Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5 Creed vs 6.5-.284 Norma

Preferences? I understand that the Norma has the reputation for short barrel life and being a very good long range round - but other than that, does anything stand out to you?

What are you doing with it? It's about like comparing the .223 to the .22Creedmoor. Each has attributes and drawbacks, depending on the use.

Great question.... I doubt I elk hunt with either when I have a 7mm and .300WM in the safe. I normally use a .270 or .280 for everything below elk. So, why do I need a Creed or Norma? I don't but I have them for some reason. I am just trying to justify in my mind what I need them for.

At the end of the day, a .375HH, any .30 cal and a 6.5 cal is all you "need". However, I could do everything I do with a .375HH and never look back. It is just I like playing with "stuff".

You could do 99% of your North American hunting with a .308 Win but what would be the fun in that?

I have dies and 200 x brass in 6.5-284 but no rifle yet. I was surprised how big the 6.5-284 case is. Quite a difference between it and the Creedmoor. Check out some reloading manuals and you'll find the 6.5-284 gets up to 150/200 fps more than the CM if my memory serves me correct. Might be a better case if you want to push 140gn or heavier bullets. I like 120 -130gn bullets in the smaller 6.5 cases like the Creedmoor and 6.5x47 but when I get my 6.5/284 it will run the heavier 140s.

The main reason the 6.5x284 has a reputation of being a barrel burner is frrom the crowd that shoots 200 rounds a week. The crowd that shoots 200 rounds a year cleaning every 25 to 50 can see long term service. Iown both the 260 rem and 6.5x284 norma both are excellent deer rounds. 100 fps does not make that much difference inside 300 where most hunting takes place. Both rounds are capable of excellent accuracy.

Good luck and Shoot straight y'all

The 6.5/.284 has just about the same case capacity as the 6.5 PRC--but the 6.5 PRC's case is significantly shorter, so works better in short bolt actions.

The big advantage of any of those three 6.5 rounds is the higher BC of their bullets. Most hunters are still fixated on muzzle velocity, but down-range velocity is why the 6.5's have become more popular. Have considerable field experience both with the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .270 Winchester, and despite the .270's higher muzzle velocity with bullets of about the same weight, have yet to see any difference in "killing power" between them.

The 6.5/.284 and 6.5 PRC also get SLIGHTLY less muzzle velocity than the .270 with the same bullet weights, but the difference is less. Both are excellent rounds.

here is the one big difference 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is easier to find over a 6.5x284

Yep!

I'm not a gunwriter and have no experience with the 6.5-284, but I have heard of gunsmiths having issues with the rebated rim on the 284-based cartridges and some refusing to chamber them. Basically the bolt nose riding over the top cartridge in the magazine.

IIRC, the topic was more focused on detachable magazines where the gunsmith would adjust the feedlips on a magazine or two but the customer would then try different magazines and have issues. Or the feedlips on the modified magazines would get tweaked and no longer feed. Might not be an issue with an internal magazine.

I built a 6.5X284 on a Tikka long action.I bought a McGowen pre fit shouldered 26" cut rifle barrel 7.5 twist and installed it.It sits in a McMillan Sako Hunter McWoody stock.Scope is a Nikon Monarch 5 2-10 x40 with advanced BCD reticle.Shoots the Nosler 140 grain Comp bullet into 1 1/2" at 200 yards.I used IMR 4350 which was the most accurate powder in my Nosler manual in Nosler brass and Winchester LR Match primers.I did not chrono it yet but will this week.At 100 it shot several .400 " groups with the same load.I did not work a load up or try different primers or seating depth .I seat them 20 thou off the lands.My two 6.5 Creeds do not shoot that good.

Yeah. Leaves room for those long and sleek boolits.

Well...

Here's the Nosler .264"/140 gr. Partition at both 6.5CM/6.5x55 SE Point Blank and 400 yd. impact velocities.


For me, that's about all the 6.5mm desired, and went w/ the 6.5x55mm because of the rifle it came in.

YMMV.




GR

Having chambered a couple dozen of them, I've never seen the problem you mention. It's my favorite all time cartridge; 140s at 2975-3000 and kill stuff.

Good to know, Dennis. Out of the couple dozen, do you recall how many with detachable magazines?

None

JB just did an update on the 6.5 Creed in the October issue of Handloader. 3 different loads with the 143 ELDX from 2800 to 2900+fps in a 24" barreled Weatherby vanguard. I can't see the 6.5 -284 need at all or the extra expense of it...mb

That same logic could apply to 3006 vs 300 win mag, 223 vs 22-250 or 708 vs 7 rem mag. Whatever the creed can do, the 6.5-284 case can do with at least 100 fps more velocity.