6mm-284 Sako Forester

[PSDBowhunter]

My wife's grandmother has a Sako Forester in 6mm-284. It's a beautiful rifle. She always used it for deer hunting, but hasn't used it in several years. My wife's grandfather always told me it was a wildcat cartridge that he had to get reloads for. I had a few questions I was hoping someone on here could help me with.

1. Did Sako offer the 6mm-284 cartridge from the factory? From what I've found it looks like they didn't.
2. Are there any factory loads for 6mm-284? It looks like it is reload only from what I've found. I don't reload, but wouldn't mind getting into it.
3. Would it be possible to change this to a different, more common cartridge like .243 or 6mm creedmore?

 

[Bluumoon]

6-284 checks a whole lotta boxes in my book, except being popular. If you can reload for it I’d leave as is. Other wise yes you can easily ruin it, I mean rebarrel it.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

6-284 checks a whole lotta boxes in my book, except being popular. If you can reload for it I’d leave as is. Other wise yes you can easily ruin it, I mean rebarrel it.

Haha! Maybe this will be the nudge I need to get into reloading...

I'd really like to get a 6mm.

 

[Bluumoon]

Basically a 6PRC, but holds more in the magazine. Who knows how that thing is chambered though, someone around here could figure it out for you.

 

[wind gypsy]

1. Did Sako offer the 6mm-284 cartridge from the factory? From what I've found it looks like they didn't.

REALLY doubt it

2. Are there any factory loads for 6mm-284?

No. it's not a SAAMI or CIP cartridge. I'm sure a boutique custom loading shop could do it for you at a hefty price

3. Would it be possible to change this to a different, more common cartridge like .243 or 6mm creedmore?

With a whole new barrel absolutely. To rechamber the existing barrel in creed or 243 you'd have to cut at least 1.77" off the breech end of the barrel and many factory sporter barrel contours wont support that.

 

[TaperPin]

You can always get ammo through a custom reloader, but it would be expensive. If you are interested in reloading it’s the perfect time to start. Neat cartridge.

 

[6mm Remington]

Friends helping friends! Currently out of stock at Midsouth, but they are out there.

 

[6mm Remington]

Looks like Midway USA expects to have Redding 6mm-284 Winchester dies in stock on 5/15/25.

Redding Deluxe 6mm-284 Winchester Full Length Sizing, Bullet Seating,

Redding 3-Die Sets are available for rifle and pistol cartridges. The pistol sets contain a full length sizing die, expander die, and bullet seating...

www.midwayusa.com

Graf & Sons appears to have some in stock.

6mm/284 Winchester - Bushing Dies & Sets - Rifle Dies - Metallic Reloading - Graf & Sons

www.grafs.com

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Cool cartridge! Haven't seen one of those in YEARS.

Bench rest and varmint shooters loved it back in the day. If I remember correctly they were shooting 80-90 grain bullets well over 3,500 FPS.

I don't recall any factory ammo for it, maybe Winchester made something at some point?

 

[PSDBowhunter]

Admittedly, I don't know much about reloading or rechambering. I would definitely be interested in trying the reloading. What would I need to figure out to see if I could load some of the new Hornady 108 or 109 gr bullets? I'm assuming I would need to make sure there is enough room for the bigger bullets to fit without pushing down further into the casing.

If this wasn't a factory option, I wonder what it was originally? I'm guessing .244/6mm Remington?

 

[PSDBowhunter]

I'd also need to know the twist of the barrel to see if it would work with heavier bullets.

 

[rbaney]

If it was a rechambered factory the barrel would have the old information on it. I suspect it is a custom barrel and twist is probably what was common at the time 1:10 maybe 1:9. And you are right you would need to know those extra things to take advantage of the longer bullets. Best of luck.

 

[SDHNTR]

Sounds like a family heirloom. If the barrel twist isn’t marked on the barrel somewhere (may need to take the stock off) just use a ball bearing handled cleaning rod, mark TDC, push it thru the rifling and measure how far you have to push it to return to TDC. Theres your twist.

If it won’t do what you want it to do, figure on $350-400 for a new barrel blank, and another $350-500 for fitting and chambering.

