Del Prator has this caliber for sale in Arbay. Where does it fit in the grand scheme of things? Is it like a .270, .280, or .264 WM?
Pros/cons?
What is the optimum bullet for it?

Pretty much a more efficient 264 WM. I shoot a 264 and I love the 130 Brnes TSX. It is also my fave bullet for my 6.5 Swede.

The 6.5x 284 is the 284 Win necked down to .264/6.5 .
The 284 Win was Win's idea of creating a short action cartridge to approximate the 270 Win or 280 Rem. Same case head as the 06/308 but w/a bigger diameter body. Not as big as a WSM, but same design theory(rebated rim).Tubb's (shooting skill) made it popular.

I shoot either 130 accubond or tsx out of mine, both of which kill Alabama whitetails dead. It is ballistically a brother to the 270 win. The 6.5-284s I have shot and loaded for have all been shooters.

For deer sized animal hunting, it is nothing special, it will basically do what the 270 will do.

Now, when you stuff an ultra high BC bullet like the 142 grain Matchking or the 140 grain Bergers in them they become something special.

I shoot mine in 1,000 yard F class competition where it stomps the 308, and 243s, without the pounding of the magnum cartridges.

On the Prairie Dog towns, I don't shoot anything closer than 400 yards and on game like coyotes I'll shoot as far as I can see them.

Pretty much what the other guys have said. It is a bit slower than my 264 and right on par with my 6.5-06AI. Mine was abducted by my daughter and we shoot 120 Sierras through it at deer. Great cartridge.

Ross,

It's a favorite of the long range guys. I seems a 140 VLD bullet at about 3000 fps is magic in the right rifle.

Mark

I found the cartridge to be a bit finicky and when loaded to max velocities, don't expect barrels to last. I was pushing 139gr Scenars at near enough to 3000 as mattered and noticed severe throat erosion well under the 1k round mark (Douglas barrel). Pac Nor barrel lasted slightly longer before leade was gone and accuracy suffered. That being said, this is a hell of a round past 600m. Very accurate and flat shooting. Had I another 6.5 in mind, I would probably do a Creedmore or 6.5x47 Lapua---or just a plain old 260 Rem---just to make the barrel last a bit.

The regular 6,5*55 is also used as a competion cartridge and its plenty of match ammo made for it.