6.5 x 284 Load Data Help

[RNWRKNP]

I don’t think this cartridge is really that popular anymore but had occasion to fix a 25-06 problem child with a bad barrel that has a rockstar action/trigger. Wanted to step up to a 6.5 variant to make more bullets available with perhaps a little more horse power than a 6.5 Creed. Dimensionally close to the 25, I elected to go 6.5-284 with a Krieger 7.5 twist barrel to better stabilize the 140+ grain bullets. Finish length will be 26”. The action is a butter smooth Sako A7 with a sub 2# trigger that I just couldn’t part with but grew tired of watching it collect dust and I don’t currently own a 6.5 bolt gun. Already have about 130pc Lapua brass waiting for attention while the Smith works his magic with a standard Palma barrel.

Purpose of the rifle is hunting with the ability to cross over for steel at distance.

Soooo on to the question, is anybody still shooting this round and what has been successful for you for powder charge and bullet weight? As always, I appreciate your help fellas.

 

[FatBoy]

Assuming Norma Match chamber with proper freebore...

H4350 46-49gr range with 140/142

H4831SC 50-52gr range with 140/142

Lot of guys using H1000 or RL26 for massive MV but I couldn't get consistency.

My go to load for the last 12 barrels has been H4350, 48.7gr with a 142SMK in a 30" 8.5 or 8 twist. 2975fps. It'll clean a 1k prone target pretty easy from a rest. Sub 15" 20 shots. This is a half MOA load at 100 and 600. Probably at 3/4 MOA at 1k, maybe less but long strings make it tough to know for sure.

 

[RNWRKNP]

Thanks for the info Chris. Still learning the long game and appreciate the help. I am curious about the H1000 and 26 myself....

 

[WeiserBucks]

I ran 57 grains of Retumbo with 140's in mine. Made 2975 in a 26" barrel , single digit ES and very accurate.

 

[FatBoy]

A word of caution, don't fuck around chasing a 1/4moa load. These shoot like magnums inside 300 yards. I damn near killed my first barrel load testing. Expect 800-1200 rounds of highpower type shooting, with 1100 around normal before you start seeing flyers at 1000. It will still shoots great at 600. Maybe 1500 rounds of 1k accuracy with H1000 or N160. You could put a few more on it keeping it cool.

Stay ahead of the carbon. These are brutal on throats and known for carbon rings. JB every 200 or so rounds.

I have barrel 12 on now and barrel 13 is sitting in the safe with 250 rounds on it (have a 284Lapua match on for this season). I love the FagMags. When you color inside the lines they are hard to beat. Push the limits and it could get frustrating.

 

[RNWRKNP]

A word of caution, don't fuck around chasing a 1/4moa load. These shoot like magnums inside 300 yards. I damn near killed my first barrel load testing. Expect 800-1200 rounds of highpower type shooting, with 1100 around normal before you start seeing flyers at 1000. It will still shoots great at 600. Maybe 1500 rounds of 1k accuracy with H1000 or N160. You could put a few more on it keeping it cool.

Stay ahead of the carbon. These are brutal on throats and known for carbon rings. JB every 200 or so rounds.

I have barrel 12 on now and barrel 13 is sitting in the safe with 250 rounds on it (have a 284Lapua match on for this season). I love the FagMags. When you color inside the lines they are hard to beat. Push the limits and it could get frustrating.

1/2” and I’m done. Been down that rabbit hole and would rather go call a coyote in for some Hornady medication. What’s the best way to go about the JB?

 

[RNWRKNP]

I ran 57 grains of Retumbo with 140's in mine. Made 2975 in a 26" barrel , single digit ES and very accurate.

I would imagine that Retumbo would put you around the 100% fill for uniform ignition?

 

[FatBoy]

1/2” and I’m done. Been down that rabbit hole and would rather go call a coyote in for some Hornady medication. What’s the best way to go about the JB?

Clean the rifle as normal. Then, wrap a patch on a nylon brush and coat it with JB fine (or Flitz, etc). Pass it up and back chamber to muzzle the. Change the patch, re-apply and short stroke the throat about 30 times up and back, then work up the barrel short stroking. If the patch is tight you'll feel the rough spots and the smooth spots. For most chamberings I would say a good soaking and minimal brushing would work but not with these, at least not doing 3x 26 shot strings. It cooks the throat and the carbon lays down and glazes.

