building a 6.5-284 whats a good action to use?

[zorak]

hello I am looking to build a 6.5-284. and was wanting to know what would be the best action to use? I'm not looking to build one from scratch I am looking to buy a good used or may a new production rifle for the build.This is going to be a hunting rifle not a bench shooter.

also what is the difference between 6.5-284 luapla,6.5-284 norma and 6.5-284 when buying the barrel? I only ask is because the barrel manufactures show all three of them.

thank you for the help.

 

[cfvickers]

Re: 6.5-284

90% of the 6.5-284 shooters on here probably know more than I do. That said, I have two norma chambered rifles and it is my understanding that the norma and lapua are identical. the 6.5-284 win. will have a shorter throat and generally will work in a short action without removing the bolt to remove a loaded round. With a norma if you use a long action it will work without removing the bolt. Both mine are made on long actions, and can be loaded as long as 3.4 inches while still fitting in the magazines. I may very wel be wrong on the lapua round. but I am almost positive that and 6.5-284 will use the same case. My 111LRH is chambered 6.5-284 Norma and has worked well and shot equally as well with Lapua, Hornady and necked down winchester brass.

 

[Rust]

Re: 6.5-284

The original 6.5 X 284 was a wildcat based on the original WInchester brass. Norma decided to make it a production cartridge, and the dimensions vary slightly from the original Winchester brass mainly due to "lawyereze". Thus the 6.5 X 284 Norma. Most popular brass for the chambering is Lapua.

As far as choosing an action/rifle you need to be more specific. Long range target shooting? Hunting? Mag fed? Single feed? Any particular bullets you intend on using? That last determines which reamer dimensions for freebore you'll want.

There is a nice 6.5 X 284 section on the site. Read it. The ask more specific questions.

 

[zorak]

Re: 6.5-284

As far as choosing an action/rifle you need to be more specific. Long range target shooting? Hunting? Mag fed? Single feed? Any particular bullets you intend on using? That last determines which reamer dimensions for freebore you'll want.

I am going to use it for long range hunting up to 500yrds and it will be a mag fed. I am going to use a barnes 130-140gr bullet. so my original question was what is the best action to use or which one to stay clear of.

 

[tenring]

Re: 6.5-284

I built mine on a Savage 112 long action. This action gives me plenty of clearance for SMK 142 grainers and with my PacNor barrel, I can easily reach the lands. Its a little heavier than a short action, but the end result is what counts.

 

[chrisj]

i would go with any respectable long action like Savage, rem, Win, Sako, ruger, Tikka.... It depends how your bbl is throated. If you want to keep OAL around 2.8-2.9"...then you COULD use a short action, but you may as well go with a 260 then.

 

[Rust]

For a purely hunting rifle, I'd probably recommend either a Howa or Tikka since they manage to hold their tolerances better than most.

 

[Josh11]

Like said above, i would go for a 260. feeds great, a little more barrel life, and if your not a handloader, there are plenty of manf that make loaded rounds for them that wont cost you an arm and a leg.

 

[camac]

Just another opinion to throw in the mix but I would stick with a long action for either 260 or 6.5 * 284 so you can use the VLD hunting bullets if you want to and still mag feed properly. Otherwise the 6.5*47 would be my choice in short action for same reason. All will perform similarly enough in the field.

 

[Kenny474]

Start with a Savage, that way you can change your own barrels without needing a smith. The Savage action is capable of great accuracy without tons of machining and there are several aftermarket triggers and pre-fit barrels available as well. And if you are going with a 6.5-.284, being able to change your own barrel will save you some cash as it isn't going to last forever. Whatever you do, go with a long action so you don't have any length issues.

As far as your choice in chambering, I can't say I agree with it, but to each their own. I would prefer something that is easier on the barrel while being a bit easier to tune for various conditions. Not to say that it can't be done or that it won't shoot well, I only feel that there are far better choices for a long range hunter that will give exceptional accuracy and better barrel life while still getting the job done. A straight .284 would seem more practical to me.

