6.5 x 284

26 October 2005, 14:37

Fallow Buck

6.5 x 284

Hi All,

Does anyone shoot this claibre? Any thoughts good or bad?

I'd be looking to shoot something like the 130grain Triple Shock for European Game.

The aim (ahem!!) is a hunting rifle for Europe which is non military and flat shooting. I will get reloads for this probably through my friend that did my 308 loads for Africa, or I'll do it myself with his help.

The alternatives were :

My Current 308, or a 6.5 Sweedish but both military and the 270, I just don't like it as a round. (Cue abuse from scottish hill stalkers....)

1894 suggested a 6.5 x 57 and my mate at the gunshop said the 6.5 x 284. Both Barrels are available for my Sauer 202. Apparently the 284 Brass is easier to get hold of. I haven't made my mind up yet though.

Regards,
FB

26 October 2005, 14:58

mouse93

quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:

1894 suggested a 6.5 x 57 and my mate at the gunshop said the 6.5 x 284. Both Barrels are available for my Sauer 202. Apparently the 284 Brass is easier to get hold of. I haven't made my mind up yet though.

FB

..6,5x57 and 6,5x284 are so simillar that you allready answered the question - if 284 brass is easier to get hold of then go with 284

26 October 2005, 15:08

scirroco

quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Hi All,

Does anyone shoot this claibre? Any thoughts good or bad?

I'd be looking to shoot something like the 130grain Triple Shock for European Game.

The aim (ahem!!) is a hunting rifle for Europe which is non military and flat shooting. I will get reloads for this probably through my friend that did my 308 loads for Africa, or I'll do it myself with his help.
hi fb
6.5 is a great round,my only experience is with 6.5x55 ,i have friends tell me 6.5-284 can be quite hard on barrels.
6.5x57 maybe the way to go ,have you considered 7x64?ammo available everywhere in europe [except uk, rare as hens teeth!]
you are not undergunned anywhere in europe !
i have been using 1 for the last 3 years and would not swap it for anything!
regards scirroco

The alternatives were :

My Current 308, or a 6.5 Sweedish but both military and the 270, I just don't like it as a round. (Cue abuse from scottish hill stalkers....)

1894 suggested a 6.5 x 57 and my mate at the gunshop said the 6.5 x 284. Both Barrels are available for my Sauer 202. Apparently the 284 Brass is easier to get hold of. I haven't made my mind up yet though.

Regards,
FB

26 October 2005, 16:20

<JOHAN>

FB

How about 6,5X64 Brenneke, 6,5X65 RWS, 6,5X63 Messner or 6,5X68

So, 6,8X64 is pedestrian

Cheers
/JOHAN

26 October 2005, 17:40

Fallow Buck

hi johan,

I'm a little limmited on two fronts.

The first is that I want a calibre I can get a barrel for my 202 in. That way I'm not going to end up forking out tons of cash for a rifle I will use sporadically. (I still intend to do most of my UK hunting with the 308)

The other issue is that I have no idea what any of thos calibres are that you mentioned!!!

So please enlighten me!!

Regards,
FB

26 October 2005, 18:38

1894mk2

I must admit I hadn't thought of the 6.5x284. Ammo availibility is going to be poor, I think the only factory hunting load is Norma 120gr ballistic tip (very good for UK use up to fallow) but then so is 6.5x57 in the UK. The difference is that 6.5x57 is pretty popular in Europe whereas 6.5x284 isn't (yet).

6.5x64 brenneke is a pretty rare factory 6.5-06
6.5x65RWS is an offering by RWS that is in effect a slightly improved and shorter necked 6.5-06
No clue on the messner
6.5x68 is a non belted magnum just short of 264Win mag but with a CIP twist for up to 125gr bullets

In increasing rarity the order is probably:-

6.5x68
6.5x65RWS
6.5x64Brenneke

IMHO 6.5x57 handloaded in RWS brass in a strong action and 26" barrel is very impressive

26 October 2005, 20:25

<JOHAN>

1894mk2

Norma has a 140 grain nosler partition on the list

6,5X64 Brenneke, 6,5X65 RWS and 6,5X68S perhaps suits the handloader best.

