6.5 long action hunting rifle opinions

[Allen Kitts]

Sorry, I did not answer your questions either about the long action. My Fierce is a long action. Not sure you could get the proper seating depth necessary for good groups with the short action, at least not with my particular setup.

 

[slink]

"that's good info. Your 6.5-284 velocity is nearly 100 fps higher than my nosler book shows for the hottest load at that bullet weight, and with a shorter barrel. So that's why I ask. lots of variables between rifles, and you don't know exactly what you'll get until you take it to the range the first time."

All rifles are unto themselves. Sometimes you get a fast barrel sometimes you don't.
Keep in mind all these rounds are light years ahead of a .30-06 in terms of ballistics.
Not sure what you are hunting but chasing the trend won't put any extra meat on the table, and neither will velocity. I harvest plenty of game and use rounds that are no longer in vogue, but the elk and deer don't know that.

I realize this is about long range ethical hunting and for elk and larger I just like more bullet as a dependable factor. 6.5 is all the rage and 6.5 x 284 is great round and there is no doubt about that. But watching elk get hammered by the big 7's, .30's and .338's at distance is what has kept me off of 6.5's for critters that size. To conclude, the 6.5x284 is a dandy but I would launch bigger 160gr pills for elk sized critters. Awesome SD as well and that means boring deep holes when you run out of steam.

 

[Send One]

What about the .264 Win Mag, how does that compare to the 6.5-06AI?

264 WM is a hammer. Berger 140's are just plain nasty on deer sized game, which is all I can speak to. Little hard on barrels, but the 264 has been a favorite amoung the old school western hunters for years. You can also get good brass by pulling 7mm mag down too from Norma.

 

[RevJim]

I like the 264WM too, never owned one. If the OP is just shooting deer with a few elk hunts thrown in, I know the 6.5/284 will do it. If he wants a bigger hammer, with more elk hunts in the future, the 280AI or similar Wildcat will work swell in the Mod 700 Long Action; but...that long action is also easily converted to the Magnum rounds and the 7mmRUM, STW, add many others....and "Bang", you have a rifle for 500+yds deer and elk...but Kenny Jarrett made a lot of money building 5-600 yd "Beanfield Deer Rifles" and many were in 280AI. But, either way, have a ball my friend! Oh yeah...I use a 338 Win Mag on elk. I like Big Hammers...

 

[Timnterra]

Thanks. I would probably try zeroing in at 300 yards and see how she does. No problem hunting wise being a little high at 100 or so yards and 3.7 low at 500 yds. SWEET. And I would be happy with 1/2 ".

Just for clarification 3.7 moa at 500 yards is roughly 18.5" low not 3.7"

 

[wildcat westerner]

I hope to add some common experience with the cartridges written about here. I have had 6.5 x 284's for over fifteen years. For target shooting this shaped case is superior. That being said, other people have already pointed out that a hotter cartridge being used for hunting simply does not wear out compared to a target weapon demanding several shots in a string. I have a new 6.5 Sherman, 26" Bartlein 1-8. I am shooting 12 grains more powder per shot with this case, but have gained nearly 300 fps while doing so. This velocity increase amazed me and you can see the difference in trajectory on a 300 yard target. You can't go wrong with either cartridge, but if you decide to go with the hotter one, make **** sure that the reamer is really great quality, your barrel is match grade, and your dies are just as good as possible to obtain. An increase in velocity is no gain at all if accuracy suffers!

 

[Raven81]

I recently bought a 6.5 x 284 in a Fierce Edge with a factory 26" barrel and it shoots lights out with 49 Grains of 4831SC and 2795fps. True 1/2" moa at 500 yards with a 140 grain Berger. I have tried probably fifteen different bullet/powder combos and have not been able to duplicate the accuracy but nothing I tired shoots larger than 1 MOA. Brass is easy to find and the gun doesn't have any real noticeable kick. I absolutely love it! Put the bullet in the right spot and watch them kick! If you really feel that you need the extra velocity to kill an animal you may want to spend a little more time at the range making sure you put the bullet where it is supposed to go!

That's great if your happy with your rig. But if you look at Copper Creek's 6.5 CM 140 Hybrid load, they're quoting 2820 FPS. And that's with a 24" barrel. So my question is what's the advantage of your LA 6.5 X 284, especially for a hunting rig? And that's the question I've been asking myself about mine as well. Which is why I'll probably re-chamber my long action rig and build a SA 6.5 PRC.

