6.5 x284

nobody13

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Minuteman
Jan 31, 2011
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I am looking into the purchase of a new 6.5x284norma. Opinions on the caliber and why ,if so amazing in so many ways, hasn't it overtaken the standards (308,300WM, etc). Yes I searched but am not satisfied with my findings. What do all of you think??
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I shot the barrels out of three of them and loved the round. Its very accurate and easy to load for. Its best performace is with the 140 to 142 class bullets at around the 2970 to 2990fps range.

It was the most consistant round I ever shot for long range but for as much as I shot I didn't like replacing a barrel every winter.

I now use a 6.5x55 and 260 for most of my shooting but am in the process of building a 284 to see how that does. I have heard great things about it so I am looking forward to getting it. I have quit competiting so I get a lot better barrel life out of my rifles now. Comps are hard on barrels!!! You will love the 6.5x284.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I still have a barrel for my long range bench gun in 6.5x284. It is a great round but seems to have become overshadowed by the new 6.5 rounds like 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua.
The 6.5x284 needs a long action to be able to shine. In a tactical build that means using the more expensive 300WM AICS mags if you go DBM.
It will burn a barrel quicker than a lot of calibers too.
As for cost of barrels, I would estimate (including cost of blank) around $600 per chambered and fit to your action.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobody13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cost of barrels?? </div></div>
Same as any other caliber....You get what you pay for on both the blank and the 'smith that chambers it and screws it together.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I don't have a rifle chambered for it, but I have several gunclub friends/match competitors that use it. It is a great cartridge, that really holds its own for long range work.

For me, there is an angel on one shoulder saying "Keep using 308. Its moderate, its accurate, its easy on the rifle, I've never let you down"...... And there is a devil on the other shoulder saying "6.5x284 is flatter, more consistent, the top competitors use it... So what if you have to spend a couple hundred bucks a year on barrels?? Get one!"

So far, I've stuck with 308. To me, its a big bummer to get 1000 rounds out of a barrel. According to the people I know that personally use it, 1000 rounds is max. They say its more like 750, unless you set the barrel back early and often. Unless you can do your own precision barrel work, it seems stupid to spend the money on setbacks every 300 or 400 rounds to get an extra 300 or 400 rounds total from a barrel.

Yes, your mileage may vary, but expect short barrel life. Otherwise, its awesome. Probably worth it.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

Brux, Bartlien, Krieger, Rock, Brougton, etc...higher end custom barrel blanks are in the $300 to $350 range depending on length (over 28" blank is extra).
$275ish to have put on.

You can rough figure $600 to have barrel installed (chambered, headspaced, cut to desired length, and muzzle crowned).

6.5-284 if used as a comp rifle, I'd just plan on having smith chamber up minimum of two barrels. When first one goes down you can spin on second barrel to keep shooting while waiting on your order for additional barrels to be filled.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I think it's very competitive, but the barrel wear is unacceptable.

If you're going for a long action, I might suggest the .280 Rem. Excellent performance, even at sub-max loadings, and probably better barrel wear.

More recent offerings in 7mm LR bullets make it a lot more interesting than it used to be. I'm looking into it with the 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. A BC of .493 at a conservative 2900fps (I have seen posted velocities as high as 3050fps) is nothing to sniff at.

This chambering is essentially a 7mm-'06, so case capacity is not restrictive. The more typical rifling twist is 1:9", and this will stabilize pretty much anything from 168gr on down, and maybe a little bigger, maybe even 175's. With 120gr NosBT's it's a deer laser out to 300yd (MV 3050fps an on up even a bit), and it's relatively easy to do load development using H4350 and/or H4831.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I was discussing this caliber with a friend on Sunday. He had one built for an F-Class rig, I don't remember who the smith was.

He said it would shoot great for 10 rounds (.25 moa) and then open up to 1.25 moa or so. Clean it and it would go back to .25 moa, for another 10 rounds.

The theory was, it was pushing the 6.5's too fast.

Not sure how much water that theory holds, but I do believe him about the 10-rounds-and-then-accuracy-falling off theory, as he is a very consistent shot.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was discussing this caliber with a friend on Sunday. He had one built for an F-Class rig, I don't remember who the smith was.