I'm sure there is new stuff out there that will dissolve copper and carbon but I haven't found anything that removes the carbon ring without elbow grease.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I would imagine that Retumbo would put you around the 100% fill for uniform ignition?

57 grains was very close to 100% fill , 58 was slightly compressed.

 

[GONE BAD]

Love the 6.5-284 Norma.
Some really good information here from Chris.
Mine is about shot out and carbon is the killer.
I started with Nosler brass and chased the speed. 58 grs. Retumbo and cci 250's gave me right at 3000fps with Berger 140's. Then went to Lapua brass and had to cut back to 57 grs. for same speed.
I helped a buddy work up a load for his.
26" Krieger really nice rifle.
Started right at 57 grs. Retumbo and went up to 58.5 at 3150. Settled on 58 at 3100. We we're done in less than 20 rounds.
Only has about 40 rounds down the tube to this day. He's had it now for about four years! It is to say the least a fast barrel.
He shot it out to 500 yds. Less than a 2" group for 4 shots. That was the last time he shot it.

 

[308220]

I love my 6.5-284. Its def still a popular cartridge. Its not going anywhere. I use 54.5gr of RL26 with a 140gr Hornady BTHP. 3040fps out of a 26", 8 twist barrel, with 1/2 MOA accuracy. Good enough for me.

Dont shoot them with the barrel hot. Let the barrel cool in between rounds. Youll get 2k+ rounds of accuracy and very little carbon. Since yours is just for hunting and steel, expect it to last you a long time.


Just clean it like any other barrel. I clean mine about every 25-30 rounds. Its just a hunting/target gun.

Enjoy your 6.5-284! Awesome cartridge.

 

[RNWRKNP]

I love my 6.5-284. Its def still a popular cartridge. Its not going anywhere. I use 54.5gr of RL26 with a 140gr Hornady BTHP. 3040fps out of a 26", 8 twist barrel, with 1/2 MOA accuracy. Good enough for me.

Dont shoot them with the barrel hot. Let the barrel cool in between rounds. Youll get 2k+ rounds of accuracy and very little carbon. Since yours is just for hunting and steel, expect it to last you a long time.


Just clean it like any other barrel. I clean mine about every 25-30 rounds. Its just a hunting/target gun.

Enjoy your 6.5-284! Awesome cartridge.

Appreciate the info on the RL26 and the use is just as you describe. When I do shoot targets/steel, I generally rotate between 3 rifles to avoid hot barrels. Don’t mind spending money on a good rifle, just not the same one every year?

 

[j-huskey]

I told RNWRNKP me and 6.5-284 go back a ways. Had to dig out reloading data.
The caveat:
What neck size will you build on ?

My first reamer was 6.5 saami std .301 on the 6.5-284 reamer, and the 260 Rem and 6.5-06 reamers.
Jeff Hoffman at black hills loaded a run of 6.5-284 ammo that we tested and it ran fine. He put it out on the market and somebody welded a case to a bolt face with a .291 reamer... end of BH 6.5-284 ammo sales. I think we ended up with the whole lot b4 it was over.

140-142 grain bullets. I have used the following loads with Winchester 284 brass necked down and clean turn only.
57.0 h-1000 - 301 neck.
48.0 imr4350 - 301 neck.
48.0 h-4350 - 301 neck.
51.5 h-4831sc - 301 neck.
Zero issues, super accurate, in the several 8 twist barrels I burned out. All ran 3000-3050 range.

In a .297 or .2975 reamer, loaded round .295, in lapua brass, depending on the throat, the above loads -.5 to -1.0 grains.

In a .295 reamer, Lapua brass turned, .002 clearance, 53.5 RL26
Or 51.5 n-160 with a 142 moly.

Barrels went south from 1000 rounds to 1500 rounds depending on how hot we got them with h-1000....

The other loadings ran 1500-2500 rounds.

All what "I" did with 6.5-284 was dependent on the neck size and throat length related to pressures and speed. A lot of people would not do what I did, nor, should they... ?

The 6.5-284 is the bench rest magnum of 6.5's based on body diameter and shoulder angle. I've never shot a more accurate fast 6.5 than those built on the 284 case.
2nd best was a 260 Ackley.

