6.5-284 or?

shelby78

shelby78

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Kingston, Ontario
So i have decided i would like to build a budjet target gun (If there is such a thing). I was going to just go with .308 as i have the dies for it but i can't hunt small game with .308. I did a bit of reading and the 6.5-284 came up as accurate cartridge. The only problem is i read its hard on barrel's and i'm cheap. I don't want to spend $400 on a barrel to only have it last 800-1000 rounds. My gun is a stevens 200 that was a .308 and i now have a 22-250 barrel on it (still have the .308 barrel). I do not want .223, .243, 22-250.. My main question is, what caliber should i look for that isn't a barrel burner, can be uber accurate, stays under .275cal, has lots of available selections for bullets.

Basically the gun will probly only see 400 yards max but i don't want to use that as a limit as i want headroom. I will not be competeing this is mainly to print small groups for my own enjoyment. I already reload and will be buying a spin on barrel for my gun from a site sponsor. Once i figure what cal i want then i will work on twists :) Thanks for any constructive help.
 
Check out the 260 Rem. 1000 yard capable, lots of quality 6.5mm bullets to choose from and barrel life is supposed to be good as well. I'm in the process of having one built and those factors are what led me to the 260.
 
In your own words you are looking to build a budjet target gun and you also admitt to being cheap, a 6.5-.284 isn't the calibre you want.
If I was just starting into the precision rifle game, I would build a .223 with a 1:7" twist. You can shoot bullets up to 90 gr with it all the way out to 1000 yards.
Since you are in Trenton why not check out the ORA events just down the road in Kingston. They shoot out to 600 yards there.
 
I picked .260rem as well, in part because its the only chambering I had any interest in for the model of rifle I ordered, and its definitely a cartridge with plenty of potential.
 
Have a look at a 6mmBR. Cheapish brass, cheaper 6mm bullets and long barrel life. The down range performance for the amount of recoil, noise and powder burnt is impressive. And its cute as hell. :D
 
I have had three 6.5x284's and the only time I have seen them chew barrels is when you are above 3000 with your speeds . I have shot mine to a mile with velocity in the 2800-2950 range. The one I had built that had the shortest barrel life found a node at 3050fps and I still got over 1800 accurate rounds out of it (1 moa or better) ! this cartridge will eat barrels if you push it to the limits but if you ease back a little on it , it will serve you well . Brass life is long with this one also so the hurt isnt that bad when you can get 20+ reloads from Lapua brass , also the amount of powder you will burn compared to a 308 isnt really that much more. It is a very fun accurate cartridge that is not as ballisticly challenged as some others
 
I'd like to get a 6.5x284 but priorities being what they are it's looking like a .308 first. I've heard incredible things about this cartridge, but as stated by others the cost for a 6.5x284 is pretty high. I haven't seen any OTC rifles chambered for it yet other than hunting rifles so you're likely looking at a custom fit barrel.
 
As already stated your short action might not be the best choice for a 6.5-284 but the 260 rem would be great for a short action. I am a bit puzzled as to why you think you can't hunt small game with a 308 though.
 
"I am a bit puzzled as to why you think you can't hunt small game with a 308 though. "

Probably b/c he's from Southern ON - they have a calibre restriction for hunting.
 
shimmer said:
"I am a bit puzzled as to why you think you can't hunt small game with a 308 though. "

Probably b/c he's from Southern ON - they have a calibre restriction for hunting.
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The fact they tend to blow up a little more if you shoot something with that big... Ie squriel hunting with 30-06 or 308 = no squiral left..
 
6BR... less powder, most inherently accuarate cartridge going behind the short range 6ppc, dead easy to make work well, the smaller the bullets, the cheaper they are. a 260 with Lapua brass will do 95% of what a 6.5-284 will do with more than double the accurate barrel life.

I will never build anymore 6.5-284's. Anyone that tries to sell you on them reliably shooting quarter minute groups beyond 1000 rounds is either a raconteur or they can't count.
 
haha49 said:
The fact they tend to blow up a little more if you shoot something with that big... Ie squriel hunting with 30-06 or 308 = no squiral left..
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I used to load subsonic rounds for the 308 using Berry's cast bullets and Trailboss. Works fantastic on grouse. I'd imagine it'd knock down rabbits and squirrels too.
 
6BR is a lot of fun and cheap. I have a custom rifle with 6BR and it is very accurate. You could also try 6.5 Creedmoor. I prefer 284 Win. Shoot very well up to 1000 meters.
 
Presumably you want competition-level accuracy.

Does flatness of trajectory matter to you?

If not (for example, you're target shooting at known distances, or you are varmint hunting at long range but you have a range finder), the 6BR shooting 105/107-class bullets is probably the way to go. *Very* pleasant to shoot, more performance (in the sense of less wind drift) than a .308 target rifle, very good barrel life, very well known good loads (pretty much no brainer).
 
stevesummit said:
I have had three 6.5x284's and the only time I have seen them chew barrels is when you are above 3000 with your speeds . I have shot mine to a mile with velocity in the 2800-2950 range. The one I had built that had the shortest barrel life found a node at 3050fps and I still got over 1800 accurate rounds out of it (1 moa or better) ! this cartridge will eat barrels if you push it to the limits but if you ease back a little on it , it will serve you well . Brass life is long with this one also so the hurt isnt that bad when you can get 20+ reloads from Lapua brass , also the amount of powder you will burn compared to a 308 isnt really that much more. It is a very fun accurate cartridge that is not as ballisticly challenged as some others
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Mr Summit,
What are you burning in your 6.5-284's. I agree with with your lower pressure load philosophy. Have you tried Retumbo?
 
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