 

[Doug Herold]

I am about to build a medium weight 6.5 hunting rifle on a remington action with a krieger barrel. I had in mind a 6.5-06 AI, but when I sat down with the gunsmith, he convinced me to go with a 6.5x284. This guy is very well known and has a great reputation, so I let him talk me into it even though I will be giving up about 200 fps of velocity.

I'm just curious about other shooter's opinions if I made the right choice or not, or if there is something even better that we overlooked. The selling point for me was that he claimed accuracy in the 6.5x284 will be perceptibly better, and the velocity difference will not be a huge factor at the 600 yards which is the limit of my field of view from my hunting spot.

I think you'll be quite happy with your 6.5-284. I have owned two; both built by Cooper Firearms. You indicate you will only be shooting 600 yds. With a 6.5-284, 600 yds is "close". I do not understand why 200 FPS is important at that range as long as you have the gun shooting accurate.
Enjoy your rifle!

 

[sharktown]

I am about to build a medium weight 6.5 hunting rifle on a remington action with a krieger barrel. I had in mind a 6.5-06 AI, but when I sat down with the gunsmith, he convinced me to go with a 6.5x284. This guy is very well known and has a great reputation, so I let him talk me into it even though I will be giving up about 200 fps of velocity.

I'm just curious about other shooter's opinions if I made the right choice or not, or if there is something even better that we overlooked. The selling point for me was that he claimed accuracy in the 6.5x284 will be perceptibly better, and the velocity difference will not be a huge factor at the 600 yards which is the limit of my field of view from my hunting spot.

I had a 280AI built several years ago and haven't looked back.
Great cartridge - I'm sure you would like the AI in your roudr too.
My $.02.
Shsrktown

 

[sharktown]

I built a 280AI several years ago and haven't looked back.
Wonderful cartridge and very easy to form and load.
I'm sure you would like yours in AI form too.
My $.02

Sharktown

 

[teekayo260rem]

I am about to build a medium weight 6.5 hunting rifle on a remington action with a krieger barrel. I had in mind a 6.5-06 AI, but when I sat down with the gunsmith, he convinced me to go with a 6.5x284. This guy is very well known and has a great reputation, so I let him talk me into it even though I will be giving up about 200 fps of velocity.

I'm just curious about other shooter's opinions if I made the right choice or not, or if there is something even better that we overlooked. The selling point for me was that he claimed accuracy in the 6.5x284 will be perceptibly better, and the velocity difference will not be a huge factor at the 600 yards which is the limit of my field of view from my hunting spot.

Here in Australia I've been hunting with 6.5 cals since early 90's . And I know the .260rem cant match the 6.5x284 for verlocity , but on a good day it can out shoot all comers .
I use 140gr Bergers , VV550n or Adi ar2208 powders and Lapua brass for around 2780 to 2855 fps . On big hogs and dogs out to 300 plus metres .

 

[Rich Coyle]

Another thing not mentioned is your firing pin energy needs to up there. In long range shooting your rifle will start to give you vertical dispersion well before you get a misfire. Thus my rifles are retrofitted with Wolf striker springs that are one grade heavier than factory. Very few people have the gages to measure striker energy so you need to get a good chronograph to check your loads. Ideally you want your standard deviation to be around 5 fps for long range shooting. If you are not getting such change your striker spring and chronograph again.

My Freedom Arms .454 would not consistently fire CCI450 Mag primers. They were demonstrably the most accurate often firing five shot groups under 2" at 100 yards. Freedom Arms installed a stronger spring. The same ammo from the same box picked up 100 feet per second on the first five. I had to take the cylendar out and knock the fired cases out with a punch.

What I'm suggesting is make sure you if you do this you start low again and work up.

 

[dougduey]

I own a 6.5-284 that was originally a Savage 116 30-06 that was rebarreled with 24" Savage factory barrel in the 6.5. I did a lot of research before purchasing this caliber, and I'm very glad I went with the 6.5-284. The rifle is nothing special to look at, but it's an absolute tack driver. All the dies, brass, bullets, etc are all very easy to find. Low recoil and just stupid accurate. When doing load development, I had multiple times I thought I missed the target (2 shot groups), only to find the bullets were in the same hole. For the 140 gr bullets, you'll find that velocities will be around 2950 fps. Some people can get 3000 fps. My rifle max is at 2973 fps with the 143 gr ELDX

 

[340 Weatherby]

I have followed this whole thread and it's killing me because I have an unfired.264/300WSM sitting at my house in Wyoming waiting to be fed. I'll report back later this Summer