Talk me out of it

I have shot a few 6.5-284 and they were impressively accurate, but that is a function of the rifle and not the cartridge; as the cartridge should shoot well in any quality firearm. If you want something off the beaten path and still an excellent performer I would suggest something SAAMI spec so you might have a chance of finding factory ammo if you run out of time to reload. The 280AI comes to mind, it has the advantage of the same case head as your current chambering, factory ammo is available--Nosler and Hornady in the very least are producing ammo, and if all else fails you can use the parent cartridge, the standard 280 Remington and just fire them in a SAAMI spec 280AI chamber. Other advantages include more heavy bullet options, similar SD and ballistics, and it is easy to shoot.
 
SuperCub said:
My Ruger approval matters not, but I do think the Tikka is a good platform for upgrades. Both are good actions.
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remington jim said:
You don't THINK the Tikka T3 is a GOOD action ? RJ
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Of course I can’t tell you anything about the actions you don’t all ready know.

But no, I don’t think it’s worth putting a new barrel on a rifle that all ready has a good barrel more so with a Tikka...

Barrel, tooling up, gunsmith, time, almost better to chop-saw in pieces and buy a new rifle.


No one ever seems to do a switch barrel, why?
 
Thanks for the insight gentlemen, I'll hold off on the barrel purchase and keep it as is. Would I be a fool to snag a used one in 6.5cm and ream it to the Norma chamber for the extra speed? Or has anyone done the same with a 7-08 to 280AI? Realistically smithing would be give or take $300? Replacing the bolt stop and a longer mag isn't too hard either.
 
While the 6.5x284 Norma is an accurate cartridge and used in many benchrest matches, and has been used successfully in the field, there are a few drawbacks. Such as limited choices in production ammo, unless one handloads, and a shorter barrel life for benchrest accuracy. Many target shooters will start with 30" barrels and will cut !" and recrown the muzzle and cut 1" and rechamber the barrel every 800-1000 rounds to maintain top accuracy, down to 24" before rebarrelling and staring over again with a new 30" barrel. If you are going to use for just normal practice and hunting, you may never have to worry about the accuracy degradtion enough to go through this process.
If looking for a good hunting rifle cartridge with good accuracy, it would be hard to argue with the above mentioned suggestion of either the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. Ammo choices are better and they make these rifles in the Tikka, so you do not have to go through a rebarrel, which will typically run you $600-$850 for a decent chrome-moly or stainless barrel, plus the cost of approx. $250 for the barrel swap and headspacing. Better off to sell the 25-06 and use the funds to purchase a new, or new-to-you rifle so chambered. I own both, but do have a lot more experience with the 6.5x55, both at the bench and in the field with big game up to and including moose. An 100,000 moose harvested a year in Scandinavia can't be argued against as to its effectiveness!
If thinking of the 6.5-06, and handloading is also part of your hobby and passion, then rebarrel to this cartridge for the similar ballistic performance to the 6.5x284, with better barrel life.
The Tikka is a fine choice for this project, but if you have another preference, then by all means source a different action for your build.
Just some points to ponder...
All the best in your search for your next project!
 
Fisherguy55 said:
Thanks for the insight gentlemen, I'll hold off on the barrel purchase and keep it as is. Would I be a fool to snag a used one in 6.5cm and ream it to the Norma chamber for the extra speed? Or has anyone done the same with a 7-08 to 280AI? Realistically smithing would be give or take $300? Replacing the bolt stop and a longer mag isn't too hard either.
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You could go through all the trouble of finding and a 6.5 either x55 or Creedmoor and making it int your desired magnum or modifying a 7-08 into a .280 AI or you could get a 7mm rem mag and do everything you would want with the .280 AI. Or leave it a 7mm-08, nothing you have mentioned wanting to do couldn't be accomplished with a 7mm-08.
 
Fisherguy55 said:
I've been toying with the idea of re-barrelling a Tikka of mine to a 6.5-284 Norma. It's a 25-06 and shoots fine, but I'm a little bored and the light bullets & 10" twist are holding it back from being a one gun solution for my hunts going forward. From what I've read the Norma is fantastically accurate and offers near identical ballistics to the new PRC hotness. 127gr lrx up to 156gr eol would be what I'm looking to throw for typical big game in the next decade or so, and will certainly reach out with authority if ever required.

The Tikka is already a long action so loading up the long ones to 3.2" isn't a concern, and has an identical head diameter of .473" so a match barrel blank, dies and brass should be all I need. I'm only just dipping my toes into reloading right now so brass was one concern until searching further to find Lapua, Norma and Nosler all currently make it.

I'm fully aware a 270 will kill just as dead but frankly it does nothing for my interest. I already own a 300win for moose which I could sell, and a 12lb 6.5cm that I don't feel like carrying afield. I was considering a #2 or #3 contour in the factory stock for now. Feel free to advise anything I should re-think or consider going for if I go this route. Or try and talk me out of it :stirthepot2:
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I don't think the gun obsession we all share can or should make sense. It should make you happy. But only until the next project pops into our brain.
 
My latest fun gun is a .257 Weatherby Mag in a Remington 700 CDL, had a Bell an Carlson stock and a very light timney trigger. I haven't got around to loading for it yet, but it shoots factory ammo at 1/2"-5/8" groups at 100 yards easily. Really fun rifle to shoot. One coyote quickly met its maker when it stepped out into the field too. Might be another one to consider. Basically it's a 7mm Rem Mag necked down to .257 with the weatherby shoulder. Apparently 3700fps with the Barnes TTSX 100gr is easily achievable.
 
Browning_300wsm said:
My latest fun gun is a .257 Weatherby Mag in a Remington 700 CDL, had a Bell an Carlson stock and a very light timney trigger. I haven't got around to loading for it yet, but it shoots factory ammo at 1/2"-5/8" groups at 100 yards easily. Really fun rifle to shoot. One coyote quickly met its maker when it stepped out into the field too. Might be another one to consider. Basically it's a 7mm Rem Mag necked down to .257 with the weatherby shoulder. Apparently 3700fps with the Barnes TTSX 100gr is easily achievable.
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I was able to get over 3700fps with 100gr e-tips with R25 and Retumbo
 
If someone relieves me of a few rifles in my safe, I've got my eye on a 24" ss T3X creedmoor thats begging to be opened up :) Until then I have nothing to report back
 
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