6,5X55 and 6,5X57 runs fine on Norma MRP

Cheers
/JOHAN

26 October 2005, 20:50

D99

I think I am going to have to build a M700 with a heavy match barrel in a Mcmillan A5 stock and a Jewell trigger in this caliber.

It would be a fun shooter with a little more speed than the old 08.

26 October 2005, 22:30

Deerdogs

How about a 7x64?

You can get the ammo anywhere.

It is non-military.

With 130 grain bullets it is pretty flat.

26 October 2005, 23:28

IanF

Folks.

Am I right in thinking that the 6.5x284 is regarded as one of the better extreme range cartridges?

Ian

27 October 2005, 12:36

Fallow Buck

Ian,

I was told that it is described in the Nosler book as doing everything the 6.5 Sweedish does but out an extra 100yds.

Rgds,
FB

27 October 2005, 13:09

Deerdogs

quote:
Originally posted by Deerdogs:
How about a 7x64?

You can get the ammo anywhere.

It is non-military.

With 130 grain bullets it is pretty flat.

In fact, according to my Barnes book, it is 100 fps flatter than 6.5-284 with 130 grain pills.

27 October 2005, 13:45

Fallow Buck

Deerdogs,

It looks like it will be either the 6.5x57 or the 7x64 as they are the two barrells that I can get on my action.

I'll need to look at availablilty of ammo for each befor I make my choice. Also to see if I need a new bolt and Mag for each.

Rgds,
FB

27 October 2005, 15:29

D99

I want to get a R93 barrel for this caliber, but I have not had good accuracy reports.

Does anyone shoot this in a R93?

27 October 2005, 16:51

Deerdogs

FB,

I got my 7x64 for just the same reasons - hunting in Europe. The Sportsman keep avariety of Norma 7x64, and I strongly suspect Andersons in East Grinstead have a good supply too.

I am told that it is as common in Europe as any other calibre you may care to mention, and the ammo is available everywhere. Now that Ryanair no longer carry ammo this is serious consideration. Thank goodness EasyJet has not gone the same way.

27 October 2005, 17:11

1894mk2

The other thing you need to factor in is FBs current armoury of 243 and 308.

Either choice will work very well but IMHO the 6.5 fits better and can be made slightly more pleasant to shoot. Brass is not readily available but I can give you the mail of someone who will send a pack of once fired RWS that will last your lifetime!

7mm with 120s and 130s shoot flat but carcass damage is considerably increased compared to the 6.5x55/57 with similar bullets. I am not the only one to report this.

27 October 2005, 20:54

Andy Mass

Fallow Buck,

I use 6.5x284 for stalking with (along with 25-06 and 22-250AI), it is a very potent and competant round. It was classed as a wilcat several years ago, but is now not so rare.

Norma do indeed make 140grain ammunition for it. However, my rifle is a heavily modified Rem 700 with a tight neck so I have to make all my ammo "to fit". It is an extremely accurate round and has won numerous awards / competions at 1000 yards.

I have seen two inch, yes two inch groups from my rifle at 500 yards with my hunting load - 140g Hornady ballistic tip, muzzle velocity for this load is 2800fps, which is just a little better than a 6.5x55.

I chose this cartridge simply because I wanted to be different and use it in a hunting application here in the UK - it already has a huge following as a long range deer round in the states, where up to mule deer sized animals have been taken at ranges that the BDS / BASC would raise their eybrows at

If you reload, and enjoy case prep, then I would recomend this cartridge as it will repay you with damn fine accuracy and repeatability from a suitiably prepared rifle. If you don't and want a cartridge you can buy ammo off the shelf, I would try something else.

I hope to take this to Arran next year to take part in the BASC stalking scheme.

Good Luck

27 October 2005, 21:38

IanF

Thanks Andy - was fairly sure I had heard good things about this calibre for looong range work.

