Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Case Capacity of 260 versus 6.5x284?

What is the case capacity of the 260 and the 6.5x284 in a short action? What is the velocity difference? I am not going to use the 140 grain bullets.

I have a custom action coming and want a rifle capable of shooting 600yards, which is the longest my range is. I will also be using it for hunting. (I will not be shooting at animals that far out.) I was thinking a fluted #4 barrel at 26 inches should give me a good split between being heavy enough to shoot easily but still able to carry. Dropped into a McMillan M40A1 stock with standard fill should round out the build. Would anyone suggest anything else?

About 100 fps, what one will do the other will do.

As for shooting to 600, you'll be using either dotz or turrets I spect so the extra speed is basically a non issue.

And, I'd just cut it to 23", 25" at most and put it in a Classic handle.

Dober

I would also look at the .260AI. The AI version is just on the heals of the 6.5-284 as far as velocity goes and is gaining popularity in tactical competitions.


http://www.6mmbr.com/SixFive284.html

Another one to consider if you are limited to 600 yards is the 243AI shooting 115gr DTAC or VLD bullets. Very accurate, 3100+fps velocity and very little recoil.

http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html

I don't think you could go wrong with any of your first choices though.

200fps would be more like it..

The lil AI is a cool deal idea and yes it would be right about there with the 6.5/284 and would most likely feed a truck load better.

Dober

I have never owned a 6.5x284 but have a 260. I have had no problems pushing the 120 grain balistic tip to 3000 fps in a regular sporter barrel,my 700 Mountain rifle is only 22 inches so I'm not sure that you need a longer barrel or a bigger case to shoot paper at 600 yards or big game at reasonable ranges.

If you were going to shoot 140 grain bullets at paper at 1000 yards,a long barreled 6.5x284 may be ideal,but for hunting and paper at the distances you mention,the 260 should shine.

I went AI in my Kampfeld build FWIW.

How hard is it to for the case for a 260 AI? I'm a realoader but have only just started so I don't want to get to complicated. I should just be able to fire a normal 260, correct?

Are there any good brass (Norma, Laupa, ect) for the 260? What barrel length?

Nosler, Remington and Norma are your choices as far as I know. I'd say 23 or 24"...at least that's what I went with.

That sounds like a good idea to me (AI). Put a custom barrel on your gun and use half its barrel life fire forming brass. Just to gain 100 fps. Hmmm

buckkiller-no way no how would you use half it's life with fire forming loads!

On a side every time I've ever had to fire form load they've always perked so well that if I wished to I could just use them for hunting.

Obviously you're not a fan of AI's and such. Which ones did you work with that turned you off?

Thx

Dober

My guess a well taken care of quality barrel should get 3-5000 rounds from a 260. Why anyone would need 1500pieces of brass is beyond me. I guess you can never be too prepared.

The 6.5-284 runs about 11 more grains of H2O capacity the the 260, so an increase of about 20%. 20% of additional case capacity will earn you about 5% more speed, given equal barrels and pressures.

I think that the 260 will do anything you want to do and if run a 6" shank on your barrel contour, you'll be able to recut the chamber every x,000 rounds to get a fresh throat.

I doubt that you'd gain much value from going with the AI format, but the sharper shoulder might reduce the amount of case stretching and subsequent case trimming that you might need to do.

Jeff

I'm not an AI fan for most cartridges unless there is an intrinsic improvement in accuracy as there is very little velocity gain and I hate fireforming cases. That said, I have had both(.260 rem and 6.5x284) and for 600 yds, there is no reason to go the more expensive 6.5x284. Also, I would recommend against building a 284 case rifle on a short action. If you use the longer bullets, they will have to be seated so deep the the ogive is INSIDE the case neck and this is not a good thing. I just tried it with a couple of my favorite bullets. The Sierra 142 MK makes a loaded round length of at least 3.00", the 130 Norma-2.88" and my favorite, the 108 Lapua-2.85; all of which are longer than a short action (700) magazine box.

Go with the 260- not sure your choice of stock pattern though-that stock is better suited for a much heavier barrel than you proposed.

Barrel life with a 260 is much improved over the 6.5x284 but barrel life is really a pipe dream for 99% of the shooters out there!

What barrel number would/did you go with? I understand all manufacturer are slightly different. I would like something shootable but still have enough weight to hold steady. I'm thinking just under 10lbs all up.

I punched my 700 Ti from 260 to 6.5x284 and picked up another 180 fps mv.

I shoot 125 NP's at 3,130 which effectively turned my rifle into a very light short action 270.

We'll worth it.

But what REAL performance increase value do you get from a difference of 180 fps?

How much flatter does it really shoot?

How much harder does it really hit?

I have 260s and 6.5-284s and like them both, but when looking at them subjectively, I wonder if (for me) there is enough gain in performance to justify the cost involved. Since I have a 6.5-284 finish reamer and an anchent Rockwell lathe, I can do 90% of my rechambering work, but if I was paying somebody to do the work for me, I might have to think over this conversion a couple times before pulling the trigger.

Jeff

I've researched rechambering my Sako 75 6.5 Swede to the 6.5-284 but have decided it's not worth it. I have a Sako 85 in 260, so if the 6.5 gets changed at all it'll be rebarreled to 280 or 280AI....and I do my own chambers also so cost is not an issue....FWIW.