With all the praise being heaped on the 6.5-284 (well deserved I guess) I was wondering if any of the reloading guru's out there feel it has any real-world advantages as a hunting round? I know that as a long distance paper puncher and target gun it is remarkable, albeit with pretty long barrel lengths. And I'm not questioning it's terminal performance capabilities when the bullet reaches the target.
But, with a reasonable hunting length firearm, or even a short carbine, would this round still have a leg up on any of the other fine 6.5 rounds out there? The 260 or the 6.5 X 55 specifically?
Thanks in advance for any input.
The only real benefits about the 6.4x284 are case design and powder capacity producing slightly higher velocities. I'm a .284 fan and in my opinion,was the first "shortmag" without the name. In hunting situations,neither the deer or shooter will be able to tell the difference which cartridge was used except for the flatter trajectory the 6.5x284 provides.
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stalkingbear,
thanks for the reply. So it is your opinion that the 6.5-284 round offers no real world hunting advantage when paired with a barrel of 18-24 inches of length? I ask because I have been considering selling off some firearms to finance a project, and was considering the 6.5-284, but after hearing of it's performance I nearly always hear of the longer length barrels being used , ..... lengths beyond what I would consider for a hunting rifle.
It got me to thinking that it may not be such a big advantage with shorter barrels.
if you want 6.5/284 performance, go with a 24-25" barreled 6.5 wsm. The 140 gr 6.5 bullets are one of the best bullets around as far as the BC rating. BC helps you most at long range. Long Range shooting needs velocity to keep the terminal performance at extended ranges. The 6.5/284 is one of the most inherrantly accurate cartridges made, they're niche is long range deer/elk hunting and 1000 yrd target shooting. for normal hunting purposes a rem 673 in 6.5 mag would be better.
RR
From what I've gleaned from my reading, and what you guy's are adding, it seems I'll be best served by keeping with my moderate speed cartridges. The chances of me ever taking a shot beyond 250 yards is next to nill, as my eyes and my hands will never shoot as good as my guns.
I guess I was getting stars in my eyes over the unbelievable distance accuracy the 6.5-284 provides .. and wasn't being realistic about my own capabilities.
I'll guess I'll save my money and tweak some fo the firearms I already own instead of parting with some and dropping a bushel of money.
A fool and his money are easily parted, as I've proved my whole life, but I'm getting a little smarter as times wears on.
Or better yet, maybe I'll still sell a few old friends and search for a Savage Model 99 or Winchester Model 88 in .284
I know it'll be costly but probably not more than a project rifle.
If I was going to build a rifle for shooting at long range it would be the 6.5X06. I bui;d mine 2 years ago for comp. shooting a true 1000yard gun my buddy is rated 3 in the country for long rangs shooting and that is what he use some of you may know him Danny from VA. the bad part the gun is 34 pounds it is not for hunting.
It's a pretty fast and flat shooter. Nothing real special but I wouldn't mind one A decent selection of bullets to load. A 6.5-06 might be easier to load for, but I'm not real sure.
I looked into this for years and decided that the only real advantage to be gained with the 284 would be a shorter action. However many I have talked to that chambered the 284 in the short action
lacked OCL capabilities and some rechambered to a long action. This is silly to me as the 6.5-06 solves all these problems before they start and gives a bit more velocity as well.
well if your gonna go with the 6.5/06 go with the 6.5/06 AI better case life and a tad more velocity, also no resizing needed to load, actually the easiest wildcat to make cases for bar none.
I went with the 6.5 Gibbs and its a lil more work but you gain 200 fps over the 6.5/06 AI. I'm running 264 WM velocities out of a 270 case.
RR
As a owner of a 6.5-284 hunting rig, I can only tell you that I love it. Whether or not its better than others is very subjective. I built mine on a long action so that I could utilize the magazine while seating out to the lands.The only advantage I can think of over the 6.5-06 is the fact that you can buy brass that is headstamped correctly for the 284. Its a minor thing butsome countries are finicky about ammo, you have to be carryinga rifle that is chamber for the cartridges that youbringing in.To tell the truth if I was to do it over again I would probably build the 06.
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6.5-284 for hunting ...any advantage???
A decent selection of bullets to load. A 6.5-06 might be easier to load for, but I'm not real sure.
