How many of you use one for a varmint rig & what kind of loads do you use? I am thinking of rebarreling a M700SA as a varmint/target rig.
thanks

I have almost the same setup, but in 6mm-284. Actually have not fired it too much yet though. I was planning on replacing the rechambered factory 243 barrel and was also undecided on a 6mm or 6.5 using the 284 case. Its plan was for a long-range varminting rifle and for that I think it will be perfect in either caliber, but will probably stick with the 6mm as I have the brass and dies.

I have an XP-100 15" barreled 6.5-284 with Burris LER 3-12X, Ballistic Plex reticle. Although I intend to get the 120 Nosler shooting in it, all I have is my big game load (129 gr. Horn SST @ 2900 f.p.s.). I've taken this load out to a thousand yds. using Gerald Perry's Exbal Ballistic program (www.perry-systems.com). Although I've only taken it out to 700 yds. on paper, Exbal not only allows you to optimize reference reticles, factory as well as user-defined, but it also has click adjustment comeup calculatiions that allows you to make up a temporary sticker for bullet drop on your scope, and then fine tune at the range, or in the field (see Jacob Gottfredson's excellent article-"Perry-Systems Exbal: Ballistics Software at its Best") Precision Shooting 8/01. Another good article is John Antanies--Precision Ballistic Charts- A Critical Aid to Long-Range Shooting--1/03 Varmint Hunter Mag. It's only 30-some bucks, and it really is the best out there, very simple to operate. I've had opporunities at 4 coyotes with this rig so far-- 2 dogs at 450 yds. 1 kill, 1 miss; believe it or not 1 dog at 906 yds.--kill. 1 dog at about a hundred-- miss (all shots Leica laser-ranged, except the last one). I just bought a Lilja-barrelled 6-284. I've done a lot of research on this long-range stuff, and I believe the 243" bullets are the way to go. Remember you have to have good expansion qualities beyond 500 yds. to put dogs down authoritatively (this is the biggest problem with long-range shooting). I'm going to try the 100 gr. Speer spitzer B.T.(>.4 B.C.). The whole thing here is bullet performance I think. There aren't any high B.C. varmint bullets available yet.

What about the NOsler 100gr BT or the Sierra 107gr MK? I thought of going "hot" .243 but for longer range I thought a 6.5 would be better? Maybe a 6x.284 would do?

Fred, I'd bet if you could get that 100 Nosler 6.5 to shoot out of a 26"-barrelled rig it would be a screamer, and no doubt would kill well way out there, my problem is the XP is throated in between the 129+140 gr. SST's and I'm going to have some slop to deal with with that 100, but I'm going to try the 120 Nosler?? This long-range stuff (at least on coyotes) is uncharted territory, as I don't think there are a lot of guys going out beyond 500yds. on such a thin-skinned animal. I really believe that 24 is an excellent choice for this, but a buddy of mine is building a 26" .270 WSM on a Nesika Bay action for long-range sniping because of the 3 Noslers available for it. But these are controlled expansion Ballistic Tips, so I guess it's going to be trial by fire-- we'll see. I'm starting to believe that if a guy applies the latest technology amazing things can happen (under the right conditions). I just read an article on the Lazzeroni cartridges that was very enlightening by M.L.McPherson in PS 5/01 (I think)--very high velocity with decent barrel life. Quality cases, he says.

6.5/284 wih 139/142 gr bullet is too long for REM short action sam with the 107 SMK

6.5/284 with 107 SMK or Lapua is very good for long rnge light game as varmint I use a 6.5/06 tight chamber ( same water capacity as 6.5/284 ) that an impressive performance with hight bc bullet and match accuracy

good shooting

DAN TEC