He said it would shoot great for 10 rounds (.25 moa) and then open up to 1.25 moa or so. Clean it and it would go back to .25 moa, for another 10 rounds.

The theory was, it was pushing the 6.5's too fast.

Not sure how much water that theory holds, but I do believe him about the 10-rounds-and-then-accuracy-falling off theory, as he is a very consistent shot. </div></div>
So what is he going to do when he has to shoot 22 shot strings in an F-class comp? sounds like he has a rifle that is useless for f-class
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dimar1492</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So what is he going to do when he has to shoot 22 shot strings in an F-class comp? sounds like he has a rifle that is useless for f-class </div></div>Exactly. He sent it back to the smith, who said that nothing was wrong with it. So he sold the rifle.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dimar1492</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So what is he going to do when he has to shoot 22 shot strings in an F-class comp? sounds like he has a rifle that is useless for f-class </div></div>Exactly. He sent it back to the smith, who said that nothing was wrong with it. So he sold the rifle. </div></div> Sounds like he made a wise choice. Hopefully his next rig shoots better
 
Re: 6.5 x284

O.K. THis would be my only stick. Just for fun and NOT F class comp. THis will be more on the tactical setup side. Go out lay on your nutz and shoot at targets out past 1k. Heard good things about this caliber and thaught it could be a different way to go than the standards. I know there is a reason for the tried and trues, but I was thinking this could be a fun caliber to try out. Worst case I would still have a sweet action to build on lator.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I had one (I like being different also, plus they were available factory from Savage). 2nd barrel was a 260. 6.5x284: 3,000 fps, 2,000 rds/barrel, long action, pain in magazines. 260: 2,950 fps, 4,000 rds/barrel, short action, works perfectly in 308 magazines. I'll trade 50 fps for twice the barrel life. Wind difference at 600 yards is .25 moa or .1 mil. Sometimes it's better to get on the bandwagon. $0.02
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Quickdraw40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2nd barrel was a 260. 6.5x284: 3,000 fps, 2,000 rds/barrel, long action, pain in magazines. 260: 2,950 fps, 4,000</div></div>

What are you shooting out of your 260 to get 2950fps?
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sledge Hammer</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Quickdraw40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2nd barrel was a 260. 6.5x284: 3,000 fps, 2,000 rds/barrel, long action, pain in magazines. 260: 2,950 fps, 4,000</div></div>

What are you shooting out of your 260 to get 2950fps? </div></div>

Probably a 123 scenar...just guessing.

Josh
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobody13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thaught it would be a good alternative to the .300WM. same reach, much less recoil. </div></div>

For most purposes the 260 is a good alternative to 300 WM.

Josh
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sledge Hammer</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Quickdraw40</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2nd barrel was a 260. 6.5x284: 3,000 fps, 2,000 rds/barrel, long action, pain in magazines. 260: 2,950 fps, 4,000</div></div>

What are you shooting out of your 260 to get 2950fps? </div></div>

142SMK, 26" Criterion bbl, 44.0 gr H4350, 2,949 fps (Oehler). (Wife's 22' bbl was 2,862) No pressure signs. I backed them both off to 2,800, but they were there. Fast barrels... maybe, but 50-100 fps makes little difference at distance.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobody13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sweet deal on savage fclass. want to ad A5 and go play. I would continue to shoot my .308 otherwise. </div></div>

no A5 for Savage target actions (4 bolt). www.stockadegunstocks.com

ncfpcj.jpg
 
Re: 6.5 x284

PRO-6.5-284 is easiest, with Lapua brass and all of the competitors having done almost all of the work.

CON-the others 6.5s are gaining. 260s work in 308 based systems perfectly.

If you WANT a 6.5-284, get one.