 

[zorak]

which model savage would be the best to use. I like the that chamber from what iv read about it and my dad has a 25-284 that he just loves over his sako 284. so since we have an abondence of 284 brass i want to build one.

thanks all for all the ideas and info.

 

[Kenny474]

Honestly, what rifle you start with is more a matter of what appeals to you and how heavy you want the end product to be. Are you looking to retain the factory stock and just go with a barrel swap, or are you only going to use the action and replace most everything else.

I would suggest something in a long action so you have enough room to mag feed the big bullets.

I like the weather warrior series and would go with the 116FHSS.

Good luck with your build.

 

[zorak]

has any one used a Ruger M77 la for one of theses builds. I have two rugers one I went from 270win to a 270 wheatherby mag and a 6mm-284. Just wondering if any one has used one.

thanks

 

[archerross]

I have used a trued Ruger M77 Mark II action (formerly .270) for a 6.5-284. The first time I took it to a 300/600 yrd open-any rifle match in the Tri-cities, WA I placed 3rd. You should have heard the surprise/disbelief/mild disdain when they found out it was a Ruger action! IMHO, reworking the trigger is a very important aspect to using a Ruger action. My gunsmith friend is amazing with triggers!

With H4831sc, CCI BR2s, and 142 gr SMKs seated 0.005 off the lands, I get 0.35-0.45 groups.

 

[zorak]

ok guys got a .270win model700 mountain rifle from my dad to use for my 6.5-284 build. what am going to want to have done to it to make this be a pretty accurate shooter. i am going to shoot a 130-140gr barnes triple shock bullet,so what would be the best twist for those bullets. remember this only going to used for a hunting rifle and a br shooter.

also whats your opinion on douglas xx barrels?

 

[archerross]

For a hunting rig I would (at a minimum):

Have the action trued.
Bed action
float barrel
no turn neck
H.S. Precision stock (remember, this is what I would do at a minimum)
Trigger job set to 2 lbs or replace with Timney or Jewel trigger
8.5 twist should stabilize those bullets fine

I've heard good things about Douglas Barrels. Give Brux a look as well.

 

[zorak]

For a hunting rig I would (at a minimum):

Have the action trued.
Bed action
float barrel
no turn neck
H.S. Precision stock (remember, this is what I would do at a minimum)
Trigger job set to 2 lbs or replace with Timney or Jewel trigger
8.5 twist should stabilize those bullets fine

I've heard good things about Douglas Barrels. Give Brux a look as well.

what do you mean no turn neck? and i want to use the factory wood stock. I dont care for the look and feel of synthetic stocks.

 

[Kenny474]

As for a no-turn neck chamber, it's a chamber that doesn't require the the necks to be machined (turned) to a smaller diameter for clearance. Often precision rifles are chambered with a tight neck chamber that requires brass to be turned, and in doing so you remove any variation in neck thickness and can achieve more consistent neck tension and tighter, more uniform clearance in the chamber.

As for the factory stock, if it's laminated it should be OK, but straight wood has a tendency to shrink and swell with the weather and humidity changes which often isn't good for a hunting rifle due to the conditions they are used in and the fact that it can have a negative effect on accuracy.

I am not overly familiar with the rifle so I don't know what the stock is made of.

 

[TerryPohl]

Zorak the Douglas barrel will more than likely be fine. I have shot just about all brands of barrels and believe me you can get a bad one from any of them. With that being said I only shoot Kreager's are Braughton now. I just have had better luck with them. The Douglas will have to be hand lapped, (Almost positive they don’t lap them). An 8 are 8 1/2 twist should take care of the bullet wt. you are looking to shoot. I have also found over the years that just because you would like to shoot a particular bullet the gun may not like to shoot them and you will have to choose another. Hope this helps, and good luck on your build.
Terry Pohl

 

[zorak]

thanks for all the info. And kenny474 my stock is a laminated so that is a good thing. and terry the only reason i'm shooting the barnes is cause out here in california where i hunt you can only use copper builts since they banned the use of lead bullets for hunting .