6.5×284 Norma

[B muzguy]

Hello... I'm doing great with a 6.5 Creedmoor shooting 140 berger hybrid getting 2880 m.v. 10th jump or touching doesn't seem to matter. It also likes Hornady 140 ELDm.
The research I have been doing on the 6.5 x284 Norma, I can only get up to 2950 muzzle velocity or 3000 muzzle velocity with 140 projectiles. I could go up 144 Gr burgers or 150 SMK which would be extremely better I believe.
One thing I know it is the Barrel life.
Here are some questions I have
What powder?
What barrel length .. thinking 28 inch
Is 1200 rounds about normal 4 Barrel life?
Since I'm doing so good with the 6.5 Creedmoor should I even build a 6.5 x284?
Oh it's a trued Remington 700 action single shot 308 bolt face.

 

[Evan]

What are you using it for?

I would say it will be a pretty underwhelming change overall. If you want a serious improvement in ballistics, then a big 7mm or a 300WSM would be the logical step up.

 

[alf]

If you run the same pressures with the 6.5-284 as you do with the CM, you'll see a bigger improvement than what you're seeing in your research.

 

[B muzguy]

What are you using it for?

I would say it will be a pretty underwhelming change overall. If you want a serious improvement in ballistics, then a big 7mm or a 300WSM would be the logical step up.

I was thinking of 284 Winchester match shooting 190 grain projectile. What twist would you go with a 28 inch Barrel for 190 grain projectile


I shoot 400 433 500 600 800 830 900 950 and 1000 yards. Steel targets.

What are you using it for?

I would say it will be a pretty underwhelming change overall. If you want a serious improvement in ballistics, then a big 7mm or a 300WSM would be the logical step up.

 

[SBS]

If you run the same pressures with the 6.5-284 as you do with the CM, you'll see a bigger improvement than what you're seeing in your research.

I agree. Running the best powder for each with 140's at about 55,500 PSI, close to about 200 FPS gain with the 6.5-284 with around 28" barrels. I use the CM for 600, where the difference in wind drift is not great and the 6.5-284 @1000 where the difference is greater and any significant difference helps, particularly on windy days (always seems to be windy @ 1000!)

 

[STOMP442]

H1000 or Retumbo with your choice of 140 class bullet will give you excellent accuracy and velocity. In a 28" tube 2950-3000fps should be pretty easy to achieve.

 

[Drop Port]

Is it a S/A or L/A Rem? I've owned a few 6.5x284's including one mistake on a S/A PITA.

 

[SBS]

Using a Rem. single shot action, there's no problem with a short action. The Rem. 40X, which was always a short action, came in .25-06, .30-06, 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. in the single shot version. I've had all the above and they eject empties just fine. If you need to remove a live round, you have to pull the bolt out with the round, but that was seldom necessary. The .284 case is even shorter than the .06 or Mag. cases.

 

[B muzguy]

Is it a S/A or L/A Rem? I've owned a few 6.5x284's including one mistake on a S/A PITA.

S/A

 

[B muzguy]

H1000 or Retumbo with your choice of 140 class bullet will give you excellent accuracy and velocity. In a 28" tube 2950-3000fps should be pretty easy to achieve.

Good h1000 is easier to find around here then most other powers such as h4350 r16 r17 all seem to have disappeared because of covid 19

 

[ebb]

If you build a 6.5-284 on a short action you will leave a bunch on the table. You have to push the bullet so far back in the case you will lose FPS. Long action, 30 inch barrel, VV165, 140 berger VLD hunting. I've had mine to almost 3100. I don't compete so I backed off to save case life. I never lost any cases to loose pockets, but I could see it coming

 

[Drop Port]

S/A

Since it's a single shot not as big of a deal but still have to pull the bolt on a loaded cartridge. Personal preference, I wouldn't do it again.

 

[B muzguy]

6.5 × 284 140 hybrid .617 b.c. @ 2950
1000 yds 1702 fps
Moa 24.36
10 wind 5.52 moa

6.5 creed 140 hybrid @ 2880
1000 yds 1653 fps
Moa 25.75
10 wind 5.71moa

Don't know if it's worth it. Humm.

 

[BronzeArcher]

After burning out a 6.5x284 barrel (1500 rounds peak accuracy), my next 6.5 will be a .260 Rem with a 30" tube built on a long action and throated long to seat bullets long leaving more room for powder. But I plan to run it in the moderate range so barrel life is longer. I prefer the .260 Rem over the small cartridges, because I want the capacity to burn H4831 rather than H4350. It burns cooler in the throat area and gets higher velocities with heavy bullets and long tubes.

