Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 6.5-284 custom build ?

SU: Have you used the 130 Swift on game?

I am sort of getting an itch for one of these things....

Listen to Dennis, he KNOWs what he's talking about.

Hi Bob, yes indeed I have killed with the 130 Swift.
A big 300 lb mule deer at 520 yards using a 260 which I later punched out to 6.5x284 and picked up another 150 fps +.

SU: Neat! I think I want to build one of these things. President of my club and another freind were part of a team that did very well at Wimbledon this year. They were all shooting 6.5/284,and said the accuracy is unreal at 1000.I am kind of enchanted with the whole notion.Time to start looking for an action,and order a barrel...

I am leaning Kreiger or Bartlein 8-twist....

You won't regret it Bob!

Ok guys I've narrowed it down to these choices as per twist and maker, either it's gonna be a 1-8 or 8.5 twist Broughton OR a 1-8.2 ROCK creek. Like I mentioned above I'm looking at shooting 120grn BarnesTSX, 130grn NoslerAccubond, and POSSIBLY 140grn Sierra and Berger 140 grn VLD.....................so I take it most would go with the Broughton???

SU:....oh,brother....wheels turning....

Excellent info, Dennis.. Thanks.. I was not aware of the 8.5 twist info re: accuracy on the 6.5-284..

Now, if I can just remember it for more than an hour..

I have 1 broughton and love it but have never had a bad Krieger.
as far as the bullets you list if you find a load that works great with the Berger 140grVLD it would only waste barrel life messing around with the others.
B

I figured as much boat............ ? Those of you that have a Brougton 6.5x284 would it be safe to say the barrel life would make it to lets say 2000rds??? I know Tim won't pull my leg be he say one could EASILY get 1800-2000+ out of HIS barrel while others say 900-1500...

I think anybody--including the barrel maker--who makes an estimate on the number of rounds you are going to get out of a barrel is making a WAG. There are just too many variables, such as how rapidly someone shoots and the kind of cleaning regimen they use. A 10,000 round per year target shooter who goes through several barrels a year may be able to see brand-based differences, the rest of us likely never will.

I agree... I like to hear estimates especially out of a throat burner like this, just to give me some type of idea on what I'm working with.

And see, I can't figure out why it should be that much of a throat burner. It is burning mid 50s grains of powder--just like the 25-06 below it, or the 270 above it. I have a completely unsubstantiated hunch that the rapid strings that the target shooters run have as much to do with the short barrel life reputation as anything else.

Kinda like John Barsness's experience with the .264 Win--if shot slowly and carefully, it's barrel burner reputation is overstated. But you can also burn one up in an afternoon in a PD town if you choose.

With me at the bench, as in zeroing in for the hunt or load development with the the fan blowing on the barrel(keeping it cool), and shooting in 3-5min. intervals I can't see why this cartridge will burn a throat out. And to say the least basically ALL the info. as per barrel life have came from target shooters that's why I'm asking questions here.

A 6.5x284 shooting 140 grain bullets will NOT likely give you 2000 rounds of service. Sorry, that's just the way it is. You can get 1000-1200 and then you are going to want to set the barrel back and rechamber to get a clean throat. I am strictly going by competition standard as this chambering is by far and away a competition caliber over a hunting caliber.

If you don't mind a 1/4" degradation in accuracy after 1200 or so rounds you may get 2000. Your best accuracy will be gone by 1200 or so. There are a million guys out there shooting this in F-class, match and 1000 yd BR so there is a lot of a data on this!

Dennis it will be a Broughton in 8 twist Tim said he/they didn't make a 8.5 twist, so I went with what he builds...

Works for me!

What contour and length?

Roger that would have loved to have gone with a 8.5 twist, but like I mentioned above Broughton don't offer it other makers do but wanted to try a Broughton barrel!!!!! Thank so very much Sir on ALL the valuable info. you posted!