@ELR LVR
I am sure you figure it out. A friend of mine had a 6-284AI. The bullets (Sierra, no sure which ones.) would go about 80 to 90 yards before disintegrating.
I had narrowed the field to 260 Rem AI, 6.5-284 -.150", and 6.5-284. I have not completely ruled out the 284 or 284 AI.
Now I have to consider 6-284. LOL
This thread reflects my normal selection process. First I identify a bullet or bullets most likely to accomplish my goals. The weighting there is about 70% bullet and 30% cartridge.
What are the drawbacks of a 6-284 other than barrel life?
---(No Drawbacks other than barrel life, I can find, brass life is good too
---after 1000 rnds you may need to set the barrel back
I got 1900 rounds of accurate barrel life out of my last barrel
My current barrel has about 1200 rounds and velocity has fallen off slightly which means its time to set it back slightly but it is still accurate)
I use both Lapua and Win Brass, the Win brass holds up just fine)
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Don't know what your "friend" was doing or thinking but
There is really no reason to AI a 6x284
it already has a 30 deg shoulder and enough powder room to push bullets beyond their capabilities
60 grns of water capacity
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Anyway, whatever your "FRIEND" was doing he could have just had the wrong combination of components, twist rate, groove count etc or
...been trying to as Berger told me when I confronted them with their 115 "Hunting" bullets exploding at only 3200 fps....
"Pushing the bullets beyond their designed capabilties"
(Also, no Hornady anything holds up to a 6x284 so fugget about it.)
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Sierra 107's have and always did hold up to 3400 fps which is a very fine comfort zone for the 6x284
As a tip - H1000 is THE POWDER of choice for this cartridge.
Other powders will worrrrrrk , but, why ? Why hamstring yourself
(I actually load for 3370 fps which is perfect)
That's Enough velocity as well for very flat trajectories to shoot past 1 mile.
Sure a guy might be able to push to 3500 fps without pressure signs with the right powder
BUT
That is when jacket integrity starts to become compromised
The Twist rate is a factor to consider here
We first started off using 9.5 and then the "Fast Twist" 1:9 barrels 30 years ago
But that was with the Sierra 107 gr
Going faster could be the culprit with "Your Friend" say if he went faster than a 1:8
30 yrs ago a 1:8 was unheard of / because there were no bullets with High enough BC's to require it.
Now it is the Norm which shows the recent advancements in bullet technology.
Maybe your friend did not do enough of his due dilligence with Stability factors and just went with the flow of all other slower 6mm guys like the 6BR's and such and tried a 1:7.5 twist, I dunno???
That is too fast for a bullet traveling 3400 fps and spinning past 270,000 rpm.
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I use a 1:8 only because I like taking advantage of the Highest BC (.620) 6mm bullets
such as the 115 DTACS
Sierra 107's and Lapua 105's and Berger 95's hold up fine in my barrel
I also use a 4 groove Krieger
Maybe your friend used a 6 groove?
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(more sharp points equals = more stress risers = equals more bullet blow ups)
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Or he used a cheap make of barrel which compromised interior barrel finish
(A Non single point cut / non lapped barrel?)
maybe it was just a fun project and he skimped somewhere along the line?
Anyways I've been doing 6x284's for years so I know what I'm doing with them and know the capabilities and limitations and work within those confines.
These are all factors within getting a custom wildcat to work correctly.
You build the gun "Around the bullet", just like you build an engine around its camshaft and the select all other components accordingly.
I built mine around the 115 DTAC
I only use/tried other bullets when 115 DTACS are unavailable.
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a 243 AI or a 260 AI is still a very fine choice
But when your scope is toppped out in elevation at 1500 yds -
I still have 50 more MOA to be able adjust up. (Yeah I shoot that far)
The 260 Rem I built really impressed me .............out to 1200 yds though. Just too slow.
and I liked being able to use a short action for one of my Long Range rigs so the 260 fit the bill there.
You won't be disappointed with a 260AI
The 6x284 is more of a Dragster Hotrod, I only own one. But like any Muscle Car Hot Rod
Man did I soak some coin into it lol
and it DID NOT disappoint.
When you want Flat Fast Trajectory way the F&^% past 1000 yards
You COULD use something like a 338 Lapua or a 300 NORMA AI
But .............the 6x284 has flatter trajectory..................
30 yrs ago the only other cartridge that could touch it was a 50 BMG.
But the 50 BMG is not a very economical or realistic choice.
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The 6x284 basically has NONE or very LITTLE Felt RECOIL, in a heavier 15-20 lb rig.
Or, 6.5 ft/lbs of recoil in my case
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Reduced recoil translates to more accuracy,
One reason 6BR's are so accurate at 600 yds, no recoil to move the gun while the bullet is traveling down the bore.
Mine weighs 19 lbs and feels like shooting a light .223 or an AR, the gun barely moves.
You can watch bullet strikes as close as 100 yds.
( I like being able to spot my bullet splash at close ranges as well as long ranges)
When the big boomers will throw you out of sight picture leaving you guessing.
and a 6x284 is cheaper on the wallet for bullets, powder, brass etc
In other words
Its a good ecenomical choice to have lots of fun poking stuff out there ....way far away
and the money saved buys you a new barrel every 2 years.
Mine actually lasted 5 years this last time because I baby it and dont let it get past warm to the touch.
Plus a full contour 1.25" 30 inch long barrel helps reduce heat build up with all that mass.
which only aids to barrel life.
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If you want an even more fun gun for 1000 yds and closer
Try a 220 Swift Ackley Improved
Thats the only other gun I favor over a 6x284
Run the numbers against all other guns
I only need 6-3/4 MOA to hit at 600 yds (plus accuracy is 1.25" 3 shot groups at 600)
a 260 will need 12 MOA for 600 yds. (Double)
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Thats FLAT
.524 BC / 85.5 Berger at 3650 fps
It seems like it hits almost the moment you pull the trigger
Where you can tell even the fast 6x284 takes a moment to get there
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For me, the name of the game is not just accuracy but
"How Flat can you make it"
Runs some numbers on Ballistics and compare and you'll see what I mean
The less you have to adjust scope, the easier it is to hit stuff because the less the margin of error.
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Like if I only need to adjust 1 more MOA to reach another 100 yds
compared to 3 more MOA with a .260
My chances of hitting just increased by being 2 MOA closer simply by the nature of the beast.