 

[Devin Wiggett]

Just build a straight 284 @ 2820 and be done with it. It will save you money in the long run. Just look at what wins in long range f class.

 

[SBS]

A 6.5-284 loaded to 56,393 PSI with 57 gr. RL 26 in a 28" bbl. = 3075 fps @ muzzle and 1689 @ 1000
The 6.5 CM loaded to 56,686 PSI with 42.0 gr. of either H4350 or RL16 in a 28" = 2878 fps and 1552 @ 1000
You can get slightly higher velocities in the CM with RL17, but could never get it to shoot near as well as the 2 above powders.

Pressures and muzzle velocities are from Quickload and while I can't measure pressures, I have found velocities to be quite accurate. Terminal velocities are from Hornady's advanced calculator. You always do get diminishing returns with more powder and more zip does cost you barrel life, so one has to make a judgment as to its worth to them. The choice of caliber also depends upon what game you play. I'm a sling shooter, so a 6.5-284 is quite tolerable with 140-142 gr. bullets. The straight 284 has to run much heavier bullets to be better on wind drift and therefore produces noticeably more recoil. This is not a big issue with F Open shooters with 22 lb. rifles shot on a rest, but sling shooters can't handle that kind of weight and tend to have 12-14 lb. rifles. I'm on my 3rd bbl. in 6.5-284 (using it only for 1000 yd.) and find it a great cartridge that's easy to load. My 1st 2 (Kriegers) have been competitive in the HM class to up around 1800 rds. mostly with 142 SMK's and H4831SC (only found RL 26 about a year ago). Around 1/3 of matches shot in cooler weather and that probably helps some with barrel life. Edit: I personally run the CM around 2800 and the 6.5-284 about 3000; barrels and brass last longer. Just pointing out the difference in velocities when pressures and barrel length are equal.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I was thinking of 284 Winchester match shooting 190 grain projectile. What twist would you go with a 28 inch Barrel for 190 grain projectile


I shoot 400 433 500 600 800 830 900 950 and 1000 yards. Steel targets.

1-8.5 I shoot .284 1-8.5 with 180 Berger's 30" at 8,9&1000 at Paper No Dingy Dingy ???

 

[284winner]

6.5 × 284 140 hybrid .617 b.c. @ 2950
1000 yds 1702 fps
Moa 24.36
10 wind 5.52 moa

6.5 creed 140 hybrid @ 2880
1000 yds 1653 fps
Moa 25.75
10 wind 5.71moa

Don't know if it's worth it. Humm.

That's pretty conservative for the 6.5-284 and fairly hot for the 6.5 CM. The real difference is probably 200+ fps apart. I run my 6.5-284 around 2975 which is conservative. I get a dozen or more loads per case easily. I've run it up to 3100 easily and lost a little brass life but it's all about what you want to get from the cartridge. I still think you can pretty much do anything with the 6.5CM that you can with the 284 case. Just a little slower. The great high bc bullets really make it possible. I have a .260 and it's so close to the 6.5-284 that it's really not worth having both. I just do because I can.

 

[STOMP442]

That's pretty conservative for the 6.5-284 and fairly hot for the 6.5 CM. The real difference is probably 200+ fps apart. I run my 6.5-284 around 2975 which is conservative. I get a dozen or more loads per case easily. I've run it up to 3100 easily and lost a little brass life but it's all about what you want to get from the cartridge. I still think you can pretty much do anything with the 6.5CM that you can with the 284 case. Just a little slower. The great high bc bullets really make it possible. I have a .260 and it's so close to the 6.5-284 that it's really not worth having both. I just do because I can.

Very true. The last couple Creeds I worked on 42.gr of H4350 was barely putting me over 2700fps. 24" and 26" barrels.

 

[284winner]

Very true. The last couple Creeds I worked on 42.gr of H4350 was barely putting me over 2700fps. 24" and 26" barrels.

Yes 2880 is pretty fast. My 260s run the 140s around 2860 for the best performance accuracy combined. The 260 has a little better performance than the Creedmoor does. Not as much as it use to before the newest powders arrived. Either way, the 6.5-284 is an honest 200fps faster round. I've read threads where some guys boasting of speeds close to 3000 fps with their CMs using 140 class bullets. I don't like calling another guy a liar so I'll say this. His brass is toast after one firing and accuracy is probably terrible.