I believe no small part of it's popularity is due the reduced windage compensation required - compared to other bullet configurations.

rgds Ian

30 October 2005, 00:18

griff

fallow buck,
this cartridge is one of the top 1000yds cartridges as proven by Peter Jackson who is developing this cartridge even further..
also look at the 7mm-08 non military and certainly in the same league as the 6.5x284

regards

griff

31 October 2005, 14:26

Fallow Buck

Griff,

Funnily enough I was thinking this morning to Ask about the 7mm-08. But it seems hat the barrel is not available for the Sauer. The other round on the list is the 25-06 if anyone has some idea about it.

Regards,
Kiri

31 October 2005, 16:40

1894mk2

I don't have a 25-06 but did seriously consider one. In the end I went 6mm rem. A 25-06 is flat shooting, light recoiling (at least with 100gr) but quite loud. It gives the same performance with 100gr bullets as a 243/6mm rem does with 85/90gr but is usable on hill reds.

IMHO it's too similar to your 243 and allthough factory fodder is available in the UK easily it's going to be extremely rare on the Continent.

With equal barrel length a 6.5x57 is only about 100fps behind

7mm08 - short action 7x57 so very good indeed. Ammo literally non existant here and continent and only available in 120 and 140gr. Brass only available in US makes I think and not easily at that.

The French laws make life very difficult! The only universaly available and legal cartridge is the 270.....perhaps a little harsh.

31 October 2005, 18:51

GBF

Hey 1894mk2,
Do you reload for the 6mm Remington ?

Regards

31 October 2005, 18:51

D99

I like the 25-06, I own a really accurate Remington M700 Sendaro, and I wish Blaser made a match barrel for the R93.

Good caliber, but noisy!

31 October 2005, 20:40

Fallow Buck

1894,

My mate from Norfolk came down this weekend and bbrought his 270. He shot a fox from a seat while I was at the other end of the shoot and I thought he had walked over to the next field from me it was so loud!!!

I've got some photos that I'll post tonight if I get a chance.

FB

01 November 2005, 00:12

Pete E

Kiri,

Is the .270 any more effective than a .308?

Regards,

Pete

01 November 2005, 03:01

Edmond

The 6,5/ 284 is becoming more common in continental Europe, thanks to Lapua. 7-08 and 6.5/ 284 are my two favorite calibers.

01 November 2005, 10:53

D99

quote:
Originally posted by Pete E:
Kiri,

Is the .270 any more effective than a .308?

Regards,

Pete

NO, you can shoot 220 grain bullets out of the 308. The best you can manage with the 270 is 160(I beleive?).

A little less speed a lot more power!

01 November 2005, 12:12

Henrik

Regarding 7-08,
Norma does produce both one factory load (I think that it's a 140 gr Ballistic Tip) as well as brass for 7-08.

Regards,
Henrik

01 November 2005, 12:56

Fallow Buck

quote:
Originally posted by Pete E:
Kiri,

Is the .270 any more effective than a .308?

Regards,

Pete

Pete,

If I tell you that I managed to get a photo pf this one that I could post, you'll get my gist....

There have been plenty of Does about over there recently so get the 308 ready!!

FB

01 November 2005, 14:03

1894mk2

quote:
Originally posted by GBF:
Hey 1894mk2,
Do you reload for the 6mm Remington ?

Regards

Yes. In the summer I shoot 70gr hornady soft points at roe and muntjac under VVN150 for 3,500fps and in the autumn, winter and spring a 90gr BT under VVN160 for 3,200fps.

In truth were it not for reds I would be perfectly happy using this on all UK deer in all situations.....

01 November 2005, 15:31

D99

Remember mate I used a really shitty old 308 to kill 13 head of game in Africa. Including a Zebra with one shot.

01 November 2005, 15:40

Fallow Buck

D99,

Pete's reference to the 308 was to the last time he came stalking with me. We shot a Fox each with the 308's and neither were presentable enough for a photo to be posted...

I think it's a great choice for plainsgame but we aren't allowed to talk about that here!!