.308 or 6.5 x 284

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AndrewNS

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So I'm looking at ordering a new Savage Model 12 Benchrest and I can't decide if I want a .308 or a 6.5 x 284...

I'll be using it for target shooting up to 500 yards and possibly for coyotes here and there.

Do either have strong positives / negatives?

Opinions?
 
What is the safety template for your favourite range? Some places have rules about shooting predictable cartridges and not wildcats.

Even though the 6.5x284 is a pretty formidable mid-sized cartridge, it does not have artillery ballistics. If you want to shoot a very well-known cartridge, go for the .308. If you have plenty of time for research and experimenting, and too much money to pay for all the fun, go for the 6.5x284.
 
Both are great calibers. Both win lots of matches, but the 6.5-284 is in the F-Open division whereas the 308 is in the FTR division. There's a reason for this. The 6.5-284 has better ballistics, less wind drift, flatter trajectory. If there's a downside to the 6.5-284 its shorter barrel life and ammo that is not as easy to find. All the above being true, it is not unheard of for a guy with a 308 to win matches over guys with the 6.5-284 - although this is not the norm.

You will be pleased with either.
 
6.5's have better ballistics but 308 will have longer lasting barrels and is more common in our area if you wanted to do long range F-class shooting(its a lot of fun).
I'll probably make a 308 F-TR for next year if time allows and if I get everything together on time as I was by myself in F-Open this year, that said I really like my 6.5(260rem), and will keep shooting it at times either way or if we ever get more guys in Open.


That said neither of them is much of a contender in the "real" benchrest shooting, but there's none of that around here anyhow so its really down to whatever you want to shoot. 308 brass is cheaper but otherwise not a huge difference on reloading cost, slower powders for the 6.5 can be easier to find but wouldn't let that be the decider either.




I see I was 1 minute late :(
 
AndrewNS said:
I was under the same impression, and according to Savage's website you're right. But, some retailers advertise them with a 1:8 twist...

http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_22_260&products_id=1941

That seems to be one of the only ones I can find in stock anywhere and it says that it is 1:8.
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Hmm...Either way, if I was going with that model for its specific use, I'd be still inclined to go 1:12" over 1:8" if there was a choice.
 
For target shooting 1 in 12 is ideal, i am very happy that my FNAR have a 1 in 12 ROT, love to work with 150 to 175 bullets... JP.
 
tourist said:
SFRC is a misprint. Go to the Savage site and change calibres for the benchrest model. You will see the correct twist rates. 308 1 in 12. 6mmBR 1 in 8. 6.5-284 1 in 8.
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I agree and I hope that is the case... I may just order it and hope that it is the 1:12 twist rate... I would hate to miss out on the sale and /or have someone else buy it before me...
 
AndrewNS said:
I agree and I hope that is the case... I may just order it and hope that it is the 1:12 twist rate... I would hate to miss out on the sale and /or have someone else buy it before me...
Click to expand...

Savage has never made a rifle chambered in a .308 Win. 1:8" twist so there's no point in worry about it. Just order the rifle and be done with it or someone else will as it's a decent price.
 
"...decided to go with the .308..." It was designed to use 1 in 10, but a bench rest rifle isn't the same as a hunting rifle. Mind you, neither is a 29" barrel normal for a hunting rifle.
SFRC says 1 in 12. Read the first sentence. Read the line about how long they've had it too. Suspect you might get it for less than what they're asking if you have cash. Be better if you were standing there with money in hand, but it'd be a long hike.
 
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