I always ran a long action to long seat.
Problems were mag feeding the fatter case and each different action required a different type of tweak on feeding, some never fed right.

But, later, older and lazier, it was much easier to run new 30-06 brass into a 6.5-06 die, trim for square, and load 52-53 grains of h-4831sc and give up a hundred feet per second and that throat wear, and feeding problems.
6.5-06 Ackley brought back that 100-150 fps, and throat wear, more powder required... things not required on the 284.

It's real hard to beat a good 6.5-284.

 

[RNWRKNP]

I told RNWRNKP me and 6.5-284 go back a ways. Had to dig out reloading data.
The caveat:
What neck size will you build on ?

My first reamer was 6.5 saami std .301 on the 6.5-284 reamer, and the 260 Rem and 6.5-06 reamers.
Jeff Hoffman at black hills loaded a run of 6.5-284 ammo that we tested and it ran fine. He put it out on the market and somebody welded a case to a bolt face with a .291 reamer... end of BH 6.5-284 ammo sales. I think we ended up with the whole lot b4 it was over.

140-142 grain bullets. I have used the following loads with Winchester 284 brass necked down and clean turn only.
57.0 h-1000 - 301 neck.
48.0 imr4350 - 301 neck.
48.0 h-4350 - 301 neck.
51.5 h-4831sc - 301 neck.
Zero issues, super accurate, in the several 8 twist barrels I burned out. All ran 3000-3050 range.

In a .297 or .2975 reamer, loaded round .295, in lapua brass, depending on the throat, the above loads -.5 to -1.0 grains.

In a .295 reamer, Lapua brass turned, .002 clearance, 53.5 RL26
Or 51.5 n-160 with a 142 moly.

Barrels went south from 1000 rounds to 1500 rounds depending on how hot we got them with h-1000....

The other loadings ran 1500-2500 rounds.

All what "I" did with 6.5-284 was dependent on the neck size and throat length related to pressures and speed. A lot of people would not do what I did, nor, should they... ?

The 6.5-284 is the bench rest magnum of 6.5's based on body diameter and shoulder angle. I've never shot a more accurate fast 6.5 than those built on the 284 case.
2nd best was a 260 Ackley.

I always ran a long action to long seat.
Problems were mag feeding the fatter case and each different action required a different type of tweak on feeding, some never fed right.

But, later, older and lazier, it was much easier to run new 30-06 brass into a 6.5-06 die, trim for square, and load 52-53 grains of h-4831sc and give up a hundred feet per second and that throat wear, and feeding problems.
6.5-06 Ackley brought back that 100-150 fps, and throat wear, more powder required... things not required on the 284.

It's real hard to beat a good 6.5-284.

Really appreciate this j-Husky and thanks to all you guys for your contributions!!!

 

[RNWRKNP]

As to neck size, I’m so green I don’t know what I don’t know. I have inquired of the smith if his intent is to use a Norma match specification with adequate free bore (thanks Chris). I’m still in line so no harm no foul but obviously should have cut it up with you guys first. Slow and stupid is sometimes painful??.

This Smith is new to me but has a good rep as far as I could find and undaunted by the metric thread of my Sako. This is a relatively inexpensive experiment for both the cartridge and the smith. If he can do well with this I have plans for the others. The rifle as it sat was unsatisfactory and this caliber has intrigued me.

 

[lightman]

My 6.5-284 has a tight neck chamber cut with a PTG reamer. It has a .290 neck and I turn the case necks to .288. I shoot Sierra 142 MK's, Lapua brass and Federal 210M primers. (Good Luck finding some) I neck size with an arbor press and Wilson dies but I have a Redding die set with the body die also. 4350, 4831 and RL-22 have worked well but I settled on RL-22. I'll 2nd the suggestion to pick a load quickly and stay there. Depending on the barrel your accuracy life is probably between 800 and 1200 rounds. This caliber seems to build carbon up in the throat worse that most so I scrub the throat with any one of the milder polishes about every other range session. This is a neat cartridge and I can get less than MOA accuracy at 600 yards, often less than half MOA.

 

[GONE BAD]

Good points J.
My case necks fired are .297 with Lapua. With Nosler I don't know as I've resized them all. The Lapua brass has always held less powder than Nosler though.

