trying to decide on which 6.5 for hunting

[Aaron D.]

Absolute truth right here. I can't recommend the short action 6.5's for elk; will they do the job? If care is taken, you bet your *** they can, but they do lack the snot of the larger 6.5's.

The OP likes to shoot a lot (good!), truth is, you're going to wear out the x284 faster than a Creed' or 260; that's life. But you also get higher velocity which brings more down range energy, less drop & less drift.

I also have to agree with Grey, the Savage LRH would be a dandy fit which will also free up a little cash for optics. You need to seriously weigh the pro's & con's here, how often do you really hunt elk? Is it a serious need or a pipe dream?

I say that based on my experience. I'd much rather hunt elk with a competent, experienced shooter who has hundreds of rounds thru his 6.5 Creed than a weekend wonder who is scared of shooting the barrel out of his 6.5x284.


t

I'm definitely gonna shoot the barrel out because I do shoot alot especially since I started reloading. And the reason I'm looking at the 6.5x284 is for performance so I will load it hot. From what I'm hearing Im probably gonna go with the savage, and i plan on hunting every year i draw a tag because i have family that goes every year here in colorado and wyoming. when I shoot the barrel out I will look into the sherman! Thanks for all the responses.

Hey grey any starting loads I should look at for the savage that have worked for you?

 

[rooster721]

I'll lend a couple ballpark loads for you to work toward.. I've got a 6.5x284 in A 27" 8.5 twist Benchmark barrel that shoots two different loads very-well...

First is 57.3 Retumbo, fed215 and 140vld @ 3089 with a 50thou jump
Second is 52.5 H4831sc, fed210 and 140vld @ 3010 with a 12 thou jump
...both in Lapua Brass*
...both are pretty long COAL*
AND my Retumbo load (is) compressed

Rifle is built around an m995 action so I can use every bit of case-space for powder, maybe more than an ordinary action would allow. So no matter what, obviously DON'T go straight to these loads, they are at/and the other very-near the max. But they are an idea of where you (may) end up. Some guys say I got lucky and have a faster than usual barrel, that may be the case.. the speeds amaze even myself-- have shot out to 1300 yards with it though, and the numbers are dead-nuts. It's quickly become my favorite round.

Generally speaking though, the H4831sc powder @ 52 +/- is a relatively constant performer in 6.5x284** Play with your seating-depths a little, and there'll be a load right around that 52gr mark someplace! It's a great caliber, you're going to enjoy it.

 

[Aldon]

Nice bonus for the Savage is ability to re barrel it yourself if worn out without need of paying an expert. At which point you can change it up. Chamberings or bores etc. Barrel can be bought threaded to fit.

 

[Jim in Cali]

I was in the same boat and decided on the 6.5-06 AI, plenty of oomph! brass is plentiful and cheap, easy to form and it's got all the cool factor built right in.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

I have a custom 6.5-284 and love my rifle. If I were to redo it all over again, I would have built a 6.5 SAUM! The SAUM can launch the 140 grain bullet about 200 FPS faster than my 6.5-284. And ALLEGEDLY the barrel life of the SAUM is double that of a 6.5-284. My two shooting partners have GAP built SAUMs and they are laser beams. Just something to look at. I believe they shoot 61 grains of H1000 with 140 grain Berger Hybrids.

 

[Greyfox]

Hey grey any starting loads I should look at for the savage that have worked for you?

Here is a load on my LRH that runs at 2940FPS using 53gr H4831sc/Fed210M. I can get similar accuracy with 50+ FPS higher velocity using 57.5gr of Retumbo/Fed215. Either, with 140VLD's seated .075" off the lands, no pressure signs. I would up from a couple grains less to be safe.

 

[Greyfox]

I have a custom 6.5-284 and love my rifle. If I were to redo it all over again, I would have built a 6.5 SAUM! The SAUM can launch the 140 grain bullet about 200 FPS faster than my 6.5-284. And ALLEGEDLY the barrel life of the SAUM is double that of a 6.5-284. My two shooting partners have GAP built SAUMs and they are laser beams. Just something to look at. I believe they shoot 61 grains of H1000 with 140 grain Berger Hybrids.

