Difference between the 6-284 and the 6.5-284

[MontanaRifleman]

I already have a 6-284 and I will most likely go with the 6.5-284 if nothing else because it's so easy. No necking down no case forming just open the Lapua box and load away.

Read an article by Robert Whitley and he was getting 3100fps with a 140 Berger and RL17 is his 6.5-284 in a 31in tube.

If I could get a solid 3000fps in a 28in tube I would be a happy camper.

From my experience with RL17, I think I could get close to 3200 fps with a 140 pill in the 6.5-284. You gotta like the Lapua brass and as you said, just load'em up and fire away and readily available dies.

 

[TH]

From my experience with RL17, I think I could get close to 3200 fps with a 140 pill in the 6.5-284. You gotta like the Lapua brass and as you said, just load'em up and fire away and readily available dies.

Maybe if you have a 36 inch barrel and only want to reload your brass once. Most people shoot the 6.5-284 between 2950 and 3050. I shoot my 6-284 between 3300 and 3400 fps. Barrel life is a lot longer with the 6.5 284 but if money is not an issue build the 6-284. Its a lot flatter shooting and extemely accurate. Shoot 52 grains of R22 and dont look back. I have both I sold my 6.5 284. I like flat shooting rifles. I have shot better groups at 600 and 1000 with 6-284 than i ever have with the 6.5

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Maybe if you have a 36 inch barrel and only want to reload your brass once. Most people shoot the 6.5-284 between 2950 and 3050. I shoot my 6-284 between 3300 and 3400 fps. Barrel life is a lot longer with the 6.5 284 but if money is not an issue build the 6-284. Its a lot flatter shooting and extemely accurate. Shoot 52 grains of R22 and dont look back. I have both I sold my 6.5 284. I like flat shooting rifles. I have shot better groups at 600 and 1000 with 6-284 than i ever have with the 6.5

TH, have you ever loaded with RL17 before? I have got increases of 200 fps in both the 300 WSM and 25-06 with RL17 and no excessive pressure signs. In the 300 WSM I went from 2990 with H4350 to 3190 with RL17 and 180 E-Tips and no pressure signs. In the 25-06, I went from 3300 fps with Retumbo and 110 AB's to 3500 fps with RL17 and from 3200 fps with Retumbo and Ballisitc Silvertips to 3400 fps with RL17 in a 26" barrel - and no pressure signs. My primer pockets are holding up just fine. I might be wrong, but I think I could probably get close to 3200 fps with 140 bullets out of the 6.5-284 Norma without excessive pressure in a 26" barrel. Nosler is showing 2925 with RL22 (I'm assuming it's a 24" test barrel) and I'm sure I could easily beat that with RL17 in that cartridge. Just guessing based on my previous experiences.

On the accuracy between the two cartridges, maybe your 6mm rifle was simply a better shooter than your 6.5 rifle or you came across a better load. My personal belief is that rifle quality in materials and craftsmanship are the number one factor in rifle accuracy followed by good load development. I think that on average if you take to rifles of different calibers built to the same specs with the same components by the same smith they are going to be very close in accuracy and it would be a toss up as to which might be more accurate. JMO. For LR work, I think the 6.5 might hold a slight edge in combined BC and velocity for trajectory and wind bucking. For hunting, there is no question that the 6.5 is going to be a better choice. If I could have both, I would. If I had to make the OP's choice, I would pick the 6.5

Edit... for hunting coyotes and smaller, I dont think the 6.5 holds much of an edge... but I would still pick the 6.5 for the other reasons. I think the 6.5 barrel would last longer too.

 

[Cruizin]

Have you considered the 6.5 WSM?

 

[JUDD]

Gather info for each caliber and go to JBM and print out a ballistic chart. It will show you point blank what the differance is.

I'm not knocking the 6.5 over the 6MM but you not gaining as much as you think with it if you shoot the heavys out of the 6MM.

Either one is a good choice and the best of brass is available for both. 6MM is one more step in the loading process. I match prep all my brass so it's not a big deal.

My 6mm I am shooting a 115 gr VLD at 3175 fps. BC is .545.

 

[nddodd]

Gather info for each caliber and go to JBM and print out a ballistic chart. It will show you point blank what the differance is.

I'm not knocking the 6.5 over the 6MM but you not gaining as much as you think with it if you shoot the heavys out of the 6MM.

Either one is a good choice and the best of brass is available for both. 6MM is one more step in the loading process. I match prep all my brass so it's not a big deal.

My 6mm I am shooting a 115 gr VLD at 3175 fps. BC is .545.

Judd, I'm in the process of building a SP on a savage PTA in a 6x284 I'm going to shoot the 115 d-tacs out of it. I was just curious what loads you have tried in yours. You can pm me the info so I don't hijack this thread.

Thanks,
Nathan

 

[mike33]

What is reloader 17 compared to burning rate?
mike

 

[elkaholic]

I think its close to 4350 but Mark would know for sure (montanarifleman)

 

[Autorotate19]

Has anyone tried it in the 264? Probably too fast.........

 

[TH]

R17 is very close to H4350 in burn rate. I have not tried R17 in the 6-284. But I do shoot 38grns of R17 in my 6X47 and push the 115 D tac at 3167

 

[MontanaRifleman]

RL17 is very close to H4350, maybe just a tad slower. I read someone elses opinion that it's closer to H4831 than H4350 which may be true.

 

[B23]

I saw a load for 6-284 RL17 and 70gr balistic tips that was driving them at 4000FPS. Sounds like fun and hell on ground hogs, coyotes and sage rats.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Has anyone tried it in the 264? Probably too fast.........

I think it would be worth trying.

 

[mike33]

RL17 is very close to H4350, maybe just a tad slower. I read someone elses opinion that it's closer to H4831 than H4350 which may be true.

Not to mess up the thread but i am playing with my new toy. 25 Bobcat ( 25 wsm ) off of the 270 wsm case. 10 twist 26" broughton #4 . With no data it has been a guessing game. I started with 7828 62- 66 grains and reloader 22 65-66 with a 100 grain sierra bt. Vel. im up to 3415 just loaded more of each powder 1 grain incriment up 3 grains hoping to shoot tomm. or sat. So far no pressure but i ran in to pressure with h-414. I heard everyone using re-17 for short mags but i didnt know the burning rate. Any thoughts on what im doing.
Mike