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6.5-284 or 26 Nosler?

My humble vote is for 26 Nosler. Had two 6.5 284 barrels, wasn't impressed and frustrating to load for.
On my second 26 Nosler barrel and in my personal experience has been really pretty easy to find a load for.
I am somewhat of a velocity monger although I'm loading my current barrel at an idle with H50bmg because it shoots so good at 3290 fps with 140 Hybrids
Frustrating to load for? They've been a top cartridge for a long time in the 1000 yard world's and there are a lot of good recipes. Sorry you didn't find them and see how they can shoot. One of my favorite cartridges
 
I have both rifles....
65284....142lrab @ 2975...first shot kills....travels full lenght of deer....
65284....129lrab@ 3100+
26nosler....140acc @ 3200...mild load...tough bullet...
 
Having owned 4- 6.5X284's 26" -28" barrels on custom actions I question if they are getting 3200 fps (verified data). If so I'm sure there are major pressure issues. I don't believe stated speed with out verified data and drop data. I've yet to see hunting rifles shoot 140's @ 3200 out of a 6.5X284. Not saying they don't exist but I've never seen them. It seem that most of the time we shoot to verify data it is alway slower then the chrony said it was.
The highest velocity I was able to get without pressure signs out of two of my 26" 6.5x284's with 140 Berger HVLD's was 3075FPS, drops verified at 1000 yards. Powder/primer was R26 and Federal 210M. No pressure signs. Given that, I continue to run in the 3000FPS range with 140's since I get the best accuracy ES at this speed. I have recently built a load using the 156 Berger EOL running 2950-3000FPS using R26/Fed210M's. I plan on trying this load for hunting next season. The higher BC/weight of this bullet running at this speed extends my 1800FPS/1000FPE energy spec for medium game from 1000 to 1200 yards while hopefully displaying similar the short/medium range terminal performance on game as the 140HVLD's. I tend to prefer velocities in the 3000FPS range since my game shots can range from 100-1000+ yards. This speed seems to give the best balance of terminal performance with the high BC bullet designs. Accuracy and ES of this load In both my rifles is excellent.
 
The highest velocity I was able to get without pressure signs out of two of my 26" 6.5x284's with 140 Berger HVLD's was 3075FPS, drops verified at 1000 yards. Powder/primer was R26 and Federal 210M. No pressure signs. Given that, I continue to run in the 3000FPS range with 140's since I get the best accuracy ES at this speed. I have recently built a load using the 156 Berger EOL running 2950-3000FPS using R26/Fed210M's. I plan on trying this load for hunting next season. The higher BC/weight of this bullet running at this speed extends my 1800FPS/1000FPE energy spec for medium game from 1000 to 1200 yards while hopefully displaying similar the short/medium range terminal performance on game as the 140HVLD's. I tend to prefer velocities in the 3000FPS range since my game shots can range from 100-1000+ yards. This speed seems to give the best balance of terminal performance with the high BC bullet designs. Accuracy and ES of this load In both my rifles is excellent.
Surprised you are losing so little speed from 140 to 156s. I'm a snail with my 147s and r19 at 2938avg
 
Surprised you are losing so little speed from 140 to 156s. I'm a snail with my 147s and r19 at 2938avg
This is the data from my Savage/Criterion. My Cooper runs 30-40FPS less. Chambers and barrels can yield different results.
A2A0A8B1-7561-4C8A-A4F5-9BD0BF33A782.jpeg
 
What twist rate are you running GF,,, goosh that looks like an ok group.

Nice water line in the vertical,,, I'm waiting for a bit better weather to run a 140gr test from my 65 A-Square 1:8 twist...

Don
 
I'd lean towards the 6.5-284 on a long action. I have burned two 6.5-284 barrels in competitions where they get 20 round strings really quick. First barrel lasted about 1100 rounds and it was still accurate just not competitive accurate. The second barrel was never as accurate as the first and I pretty much demoted the gun to crop control, lr varmints etc. I got more like 1600 rounds from that as it saw very few matches.

If you use the 26 Nos for nothing but hunting and limit the shot strings to no more than 3 rounds, then let it cool, I could see you getting 500 rounds out of it. Which is adequate for a dedicated LR hunting gun provided you find your load relatively quickly.
 
Asking for clarification on what presents burned out barrels...
Are you going by throat erosion....if so...how far into the throat...as this should justify 65284 vs 26nosler....
My 26 with only a couple hundred rounds shows heat erosion...but the rechambered 65284 shows fire cracking....
They shoot about the same....not planning to retire either rifle...
My new 65284(complete this week)hopefully will be the ragged hole rifle I am looking for....
 
What twist rate are you running GF,,, goosh that looks like an ok group.

Nice water line in the vertical,,, I'm waiting for a bit better weather to run a 140gr test from my 65 A-Square 1:8 twist...

Don
Don,
I'm running 1:8 twist in my rifles. Works fine, even at 1000Ft elevation. I have been able to get good accuracy and ES in my rifles with the 156 with little fuss. Some 200 yard groups with my Cooper and Savage/Criterion.
41B347E5-98AB-43B6-ADB3-A02749C96A96.jpeg
40B86ECD-9FC2-44E1-8911-BC5EAAFB0D0F.jpeg
 
I love the 65284 and the 6.5-06. I have had half a dozen of both. I have had a couple .264 Win Mag and have 3 .260Rem and a 6.5 Creed. ( have lots of kids and nephews and nieces I hate to see shooting crap) but brass not withstanding I really love the 6.5PRC as a hunting round. I am not a 1000 yard guy. My limit is set at 600 and I actually very seldom shoot hoofed critters past 450. That said the PRC will out-perform the 284 and 06 case and is easier to load for and shoot than the 264WM, 26Nos, 6.5-300Bee as well as easier on Barrels. It actually works very well as a short action cartridge and if you run 130s for deer and antelope it is truly spectacular from the short action. I have hunted with it and shot it a lot. I am shooting a CA Mesa. As soon as I am done playing with the Wby RPM I am going to build a lighter weight 6.5PRC and it will be the ultimate mountain gun. From a hunting perspective I am not sure it can be improved upon. Oh, and ADG has brass, the Hornady brass is serviceable, and it won't be too far down the road and Lapua will be on-board I would bet. Long story longer, if I had to go 284 or Nosler It would be the 284 for sure.
 
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