As a competitive benchrest shooter, I've become addicted to Lapua brass for my 6PPC. I'm slowly starting the process of devising a new rifle for deer, antelope and sheep. I'm intrigued by the long range performance of the 6.5x284.

My father has shot a 6x284 for many years and it is definately a high speed flat shooting cartridge. I'm just wondering if the 6.5x284 offers substatial improvement over the 6x284 for medium sized big game? I am probably splitting hairs on this; however, that is the nature of benchrest addicts like myself.

Since I can easily neck-down the 6.5x284 Lapua brass, I am good to go with either.

Thoughts or comments?

For the game you are speaking of, I personally would opt for the 6.5/284 round. Your bullet options are heavier than the straight 6mm options and if the range is out there somewhat, would have more punch left. Both rounds very accurate, capable, etc., but to me the 6.5/284 seems to be the optimum flat shooting game round without going the magnum route. I have shot the round at long range/prone/sling matches(600-1000yds.) and very impressive and lot of comptetive match shooters use the round.
Off subject, but truth of the matter is the original 284Win. round was about as fine 7mm out there, but the Rem. 7 Mag. put it under. Magnum sells you know. Good luck with whichever one you choose.

Nosler offers a 120g BT that looks like a good pill for the 6.5/284.

Any experience shooting this combination?

I shoot the 6.5x284 in 1,000 yard competition and also for hunting antelope, deer, coyotes and varmints.

I like the 100 grain BT for light game (coyotes and varmints) out to 500 yards. Past that I shoot the 142 grain SMK for PDs and coyotes.

For medium game (deer, antelope) I'm shooting the 120 grain TSX out to 500 yards and for pigs I have a load using the 140 grain Hornady SST.

For any medium game sized animals I like 120-140 grain bullets especially if the ranges get past about 400 yards.

I would prefer the 6.5 just for the heavier bullet available for hunting. I just don't have a lot of faith in a 6mm/100gr bullet for really big deer. There are many good 120gr-140gr 6.5 out there that would make the 6.5x284 a great long range game getter. The 130grNAB comes to mind.

+1 for the 6.5x284. I had one in a custom Sako that was a great shooter. I regret selling it. Lou

I haven't shot a 6.5-284 but am real fond of my 6-284, 85 grain Noslers have done well on pronghorn. Seems like the bigger bullets would give up velocity.

max bullet wts:
105 vs 140/160...

sort of a no brainer..

I live 6mm bore, but like 6.5 mm bore better..

6.5 - better bullet selection. i shoot the .260 with 120s at 2920 fps..

A habit that has carried over from my benchrest shooting is the use of custom barrels - I prefer Krieger. Accordingly, I always have a custom reamer made for every different caliber I shoot.

Is there an opportunity to slightly "improve" the 6.5x284 case with a custom reamer to squeeze a little more velocity out of the round?

If yes, where would I go to get information on "improving" the 6.5x284 case?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Welker:
A habit that has carried over from my benchrest shooting is the use of custom barrels - I prefer Krieger. Accordingly, I always have a custom reamer made for every different caliber I shoot.

Is there an opportunity to slightly "improve" the 6.5x284 case with a custom reamer to squeeze a little more velocity out of the round?

If yes, where would I go to get information on "improving" the 6.5x284 case?

Thanks.

I have a Krieger on my 6.5x284 and my chamber was cut with a .298 neck (VS the .300 standard) just to have a little tighter fit.

The 284 case is pretty straight as it is so I doubt that you'll get much more capacity out of it.

The next step up in capacity would probably be the 264 Win Mag, the 6.5-300SAUM or 6.5-300WSM

6.5 due to its magic on game!

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I shoot the 6.5x284 in 1,000 yard competition and also for hunting antelope, deer, coyotes and varmints.

I like the 100 grain BT for light game (coyotes and varmints) out to 500 yards. Past that I shoot the 142 grain SMK for PDs and coyotes.