BMT
 
Re: 6.5 x284

Get the F class and drop it in a T4. It would be a great rig without any gunsmithing. That's basically what we did with the Stockade stock. Some think the single shot is a handicap, but I've seen competitors fight with magazines enough to disagree. The Savage target actions are crazy accurate. Second barrel you could switch to 260 if desired. Good Luck.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

with a family and other hobbies, I will probably average maybe 400 rds per summer. wouldnt think it would be too bad to change a barrel every couple years, especially if that is the only beast i am feeding.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

Nothing wrong with the factory stock if you don't need to adj comb and LOP. Get it and shoot it factory for awhile. You might be surprised how good it is right from Savage.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

Not to derail the thread, but 6.5Lr gives near 6.5-.284 ballistics. My question is with near ballistics of the 6.5-.284 but with a 30 degree shoulder and longer neck, would you be looking at the same barrel life as a 6.5-.284?
 
Re: 6.5 x284

If i were to build a 6.5-284 Id go with a Broughton 5c barrel. as Ive noticed much longer throat life from the canted lands they use. Ive got a .243AI that pretty hard on barrels and since switching to the Broughton from other brands, Ive noticed much extended thraot life.

I had a 6.5-284 in a Savage 12 F-class and it shot the barrel out in around 700rds. Needless to say Its a6.5x47 Lapua now.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rosie Palma</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Read my sig line... </div></div>

Really? That was constructive. Let me guess, your suggestion for the guy who is going to shoot 400 rds a year is to get a $4,000 custom rifle and a $3,000 scope? Seriously....
 
Re: 6.5 x284

After making the rounds with many of the 6.5 cartridges I would say 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmoor. They are plenty good enough and will fit in a short action build. That leaves a lot of room should you ever decide to rebarrel with a different caliber all together.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I have shot the smallest groups @ 400 & 1000 yards with a 6xc. I think that if you compare the ballistics between the 6xc with a 115 DTAC & the 142 SMK in a 6.5x284 you will find that 6xc will do very well except in the powder used, barrel life & the recoil dept. In those areas the 6.5x284 out does it. You can get all your components from Superior Shooting Systems. Robert Gradous of Gradous Rifles has one of the best 6xc reamers in existence.
Just something to think about.
Semper Fi
 
Re: 6.5 x284

Sounds like a great round other than barrel life. still may buy it and enjoy it for what it is worth. Have shot the .300WM for years and was exploring something different for a change. Both don't have the best barrel life, but I don't get to shoot near as much as I would like, so it doesn't seem to have as much of an effect on me as all you 10k rounds down range per year shooters. I would happily replace a barrel every two or three years for the accuracy this round seems to tout. If I ever have more time to shoot more, I am sure a .308 build will be in my future.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

My Savage F Class uses a L-W barrel, SAAMI .260 Rem chamber, 28" length, 1:8" twist. 10FP action in a McM A-3 stock.

Does 2850fps (conservatively) with 140A-Max/142SMK and 43.8gr of H-4350.

Also does 3200+fps with 95gr V-Max (the marmot detonator).

Greg
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Quickdraw40</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rosie Palma</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Read my sig line... </div></div>

Really? That was constructive. Let me guess, your suggestion for the guy who is going to shoot 400 rds a year is to get a $4,000 custom rifle and a $3,000 scope? Seriously....</div></div>

Sensitive.

I've got a 260 currently and having a 280 ackley built now. If you don't care about barrel life then 6.5x284 is supposed to be a beast. So as my sig line says, "get what you want".
 
Re: 6.5 x284

I've owned and shot the 6.5-284, the .260 Rem and now the .260 Ackley Improved which is otherwise known as "6.5-08 Ackley Improved".

They are all great cartridges. The 6.5-284 is renowned as a flat shooting, wind bucking, long distance cartridge. When I say flat shooting, I mean laser beam like trajectory.

Being a 6.5mm caliber, it has significantly less recoil than it's .30 caliber equal, the 300 Winchester Magnum. Bullets cost less for the 6.5mm VLD's than the .30 caliber VLD's and you will burn less powder.

The 6.5-284 is excellent in all respects except for barrel life. The 6.5-284 has a <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">very short neck</span></span> which causes throats and barrels to "burn out" quicker. Plan on buying a long barrel with lots of room to set the chamber back. Depending on how much you shoot and <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">how quickly you fire one shot after another</span></span> will determine your barrel life.

