I have a remington action I may need to get made into wildcat.
What is the rifle's purpose?..............
Big game hunting in eastern Washington State.
The real question is Long Action or Short Action. Long Action = 6.5-06 AI. Short Action = 6.5-284.
As is often the case with 2 cartridges that are nearly identical, the issue is how you hunt/shoot. The answer to that question:
(a) dense woods so I want a short handy rifle = short action and 22" tube = 6.5-284;
(b) open plains, long shots and 25 inch tube = long action = 6.5-06AI;
(c) Lightweight/Mountain Rifle = Short action = 6.5-284; and
(d) General purpose rifle for all around use= eith one of them.
Tell us what you are planning to do with it and we can give you more guidance.
Good Shooting,
BMT
That's easy.
280AI....................(grin)
Big game hunting in eastern Washington State.
I read this as a "use it like a 270 Win" answer, so I would go with a 6.5-06AI.
BMT
Since my .284 can match .280 performance with a couple less grains of powder due to more efficient case (larger cross section and sharp shoulder), I am guessing my 6.5-284 will also match the 6.5x06 with a little less powder. If someone wants to share some data from 6.5x06 I will make a comparison where same bullets and powder used and all the 6.5x06 guys will get to see your loads. I find that having the 284 case in a long action is no problem and it allows me to put longer oal in the magazine. A short action may limit your ability to set the bullet out where you want it. Using a case that is no longer chambered in production guns (and its wildcats) is just plain cool. Especially when they work so well. 284 brass goes thru the 6.5-284 sizer with no problems and is ready to load.
Go spend some time over on Benchrest.com in their 1000 yd threads--see what you conclude. 6.5-284 is far more common than '06 based cases in LR shooting. Its the old short/fat v. long/thin case debate. I am biased in this; I had a 6.5-06 chambered Kreiger barrel that never shot all that well (.8 MOA). I had the same barrel rechambered to 6.5-284, and it shoots better(.5 MOA). Some conclude that 6.5-06AI is sufficiently overbore as to shorten barrel life. I have no first hand knowledge on that, and only varmint hunters and target shooters ever wear out a barrel, so that may not matter to you. If we are talking Remington actions, I also think the 6.5-284 works better on a long action than short, unless you either want to shoot 100 gr bullets or don't mind your bullets seated WAY down in the case. Just get a .284 case, and assortment of 6.5 bullets, and see what keeping them below 2.8" means in terms of seating depth.
I have a 6.5-06 that I built in 1986. It will still shoot about .375 MOA with five different bullet weights. I would decide this question based on the action chosen for the rifle. Obviously, you can't put a 6.5-06 in a short action. I wouldn't even both with building the Improved version as the gain does not equal the added attitude that the rifle takes on when chambered to this near overbore condition. I've taken down both of my AI rifles and rebarreled them because I got tired of the finicky nature. The 6.5-06 in the standard configuration is extremely accurate and works well for everything I've shot it at.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Just got a 6.5x7Saum back today have a few loads worked up for Saturday AM and will report back. I guess it will be more of the same but a different case, but that is what makes this all fun. By the way, Mdl 7 Sucks action, Lilja 24" #3 contour tube, in a Mickey that I got creative with, paint wise. The wife told me there is no way I am painting her next rig and she likes Pink. DougD
Of the two I think I would go with a 6.5/284. It has a proven record for accuracy plus you can get Lapua brass for it. I have two reamers, one with a .290 neck and the other a .301 neck. With Lapua brass there's no need for turning unless you just feel better about it so I'd go with the .301 (it may be a .300 neck, I'd have to check the reamer and it's in the shop). I've built several and have never had a report of poor accuracy with that caliber.