I can understand why you said "allegedly". That barrel life difference to the 6.5x284 with all other factors being equal, seems to defy the law of physics.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

Like you said Greyfox, all things being equal! My one buddy has about 700 rounds through his. Time will tell what his magic number will be! I know at 1500 yards, its a hammer. Two shots to get on, followed by 8 consecutive hits. 30"x30" steel.

 

[BrentM]

I have had 3 6.5-284 Savage rifles. 2 were model 116 with 24" fluted ss varmint contour barrels. The 3rd is a 28.5" schnieder barrel.

I still have 2, sold 1. I have the original and the Schnieder. The original 24" has 1700 rounds down the pipe and still shoots .5 MOA, .100 off the lands, 56.5 Retumbo, Fed 210m primers, Lapau brass, at 2900 FPS. The throat is worn and it needs to be rechambered but it still shoots.

I just put together a 6.5 SAUM but have no time on it. There is no way running more overbore, more powder, and more velocity is going to create less wear than a 6.5-284.

The creed and 260 are awesome rounds with better life and less performance. I don't see why either would be an issue for elk at the 600 yard range you posted. My buddies 260 we handload for shoots a 140 vld at 2810 in a 26" barrel.

As mentioned before the LRH or the predator max in a 6.5-284 is hard to beat unless you are not hand loading for it. If you want factory ammo I would go 260 or creed probably.

Now, if you get the LRH in 6.5-284 and down the road need to replace the barrel you can go with Mcgowen, Shilen, Shaw, etc and do it yourself if you want. You could stay with a 6.5-284 and go longer or call Rich and do the sherman. My schnieder is showing 3015 fps on 56.5 retumbo with 210m at .004 off the lands. My nosler brass shows ejector marks so I am switching back to nosler. I expect to see 3050-3100 with 56.5 retumbo and 215's. Who knows what it would do with 57.5 retumbo. 3150?

My personal next rifle rebarrel for the 6.5 caliber will be a sherman in LA or SA, no decision made yet there. I want to install a proof research barrel for that project though so it will be down the road when I have 2000.00 saved up.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

I have had 3 6.5-284 ....

I just put together a 6.5 SAUM but have no time on it. There is no way running more overbore, more powder, and more velocity is going to create less wear than a 6.5-284.

.....

I think where people are seeing the gain in bore life with the SAUM is the relatively sedate loading characteristics they are using. Most are pushing a 140 with 60.0-61.5 grns of H-1000 lit with a mag primer (why I have no idea) for about 3100fps.... Thats why bore life is good, they're basically sneezing those bullets out & not taking advantage of the added powder capacity of the short mag cartridges. Rich's SS & my WSM are both pushing the 160 Matrix faster than most are loading 140 in the SAUM.



t

 

[BrentM]

That makes sense. I can see someone finding an awesome accuracy node, mild recoil, and just quiting there. Perhaps they know they can get more bore life too by loading mild and still getting pretty good velocity.

I switched to shooting my 204 at long range for practice and to save my 6.5's to a degree. The 204 shows wind reading problems a great deal more and gives me trigger time when I need it. Due to the mild recoil of the 6.5-284 it is an easy transition to shoot it. I feel comfort when I snuggle into it. gun)

 

[Outlaw6.0]

That makes sense. I can see someone finding an awesome accuracy node, mild recoil, and just quiting there. Perhaps they know they can get more bore life too by loading mild and still getting pretty good velocity.
....

I think that was the intent of the 6.5 SAUM, 300fps more than a 260 or Creed' with better bore life than the x284. Kind of a win-win of sorts.


t

 

[Aaron D.]

The 6.5 SAUM is interesting to me. Maybe something I will look into when I have to re barrel. But for now I think the factory savage chamberings are what I will stick to to keep it simple. All these cool cartridges make it tempting to build a custom though! I feel like the animals aren't gonna know the difference between the 6.5x284 and the others but I'm sure my wallet will haha

 

[BrentM]

I could build 1 in a Sherman. This is a SAUM that was just finished