6.5-284 What am I missing?

CalCoyote

CalCoyote

Member
I really love the short action stuff and have recently started reading about the 284 Winchester family of cartridges.

One of the most successful ones has been the 6.5-284. However almost ALL the different sources I have read call it a barrel burner with accuracy dropping off after 800 rounds fired. Here is my question:

If the 284 Win is a SA case with basically the same capacity as the 30/06, why is the 6.5-284 considered a barrel burner but the nothing is said about the 25/06???

If anything I would think that the slightly larger caliber (.264 vs .257) would make it slightly better on barrel life that the 25/06.

I am probably a year away from starting a 6.5 project but I am very interested with what I am reading. I would think it would be a deer slayer with a good 120g bullet.

Will a 6.5-284 fit in a standard SA Savage as long as the bullet weight did not exceed 140 grains?
 
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The 6.5 caliber really shines with the 140 grain bullet. That is the bullet with the higher BC. The tradeoff is that to get this bullet to fly you need a faster twist. A faster twist creates nmore heat. Just back the 6.5X284 down a bit into the 2800-2900 fps range. This will give better barrel life. Also take a look at the new Hornady 6.5 CreedMore offerings. Tha cartridge is almost the best of both worlds.

The 6.5X284 can be a finicky cartridge. Alot of the 1,000 yard shooters at our club are going to the 6.5X47 Lapua. Tom.
 
I had a 6.5-284 built for me on a Rem 700 vls 22-250 using a 28" Kreiger 1:8 barrel. It is strictly a rifle shot from a bench, not a stalking gun because of the weight. I load 140g bullets around 2900 fps and expect the barrel life to exceed 1500 as I do not shoot competition. When the accuracy goes south you have the throat cut down and start over.
Savage has come out with a 6.5-284 long range hunter, 1:8 twist, accu trigger and stock and under $700.
Jim
 
Originally Posted By: HOGGHEADThe 6.5 caliber really shines with the 140 grain bullet. That is the bullet with the higher BC. The tradeoff is that to get this bullet to fly you need a faster twist. A faster twist creates nmore heat. Just back the 6.5X284 down a bit into the 2800-2900 fps range. This will give better barrel life. Also take a look at the new Hornady 6.5 CreedMore offerings. Tha cartridge is almost the best of both worlds.

The 6.5X284 can be a finicky cartridge. Alot of the 1,000 yard shooters at our club are going to the 6.5X47 Lapua. Tom.


Good answer. I would not build a 6.5-284 with strictly deer hunting in mind. the 260 Rem or either of the other 2 6.5s mentioned will kill deer handily as far as you can hit 'em. With less recoil, less powder, and longer barrel life.

If I did build a 6.5x284 it would be a true long range rig, on a long action. F-Class type.

That said, I'd still opt for the 6.5x47 Lapua over Norma and Creedmoor offerings.

The 7mm-08 is still the best deer cartridge in the land.......
 
THat is kinda interesting to because I've shot out a 25-06 barrel and it started going south at the 2500-3000 mark. I was running everything from 75s to 120's HOT. It was a 1/2" rifle, but when it got to around 3000, it went to 1".

I would like to know how the 6.5-284 is done around the 1K mark myself as well. Around same powder burnt, but slower MV and 2000 rds less barrel life, what gives??

I think there talking BR winning ability accuracy.

NOthing wrong with the 6.5-284. My next build is going to be a 6.5mm of some sort on a rem 700 LA when my 25-06 barrel is shot out. Dont know if I wanna do the 6.5-06, 6.5-06 AI, 6.5 Gibbs, 6.5-284, or 6.5 WSM, there so many good ones...
 
Originally Posted By: kyotekiller25

I would like to know how the 6.5-284 is done around the 1K mark myself as well. Around same powder burnt, but slower MV and 2000 rds less barrel life, what gives??

I think there talking BR winning ability accuracy.


Yeah you kinda answered your question with the BR winning ability, as soon as they get fliers they toss the barrel. But I think alot of that is because your shooting an upwards of 15-20 rounds at a time in competition,which is where most of this barrel life information is coming from, the hotter your barrel gets the quicker throat erosion occurs. I also believe because the 6.5 140s have a long bearing surface compared to anything .257, the pressure is higher in a 6.5 which also would also give more throat erosion.

I always wonder why big game hunters get so concerned with barrel life. Its not like your heating up or barrel shooting alot of rounds at a time.
 
I have a Savage 10/110 Preditor Hunter in 6.5/284.Barrel life acording to Savage is 2400 rounds probably 1500 superb accuracy a 1000 good enough for Deer hunting.But don't let a barrel replacement bother you.Savage will replace it for 250.00.Consider your self lucky that you shot that much.
 
Im building a 6.5 right now. I have a 284 and had a 6.5x284. Talked to alot of bullistic gurus. The 260 rem fastest but has to be a long LOA. Most said 6.5x47 is a little finicky on getting to shoot great. Almost all said the 6.5 Creedmoor was the easiest to get shooting right.

My build is starting as a 6.5 Creedmoor.

Besides you can find factory loads now that have been winning some comps.
 


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