Factory Loaded 6.5/284 Win?

[mazzy11]

Hi, Guys...I'm a newbie, here. I just made a impulse buy and purchased a Cooper Montana Varminter in 6.5/284, a caliber I've read about and wanted to experiment with...however, its on its way here, now, and I haven't geared up for reloading, yet. Are there any factory loads for this round? I have called nearly everyone I can think of, and no one seems to be aware of any...

Thanks for ANY help you all can give a greenhorn...
pw

 

[jb1000br]

Black hills loaded some, but it is a mite scarce i think...

JB

 

[Rust]

Sometimes it is better to have a plan. Welcome the the deep end of the pool and the steep end of the learning curve.

Norma is the only mfr. I know of that currently lists loaded ammo, the 120 gr Nosler BT and the 140 gr Nosler partition. Black hills ran a couple of batches a few years back but there isn't a lot of demand for loaded ammo. Reason is most 6.5 X 284s are custom chambered with tight necks and so factory ammo won't work.

 

[mazzy11]

Hmmm...sounds like a problem. Would the Norma ammo be 6.5/284 NORMA, or 6.5/284 Winchester?

When the dies/bullets/cases,Lapua) arrive, any general issues to be aware of, right off the bat?

Thanks,
pw

 

[Rust]

Beats me. Go to Normas web site and ask.

 

[Wild_Bill]

Lapua also loads ammo i think there might be a link to Graffs on the home page about 6mmBR ammo and i think it is to Graffs. If your chamber is set up for Lapua it will feed Norma aswell the Winchester case is under size and will fit aswell but there is no factory ammo that has ever been available from Winchester.

here is a copy of the BLOG

FACTORY AMMO--Both 105gr and 90gr Loaded Ammo Available: We still have some boxes of Lapua 105gr loaded ammo,non-moly) available for site users. This is extremely accurate stuff. It shot quarter-moa in our 6BR, running 2830 fps from a 27" PacNor 8-twist barrel. Price is $50 delivered for two boxes,40 rounds) to the lower 48 states. You can pay by check, MO, or PayPal. Email Mailbox@6mmBR.com to order.

If you'd prefer the 90gr Lapua factory ammo, Grafs.com has it in stock,item LU4316045) at $25.49 per 20-round box. The Lapua 90-grain ammo runs about 3000 fps and is an excellent choice for a 10-twist barrel. Grafs.com also carries Lapua loaded ammo in .223 Rem, .308, 6.5x55, 30-06, and .338 LM.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[mazzy11]

Thanks Bill...I appreciate the information. By the way, Rust--Norma's website is junk for info, FYI.

 

[Rust]

Bill - I checked around and couldn't find any loaded Lapua in the US for the 6.5 X 284. The loaded ammo you mentioned was for the 6BR

Mazzy - From Normas web site: For technical information from Norma try e-mailing Ã…ke Nilsson [ake.nilsson@norma.cc] at Norma and he should be able to give you exact specs and maybe even suggest a distributer in the states for Norma ammo. His phone numbers are also listed on Normas web site Tel: +46,0)571-315 16 Fax: +46,0)571-315 40. I've exchanged e-mails with him in the past and he usually answers fairly quickly, usually next work day.

To be honest, you would probably be happier with the results if you just waited for your Lapua brass and dies to come in and roll your own. The Norma loaded ammo, if there is any to be found, would run $35-$40 per box of 20 plus shipping and hazmat fee and the brass quality wouldn't even begin to compare to Lapua.

On the issues with the 6.5 X 284. I have found it better to use a full length sizing die set up to just bump the shoulder about .0015" or so. So that the fired case will just chamber with very little extra force required to close the bolt. This works the brass a bit more than using the carbide insert dies where you can select an insert diameter to size for the amount of bullet pull you want but they only size about 2/3 of the neck. The best solution is to have a full length die honed to exact diameter in the neck for the amount of neck sizing desired. Helps prevent donuts.

Otherwise pick a bullet and stick with it, 139 Lapua Scenar or 142 SMK for a 1-9 twist. 123 Scenar for 1-10 twist. Barrel life will be too short to play with to many things. Most serious match shooter end up changing barrels at 1000 rounds or so. Decent accuracy should last until 1600 or so.

Lets see, depending on twist 123 Scenar, 139 Scenar or 142 Sierra, CCI primer, H4350 or H4831, Lapua brass. Some combination of those components should get you shooting very well.

 

[mazzy11]

Thanks, R'...good info. I really appreciate it...

I'll keep you posted...

 

[Rust]

No problem.

On the last batch of Lapua brass I got the stuff was remarkably straight out o the box. Some folks just recommend using an expander mandrel such as the Sinclair neck turning mandrel to i initially expand the necks. Myself, I tend to use the floating carbide expander ball available for Sinclair dies.

If you get to the point where you want to check for bullet runout I'd recommend the Sinclair,best in it's price range) or the Neco, more expensive but a very good tool. Controlling runout depends on a lot of things and some folks say it's entirely die related.

One thing I did learn about Redding benchrest seating dies is that they make a replacement seating stem that is shorter which would be nice to have if you can seat your bullets out longer. The original 6.5 X 284 Winchester wildcat wasn't really made up for the rather longish VLDs available today and the original seating stems are a bit too long. If you get a Redding die and seating is a pain because you've got the die backed out of the press you might want to give Redding a call and get the shorter stem.