Not much on the boob tube last night so I was sitting down looking through my new Sierra 5th Edition that I just got in a few days ago.....kinda nice having it in one book now as opposed to two.

Anyway, I read the info on the 6.5-284 and how inherently accurate the round is and also how it now dominates the NRA Long Range High Power competitions and has been used to win both the Leech and Wimbledon cups at Camp Perry. Then as I'm primarily a handgunner naturally I started thinking about the round in a pistol.

Anybody been there and done that ?

Trying to cover most of the centerfire handguns we all use, how do you think the round would perform in the standard 14 to 15" barrel lengths of the XP's, Encore's, Striker's etc. when used for hunting and competition ?

IKE
I think that Leibowitz may have a barrel in that caliber. I just don't know if it was on an encore or an Xp. I'm not really sure of the barrel length either. Maybe if he sees this post he will jump in.
Rich Jake

Ike,
I have a 6.5-284 being built as we speak. It is being built on a center-grip XP-100 with all the bells and whistles (for the purpose of accuracy primarily). Since I already have a 284 Win. that performs better than I can shoot, I am really excited about this 6.5-284. I have brass, dies, and optics already. Project should be ready for break-in by Spring. I try not to think of it, but since I am, I'm going to call Tannel today and see what an approximate arrival date is.
xphunter

Ike,

I have a Encore in 6.5 BR, not as potent as the 6.5-.284 but just as much fun and as accurate out to 200-400 yds. Xphunter does have on in XP100. Maybe he will jump in and tell us about it...

Bobby

I have a 16" Bullberry in 6.5x284. So far I have not been impressed. Just can't seem to find a load that works. Probably me so I will refrain from any more comments.
Rich

I have a 6.5/284 built off a Sako action with rear grip stock. I've had fairly decent luck with 100 and 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. I can typically hold 5 shot groups under an inch @ 100 yards.

Last time I chronographed loads, I believe I was getting around 2700 fps with the 120 grain BTs. I've taken one whitetail with it and dropped him in his tracks.

Right now with my project we are waiting to get a barrel blank from Krieger. It should be in in 2-4 weeks if the completion schedule follows the norm. We had a barrel earlier but the contour was not stiff enough for long range shooting. It will be complemented with an H-S Stock, Burris Signature Rings and a 3-12 LER. Greg is basically doing everything to the action that he would do to a 1,000 rig. The trigger won't be as light though. It is difficult to do with a center grip design because of the linkage. Barrel quality, appropriate twist rate, and proper bedding are very important. This is one reason I stayed away from the Encore: Bedding, slow lock time, and the flexing of the action (I know all actions flex some). If I had access to some of the info Mike has put out I think I would have been less frustrated.
xphunter

Read an article in VarmintHunter about a guy in Idaho that has a handgun in 6.5x284 that gets rockchucks at over 300yds! They didn't specify which handgun, but he had a Contender, Encore, and an XP100.

Was the author of the article Steve Hugel? Steve has an XP-100 in 6.5-284 and used it to shoot a bighorn sheep and a cow elk this year beyond 300 yards. That Shilen barrel has had two different chamberings so far: 6.5 Katy Pie(a 6.5x308 w/ a 35 degree shoulder) and the 6.5-284. That XP-100 was orginally mine at one time.
There are a number of cartridges that one can use in a speciality handgun at ranges beyond three hundred yards for chucks or dogs.
Steve practices at ranges out 700 with regularity with specialty handguns. With a solid rest, good ballistic software, Balllistic Plex Reticule in a 3-12 Burris, Leica Rangefinder, and of course good shooting skills anyone can hit consistently at long ranges. Of course rigid barrels, high quality barrels, good smithing, and good cartridge designs that won't go transonic at impact ranges sure don't hurt either. It can get expensive, but if you know what you want, take your time, and save your money it will be owrth it. I would rather have one or two guns that meet all my expectations than a number of good average guns that are ho-hum in areas of velocity and accuracy. But that is just my preference.
xphunter

I have a 6.5-284 that virgin valley built for me. It's a 15 incher on an encore frame, I've only shot 100gr bullets out of it but it seems to like about all the powders I've tried I don't have a chronograph so I have no velocity specs I do know the gun is extemely accurate sometimes I go print a group or two with it just to cheer me up!! I took it on an antelope hunt and pasted a goat at 309 yards. I love mine!!!!!!

Wheat,
I would love to know your load data if you develop any for the 120, 130, or 140 grain bullets. What kind of dies, powder, primer combinations are using?
Is your barrel short throated for lighter bullets?
Appreciate any info.
xphunter

xp- my gun just has a std. throat I've only shot 100 grainers to try to keep velocity up but lately I've toyed with the idea of tinkering with something in the 120-130 range. I use win. brass,and redding dies and a 2.5-8 leupold, my gun likes sierra's but it loves balistic tips it also shoots barnes x bullets very well. I dug out my notes for you -58gr. h450 mag. primer-very accurate but dirty.55gr. RL19 std. primer-lots of muzzle flash, more recoil than H450, accuracy good, cleaner than H450. 50gr. win. 760 mag primer accurate and clean- good load hope this helps, all these loads shoot .5 inch groups at 100 yards with the noslers and about .75 with the sierra's off my bench, this gun seems faiirly suseptable to the wind a heavier bullet may be better for extreme ranges it has sure been fun you will love yours when you get it I would be very intrested to talk to you later about how yours works and a load for heavier bullets if you wouldn't mind?

I have an XP 100 in 6.5x284. It has a 15" Krieger Barrel with a 9" twist. I have shot 120 Nosler Ballistic Tips and Hornady 140 A Max Bullets. It is extremely accurate with both bullets. I have worked up loads that are probably a little warmer than normal. I have a four groove barrel and this may be the reason I can shoot these loads with no pressure problems. I use H4350 and it works very good in my XP. I seat the bullets .005" into the lands. I am using Federal 210 Primers. My loads are 52.0 Grs H4350 for the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tips and 49.0 Grs of H4350 for the Hornady 140 A Max Bullets. Now if you want to try and use these loads start low and work up because they are warmer than normal.

Outback

wheat,
Thanks for the information. I would be glad to share my experiences (good & bad) when I begin the load development process. It is nice to have some data in front of before you start.

Outback,
Sounds like our two guns will be almost family. Is yours the center grip (singleshot) or rear grip (magazine-model 7) XP?
Mine is the centergrip action. What kind of barrel taper do you have? Scope? Who built your XP?
xphunter

xphunter:
My XP100 is a rear grip with the magazine. I use it as a single shot because when I seat the bullets out the cartridge is too long for the magazine. I just had the XP rebarrelled by Krieger. The scope I use is a Burris 3x12. The barrel tapers down to .775. It is the heaviest barrel that would fit in the stock. When I opened up the barrel channel there is very little stock on either side of the barrel. The barrel is also free floated. I also glass bedded the action.

Outback

I am very near ordering a 6.5-284 barrel for an Encore - could any of you let us know which of the new reloading manuals have data for this in a handgun?

Also, any thoughts on barrel length / contour.

Thanks.