6.5 06 vs 6.5x284

[john 800]

I have a long action 700 bdl (currently a 270) I was considering rebarreling. Between a 6.5 284 and a 6.5 06 it apears by the data I have that the 6.5 284 is a touch faster. Would they both feed properly? Is there any advantage to a long action 6.5 284 over a short?
An other advantages to either One that may not be apparent?

 

[wedgy]

A 6.5 x .284 is too long for a short action, mine with a Berger 140 come in around 3.2" and have no issues feeding from a long action.
Both are great cartridges and have good brass available.

 

[ebb]

I built a 6.5-284 on a long action 15-20 years ago using a 270 remington rifle. Yes if you want to feed from a magazine, long high BC bullets need the magazine length. I used to talk to a guy from Alabama that built several rifles in 6.5-06 and I asked why he told me that he had 2 55 gallon drums of Lake City 30-06 match brass, and that he could see no difference in speed. The H2O capacity of both cases are the same, or so close they may as well be. The case design of the 284 brass is be better than the 06 case unless it were Ackerly improved.

 

[338 dude]

6.5 x 284 norma in a long action .I’m pushing 140 burger VLD’s at 2980 have been up to 3100 but not as accurate

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have both. They are ballistically equal. I use the same load in both. Both need a long action to be able to seat bullets out of the body of the case. 6.5-284 has a cool factor in some circles. Flip a coin and you will be happy with what you build.

 

[SBS]

I have a long action 700 bdl (currently a 270) I was considering rebarreling. Between a 6.5 284 and a 6.5 06 it apears by the data I have that the 6.5 284 is a touch faster. Would they both feed properly? Is there any advantage to a long action 6.5 284 over a short?
An other advantages to either One that may not be apparent?

In a hunting rifle, you might favor the 6.5-06 since it will feed as well as the .270 without any work. While the .284 case has less taper and a better shoulder angle to reduce the amount of FL resizing and trimming, that means little unless you are a competitor who reloads lots of cases often. Cases with more taper tend to feed better and the '06 case will fit the magazine length better. I have a competition rifle in 6.5-284 in a single shot short action. My 6.5-06 is in a long action magazine fed hunting rifle. As stated above, powder capacity is about equal, so performance is also. You are apparently a handloader, so you could use your .270 brass for the 6.5-06 if you want to.

 

[B23]

If you're wanting to squeeze every last bit of velocity out of a 6.5-284 when shooting the 140-156gr bullets a long action is the way to go. You can use a short action Rem 700 or Rem 700 clone and it won't be that far off a long action build just make sure you have a 3.100 Baney mag box installed. Or, you can turn a short action Rem 700 in to a mid length action with Wyatt's Mid Length Kit. It'll require some extra machining and cost you a little more but when it's done you'll have a SA Rem 700 that'll allow a 3.235 OAL.

I took the easy route and my 6.5-284 was built on a LA Rem 700. Mine is setup to shoot the 140-156's and I had Defensive Edge +P the throat. With a Berger Hybrid 140 and RL26 I'm just a little over 3200 out of my Shilen 26in 8tw barrel.

 

[284winner]

LA IS the only way to go for optimum performance. I've owned and shit both. They really are identical. You could get a little more help from an ackely 06 case but about the same as the Shehane. Not really much. The 6.5-284 IMO is a more accurate cartridge or I should say was in my case.

 

[john 800]

6.5 x 284 norma in a long action .I’m pushing 140 burger VLView attachment 1338660D’s at 2980 have been up to 3100 but not as accurate

I would assume that is a hunting rifle from the camo… what has your experience been with the bergers on game?

 

[338 dude]

I would assume that is a hunting rifle from the camo… what has your experience been with the bergers on game?

Always had good experiences with burger but I’m beginning to doubt them, in the last two years I shot 2 deer that I know I hit with no blood no hair and eventually no deer. I’m still a burger fan they’ve always shot great for me but from hearing other horror stories and having two myself I’m probably going to start looking at Copper mono’s.

 

[distinguished]

Had both, kept the 6.5-06. The 6.5-06 seemed to be less finicky with loads and has outstanding accuracy. Nothing more than changing the barrel needed. Fed better from the mag. also.

 

[Dou8leD]

6.5x244 Ackley Improved, 129gr nosler accubond with h4350 3200+fps, basically a mini 6.5x284, load data based off of 6.5x06

 

[STOMP442]

6.5-06 and 6.5x284 have essentially the same case capacity and pretty much identical performance. If you have plenty of 270 brass to work from the 6.5-06 is definitely the easy button. Just resize, trim and turn the necks and you are good to go. 55gr of H1000 shoots great in both of them and kills critters dead. Great cartridges.

 

[john 800]

Lots of good input! I’ve been kicking around on what to do with this thing for quite a while.

 

[SBS]

BTW, as much as Jack O'Connor loved the .270, I seem to recall that his favorite antelope rifle was a 6.5-280. Just a tad more powder than the 6.5-06.

 

[59FLH]

The disadvantage of the 284 case is mag capacity is 1 less. Consider adding 280AI to the choices.

 

[distinguished]

6.5-06 and 6.5x284 have essentially the same case capacity and pretty much identical performance. If you have plenty of 270 brass to work from the 6.5-06 is definitely the easy button. Just resize, trim and turn the necks and you are good to go. 55gr of H1000 shoots great in both of them and kills critters dead. Great cartridges.

25-06 brass is even easier, just run through the sizer, load and shoot, no neck turning required. Just wish we had decent supplies of components, like we used to. Hard to believe we fought two world wars and overproduced our needs. Now, they want to give you a paper straw with your drink, that has a plastic lid.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

My 6.5/06 could never quite reach the velocity of a 6.5/284 (both long actions). The 6.5/284 had about a 100fps advantage. The 06 version took a sizeable CO bull at 357yds at a steep downhill angle with a 140SST on the tip of the shoulder. It was lodged under the hide on the far side and dropped him like a toilet cover. Pretty certain the 284 version would not have done a better job.

 

[STOMP442]

25-06 brass is even easier, just run through the sizer, load and shoot, no neck turning required. Just wish we had decent supplies of components, like we used to. Hard to believe we fought two world wars and overproduced our needs. Now, they want to give you a paper straw with your drink, that has a plastic lid.

This is true but if the rifle is currently a .270 I am willing to bet there is .270 brass around to use without the added expense of buying some.

 

[distinguished]

This is true but if the rifle is currently a .270 I am willing to bet there is .270 brass around to use without the added expense of buying some.

Not saying you can't use 270 brass, just that 25-06 is easier. With the current shortages, you have to use what you can. Fortunately, I have enough 25-06 on hand to wear out a few barrels.