Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats New hunting rig...6.5x55 vs. 6.5-284

I recently acquired a Remington 700 SS long action and a Ti take-off stock. I was planning on building a Swede, but after doing a little research, I'm not so sure. The velocities I've seen aren't any better than what I can get out of my 260AI. I thought about doing the AI thing on the Swede, but don't really want to go that route (considering it, but not really thrilled with the idea). Also not really interested in the 6.5-06 or the bigger 6.5 magnums. The only other cartridge that really piques my interest is the 6.5-284. Both have good brass available, lots of load data, etc. Thoughts?

Is it the speed of the Swede or the bullet the length of your little finger that makes it seem magic?

Are you looking to poke holes past 300 yards?

I don't feel inadequate with my 6.5x55SE out to 300 yards but could see some usefulness in a bit for speed if the range required it.

I know you said you're not interested in the 6.5-06 but since you have a LA I'm wondering why.
Is it the smooth feeding of the case?
The easy availability of cheap, high quality brass?
The velocity capability equal to or better than the 6.5x284?
The greater magazine capacity of the slimmer case?

Personal preferences are just that.

I'm just curious here.

Good brass (Lapua), long, skinny bullets, history, etc.



That's what has me considering the 6.5-284. That extra bit of speed would be nice without having to lean on it.



I prefer having properly headstamped brass is the main reason.

When I brought up the thought of a 6.5-.284 with my 'smith he talked me out of it pretty easily, and I was pretty set on building one.
"In a lightish hunting rifle," he said, "it's going to kick you pretty bad, and, as much as you shoot, I'll be screwing on barrels pretty regularly."

I opted for the 6.5-06 instead.

Good to know I had been pretty interested in a 6.5-284, but didnt realize they were hard on barrels.

i've got a set of Swede AI redding dies if you swing that way.

That seems to me to be a pretty strange thing to say seeing as the 6.5x284 and the 6.5-06 have nearly identical case capacities and velocities.



They aren't hard on barrels providing you don't get the barrel ridiculously hot.

They do make properly headstamped 6.5-06 brass but it ain't cheap.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=977063

270Win come with factory headstamps as well.


.

That seems to me to be a pretty strange thing to say seeing as the 6.5x284 and the 6.5-06 have nearly identical case capacities and velocities.



From Chuck Hawks...

"....Shooting reasonable loads, barrel life is also better than the .264 Magnum, although with maximum loads the 6.5mm-284, in particular, has a reputation as something of a barrel burner in its own right. No doubt this is because it is primarily a target rifle cartridge and fractions of a MOA can matter at the highest levels of competition. A barrel that has fired about 1000-1200 rounds is usually considered to be past its useful life, although it may still shoot satisfactorily for big game hunting....."

I also seem to recall a number of threads in this forum which cite the same thing about the 6.5-.284. While I still remain very interested in it, some aspects also just turn me off. For instance, the long O.A.L. which works better in a LA. Might as well make a 6.5-06.

Just my opinion,which is what Clark98 was soliciting.

Also from C.H.

"...The balance swings the other way if you are looking for a long range hunting cartridge. The 6.5mm Rem. Mag. is a better design than the 6.5mm-284 Norma for feeding from the box magazine of a repeating hunting rifle. It has also been around longer as a factory standardized cartridge and there are more factory produced rifles available on the used market. Remington ammunition is more widely distributed than Norma ammunition in the U.S. and usually less expensive. For the reloader, if cases must be formed, there are a great number of belted magnum cases from which 6.5mm Rem. Mag. cases can be formed, compared to the limited supply of .284 Win. brass needed to form 6.5mm-284 cases....."

I don't think you will see a nickles worth of difference in barrel wear between the 6.6-06 or the 6.5-284. Good brass is available for the 6.5x284. I used to have one, but now shoot a 6.5x47Lapua and like it a lot. You don't really give up anything. It is one of the darlings of the long range competition shooters. I would definitly not do a 6.5x284 on a short action.
Butch

Please don't quote "Chuckles" Hawks..

It brings us all down.

My point exactly.

If you prefer higher velocities go with the 6.5-284. I happen to like the Swede, nothing fancy, no speed demon but effective.

Well said Archer, I agree.

How much barrel are you looking to use? If you are going to use less then 24" I wouldn't bother with the 6.5-284. I also wouldn't bother with the 6.5-284 unless you planned on shooting a lot past 600 yards. The 6.5-284 is certainly more of a good thing as far as I'm concerned, but there is something that is "Just right" about the Swede. I've got a long action Husky HVA action at the smith now becoming a 6.5x55 and have another of the same actions in the basement with another 6.5x55 barrel on the way. The plethora of performance, brass, dies, and ammo just make the Swede too powerful of an attraction for me to avoid.

Never had either but I can't imagine the 6.5/06 or the 6.5/284 kicking all that badly.....as to barrel life, who cares,unless you're a match shooter.

The solution is simple....buy two barrels......