Why 284?

lizziedog1 · Oct 26, 2011

I just recieved the latest Cabela's sales flyer. There are several Savage rifles on sale. Two of them are available in 6.5x284 caliber. Why?

I decided to look through some of my books and manuals to look up this cartridge. Ballistically, not too shabby. Heck, it might just be a fantastic antelope round. But then I started to do some comparing.

It just about duplicates the ballistics and even laoding data for the 6.5x06. I went to the Midway website to look for ammo and brass for both calibers.

They do list factory ammo for the 6.5x284. Talk about sticker shock, 45 to 60 dollars per box. At least there is factory stuff for it, I couldn't find any factory ammo for the ought six version.

Brass for the 6.5x284 couldn't be found. Neither could 6.5x06 brass, but there is all kinds of 30-06 brass. Brand new as cheap as fifteen dollars a box.

Wouldn't having those rifles chamberd in 6.5x06 made more sense, espically for reloaders. Even though factory 6.5x284 ammo is available, the price alone would make reloading attractive.

So, why?

Grumulkin · Oct 26, 2011

I really don't know why. With the availability of the 25/06, the 270 Winchester, 7mm/08, 308 Winchester, 280 Remington and 30/06 I think we could do just fine without the 6.5X284.

Blackrock · Oct 26, 2011

Lot of people are getting the "6.5" bug for some reason lately. Thought I wanted a
6.5X55 until I compared it to my .257 Roberts.
The 6.5X284 does pack a pretty good wallop for a non belted case though.

lizziedog1 · Oct 26, 2011

The 6.5X284 does pack a pretty good wallop for a non belted case though.

So does the 6.5x06. Except you have readily available, cheap brass.

Sam1911 · Oct 26, 2011

The 6.5x284 has become one of the kings of the long-range competition world. The 6.5mm bullets offer about the very best ballistic coefficients available and perform exceedingly well in maintaining velocity out to 1,000 yds. or more.

The 284 case is nice and fat, which appeals to the extreme accuracy guys for burn rate and consistency reasons (remember the 6mmBR, 6mm and .22 PPC cartridges?) but it has the case volume to get the long bullets up to 3,000+ fps -- while still fitting in shorter rifle actions. Another plus for accuracy that the '06 case doesn't give you.

Here's some info on the development and uses: http://www.snipercentral.com/65x284.htm

Sam1911 · Oct 26, 2011

More: http://www.6mmbr.com/sixfive284.html

Here's a thread from a bench rest forum on comparing the two: http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?32971-Why-not-the-6.5mm-x-06-instead-of-the-6.5mm-284

Seems you MIGHT get a tiny velocity boost from the '06 case over the 284 case, and can boost that just a bit by going to an "Ackley Improved" version of the '06 chamber, but the shorter, fatter .284 case can still be chambered in shorter action rifles and the available brass (Norma) is the best in the business, with no forming work on the part of the shooter.

jeffreybehr · Oct 26, 2011

...and here are a couple of my cartridges from a former lifetime. This is a 6.5/284 Shehane, slightly improved from the original. It holds a couple grains more powder.

The rifle.

Some 200-yard bugholes I shot in load evaluation.

I shot really well one weekend at Three Points w of Tuscon, winning 3 of 4 major trophies. My lifetime-smallest official 1000-yard groups were c. 5-1/2" (5 shots) and 7-odd" (10 shots). I wore out 3 barrels on that rifle and quit.

Sort-of-no one uses '06-based cartridges in 1000-yard competition.

billyjoe · Oct 26, 2011

Two words that make all the differance. Short Action. You just can't get as much accuracy from an '06 lenght case.

kludge · Oct 28, 2011

Dumb question... Can you put a 6.5-284 Norma into a short action or does it require a standard length (-06) action?

I've heard other thing too... like that Norma brass won't fit in a match cut 6.5-284 Winchester chamber and that the throat on the winchester spec chamber make it so you have to seat the heavy bullets deep so that they'll chamber (my buddy had this second issue with his, he bought some ammo that wouldn't fit).

I may be getting my stories crossed also.

USSR · Oct 28, 2011

Dumb question... Can you put a 6.5-284 Norma into a short action or does it require a standard length (-06) action?

Not dumb at all. While the original .284 Win was a short action cartridge, once you reduce the neck size and seat out those LONG 6.5mm bullets that are typically used in it, it becomes too long for a short action. I saw one built on a short action, and the cartridges would not fit in the magazine, and if you wanted to extract a loaded round from the chamber, you had to press the bolt release to bring the bolt back far enough. Most guys build on a long action for that reason.

Don

Why 284?

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