A big negative regarding the 6.5-284 when used in tactical competitions is the fact that it has a rebated rim. The cartridge base diameter is smaller than the case body diameter. In a worst case scenario, you will be more susceptible to having the bolt skip over the rim when feeding. This causes a "failure to feed" which really screws you over during a tactical competition.

As mentioned earlier, the 6.5-284 requires a long action to really shine. A long action allows you to seat the bullets longer which allows more powder to be packed into the case.

Once you go to a long action, finding good, reliable 10 round magazines will be a pain. There maybe some out there.

I'm wondering how well the Alpha WSM mags would work if you stayed with a short action? Might be worth emailing the Alpha Mags folks and finding out.

Either way, good shooting!
 
Re: 6.5 x284

Ya'll are missing the boat- 6.5-06.

Run 25-06 brass through a 6.5-06 FL Die, load with 140 Berger VLDs to 3000fps and your golden. Long barrel life as fast as the rest of them and brass is freakn every where!! My 2 cents.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USW.260</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ya'll are missing the boat- 6.5-06.

Run 25-06 brass through a 6.5-06 FL Die, load with 140 Berger VLDs to 3000fps and your golden. Long barrel life as fast as the rest of them and brass is freakn every where!! My 2 cents. </div></div>
yep, the 6.5-06 is a heck of a laser beam. Not to mention the 6.5-280 Ackley Improved. A little bit longer longer than the -06 and Ackley Improved to boot! And yes, I'm talking about the 280 Ackley Improved necked down, and not the 284 necked down.
 
Re: 6.5 x284

6.5-'06 is an outstanding cartridge, as long as one is willing to accomodate bore wear. If the 6.5-284 is a burner, the 6.5-'06 is probably more of the same.

Just as I prefer to employ the .260 Rem rather than the 6.5-284, I also prefer the .280 Rem (AKA 7mm-'06) to the 6.5-'06.

Greg
 
Re: 6.5 x284

What about getting a good 6.5-284 barrel and ger it broke in and then have it melonited? seems ive heard that process extends barrel life by a good margin? although I hear once its melonited you cant recamber it?

just a thought
 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USW.260</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ya'll are missing the boat- 6.5-06.

Run 25-06 brass through a 6.5-06 FL Die, load with 140 Berger VLDs to 3000fps and your golden. Long barrel life as fast as the rest of them and brass is freakn every where!! My 2 cents. </div></div>

Running a 28" barrel my 6.5-06 would push 140 Bergers to 3200, although the node it shot best was at 3150.

It is a screaming fast/flat round. Barrel life was conservatively short around 1500rounds, potentially it might have hit 2000rd, but I didn't hold out much hope for that.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">6.5-'06 is an outstanding cartridge, as long as one is willing to accomodate bore wear. If the 6.5-284 is a burner, the 6.5-'06 is probably more of the same.

Just as I prefer to employ the .260 Rem rather than the 6.5-284, I also prefer the .280 Rem (AKA 7mm-'06) to the 6.5-'06.

Greg</div></div>

The longer neck and likewise shorter freebore on the 6.5-06 version helps with longer barrel life on the 6.5-284 even when pushing the bullets about 100-150fps faster. It is still a short lived barrel.

I agree, the 7mm versions of the 30-06 parent case is a fantastic way to go. You give up a little bit in trajectory "flatness" but you gain some more in the wind and barrel life.

 
Re: 6.5 x284

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blackops_2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not to derail the thread, but 6.5Lr gives near 6.5-.284 ballistics. My question is with near ballistics of the 6.5-.284 but with a 30 degree shoulder and longer neck, would you be looking at the same barrel life as a 6.5-.284? </div></div>

I read some stuff from David Tubb about the design of the 6XC, and he says that the sharper shoulder and longer neck of the XC, compared to the .243Win leads to LESS throat erosion.

I've been looking at the 6 and 6.5LR, as well as the 6.5Nemesis (.22-250 improved and necked up to 6.5), but I'm going with the .260Rem for one build and 6.5CM for the other build.

It's a band wagon for a reason!!

All that being said, I might still buy a 6.5-284, just because. Though she will be a safe queen! Can't get around that barrel wear!

N