6.5x284 build

[fire arrow]

I have been thinking about building another rifle. Was looking at building a 6.5x284 for when I hike in. I'm not building a ultra light weight rifle, just something more comfortable to pack. My 300 mag is a touch heavy. I have never owned this caliber and I have read that it is a great round out to 700 yards. So I was hoping someone here could through out some likes and dislikes on this cartridge. O ya, and for you guys that do have them what barrel length are you running. I've seen people 24 and 26 inch barrels. I know the 26 will give more speed, but at what expense. Will that 26 make it to front heavy, or aquward to carry?

I plan on using 140gr Berger's.

 

[Justin Crossley]

After hours and hours of reading and talking to gunsmiths, I went with a 6.5-06AI with a 26" barrel.

I can easily get the 140 Berger VLD running over 3200 fps. I can use .25-06 or .270 brass and it is really easy.

 

[fire arrow]

O that's just great, another direction to go. I'm popping a Rockstar now and let the google begin. To the doner brass is .270 or 25-06? Do ya just trim it and size it in the 6.5-06 die?

 

[Justin Crossley]

With 25-06 brass, I just size up the neck and fire form. With .270, I trim, size the neck down and fire form.

 

[fire arrow]

When you hit 3200 fps, was that your max charge, and what kind of pressure signs were you getting?

 

[rutfest]

I just bought a custom 6.5 x284. I am running a 26" barrel and am getting 2960 with 140 gr berger and 53.5 gr of 4831sc.

 

[Justin Crossley]

When you hit 3200 fps, was that your max charge, and what kind of pressure signs were you getting?

I was getting pressure in the 3280 fps range with RL22

With 64.5 grains of Ramshot Magnum, I'm getting no pressure signs at all. I backed off the velocity a little from max so I don't burn the barrel up early. This seems to be a really good happy medium for me.

I'm using a Brux #5 contour, fluted barrel. With a Rock Creek barrel you can probably get slightly more velocity.

 

[fire arrow]

What ever caliber I go with I'm using a Brux or Kreiger. Probably a Brux. Lead time if 5 months compared to 10.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Look up Greg at Southern Precision rifles.

www.Bugholes.com

He stocks a lot of Brux barrels and can usually ship them within a few days. He is the one who built my 6.5-06AI.

 

[30338]

My 6.5-06 comes in at 7 pounds and an ounce or so with Leupold 3.5-10 on it. Hart #2 with 8 twist puts 140 Bergers into very small groups all the way out to 700 yards. My velocity is only 2870 but with turrets, who cares. So far mountain goat, whitetails, and antelope have fallen with one shot. Amazingly comfortable to shoot even though very packable. In that velocity range, the Bergers have performed very well for me. The 6.5-284 with Lapua brass would be very tempting as well.

For me, I see no real advantage to faster or heavier. Neck down 270, trim to length, and commence to shooting. Easy.

 

[Justin Crossley]

The advantage is less wind drift, less bullet drop and more impact velocity.

 

[30338]

3200 fps with a 140 berger drifts 9.3 inches in a 10 mph wind at 10,000 elevation. My anemic 2870 fps load drifts 11.1". Never needed more bullet impact velocity to 525 yards so far and as I stated "for me", I don't plan on killing stuff past 700 yards. Folks can pack heavy rifles shooting high velocity rounds and the gains over my rig are going to be very minimal. For me, I am having my cake and eating it too with 49.5 grains of RL22 giving me 2870 fps with long barrel life and fast kills.

Someone wants 3200 fps, no worries to me and sure it will work fine. Just not enough more for me to stress about anymore. My current project is daughter's 260 shooting 136 Lapuas at 2800. 42.5 grains of powder and showing great promise.

 

[30338]

Oh and that 6.5-06 is a 24" and the 260 is a 23". Pretty handy.

 

[Justin Crossley]

3200 fps with a 140 berger drifts 9.3 inches in a 10 mph wind at 10,000 elevation. My anemic 2870 fps load drifts 11.1". Never needed more bullet impact velocity to 525 yards so far and as I stated "for me", I don't plan on killing stuff past 700 yards. Folks can pack heavy rifles shooting high velocity rounds and the gains over my rig are going to be very minimal. For me, I am having my cake and eating it too with 49.5 grains of RL22 giving me 2870 fps with long barrel life and fast kills.

Someone wants 3200 fps, no worries to me and sure it will work fine. Just not enough more for me to stress about anymore. My current project is daughter's 260 shooting 136 Lapuas at 2800. 42.5 grains of powder and showing great promise.

What range are you figuring for your wind drift? 500 yds is not long range IMO. This is the long range hunting forum.

At 1000 yds and 10,000 ft elevation a 6.5mm 140 grain Berger VLD

10 mph cross wind

3200 fps has 37.55" of wind drift, 2127 fps of impact velocity and 1407 ft lbs of energy.
2870 fps has 44.58" of wind drift, 1863 fps of impact velocity and 1079 ft lbs of energy.

 

[30338]

The OP had posted 700 yards and that matched up with my experiences pretty well. At 1000 yards it looks like you have a real advantage there with the 3200 fps load. Either way, the 140 bergers have been a great bullet and hope the OP has a great rig built up that does what he wants.

 

[fire arrow]

Was looking for 6.5-06 AI dies and I have not seen any offered by Redding. They make a 6.5-06 (a-square), but I also see the regular designator for the AI in other catagories. Unless I am missing it, does Redding not offer this die. If not, what dies are you using?

 

[Justin Crossley]

Redding does make them. I emailed them and ordered directly.

 

[fire arrow]

What set did you get? FL type S or neck sizer with a type S. And what was the cost.

 

[Justin Crossley]

This is the die set that I bought. I think the cost was around $170.00?


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