 

[cal30_sniper]

You've gotten a lot of good answers. I'm working on one of these right now in a 700 action. I'm hoping for good results with it throated long for 115DTACs and 109ELDMs.



I've got one of those Sakos in 220 Swift. I would absolutely get into the reloading game for one in 6-284.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

You've gotten a lot of good answers. I'm working on one of these right now in a 700 action. I'm hoping for good results with it throated long for 115DTACs and 109ELDMs.

View attachment 881612

I've got one of those Sakos in 220 Swift. I would absolutely get into the reloading game for one in 6-284.

Those look really nice!

I have a feeling a may end up with the gun that I mentioned. I don't think anyone else in the family will want it, much less know what to do with that cartridge. It may just force my hand into reloading, haha!

 

[cal30_sniper]

Lapua 6.5x284 brass is usually available, and it’s an easy neck down to 6mm. I have a 25-284 die set I use on the way down, but I doubt it’s necessary.

Most are throated pretty short for the smaller 80-100gr bullets that would have been popular in a 243 from that era.

You can check your throat pretty quickly with a Hornady overall length checker. I ran their modified cartridge for 6.5-284 through the 25-284 sizing die and it was perfect for checking the 6mm bullets. Pick what bullet you want to run, find the distance to the lands (you don’t need a special tool for that, but it’s quicker/easier with one), and start working loads up about .030 off the lands for most bullets.

Some load manuals include data for this cartridge, almost always for 2.850” COAL. With heavies seated long, it really likes normal powders for an overbore cartridge (Retumbo, N570, H1000, etc).

 

[PSDBowhunter]

Lapua 6.5x284 brass is usually available, and it’s an easy neck down to 6mm. I have a 25-284 die set I use on the way down, but I doubt it’s necessary.

Most are throated pretty short for the smaller 80-100gr bullets that would have been popular in a 243 from that era.

You can check your throat pretty quickly with a Hornady overall length checker. I ran their modified cartridge for 6.5-284 through the 25-284 sizing die and it was perfect for checking the 6mm bullets. Pick what bullet you want to run, find the distance to the lands (you don’t need a special tool for that, but it’s quicker/easier with one), and start working loads up about .030 off the lands for most bullets.

Some load manuals include data for this cartridge, almost always for 2.850” COAL. With heavies seated long, it really likes normal powders for an overbore cartridge (Retumbo, N570, H1000, etc).

Good deal. Very good information.

I'm still getting used to all of the reloading terminology. This isn't your standard .308 or .223 to reload, but it seems feasible enough with the information you guys have given me. Much appreciated!

 

[willfrye027]

Good deal. Very good information.

I'm still getting used to all of the reloading terminology. This isn't your standard .308 or .223 to reload, but it seems feasible enough with the information you guys have given me. Much appreciated!

That will be a sweet little cartridge. Once you iron out a few details on stepping down the 6.5 brass to 6mm, then it’s no different than reloading a .308. I would 100% keep it unless it doesn’t shoot well then you can rebarrel it

 

[Mojave]

Anything on a 284 Winchester case should be in a long action. I hope it is in a long action.

The regular 284 with old style bullets was meant to feed out of a Winchester m88 lever gun.

It is a common cartridge for F-Class.

But like everyone else said.

You don't reload. This isn't super advanced reloading, but it isn't day one reloading either.

Sako anything is awesome. Before their were custom 700 clones in any sort of numbers people were able to buy actions directly from Sako. Those days are long gone, but this was a common thing in the 1980's.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

Anything on a 284 Winchester case should be in a long action. I hope it is in a long action.

The regular 284 with old style bullets was meant to feed out of a Winchester m88 lever gun.

It is a common cartridge for F-Class.

But like everyone else said.

You don't reload. This isn't super advanced reloading, but it isn't day one reloading either.

Sako anything is awesome. Before their were custom 700 clones in any sort of numbers people were able to buy actions directly from Sako. Those days are long gone, but this was a common thing in the 1980's.

Very interesting. I didn't know about buying actions directly from Sako.

This sounds like a really dumb question, but what is the best way to tell if it's built on a long action? Just measure the bolt?