I have a lightweight A-Bolt Stalker in 308.

I was going to get it rebarrelled to something like a 6.5-08, and thought I'd ask for advice here first.

I'm intending the rifle to be my "mountain rifle", used on game up to mule deer. I'd like it to be flatter-shooting than the 308.

I wanted to use the 308 case simply to prevent feeding problems.

Anybody know if the 284 case will feed out of the 308 magazine? I think a 6.5-284 would be great.

Don:

If you're interested in 6.5mm and the .308 case, why not just do a .260 Rem and have access to factory ammo? If you really want a wildcat in a smaller than .308" caliber, maybe you could play around with a .257/.308 or .277/.308? And I doubt a .284 case would feed properly from a .308 magazine.

I guess I've always considered the 260 Rem and the 6.5-08 to be the same critter.

Whatever I got I'd want to be throated to take the heavier bullets.

.25-08 in some form. That's always interested me, but I like quarter bores.

I would probably build a .257 DGR or Durham Jet. The .25 Souper is also right in the same catagory.

I love the way the Quarterbore works on deer. I have been using a .257 Roberts and a .25-06. Nate

Edit: If you like the 6.5 then the .260 or an improved version long throated would be neat.

Don, The .260 would be my choice for longer ranges and overall performance. I deeply love the .308, but am anxious to play with the .260. I have a 6.5/284 on a Rem short action and it doesn't feed as well as I would like. I also shoot a 6/284 on a Sako short action and had to remove the magazine box to add width for the cartridge stack to improve feeding. For what that's worth... enjoy Dave

with the 270 redding you could use winchester and remington 130 grain bullets bought in bulk for shooting enjoyment, and various brands of 130 and 140 grain bullets for hunting. the lighter weight ones are also useful.

If you are going to rebarrel anyway, why not .260ai? There isn't much of a vel. increase, maybe 50fps, but the brass lasts forever & it's a bit diff.

I shoot a lot of 260 loads.. owning 3 of them...

The performance I get from them, has negated the energy it would take to deal with a 6.5/284....hard to find brass.. expensive brass etc.....

Definitely go with a one in 8 twist.... the common used one in 9 will not stabilize the bullets larger than 129 grains reliably.....probably the most important footnote on any 6.5 bore in my opinion...

cheers
seafire

If your looking for a 308 based wildcat that is tough. Commercially developed 308 ctgs are 243, 260, 7/08, 308, 338/08 and the 358 Winchester. Of the bunch I think the 260 is the champ. I have one in a 40x that is just a fantastic rifle. Excellent accuracy, moderate recoil, a large variety of high BC bullets, and economic to shoot. Just REALLY hard to beat.

Thanks for all the advice!

I believe I will build a 260 Rem instead of a 6.5-08!

quote:

Anybody know if the 284 case will feed out of the 308 magazine? I think a 6.5-284 would be great.

I think this is doable.....ask your gunsmith.

It's a quite a tad more than the .260 and not that hard to reload.

What I myself would choose? 260 std. Simple, effective, efficient.

Flat enough and hard hitting enough to get all you need to 300-400 yards with shot placement.

120-129 gr would be ideal on big mulies in my mind, 129 Hornady would be my 1st choice......

AND I would ONLY use an 8 twist and would not mind anything faster (lower number) as some have 7.5 or so and do great with all bullets.

To gain any REAL noticeable improvement in range over the 260 I think you will have to burn a lot more powder and if I did that, I would go to larger bore myself i.e. 338-06, not being flatter, but efficient and hard hitting, and that ctg. is not an option for your short action.

Don Don Don, what about the 338 FEDERAL?

Why rebarrel? Is the barrel worn out?

I would say than any cartridge from 260 up would be satisfactory and my first choice for a mountain rifle cartridge would be the 308!

I rejected the 260 as I hunt bears at the same time as other game. I know that a 260 should take bear but I why should I use one when I have 308's 358's etc?