Barrell Life 6.5/284 vs. 6.5-06 etc

[Sammy]

Some help please...considering some options for rebarrelling a Sako rifle currently 6mm/284,Barrel almost shot out) Am considering moving to a milder cartridge in .260Rem, but before deciding and not having been familar with the 284 wildcats,just purchased the rifle), I am playing with some ideas.

As I understand it the 284 case practically equals the 06 case in capacity, the main advantage being the shorter overall length. The 284 case also seems to have the reputation of being a barrel burner. The question that I have is why? If the 25-06, 6.5-06 and 280 Rem all are about the same capacity as their equals in the 284 cases,25/284, 6.5/284 & 7mm/284) what is the difference?

The 06 cases don't seem to have the same reputation.....Any help with this would be appreciated....thanks..

 

[Rust]

Well, opinions vary but one thing that most folks seem to think is that the longer necks of the '06 based cases slow down the erosion a little bit. Myself, I love my 6.5 X 284 but wish the neck was .200" longer or so,built mine on a standard length action so as to be able to seat the bullets as far out as I wanted and since I have it built on a 1.47" diameter solid bottom receiver stiffness is a non issue).

 

[mikecr]

The 284 case has nothing to do with it.
It's the capacity to bore that affects barrel life so much.

A 6/284 is of course, a barrel burner. So is a 6/06.
25 cal is larger as with 26cal. But still, neither lives way longer burning that much powder.
Get up to 28 & 30cal with that capacity and the barrels last a long time.

 

[AlanPF]

Sammy,

IMHO the 284 case has got its "barrel burner" name because,a) the 6.5x284 is very popular for long range target shooting,b) target shooting typically involves many shots per annum,c) the 6.5x284 is at the shorter end of the scale for barrel life.

If you are hunting,?), then a 6.5x284 barrel should last at least 2000 rounds, which typically will take many years. For target shooting, in my experience 1500 rounds of accuracy life is what you should be able to expect from a good barrel if you don't abuse it with very hot loads, frequent machine-gunning or harmful cleaning methods.

Alan

 

[Sammy]

Thanks for your info guys...

Re my project.....the medium length action on the sako was originally a .243 and was chambered for 6mm/284 by the previous owner. What are your thoughts re the option of .260Rem vs. 6.5/284 in a 24" barrel.

The rifle will be a carry hunting rifle with hopefully some long range potential. In the shorter barrel does the 6.5/284 become less obviously a choice,more speed loss per inch chopped off)? and what about accuracy....is the 260Rem inherrently a more accurate cartridge than the 284 version?

Cheers

 

[AlanPF]

Sammy,

You will waste some of the potential of the 284 case by using a 24" barrel. I personally would go for a 260 AI for your needs. The only standard 260s I've seen weren't accurate, but I've read some good success stories about the AI version.

Alan

 

[mysticplayer]

For me, LR hunting means delivering as much horsepower to the game when the bullet arrives. I want to use the 'largest' case to push the bullet as fast as accurately possible.

In your comparison, I would go with the 6.5-284 as it has the potential to push a 140gr bullet upwards of 200fps,possibly 300fps) faster then a 260 in the 24" barrel.

Very similar debate has been raging for decades using the 308 vs 30-06. The only conclusion that matters to me is that the 30-06 will push similar bullets faster with equal accuracy, and in LR hunting, that matters.

Jerry

 

[Sammy]

Thanks for the info guys.....but in terms of bullet speed, I would assume in a 24" barrel the larger capacity 284 case will have lost more speed per inch of shortened barrel than a .260Rem.

While I appreciate the pure speed difference of 200-300 fps in optimal barrel lengths, because of the difference in case capacity, is it still that much when both are chopped back to 24"?

If we get down to 100-150fps difference at that barrel length, is the extra powder, barrel wear etc worth it? This is a rhetorical question of course considering the proposed end use, but given that everything is always about compromise it should still deserve some consideration?

Another question....if looking at maximising long range performance, and considering the high BC 140grain pills, I have noted that you target shooting guys like to get the speeds up to around 2950. That is not going to happen in a 6.5/284 with a 24 inch barrel. Are there accuracy/stability issues with not being able to achieve that sort of speed in the shorter barrel. Am I better to go for a high BC lighter pill and get the speed up a bit?

Any body using these type of combos in higher BC projectiles in that sort of barrel length?

I am not trying to be unrealistic about expectations, I have a 7WSM with a 26" barrel popping 162Amaxs at 3050 which I consider to be my 800m gun. I am looking for this project to be a 400-600 deer/chamois gun,read light skinned medium sized game).

I realise that speed, projectile weight and BC are all critical when you want to start to push over 400m in terms of hunting performance, and in reality my 7WSM covers all those bases, but don't we just love playing!

Thanks for your continuing imput!

 

[mysticplayer]

Nope, the larger case will always go faster all things being equal. The 6.5-285 can push a 140gr bullet to 2900/2950fps in a 24" barrel. The 260R will be working hard to reach 2700/2750fps

I have also used a 6.5-06 and really liked it. No issue pushing 140gr SST's to 2950fps in a 24" pipe.

You can also split the difference and look at 6.5Swedes, 260AI's, 6.5X57M, etc.

Jerry