I am going to have a 284 rebarreled to 6.5-284. I'd like to tap into the brain trust here to advise me on what rate of twist that you all would recommend for using primarily using 140 grain bullets.
You want to see a stability factor of at least 1.5. There is no downside to excessive stability unless you're dealing with a light/weak bullet that may come apart due to rotational forces.
1-8", may I ask though is your gun a long or short action? If short, the 6.5-284 really shines when you can seat the bullets out farther in a long action. But I'm not sure if that can be solved by a gunsmith, there may be a way around it.
It's a short action, Remington 700, It doesn't allow one to seat the bullets out as much as I'd like, but that's what I have to work with. Thanks for your question and input.
The 6.5-284 is based off the medium length 284 Win cartridge, not a short action length case. Sure, you can fiddle fart around and put a Wyatt's in, and gain a little length, but when it comes down to it you're still hamstrung on COAL. Build the 6.5-284 on a LONG action and have lots of room to play, and never have to worry about magazine restrictions. I've had several 6.5-284s. My first was on a S/A 700 - big mistake. Stripped it down used the S/A on another build and put the barrel on a L/A, and have never looked back. Everything ounce of velocity that can be had with a 6.5-284 on a modified SA can be had on a LA build, with room to grow.
I'm running 140 ELDM's at 2.820" COAL to kiss the lands. It'll easily beat 6.5-.284 velocities, if a guy wants to go that route, or, it'll match top-end 6.5-.284 speeds at much lower pressure and hence much longer barrel life.
Use a LA for the 6.5-284 or use your SA and build a 6.5 Gap 4s. With the Gap there is a bolt face issue. I would want Lapua brass. It shouldn't be difficult to trade your SA for a LA.
yeah... the bolt face would need to be opened up, and the bolt would need milled for an M16 style extractor. I have done that to a bolt... By the time a guy paid a 'smith to do that it probably makes more sense to just go this route. Magnum boltface, SA, one-piece PTG bolt:
The 6.5-284 is based off the medium length 284 Win cartridge, not a short action length case. Sure, you can fiddle fart around and put a Wyatt's in, and gain a little length, but when it comes down to it you're still hamstrung on COAL. Build the 6.5-284 on a LONG action and have lots of room to play, and never have to worry about magazine restrictions. I've had several 6.5-284s. My first was on a S/A 700 - big mistake. Stripped it down used the S/A on another build and put the barrel on a L/A, and have never looked back. Everything ounce of velocity that can be had with a 6.5-284 on a modified SA can be had on a LA build, with room to grow.
Better yet, if going with a long action, go with a 6.5-06 or 6.5-06AI. While the AI requires fire forming, I've found the fireform loads to be ver accurate, just reduced velocity and recoil. All three daughters like the gentle recoil of the 6.5-06AI.
6.5-06 brass is easily formed from a variety of cases. I go with .25-06 brass, one swipe through the 6.5-06AI sizing die to expand the neck. Fireform and done. The 6.5-06 an -06AI can exceed 6.5-.284 performance by 200fps or can be downloaded to 6.5 Creedmoor levels. My AI pushes 130g Scirocco II bullets to 3161fps (IMR7828SSC) and 140g bullets to 3075fps (H100V). My fireform loads push a 140g A-MAX to 2760fps using a Hornady 6.5-06 max load of H4831SC.
Thanks folks, you convinced me. I've changed the project to a long action and will have it chambered to have the 140 grain bullets seated so they offer maximum powder capacity. You've been a great deal of help, and for that, thanks.
Thanks folks, you convinced me. I've changed the project to a long action and will have it chambered to have the 140 grain bullets seated so they offer maximum powder capacity. You've been a great deal of help, and for that, thanks.
You might drop a line to aalf, he's a clinic on the 6.5-284.
Thanks folks, you convinced me. I've changed the project to a long action and will have it chambered to have the 140 grain bullets seated so they offer maximum powder capacity. You've been a great deal of help, and for that, thanks.
You might drop a line to aalf, he's a clinic on the 6.5-284.
SKane, thanks but I'm new to this forum. How do I make a connection to aalf? Your link to your 6.5/284 is excellent, and I learned much from it. Thanks.
There are some custom bullets of 155 to 160 grains that may be happier with a one in 7.8 twist but at higher velocities they should work in a 1-8. The recommendations for the Gap or 6.5 SAUM or 06 are all good as it will buy you some velocity and barrel life both, not much but the longer necks do help. Me I would go 6.6x06 AI and get a little extra velocity and cheaper brass of any kind you want.
The recommendations for the Gap or 6.5 SAUM or 06 are all good as it will buy you some velocity and barrel life both, not much but the longer necks do help. Me I would go 6.6x06 AI and get a little extra velocity and cheaper brass of any kind you want.
Extended barrel life with a 6.5-06 might be considered a mute point, given that cases have to be fireformed. Which in turn means more rounds down the tube. Just sayin'. To each his/her own.