I'm already pondering my next custom 15" Encore barrel....a early Xmas present to myself if you will.

What are the available options ($$$$) for 6.5x284 dies and brass ?

Now that I've got a 15" Encore in .284 Winch. can regular ole .284 Winch. brass be necked down and just fire formed to 6.5x284 ?......from what little I've researched so far it seems to be far more affordable than factory 6.5x284..

Ike

You can neck down 284 win brass to 6.5 but now you purchase 6.5-284 brass from several companies, Hornady and Norma for sure and there is one possibly two more. Cost is not excessive and you will save time (unless you have some to use) in using factory brass. Dies are more expensive than 284 Win dies. Cost will be dependent on if you purchase standard 2-set dies or Redding's BR dies. Prices on dies may have gone down since I looked last. This is getting to be a very popular cartridge.

Ernie

Thanks for the reply Ernie.

It looks like Hornady brass is the best buy and two die sets by Redding or RCBS run between $50.00 and $60.00.

I called Sierra today and they also suggested, as you did, to go ahead and get the brass already in 6.5x284. The fella said that depending on my chamber I may have to turn the necks as they may thicken up when necking down .284 Winch. brass....a process I'm not overly fond of.

He also said that barrel / throat life with the fellas that use "rifles" chambered in the 6.5x284 for competition is only around 700 to 900 rounds do mainly to the way they load them....sure hope my barrel doesn't burn out that fast.

I'm still in the comtemplation stage but the 6.5x284 certainly looks very interesting.

It is not only the way that they load them it is the manner in which they shoot--very fast so as to get all of their shots in during the same condition. Number two reason is the level of accuracy they demand to be competitive is a very high level and barrels would be accurate enough for you and me for our purposes long after they would discard and rebarrel.

Ernie

I would use Lapua brass I have some Hornaday that I shot some shots out of a box of 50. All BR prepped could not get the stuff to shoot to BR standards (less than 6" at 1000 yards). You should get around 2000 rounds or more for hunting. I use a Redding FL S die and a Wilson seating die and would recommend those die. We shot the 140g to 147g bullets.