Thanks for the help. Jeff(Celt) Hicks has gotten the nod as the builder. And after talking to him, I still havent made up my mind which one I want to build. But am going more to the 25. Guess I am just gonna have to draw straws and go with which ever one wins out.

Ray, I think you and I are close in age and I know I loose track of time.I think the .284 came out around 1963 and cases weren't to be had till the next year. When I had my 6.5 x.284 built in "66" Ackely didn't even have a reamer for it. A fired case came out with the neck expanded to what a fired .284 case would have. but with TRUE Fred Barnes bullets it was a fantastic performer. roger

If i'm not mistaken the SAUM case has a slightly longer neck, and i know it's slightly shorter (OAL), but no Norma or Lapua brass is available (for whatever that's worth to ya'). Don't mean to throw a wrench in here (yes i do), but have u looked at it? Man, it'd be fun to play with in 6.5. I sure wish somebody would-- and tell us about it.

Ray, did you really put a 30-338 on a savage 99F or did you mean a 30-284? As far as anything on the 284 case, I think if I wanted something short and fat I'd just go ahead and use the WSM case. Dies and reamers are around for the 6.5-300 WSM and Norma is making brass for the 270 WSM so I'd think that would be about the most one could get from the 264 caliber in a short action. Am I close in being correct? Paul.

the 25 wssm matches 25-06 ballistics, and a bet a new winnie or browning, with that barrel, brass, and dies will cost you FAR less than just the barrel and mounting. Much less the dies and brass.

Ray,
a 338 or 35 x284 on a 99.. now THAT sounds like fun

jeffe

I love the 1/4 bore but find the lack of quality and diversity in bullets vexing, as well as the lack of heavier weights. Somebody ought to make a 140 for that caliber. Anyway, based on that issue alone I'd opt for the 6.5mm. You say you'll only shoot 130's or lighter, but you might change your mind someday. The 6.5/.284 is 1000 yard capable, the 1/4 bores are not, at least not for precision work. It's all about bullet choices. JMO

Dan
Hornady used to make 140gr .257 pills.... they quit due to lack of interest... You can still find them from time to time.

I think the last time I saw in quantity was a lockstock flyer, about 2001.

Most .257 barrels wouldn't have the right twist, as this is a LONG bullet

jeffe

Jeffe! That's the problem in a nut shell.No manufacturer has ever made a .257 rifle with the right twist to handle the longer bullets.The sad part of that is it is only .007" smaller in diameter than the 6.5 but the max useable bullet difference between the two is a full 40 grains.No PUN intended but here is a case of short sightedness in the American arms industry.To market a 25 that would do this at this time is probably folly as the 6.5s have this area well covered now and the Amercan sportsman is at last well receiving the 6.5 as a legitimate caliber.Carrying this thought a little farther you might come up with the conclusion that the 25s will soon be nothing more than a kindered memory. roger

Jeffe, didn't know that. Pity. The .257 certainly has a twisted history. You'd think somebody with influence might have sorted it out by now. Seems to work well in spite of all the handicaps though. Maybe it's time to call Corbin...

Dan

Pres., TYGC

www.ThousandYardGun.ShortRangeBullets

sorry pal. I do NOT do browning or winnie. so the wssm isnt even in the running.

Dan the rifle will see much more field time as a hunting rifle. I like things that go fast, shoot flat, and hit hard. May not think the 25 can really do the hit hard thing, but I have seen enough to say different. This will be another beanfield rifle. And 100grain 25cal. x bullets driven at high velocities will reak havoc on whitetails. But me mind is still not made up. And yes the 6.5sarum is a consideration. But thats another rifle. Trying to fill some gaps in what I have and what I dont. I build strictly from want. I dont worry about one overlapping another in performance or usefullness. They are all fun to shoot.

Have fooled around with the .284 wildcats and am now doing the same with the WSM case. Just had a 6.5 WSM built up on a short Rem 700 action, lefthand. Magazine has been lengthened and throat cut for the available magazine length. No problems at all and am using up to the 140 grain Nosler partitions and Barnes X bullets.