140gr Bergers through a .260 Rem versus a 6.5-284 Norma?

[95huskers]

I am looking at building a custom gun in either a .260Rem or a 6.5-284 Norma to shoot 140gr Berger VLD Hunting bullets through. Most of my hunting is going to be on medium sized game (and long range coyotes) but would like the ability to put an elk down if absolutely needed.... though I'd likely have a .30 cal or 7mm cal gun if I ever go on an elk hunt.

I guess my question is: is it a huge advantage to shoot the 140 grain VLD's through a 6.5-284 Norma versus a .260 Rem? I currently have a Savage 6.5-284 Norma and really like the caliber but am thinking if I get a custom rifle built I'd like the added barrel life a .260 offers. Fill me in guys, I'm still learning. The ballistics just look very similar to me in the two calibers. There has to be something I'm missing here...

 

[Jumpalot]

I have both and like them both. But, I'm selling the 6.5-284. Sure, it will push the 140gr a little faster. But I also own a 7RM and an Edge. I use the .260 mostly for coyotes but just shot a whitetail with it and it worked great. If I need to shoot something over 400-500 yds I'll grab my 7RM. If it's over 800 I'll grab my Edge. I know either one will work fine and you won't notice much difference between the two. My .260 is built on a short action so I decided that I would shoot the 123gr AMax. My 6.5-284 is built on a long action and I shoot the 140gr Bergers. If I were only going to own one rifle, I'd probably go with the 6.5-284 but because I have the 7RM also, I feel the .260 fits in better. Not much help I know, but figured I'd throw my experience out there anyhow.

 

[Greyfox]

I also own both and if you optimize load and seating depth for both with each you can get the 260 within 100-150fps to the 6.5x284. The 260 max load at extended seating is about 45gr. of H4350 , compared to 59 gr of Retumbo in the 6.5x284 will give better barrel life out of the 260. My own experience is that this difference in velocity could actually be greater as a result of finding the best accuracy. Both my 6.5x284's developed top accuracy at or close to the velocity max. Not so with my 260. Could just be my rifle. All that being said, I like the 260 for targets and competition with velocities in the 2800-2850 range. I use my 6.5x284's for hunting. They are both consistent .25-.5 MOA rifles and I have had great success with several one shot kills out to 1000 yards. I generally think of 260 as a 700 yard hunting rifle, and the 6.5x284 as a 1000 yard one. Just my opinion.

 

[rscott5028]

As you stated, 30 cal or 7mm is more appropriate for Elk.

260 or 6.5x284 is going to be about the same for hunting. You can squeeze a little extra MV out of the latter.

The 260 may have a longer barrel life. But, the contrary may be true if you run the 260 at max and be kind to your 6.5x284.

In any case, barrel life is highly subjective. Competition shooters often run max loads, with high round counts, and long/fast shot strings. ...compared to hunting rifles. And, they measure accuracy (barrel life) in fractions of an inch that barely count for hunting.

I bought a used Kreiger palma 6.5x284 barrel with over 800 rounds on it. I set the chamber back 1" and it shoots sub-half MOA all day long. That's good enough for the hunting that I do.

The bottom line is that it's a toss up. If you already have good dies and brass, that might be a reason to stay the course. Otherwise, the 260 will get the job done.

-- richard

 

[dragman]

Huge difference in my honest opinion. 26" barrel's I have had both 260's and 6.5X284 and shot 140VLD's out of them both. best speed I got with good accuracy in the 6.5X284 was 2850'sFPS and the best I got with the 260 was 2609FPS that 240fps is pretty big in my honest opinion. I have since gotten rid of them both and am finishing up a build on a 6.5-06. Not that that is better I just like to play.

 

[Sully2]

I also own both and if you optimize load and seating depth for both with each you can get the 260 within 100-150fps to the 6.5x284. The 260 max load at extended seating is about 45gr. of H4350 , compared to 59 gr of Retumbo in the 6.5x284 will give better barrel life out of the 260. My own experience is that this difference in velocity could actually be greater as a result of finding the best accuracy. Both my 6.5x284's developed top accuracy at or close to the velocity max. Not so with my 260. Could just be my rifle. All that being said, I like the 260 for targets and competition with velocities in the 2800-2850 range. I use my 6.5x284's for hunting. They are both consistent .25-.5 MOA rifles and I have had great success with several one shot kills out to 1000 yards. I generally think of 260 as a 700 yard hunting rifle, and the 6.5x284 as a 1000 yard one. Just my opinion.

Its NOT just your rifle. Mine is the same...Its MAX accuracy load isnt close to the max it will shove a bullet down stream at all. Im shoving mine with 37gr of Varget at close to 2650.

 

[cfvickers]

My hunting load, which will shoot very close in accuracy to my accuracy load (which is loaded to preserve barrel life with no regard for velocity), but hunting load is doing 3120. I don't think you are going to ever find 3000 with a 140 grain bullet in a 260. So yes, for hunting, I believe the 6.5-284 give you a significant advantage. I do not have a 260 but I have no vendetta against it. I am a fan of the 6.5x55 and loaded correctly it will equal or surpass a .260 when all variables are equal. While I like both the 6.5x55 and .260, for long range, I have a 6.5-284. By the way I have 3 6.5x55's one with a 27" barrel. look at a ballistics chart for the same bullet doing 2850 against 3120-3150. it is significant beyond 500 yards. Unless you plan to shoot close to 1,000 rounds a year from it, barrel life should last a while for you with the 6.5-284 as a hunting rifle.

 

[backwoods83]

Well I'm a huge 26 cal fan and have nothing against the 260 other than the fact remington snatched the rights to it out from under A-square. But the 6.5x284 has only a couple equals that are commercial and that's the 6.5 rem mag, 264 win mag, and 6.71 Lazz phantom, with a 26" or longer barrel the 6.5x284 has an easy 250fps advantage over the 260 with all else being equal. I have had sub half moa groups over 3100fps, some approaching 3200 with Imr4350 in a 30" barrel but backed the charge down to get the ES I wanted for my bench gun, which doesn't have to be in the single digits with a hunting rifle, so with a longer barrel and slower powders like RE22, H1000, mag pro, reumbo, etc... well over 3100fps is very doable, and as a hunting rifle may last as long as 1500+ rounds, barrel life can also be extended buy using a cut rifled barrel or 5R 5C style. The 3 groove Lilja is one of the better ones as well.