6.5 .284 Question

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

Since the general consensus on the 6.5-284 is that it is a barrel burner and the straight .284 is not so much, is it feasible to use 140 grain bullets in a straight .284? How would this compare to the 6.5-284 in accuracy, barrel life & recoil? Obviously one is a 6.5 and the other a 7mm.

Thanks in advance

 

[ShootDots]

There are a few things to consider here. 1.) the B.C.'s on a 140gr 7mm Bullet will lack considerably compared to the 140gr Hybrids for example. 2.) You could push the 7mm 140 bullets at least as fast, probably faster. However, you will need MORE of a slightly faster burning powder to do so, thereby cutting into barrel life. 3.) last but maybe not least, you have to neck up (and you should turn the necked up brass) rather than just shooting a regular 6.5 x 284.

If you are going to use it for hunting, barrel life would not be much of a consideration. If, on the other hand, it will be used for competition, with long strings of fire, then barrel life certainly becomes a factor.

Accuracy on both is excellent! All that would depend on how good your barrel is, how well you load and your ability to shoot accurately.. BOTH are very accurate rounds..

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

Shootdots, I always appreciate your answers. Maybe I was unclear on my question. Will a straight .284 shoot a 7mm 140 grain bullet as well as a 6.5-284 will shoot a 6.5 140 grain bullet? And then the questions of accuracy, barrel life and recoil. As always every advantage will allow for compromise in another.

 

[ShootDots]

"Theoretically" it should shoot just as well.. If you have "accurate barrels" and equally good bullets, their inherent accuracy should be indistinguishable from each other... However, the further you get out, the more "distinguishable" the 140gr 6.5 bullet will become, strictly because the B.C.'s will be better..

 

[Varulf]

So, 6.5-284 Norma…
I‘m thinking to rebarrel an AI AWM in 300WM to 6.5-284 Norma. Are there any possible issues due to different bolt faces?

 

[rancher5]

I've been ruing 7 twist 6.5x284 having great success 156 Berger at 3050fps is a great hunting round and a long-range contender.

 

[284winner]

Since the general consensus on the 6.5-284 is that it is a barrel burner and the straight .284 is not so much, is it feasible to use 140 grain bullets in a straight .284? How would this compare to the 6.5-284 in accuracy, barrel life & recoil? Obviously one is a 6.5 and the other a 7mm.

Thanks in advance

Barrel life will be equal using the same cartridge pushing the same weight bullet at the same velocity with the same amount of powder. Recoil will be equal as well. Shootdots makes the point of ballistics being superior in the .264 bullet of same weight due to the higher coefficient of the bullet. Accuracy will be as good also in both bullets of different calibers. Be aware that not all barrels like the same bullets equally. All of my 6.4-284s and 284s have liked pretty much all the bullets they were fed. Out to around 550, you won't notice much difference in same weight bullets in both calibers if the bullets are the same design. Beyond 600 you'll start to see the .264 bullets maintain velocity and energy better.

 

[Varulf]

.300WM has .540 bolt face, 6.5-284 is regular .473. Will I need to do any modifications with the .300WM bolt?

 

[Walt Krafft]

.300WM has .540 bolt face, 6.5-284 is regular .473. Will I need to do any modifications with the .300WM bolt?

Yes. You will probably need a different extractor.

 

[Varulf]

Yes. You will probably need a different extractor.

Thank you