6.5x47 or 284 Winchester

[EBaker]

Trying to decide on a bench/F-class rifle. Several of my 1000 yard BR shooter friends shoot the .284 yet I see the 6.5x47 has a major 1000 yard BR following as well. Plus, there is the 6 Dasher....decisions...decisions...already have a 6XC, 6BR, and 6-Dasher....any advice or suggestions are welcomed......I shoot mostly tactical matches but as I get older....gonna move to the BR side.
Thanks!
Ed

 

[Sniper338]

284

 

[ShootDots]

I do not shoot Benchrest. However, there are certain truisms that will cross ALL disciplines. You have a 6 Dasher and a 6XC already. Both are extremely accurate and work well out to 1000 yards. The 6.5 x 47 is, for all intents and purposes, extremely close in accuracy levels of the 6 Dasher. It has a small advantage in the wind>>>very small. In order to make the next LEAP where you are going to obtain a REAL advantage in the wind, you must go to a 7mm, especially out at 1000.. Then comes the accuracy question. Is the .284 as accurate at 1000 as a Dasher or 6XC. I have shot MANY, MANY times at 1000 yards with both a 6 Dasher and a .284 (and the improved derivatives). I can tell you that when the wind is not blowing "stupidly" the 6's are 8 out of 10 times going to produce smaller groups. However, once the wind is up, they may print those groups well away from the "X" ring as opposed to a 7 bucking the wind considerably better, thus landing much closer to your intended point and very possibly with better groups.

If you are worried about getting better control of the wind, you will do MUCH better with the 7mm's. I have been trying a 7 S.A.U.M. lately. In the very little experience I have with it, it is THEE most accurate 7mm I have ever shot! Several of my friends have come to that same conclusion. Is the 7 SAUM ever going to beat a 6 Dasher in straight accuracy? I don't know>>>what I believe is, is that IF there is a 7mm that can beat a 6 Dasher at 1000, the SAUM would be the one I have found that may possess that capability.

Now you have my 2 cents from someone who does NOT shoot Benchrest.

 

[1K6BRA]

I currently shoot both cartridges at 1000 yards in benchrest competition.you won't go wrong with either one of them with the edge going to the 284 in windy conditions. If forced to pick just one I would go with the 284.

 

[1shot]

I have previously competed with both the 6.5x284@2,980 fps. and a 6.5x55 GWI@3,050 fps with 140 class bullets. My 284 Shehane is easily one full scoring ring inside on a LR-1 target than either of the 6.5mm cartridges in the same conditions.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[Laurie]

If you are worried about getting better control of the wind, you will do MUCH better with the 7mm's. I have been trying a 7 S.A.U.M. lately. In the very little experience I have with it, it is THEE most accurate 7mm I have ever shot! Several of my friends have come to that same conclusion. Is the 7 SAUM ever going to beat a 6 Dasher in straight accuracy? I don't know>>>what I believe is, is that IF there is a 7mm that can beat a 6 Dasher at 1000, the SAUM would be the one I have found that may possess that capability.

A very interesting insight. I know at least one international level shooter who also much prefers the SAUM to the 284. It's not a cartridge we see a lot of in the UK - people divide into the 284/Shehane camps or WSM and generally skip the SAUM.

On 1,000 yard BR, I'd also go for a seven. In fact I have as I shoot my ex F-Open Shehane at this distance in BR now and also get better results in our winter series 600 yard BR matches with my present F/O 284 rifle than I've managed with any 6.5 to date. (But it's often the better sixes that win and take small group patches even in winter weather conditions, so for the 2107/18 series, it'll be my first ever Dasher.)

 

[ShootDots]

A very interesting insight. I know at least one international level shooter who also much prefers the SAUM to the 284. It's not a cartridge we see a lot of in the UK - people divide into the 284/Shehane camps or WSM and generally skip the SAUM.

On 1,000 yard BR, I'd also go for a seven. In fact I have as I shoot my ex F-Open Shehane at this distance in BR now and also get better results in our winter series 600 yard BR matches with my present F/O 284 rifle than I've managed with any 6.5 to date. (But it's often the better sixes that win and take small group patches even in winter weather conditions, so for the 2107/18 series, it'll be my first ever Dasher.)

You will like the Dasher. I believe it gets better groups because there are not long shot-strings and the real possibility exists to get the shots off before a wind condition change. But I would bet that if you have "blustery / fast switching" conditions, a 7mm would outperform the 6's in those winds. If you look at the SAUM case, it is a virtual duplicate of a 6mmBR case, only "on steroids". It literally retains all the shape, shoulder angle etc.. I wonder if that it is not capturing, from the 6mmBR, all the reason(s) for it's excellent accuracy we have been experiencing?

 

[EBaker]

Hey....thanks for all of the info and opinions.....
Ed

 

[Papa Charlie]

The majority of the F-Class shooters in 2017 are shooting the .284 Winchester.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/SW_Nationals/2017-swn-equipment-list-open.pdf

I shot an F-Class 500 yard this weekend at Seattle Rifle Club and one of the Open Class shooters just broke the National record with a 200.20 score shooting a .284 Win. He was shooting 180 gr Bergers. I happen to be in the pit when he did it. Amazing shooting.
I am now looking to build my Open class rifle and it will be in .284 Win. Right now I shoot F-TR, enjoy it very much but would love to get into Open Class.

 

[Willow]

If you're going for an F-Open gun, 284 all the way. 6.5x47 is light on recoil and good on barrels and brass, but you will notice a difference at the longs with the 284. Short of running a 7SAUM, the 284 has won plenty of F-Open comps.

 

[vahena]

If you are recoil shy, put a Rad 2 recoil hydro butt on the end and shoot all day long with no problem, will feel like your shooting a dasher. Ask me how I know. I have both.

 

[EBaker]

Recoil is not an issue. Trying to decide what to do with an older 40x I purchased earlier this year. I shoot mostly club matches. I really like the Dasher...only cartridges that have beat it are another 6 Dasher, 300 win Mag-fluke, and a 6.5x47. The club match is 600, 800, 900, 1000 with a 1 MOA-10 point ring and a 2 MOA 5-point ring. NO sighters, No wind flags and you gotta be on steel in 5 rounds or you have DQ'd. Oh yeah....from the bipod or bulls bag....No BR equipment. It teaches you to read the wind. In the past 17 years I have shot the match, it has not been cleaned...max score is 200.....Highest score...190 or 195. That was with a .223 early in the morning. Average score is around 145-155. Trust me.....not as easy as it sounds but a lotta fun!

 

[dskogman]

I love my 6.5x47 but for a match I use a 284 (except 300 yds and under)