 

[RNWRKNP]

With this project and having read the negative comments related to recent Nosler quality, I’m switching to Lapua. As a cleaning regimen, I use KG1 after every 30-40 shots specifically targeting carbon build up but don’t go after copper till accuracy drops off. Use KG12 for that and Kroil for lubricant in both instances. Sounds like I will need to be a little more aggressive with the KG1 and wrap a nylon brush every 200 on top of what I already do for this cartridge?

 

[FatBoy]

My chambers have. 297" necks and I use unturned Lapua exclusively. .501" body.

 

[RNWRKNP]

Have you guys played with the ELDM 147’s and Sierra 150’s?

 

[Rust]

Excepting short barrel life I love a 6.5 X 284. I would recommend using a standard length action such as your 25-06 for a 6.5 X 284. You'll be able to seat the bullets out a lot further than a short action and still feed from the mag. When I built mine I went with a standard action and can remove a loaded round (bullets seated way long) without having to pull the bolt like a short action.

There are sort of two chamberings for a 6.5 X 284. Originally as a wildcat the 6.5 X 284 reamer/chamber was based on the Winchester .284 brass. The original Winchester brass was high quality, not anymore. Norma standardized the chambering and is slightly different from the wildcat, thus the 6.5 X 284 Norma designation. The Norma was designed with the thought in mind of being able to seat heavy bullets long, the 140 grain class of match bullets.

As j-huskey pointed out, there are a lot of custom reamers out there with different neck diameters, freebore diameter and length too. Unless you have a fair amount of previous experience with that sort of thing better to stick with a straight SAAAMI 6.5 X 284 Norma chamber. Bad things have happened making mistakes.

Load development. You can burn your barrel out chasing loads. There are accuracy nodes in a 26" barrel around 2650, 2800 and 2950 fps with a 139 gr match bullet. If you decide to try for 2950 sneak up on it very carefully, you never know. Different rifles are different. I use Lapua brass exclusively, CCI primers, around 48.5 gr H4350, and Lapua Scenar match bullets. This combination gets 2940 fps out of my 28" match rifle with low ES and SD. H4831SC would be a second choice. If you have money to burn you can chase some magic new powder.

Being as I shoot competitively I do all the anal retentive things for precision loading, have a fully custom rifle yada yada. But a well put together factory receiver based rifle should get you at least 80% there or more. Your smith and the quality of his work are by far the biggest factor in producing an accurate rifle. From there it's down to the driver.

By the way JW, how are things up north in Alabama?

 

[j-huskey]

@Rust
About as good as it gets. It's good to hear from you !

 

[Rust]

@Rust
About as good as it gets. It's good to hear from you ![/QUOTE

Moved back from Texas, hope to get back up to Hardrock and other matches.]

 

[j-huskey]

[QUOTE="Rust, post: 7348912, member:
See u when u can make it.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

I use 4831 with 142 SMK. MV 2915. 51.5 gr. COAL 3.043. CCI BR2. Lapua brass.

 

[RNWRKNP]

I love my 6.5-284. Its def still a popular cartridge. Its not going anywhere. I use 54.5gr of RL26 with a 140gr Hornady BTHP. 3040fps out of a 26", 8 twist barrel, with 1/2 MOA accuracy. Good enough for me.

Dont shoot them with the barrel hot. Let the barrel cool in between rounds. Youll get 2k+ rounds of accuracy and very little carbon. Since yours is just for hunting and steel, expect it to last you a long time.


Just clean it like any other barrel. I clean mine about every 25-30 rounds. Its just a hunting/target gun.

Enjoy your 6.5-284! Awesome cartridge.[/QUOT

What was the COAL that you used amigo? By the way, just in case the rookie found something that wasn’t common knowledge.

 

[308220]

2.948 OAL with 140 bthp

 

[RNWRKNP]

Thank you. From what I have read previously and based on the stated max of 54.5g RL26 for the 147ELD from Hornady, shouldn’t your load be roughly a .7g step down from max in RL26 for the 140g ELD? I’m thinking that there shouldn’t be a pressure issue with your load using a SAAMI spec Norma Chamber. Reasonably certain my dumb ass will get corrected if I’m wrong?
The logic behind the thought is that 1. Stated max’s are generally low I.e. 1 grain of powder or more rifle dependent. 2. .1g steps away from stated max in powder charge for every 1 grain of bullet weight reduction. Thoughts?

