I appreciate the kind words!

I too have enjoyed the 6.5-284, but admittedly, I circled back to the 284 Shehane (blown out Win). Longer throat life and considerably more bullet weight - only downside is a bit more recoil. But getting 180’s to 2900-2950 is a reality, albeit hard on brass. For hunting at low round count per annum, yeah, flip a coin, as the 6.5-284 gets the job done with less recoil, and less specialization than the Shehane.

Either, of course, is a commitment to a long action cartridge, and a lot of powder use. I expect it’s a factor of 1) living in KS, where all big game hunts mean out of state trips, and 2) growing up at the end of the magnumitus era, but I’ve really grown to not have much use for long action, standard bolt face cartridges. For deer and smaller, I’m going to use a short action cartridge in a 6-7mm bullet dia. For out of state hunts on anything larger than deer, I’m going to use a 30cal Magnum, MAYBE still considering 7mm’s, and if yes to 7mm’s, then adding 6.5 PRC to that list for certain game... Maybe... I’ve even spent a little time soul-searching over this, as it certainly seems as though something is wrong with me to not find utility in any of these long action cartridges. Not getting rid of any of them any time soon, but also not taking them afield much either.