Help a new guy decide which 6.5

[summitsitter]

To make a long story, short, my smith has agreed to show me how to build a rifle. This will be the first rifle I've ever rebarreled much less build the complete gun. The only thing I can't decide on is whether I want a 6.5 x 284 or a 6.5mm-06 Ackley. The smith has both reamers so that's not a problem. I reload so that's not either. Lot of people around here shoot the 6.5 x 284 so that has it's advantages and disadvantages. I want to know what yall opinion on the 2 calibers are. As far as buying the brass or having to form it really doesn't amount to a hill of beans to me. Besides that what the pros and cons of each. I am using the rifle for deer hunting and would liek to be about to shoot paper out to 700-800yds. I also will be using a Shilen #5.5 barrel on a Remington 700 LA. Thanks, Trent

 

[markr]

I have owned a 6.5-06 AI and I liked it quite a lot! I have now started shooting,again) a rifle that I aquired from an old family friend, it was built by P.O. Ackley on an FN Supreme action. It is a 6.5x257 Roberts AI,thats a little convoluted) I forn the cases out of 7x57 brass, a straight neckdown to 6.5 then fireform.
It shoots wonderfully. Just thought I'd throw that in because I just came in from the loading room, I was replentishing my supply of this ammo. I loaded 50...that should last me the rest of my life.

 

[savageboy]

I'd be interested in what kind of velocities you are getting w/ the 6.5x57ai? Barrel length, twist, how much of what type of powder,load data), what bullets are you using, etc

Sounds interesting

 

[watercam]

I have a 6.5/284 and like it. My guess is that it might be a tad more efficient and accurate but I wonder if one could really tell the difference unless you are a bench shooter. Might use slightly less powder in the 284 case so barrel life could be longer.
'Tad','might','could' - hows that for fudging!
Good luck and enjoy...

 

[markr]

I have a 6.5/284 and like it. My guess is that it might be a tad more efficient and accurate but I wonder if one could really tell the difference unless you are a bench shooter. Might use slightly less powder in the 284 case so barrel life could be longer.
'Tad','might','could' - hows that for fudging!
Good luck and enjoy...

The load that I shoot in it normally is 48.5 gr. H4831 and a 125 flat base SGK, with a 24' sporter bbl, with this combo it will shoot 1/2' and 3025 fps,chronographed)and I can step it up to 50 gr H4831 for a little over 3100 fps and still no major pressure signs. I think I will try a little slower powder this spring to see where that goes.
Mark

 

[cliffy]

Hands Down: .264 Winchester Magnum. Ruger is brave in re-instituting the greatest, flatest-shooting cartridge ever developed. With Tubbs 'Final Finish' bullets and superior throat material, the .264 Winnie Pooh will blister the atmosphere for many moons to come. When I require more power than my .243 Winchester can muster, I shall being reloading .264 Winchesters as soon as suitable primers are available on-line. cliffy

 

[archerross]

Summit,

I was in a similar dilemma earlier this spring. I have a love affair with the '06 and thought about a 6.5-06 built on a standard long action as my first custom rifle. After visiting with my 'smith friend, he recommended the 6.5-284 built on the long action to allow for more flexibility in seating depth. The long 6.5 mm bullets sometimes like to be seated at or just into the lands. Your magazine my not be able to fit a 6.5-06 AI cartridge if your rifles likes the bullet seated long. A 6.5-284 built on a long action will have plenty of space in the magazine to accommodate any seating depth and still feed reliably.

 

[cliffe]

to answer the original question6.5x284 would be my choice of the two. factory brass, alot of load information and very accurate too. let us know what you do. cliffe

 

[flatlander]

summit - Either of the 6.5s you mentioned would be pretty good for the stated tasks, but if you're at all concerned about barrel life, you oughta look at a 6.5x55. I had a local 'smith chamber a 30' Krieger 1:8 tw. in med. Palma contour in 6.5x55 for my Nesika K prone rifle several years before I started doing my own barrel work, and it's been a fine performer out to 1000yds. I load Sierra 142MKs to just over 2900fps with N160 - most LR target shooters only load their 6.5x284s to around 2950-2980fps with this bullet to get best accuracy, and barrel life can be as short as 1100rds. using 4350.

I considered going with the 6.5x284 or 6.5x55 Ackley Imp. before settling on the std. 6.5x55, but decided the Ackley version's case capacity was so close to the 6.5x284's that barrel life was probably going to be about the same. Then curiousity got the best of me a year or so ago, so I ordered a 6.5x55 AI reamer, and used it on a 30' Bartlein 1:8.5tw heavy Palma. The barrel is fitted to a BAT 3LL action in a Robertson H&H prone stock, and is very accurate.

However, so far, it looks like the AI version is only going to give me another 50-60fps velocity with 139/140/142gr. bullets. The other 'advantage' of the AI version is that I'll probably never have to trim cases,something that the std. 6.5x55's case taper & shoulder angle make necessary on a regular basis). Be that as it may, I'm a fan of the Ackley case form - currently have a 250AI, the 6.5x55AI, and a 280AI. Once you start doing your own barrel work, part of the fun is giving into the temptation of experimenting with some of the 'neat' cartridges you've always wondered about.