I find it almost humerous how much wrong info there is being spouted about this caliber.

"It's too long for a short action."

Not. Its essentially the same length as the WSM cases and the old 6.5 & .350 Remington mags. Its true that powder space is intruded upon w/ 140 gr. bullets and some just won't work, but w/ 120-130 gr bullets, this is an awesome deer/antelope cartridge.

"It burns too much powder, too much muzzle blast, etc." Or "You gain nothing unless you use a long barrel."

All cases that are a bit overbore do better w/ long barrels, but 22" barrels work on 25-06 just the same. The 6.5 has a case capacity similar to 6.5-06. Sure it provides more in a 24-26" barrel, but even w/ a 22" it is a significant increase over the .260 or 6.5x55.

Some have been afraid of the large body, but it works in most magazines that are designed for .473 head cases w/o modification.

Some have been afraid of the rebated rim, but WSM, RSAUM, the .376 Styer, the 9.3x64 work just fine w/ a rebated rim (as well as some of the big over .40 caliber african rounds from across the atlantic).

Owe, and by the way. I saw one fellow questioning whether it will work in an Encore because of the rebated rim. No problem. SSK, VVG, Bullberry, OTT, etc., have been and continue to make wildcat encores on the .284 in .6mm, 6.5, .30, .338, .358 & .375.

This is a great cartridge w/ few down sides. Just be sure that you want what it excells at and build the rifle accordingly. (Big difference between a 1000 yd gun and a mountain sheep rifle). The perfect deer/antelope/sheep gun in my mind would be a short action 700 Ti w/ a 22" SS barrel in 1 1/2 contour in this caliber.

Well Bear, I'll agree on some of your points, but you made the main argument against the 6.5x.284 in a real SA. It's too lng for most 2.8" mag boxes. You are pretty much limited to 140gr bullets or less. This is the reason I went to a .260ai in my M700SA. It just seems to work better. That's why Rem. has the SAUM, it's actually better suited in the true SA. Now if you could get a 3.1" mag box, now we are talkin! That would let me use any of the 140gr & many of the 160gr.

A club member was shooting his new 6.5X284 today. It's on a 40X action with a 30" Hart barrel and McMillian stock. Another said he has ordered a Barnard action for $950 with a trigger to make one.

These guys compete at 1000 yds.

As for hunting I have been shooting the 270 WSM a lot. The rifle is light and does not kick bad at all. I can't see where a 6.5X284 can do anything at all that a 270 WSM can't do better.

I'm building one right now on a MRC short action (3.1+" Mag body). I plan to use the 140+ grain bullets for long range pasture poodle punching

Beartrack, you made some good points and other so-so. The orginal problem with the 284 OAL(2.800) was getting the 7mm bullet out longer. I think it's a great case I've got a 6.5x284 on a win to action and a 6x284 on a rem long action. I've always used 26" barrels and who think going to 22" would have a pretty good drop in velocity. I've never shot light bullets in my 6.5x284 it was twisted and throated for the 140gr plus. There is always a trade off and if I was going to build something for the lighter 6.5 bullets I'd do the 260AI or 6.5x55AI on a rem short action. If I was going to build as you call it a light 22" barrel deer/antelope/ sheep rifle it would be a 284 on a rem short action I'd have afew thing done to that action. I had a 284 done up on a ruger #1 as a deer rifle years ago.
Looks like alot of the comments rubbed you the wrong way best thing would be to build that light rifle you think is perfect and go have some fun with it.

My 284 does 2950 with 140's pushed all the way to 2.800" OAL in a 23" barrel. (not max loads) For hunting purposes if you need a heavier bullet don't use a 6.5!

I had mine built on an 03A3 action. Perhaps not the best cartridge choice for that action, but I love it anyway. The longer action allows a bit longer OAL. I use 140 Hornady SST for deer and keep them pretty mild at mid 2700 fps. I tried 120 ballistic tips for deer at pretty close to 3000 fps but I didn't like the way those bullets performed at that velocity. They just come apart too fast. Then consider the dense woods and the heavier bullets are a beeter option.

quote:

I tried 120 ballistic tips for deer at pretty close to 3000 fps but I didn't like the way those bullets performed at that velocity. They just come apart too fast. Then consider the dense woods and the heavier bullets are a beeter option.

Or just slow them down to 2700 and they will go all the way through a deer no problem.

Mine is built as a light, short rifle. I used an FR-8 action and had MRC put a 20" #1 barrel on it. Sure wish I could get it back from my daughter. I did have to open up the feed rails to make it feed properly, but it was no problem. Since the FR-8 is a standard length action, I have no problems with any bullet I care to use.

I'm planning on building one. I'm thinking hard about using a 270 remington action converted to a single shot. This will be a long range gun. As for the comment the 270wsm has an advantage I say check your bullet options. Also the availability of match bullets and benchrest competition dies. Most 6.5-284's are built for the bench.

Truth is, i believe the longest shot ever recorded for a game animal (coyote) was taken with the 6.5-284 (from a handgun, that is). Here it is--
http://www.perry-systems.com/what_others_have_to_say.htm#Steve

The longest range consistent shooting i've ever seen was with my hunting partners custom XP handgun in 6.5-284-- 10 in a row on 8" circular steel plates between 585-685 yds. using the 140 A-Max.

I have several 6.5-284, plus a few 25-284s, a couple actual 284, a 30-284, and a 338-284 and they all seem to work fine in short actions. All except 1, a 6.5-284, are short actions and the exception is a Winchester 70 Fwt rechambered from 6.5x55. I find it interesting that Tom Holland would opt for a 6.5x55AI in a short action, when the 6.5-284 provides more case capacity and has exactly the same case length. So, how can you load the same length 140 grain bullets in the same length case and not intrude on the powder capacity to approximately the same degree? I have around 20 260s around the house and can't see any benefit of going AI on that case. If I'm going to build a wildcat, I want to get the most out of it that I can. In short action 6.5s that is either the 6.5-284 or a 6.5 WSM/RSUM. I was going to build a 6.5 WSM, but bought a 700 SPS in 270 WSM and find that it meets all of my requirements, plus the factory ammo that I have shot in it is damn good.

Jeff

260rg, you are probably right about perf. of the .260ai, mine only holds 1-2gr more powder. I am on my 7th firing & just now trimmed them, very little btw. It seems the cases will last forever & I get a bit more vel. out of it, no real down side.