I have thinking about adding an Encore pistol barrel to my little arsenal in 6.5X284. The problem is I am unsure if there is any advantage having a barrel made in this caliber because of the pistol length barrel. Most of the sucessful long range shooting shooting this caliber are using 30" rifle barrels and I am not interested in a rifle at this point. Anybody got a pistol in this caliber? How are the ballistics? Thanks in advance.

Well Alan you may not belive this but i actually killed a coyote last spring @ 906 lasered yards with an XP 6.5-284 Win. using the 129 gr. Horn. SST @ 2800 f.p.s m.v./ 3-12X Burris Ballistic Mil-Dot/target turrets with comeup calculations provided by Exbal Ballistics Program to 1000 yds.

Now a lot of guys don't like the specialty pistols but i got a friend that's shooting a 7.82 Patriot XP-100, and is getting close to 2800 f.p.s. m.v. with a 180 gr. SGK-- that rig produces more than 3000 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle, and delivers more energy at 400 yds. I think, than most 7-08 rifles do at the muzzle.

[ 12-08-2003, 11:44: Message edited by: sscoyote ]

I won't be shooting that far, but I was thinking 275 to 325 yards with enough energy to kill a black bear or deer.

I recommend the .260 with a little change: have a rim counterbore cut to accommodate rimmed cases and then use .307 brass, simply sizing them in a one-step operation via a full-length die. I know you hunt in inclement weather, and that rimmed case can be a blessing when the fingers are gloved or nearly frozen. BTW, the .307 Win brass is plentiful, and I believe Midway currently is running a special on it.

From a 14-15" barrel, the .260 will do 2700 fps with a 120 grain bullet and features all the power you need out to 300 yards. For deer at this velocity, the 120 grain Ballistic Tip is about as perfect as one can get in a bullet. For bear, the 125 grain Partition will fill the bill quite nicely.

Bobby,

My memory may be off but isnt the 307 win case rimless?

6.5 Bandit

No, the .307 case is basically the .308 with a rim.

For the distances you require the 6.5-307 would be the ideal for the ranges specified. If you wanted a flatter trajectory you could always improve the 307 case (6.5 Super Bower) and then you would be knocking on the door of the 6.5-284. I would agree that with contender or the Encore that the rimmed cases are an advantage when you can use them.
I have a 260 Rem in a 14 inch MOA Maximum that is shooting 120's just over 2500 FPS (mild load but accurate) and I wouldn't hesitate shooting out to 300 yards on deer with it. I also use the NBT's with great satisfaction.

Ernie

Gents,
I ave been using the 260 Rem Rimmed for a while now. I made my brass from 356Win and everything is fine. I can shoot it this way or put the extractor spring back in and shoot standard 260Rem. It from Bullberry and while it isn't one of his better efforts, it is comfortable to shoot and accurate. It is a 15", tapered like an XP. Lately I have been trying to shoot cast in it without a lot of success just yet.
Mr. DW