at best and blowing up bullets at worst.

I have set back a 6.5x 284, as well as has one cut off and rechambered to 6.5x47L. (5” parallel) If you have enough parallel, setting back and changing to a smaller chambering may be possible. A 2 thread set back and rechamber to 6.5x284 may get you a couple hundred rounds, may not. Usually guys set back around 800 rounds to get to 1500. Guys have covered going bigger, 6.5-06 might get you the length you need with a standard bolt face. @Jwhuskey would be the resident expert here.

I’ve burned down 13 FagMag barrels and have another with 300 rounds in it now plus a barrel with 150 for another rifle. I’ve been shooting it since North Dakota Pat ( there’s a call back for some old timers) and 1100 rounds is the most I have ever gotten out of one accurately. I’d say you’re close to the end. If you’re shooting at 600y or in this may seem like a hammer to 1500 rounds. That same barrel and load will almost certainly be giving you unexplained fliers at 1k.

Long way around the barn to say you lay your money down and take your chances but it’s by no means a safe bet. Especially if you try to turn the heat up with an even faster chambering.
Thanks for the articulate explanation. Much appreciated over the opinions with no substance. Its a 1000yrd rifle for sure. I have gotten a 8" group at 1000--- when i do my part--- with 140 VLD-Hs and H4831SC. Better shooters than me could probably have done under 6".

I'm also partially interested to try out a new 6.5mm, so why I was asking about re-tooling it. If i can re-tool it to 6.5 WBY RPM or 6.5-300 WBY and get a the works of a new rifle--they why not?


also---what is a "FagMag" lol ?
 
The first 6-10" of your barrel is affected. The first 3-4 are probably totally roached out. Unless you have enough to set it back at least 6" you're wasting your time. You'll spend money at a gunsmith, or time if you do your own work on maybe getting another 300 rounds out of it.

Wouldn't go any more barrel burner than another 6.5-284 myself, but to each his own. Lately I find myself going the opposite direction. Barrels that last 3000-8000 rounds really let a guy get used to the program.
 
What application / site is that chart from? And what is columns 2-4?
Ammoguides rechamber tool, it will only show cartridges that will physically work.

I believe columns are: Calibre, Length, Rim size, Body size.

As you can see on the Weatherby 6.5 RPM, similar to your 6.5-284, it's body is thicker than its rim (rebated).

Great advice here. Unless you're a gunsmith, just rebarrel.
 
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also---what is a "FagMag" lol ?

There was a time when LR Benchrest and NRA Highpower was ruled by 300WM or 30-338s. 190+ Gr bullets 70-80gr of powder and all the recoil that come along with it. Around 2000 a few guys started messing around with the 284s again and since 7mm billets sucked until about 6 years ago, 6.5s as well. The 6.5x284 was initially made from Winchester 284 brass that was neck turned and the DDS chamber was getting pretty popular (at least around here). About 2001 Norma and Lapua picked up the and ran with it and the popularity exploded. It ruled the roost for about 10 years and then guys got sick of needing three rifles to get through a season of Highpower.

FagMag, or the earlier FagNum, was the magnum shooters nickname for the 6.5x284. It has the external ballistics of a 300WM with the recoil of a 308. ;)