For medium game (deer, antelope) I'm shooting the 120 grain TSX out to 500 yards and for pigs I have a load using the 140 grain Hornady SST.

For any medium game sized animals I like 120-140 grain bullets especially if the ranges get past about 400 yards.

The 140 SMK for long range varminting, interesting, how does it perform on them? I'd always figured that the 140 A-MAX would be the go-to bullet for those reduced velocity jobs including deer and lopes. Does anybody have experience with it?

Another 6.5 vote. Unless you're addicted to the short action, consider the 264 Win.

my 6.5x284 is extremely accurate . . . I currently load 120 XLCs (haven't shot them all up, when I do I'll probably move to Swift A-frame or Scirrocos) and (for targets) Nosler Ballistic Tips. Shot quite a few deer with it, never a problem.

Troy

Like many, I do all my own reloading. Shooting competitive benchrest has trained me to be very comfortable with load development and tuning a rifle. I don't hear much about Berger bullets for hunting. Since I load next to Walt Berger on a regular basis, I feel somewhat compelled to ask folks on this forum how his hunting bullets perform compared to others.

Berger offers a 130 match hunting vld and I'm wondering what type of performance/velocity I could expect?

quote:

6x284 vs. 6.5x284 for Deer, Antelope & Sheep?

I'll take the heavier bullet for big game hunting any time.

At a minimum a 20% heavier bullet is available in the 6.5 caliber and a 60% heavier is optional.

I'm a big fan of the premium 120s in the 6.5!

6.5 x 284 is a proven racehorse in the hunting fields and shooting range. The 6 x 284 is known as a very short lived throat burner. 6.5 has a nice selection of heavier bullets.

Personally I'd go with the 260 Remington. I have both and love both, but. 260 brass are cheap, plentiful, and if you want to spend a bundle on expensive brass Nosler will sell you some. My 6.5x284 is a Ruger #1 with a Shilen 26" and my 260 is a Remington 700 titanium with a 22" stainless. Both will shoot 100gr and 125gr partitions and 120gr b-tips into less than an inch @100yds. I hunt deer with the 100 grain partitions and until this year had never recovered a bullet from deer shot with either rifle. This year I did finally have one stay in a 220lb mule deer shot from 327yrds. The bullet quartered through, hit the thick bone in the shoulder and was found next to the hide. The deer fell where he stood. I guess my point is the only advantage I see to the 284 case is it's cool, not just another boring 308.

quote:

Berger offers a 130 match hunting vld and I'm wondering what type of performance/velocity I could expect?

I can't speak specifically to the Berger 130 Hunting VLD, however a couple of us are shooting the 130 Target VLDs in our 6.5x55 Blaser R93s. We're getting 2900 FPS with these loads and averaging between .416" & .500" 5 shot groups at 100 yards.

We tried the same powder/charge combination with the 130 grain Swift Sirocco IIs. (My favorite longer range hunting bullet for pronghorn and deer sized game) Speed increased an average of 25 FPS and groups average around .6" @ 100 yards. Usually a little bit smaller groups when I do my part.

I'd love to see what the 6.5x284 would do with these bullets, but with these results in the Swede, I just don't really need much more performance for my shooting or hunting needs even at longer ranges.

quote:

Originally posted by Quintus:
260 brass are cheap, plentiful, and if you want to spend a bundle on expensive brass Nosler will sell you some.

Hey Quintus:

Thanks for the comments. Because of my benchrest competition and the 6PPC, I'm addicted to Lapua brass. They make 6.5x284 and I've got the tools to turn the necks for concentricity. I realize this is hairsplitting at its finest; however, it is the habit I've developed from my benchrest fun. I'd have a very hard time shooting anything but the best brass - no offense intended.

I shoot a custom mauser 6.5 284 with a krieger barrel 100gr work well on coyotes,wolfs got some 85gr win. super accurate but 1in6 were sheding jacket detuned the load a little with different powder will see what coyotes have to say now.120gr nosler solid base work well on deer.