6.5-284 or 6.5-06

[swarovski]

I am still deliberating on which one,got a question,does your 1 in 8 or 1 in 8.5 twist 6.5-284s shoot varmint bullets say 95gr v max or 100gr nos bal tips exceptionally well or do you struggle to make them shoot,would the 6.5-06 shoot them better being different case dimensions,I want it to be dual purpose as I want to shoot it at 1000yds with 139gr scenars or 142gr smks,your opinions please,regards swarovski

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Based on the availability of dies and brass I would get a 6.5-284. In terms of the detailed questions above, whoever is going to do the work will give you an answer. I had a 1:8 twist on my 260 Rem and I now have a 1:8.5 twist on it. Both barrels shoot the 123/129/140/142's without issues. I would expect both to shoot lighter bullets without any issues. Regards JCS

 

[news of the world]

Mine would be based on the fact that 284 brass is considerably more expensive than the 06 brass.
I have shot scenars extensively out of a 6.5mm and they were certainly more effective and accurate than the smk's,that was in my rifle might be completely different in yours.
Border built the rifle with the 139gn scenar in mind and it shot extremely well,then I went and sold it!!
It also shot the 95gn Vmax well but not as well as the scenars, I also found that the scenars were more destructive on fox's than the vmax.

 

[swarovski]

Thanks jc

 

[taylor]

Built a few 6.5-284 with 1-8.5 and they shoot 95 v- max verry well
and these chambers were throated for 140 vlds
​uou just have to jump them a fair bit but they group well

 

[rem284]

dont know why you want to shoot 95 or 100 grain bullets. In my experience the 140 grain bullets are the bees knees out of the 6.5-284, better at bucking the wind.

 

[bob257]

i shoot 6.5x284 140gr vld shoots really well.i don't really see the the point in shooting a 95/100gr bullet in this calibre.it can be a barrell burner at the best of time let a lone shooting a light weight bullet in it.

 

[taylor]

Some like to have a super flat round for lamping at night then long range bullet for day time and target work
​

 

[swarovski]

I want it to shoot flattish really mainly for lamping.with 100yd zero my 25 06 usig 85gr nos bal tips only drop 1 inch at 200 yds zeroed at 100yds.i dont wannabe compensating in the dark.just see it and shoot it.

 

[rem284]

I set mine so its zeroed at 180m(200yards) on a fox sized target this means you dont have to think about hold over until 220m and over

 

[news of the world]

6.5-06 should launch a 140gn around 2900fps, how much do you need?

 

[nowler]

i'm pretty experienced with 6.5-284's, and i'd have it any day of the week over the -06 version. it's a shorter round, doesn't require a long action, but possibly will if you're mag feeding, easier to get good brass, shorter powder column so should in theory be more accurate etc. etc.

my concerns would be that if you're wanting it to shoot heads around the 100grain mark as well as rounds around the 140grain mark, you're going to have a compromise in terms of throat length. in the ideal world, the junction between the diameter of the bullet and the start of the boat tail should sit just above the junction between the neck and the beginning of the shoulder. the 140's are a long vld style bullet...... if you throat for these, the 90-100's may well be hanging out of the neck of the case. conversely, if you throat for the shorter varmint rounds, your 140 vld's are going to have the shank of the bullet well down into the case below the neck which is not great for accuracy.

i use a 6.5-284 for everything and use 140grain amax's. get it throated for 140 amax or berger vld's and stick with that for everything. and don't let 1000yards be your limit either.........

 

[swarovski]

Thanks nowler,am starting to get nearer making a decision,there doesn't seem to be much info on the 6.5-06 on the internet

 

[news of the world]

The only difference between the two calibers is that the -06 will be cheaper to feed, a lot cheaper!the 284 will not do anything that the 06 can't do and vice versa. Brass of good quality can be had from any 25/270/30-06. Quote from Charles Benke editor of Field and Handloader Magazine.. "if you're a deerhunter and you already own a 25-06 or a 270, don't sell it just to build a 6.5-06.However if you build a 6.5-06 first you wont need the other two."

 

[6pt-sika]

If I had an over abundance of money I'd love to have hunting rifles and bench rifles in both cartridges !

I've never owned a 6.5x284 YET , but I did have a nice sort of custom 6.5-06 on a Mauser 98 action with a Shilen #3 carbon steel barrel and it was piller bedded in a Parker Hale walnut stock . Gun shot exceptionally well with Nosler 120 BT's and Hornady 129 SST's !

It was kinda normal to get 3 shots at 100 yards around half an inch if I was doing my part . Shot H4831SSC in the gun and CCI200 primers .
I used it one season to hunt and killed four whitetails with 4 shots . This is gonna sound kinda corny but the gun made things to darn easy . And usually easy for me makes me loose intrest plus I'da rather had it on a 700 action .

But it is my intent to build another on a Remington 700 action or possibly get a Cooper Model 54 Classic Hunter .

Now the 6.5x284 looks great to me as well !
Wouldn't mind trying it in the Savage Long Range Hunter or the Savage Predator Hunter .

I believe Redding dies for the 6.5x284 are a smidge less expnsive then the 6.5-06 . I have gotten so i kinda prefer their 3 dies sets , neck die , full length die and seating die .
For brass I always used 25-06 WIN brass in the 6.5-06 and that brass then was way way cheaper then buying 6.5x284 or straight 284 brass .

Usually in a situation like this I don't take brass cost or die cost into consideration nless the dies are like $300 and the brass is maybe $2-3 a stick .
So the cost of dies and components don't enter in the equation .

So IMHO whichever one turns the perspective person's crank oughtta be the one they get !

For me BOTH would be fine and if I have to pick one I'll go with the 6.5-06 !
I already have a Clymer 6.5-06 reamer and about 100 pieces of 25-06 already fire formed in my last 6.5-06 that was chambered with the same reamer I have now !

 

[tahoe2]

I'm thinking 06 brass would be more available and cheaper, my neighbor has a .284 Winchester, and brass is pricey.
However current philosophy; is that a shorter-fatter powder column is inherently more accurate due to a more efficient
​burn, if you intend to shoot 1000 yards, you would probably want every advantage you can get.

 

[swarovski]

Decisions decisions ,thanks for info chaps,keep them coming

 

[swarovski]

I don't want to be shooting 140 grainers out lamping

 

[swarovski]

Decision made,6.5-06 it is,I've sourced a mint redding die set with fl,neck and sweater die,got 250x140gr nosler customs to start of with,thank you all for your opinions,regards swarovski

 

[Muir]

Good choice. I have a hunch that if you get around to trying Hodgdon Hybrid 100V you will like it in that case.~Muir