I've done it. I ordered a rifle smaller than a 270. Called ACCUFLITE today and spoke with JB. He tries to have a couple of left handed rifles on hand and when I told him what I was looking for, he had one that was close.

By the end of August, I will have my LH Sako 6.5x284 Norma. Matte blue action, stainless Lothar Walther Accuflite #100 contour (?) bbl, 25" long, McMillan Hunter stock and Pachmyer decelerator.

He recommends Norma brass based on his experience and chamber reamer but Lapua will work but it will be tighter. Also recommends Fed210M primers (got plenty). He will shoot about 80 rounds through it breaking it in and load testing.

In a nut shell, for lighter bullets, through about 120, 130, he recommends Varget. Heavier than that, VV N160 and for heaviest, VV N165.

I read on one of the benchrest forums that H4350 and H4831SC are extremely popular.

So, those of you who have experience/knowledge with this caliber, what do you like?

I`ve very limited experiance so far with my 6.5x284 but, I`ve found H4831 and R22 to be very good with 125/129 gr bullets. I tried H4350 and while it did OK with 120 gr bullets I wouldn`t go with a faster powder. JMO.
I picked up a bunch of Noslers Competition 140 gr HPs but haven`t found time to play with them yet. I will start with H4831 under them though.

Doc

Norma or Lapua brass and 210M primers are the way to go, many prefer the Lapua brass overall but the norma is still high up there in quality.

My own 6.5-284 uses a 26 " barrel and likes 120 BT's very much, tiny little one ragged hole groups at 100 yards.

I am using N160 and N165 but don't have my load data before me to give the exact charges used.

I did however havce an issue with the 120 BT's last summer in that at close in ranges under 100 yards on Roe deer I was getting bullet blow up with some heavy carcass damage.

Roe deer are comparatively light framed animals and save for hitting a rib on entry and exit usually I get total bullet exit, certainly so with a 130 grain .270 but the BT's entered and exploded into many tiny fragments and caused some pretty extensive carcass bruising.

I do like the accuracy however of the Nosler bullets so have bought, but not as yet tried, a box of 130 grain accubonds, in theory at least these should give the best of both worlds, accuracy and controlled expansion, certainly for all normal hunting ranges.

you are correct that for real long range the 139 - 142 grain wieght range is preferred. There is some load data given on the 6mm BR web site if you have visited that.

I would be interested to hear of anyone who has tried the 130 accubonds and what their findings were, all in all it is an excellent calibre, my own findings being that it behaves in much the same manner as the 270 with 130 grain bullets

For light bullets, I use AA4350. I started really low at 48 grains and worked up from there. At the time I bought it as a wildcat, the Sierra guys said I could work up to about 53 grains carefully. When it started shooting single hole groups with 49 grains, frankly I quit trying. Mine is a short 20" Douglas #1 barrel, so the damn thing is LOUD, but on a light rifle, it works well for my daughter. She calls it the "flame thrower".

someone else mentioned AA4350 also, but now I can't remember who. Thanks.

I use H4350 with 120-142 grain bullets

120 - 130 grain bullets, 4350, R19, VV 160

139 - 142 grain bullets, 4350, 4831 (either) R22



Doc, Did JB tell you how he was ging to throat the barrel? What action length are you going to be working with? The 6.5/284 case holds a goodly amount of slow powders...

My go to powder some time back was a whole lot of H4831 behind bullets heavier than 156 gr. All the 140s disintegrated before they got 30 feet. roger

308Sako, no, JB did not tell me how he was going to throat the barrel.

But he came recommended by 2 guys here on AR and another guy I know of via email. From my phone discussion with JB, it sounded like he has perfected making custom Sako rifles, especially in this caliber, as it is what he takes elk hunting. (Incidently, he uses the Lapua Mega 150 grain for elk).

The work was to begin 1 week after I called and made downpayment. I will ask about it.

While my experience with JB is not first hand I have never heard any dissent about his Sako's.

Many years ago and under AR's "Harry's" wing I stood silently as a member of the board for the Sako Collector's Association. Having very good contacts with the Stoeger people as my office was only 1 mile from Ruta Ct, Hackensack... One of their managers was a friend fom youth, and then through "Harry" I met and befriended Esa Verho, a VP from Finland. In Accuflite's formative years I spoke with JB several times, especially about Muledeer hunting.

If I were in the market for a custom Sako hunting rifle JB would be on my very short list.



Sako .257 Ackley 115 Trophy Bonded (as made by Jack Carter) @ 3,000 ft/secs... 350 yards.

Recently I bought a Savage 12V in 6.5x.284. I shoot IMR 4831, 44.7 grs behind Sierra 142 gr. matchking. It's not blazing fast but I can hit the end of a soda can at 500 yards very consistently as long as it isn't too windy. I tried RL 19 and didn't have any luck at all!

If the chamber has yet to be cut, make sure you get it cut less than SAAMI standards. In my 300WSM, the chamber is .007 inches larger than the loaded round. See if you can't get the chamber .003 inches larger than the loaded round. I think Calhoun does it like this...

I spoke with JB today and said he will throat the chamber such that a 140 grain bullet will seat ~ .010 into the lands and fit in the magazine.

Sometimes it's in the details...