 

[RNWRKNP]

Easy to miss what I posted as you have to click and expand to see it so I’m throwing it up again.

 

[10X Rifles]

I have shot 6.5X.284 for over 15 years now. 600 & 1000 prone. .297 neck, Lapua brass and Moly 142's 49.0 H4350 2950 fps.
Each of my barrels have gone 1500 rds before going south. For 2 day matches. 75 rds each day. Brushed with Montana bore solvent. Good tight brush. couple of dry patches and then soak overnight with Wipeout. couple dry patches in the morning, Go shoot. Shoot 5 sighters to start the day.

 

[RNWRKNP]

Quick update fellas....tested the RL26 @54.5 behind an ELDM 140 and not stellar result but put the gun on paper with the scope. Went to the 147ELDM with RL26 and she tightened up from 54-55 with 55 being the sweet spot so far. Confirm tomorrow with 55 grains RL26 but I think I’m probably done with that load. 55g RL26, Fed210, Lapua virgin brass sized prior to loading (to much neck tension), 147 ELDM and 3.00 COAL. Find out tomorrow if the group below was 1/2” fever or load issue. Relatively certain it was the dummy behind the trigger. Take the pic a quarter turn counter clockwise and that’s how I shot it.

Have some of the other suggestions loaded up and ready to go for the 140 class that I will test but if this load bears out I think I’m done.......if I can find more RL26???? Big shout out and thank you guys for the help!!!?

 

[FatBoy]

Be careful with the R26 and heat. Not sure what the temp is where you are but you're on a high node with the heavy bullet. We saw loads get super squirrely and go way over pressure above 85°F. A lot of the match shooters dropped back to low node or dumped it and went back to H4831SC or H4350.

Glad its coming together, but keep an eye on it. If the bolt starts to drag coming up as it starts warming up outside, you may need to stop and re-evaluate the load.

 

[RNWRKNP]

Be careful with the R26 and heat. Not sure what the temp is where you are but you're on a high node with the heavy bullet. We saw loads get super squirrely and go way over pressure above 85°F. A lot of the match shooters dropped back to low node or dumped it and went back to H4831SC or H4350.

Glad its coming together, but keep an eye on it. If the bolt starts to drag coming up as it starts warming up outside, you may need to stop and re-evaluate the load.

Around 78*, let the gun cool back down in the shade for 10+ minutes after 5 round group, no pressure signs and no sticky bolt lift. H4350 on deck for the 140 class tomorrow for testing. Def keep an eye on it and thanks for the feedback amigo.

 

[NineHotel]

Low 50s of grains of AA IMR or H4350 with 142 SMKs got me right at 3K in a 30" tube. Decently soft shooting rifle compared to the 30 cals. Stay after it - this chambering has won a lot of matches in its day, flat range and tactical.

 

[Santaquinkid53]

I don’t think this cartridge is really that popular anymore but had occasion to fix a 25-06 problem child with a bad barrel that has a rockstar action/trigger. Wanted to step up to a 6.5 variant to make more bullets available with perhaps a little more horse power than a 6.5 Creed. Dimensionally close to the 25, I elected to go 6.5-284 with a Krieger 7.5 twist barrel to better stabilize the 140+ grain bullets. Finish length will be 26”. The action is a butter smooth Sako A7 with a sub 2# trigger that I just couldn’t part with but grew tired of watching it collect dust and I don’t currently own a 6.5 bolt gun. Already have about 130pc Lapua brass waiting for attention while the Smith works his magic with a standard Palma barrel.

Purpose of the rifle is hunting with the ability to cross over for steel at distance.

Soooo on to the question, is anybody still shooting this round and what has been successful for you for powder charge and bullet weight? As always, I appreciate your help fellas.

I have an off the shelf Savage 116 SS 6.5-284 my best load so far is 53gr H1000 with a 139 Scenar. Wanting to use a 156 gr tip with Winchester StaBil but can’t find load data

 

[Santaquinkid53]

I have an off the shelf Savage 116 SS 6.5-284 my best load so far is 53gr H1000 with a 139 Scenar. Wanting to use a 156 gr tip with Winchester StaBil but can’t find load data

I also built a 6.5 WSM Brux bbl, 28” 1:7.5” Jewel trigger on a Remington 700 7mm mag action. Very accurate going to load some 156gr projos instead of 142’s