6.5x284 or 25 Cal Build

[shell70634]

I picked up a 700 Rem at a great price. It had started life as a 243 Win and is now a 6mm/284. The chamber is so rough that the brass comes out textured either from corrosion or poor chambering. So it is destined to become a project.
I'm considering 6.5x284 or something in a 25 cal. What would the optimum barrel length be?
I like wildcats so any suggestions for 6 to 7mm cartridge? The rifle will be used for anything up to whitetail deer size.

 

[Jim Watson]

.25 Souper

 

[tahoe2]

how much speed do you want? 6.5x284 is a laser, and a hot rod, used extensively in competition. Don't know of a short action 25 except the 25wssm.
The 270wsm or 7mm wsm would also work in a SA and are burners also. of course handloading is where you gain the most versatility out of all those rounds mentioned.
As for barrel length 24"-26" is standard for most magnums(long action) but I believe the wsm's were designed for 22" barrels without a velocity drop off.

 

[dubbleA]

From a distance shooter's perspective, the 6.5x284 suffers a bit in a short action when shooting the longer 140ish bullets that shine at longer ranges. The mag well wont allow you to seat the bullets out which in turn affects case capacity. Chambering the 6.5 in a long action and having it throated for a 140VLD is popular if wanting a repeater.

The 6mmx284 would really shine with a 1:7.5 or 1:8 twisted tube throated for the 107 SMK, 105 Amax or the 115 DTAC or one of the hybrids from Berger.

For the average deer hunter the plain ol 284 Win is no slouch.

The feed rails might have to opened up a bit for the slightly larger diameter case of the parent 284 case.

With the WSM cases not only might the feed rails need to be opened you will need to open up the bolt face or replace the .473: bolt with a .532" mag face bolt, something easily done when re-barreling.

 

[sixgunner455]

If the barrel you have is okay, except the chamber, why not have the barrel set back and the chamber re-cut?

 

[USSR]

From a distance shooter's perspective, the 6.5x284 suffers a bit in a short action when shooting the longer 140ish bullets that shine at longer ranges. The mag well wont allow you to seat the bullets out which in turn affects case capacity. Chambering the 6.5 in a long action and having it throated for a 140VLD is popular if wanting a repeater.

+1. With a short action, removing a loaded cartridge from the chamber involves pressing the bolt release and pulling the bolt back beyond the bolt stop to extract the cartridge. If you really want a 6.5mm round in a short action, consider the .260 Remington.

Don

 

[shell70634]

sixgunner, I considered recutting chamber but the barrel is 21 inches and
i think a longer one is necessary for the 6x284.

Jim, I researched the 25 Souper and have decided to go there with a 26 inch barrel. Now to save the funds.
Thanx all for the info

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'd suggest setting back the barrel and rechambering for 6mm Rem. This is a long enough chamber that a good gunsmith will be able to cut out all of the roughness. Another possibility is the .243AI.
Otherwise you're looking at a new barrel.
For a short action, you can go with a .257Roberts, .250Savage.
With 6.5, I'd recommend a 6.5Creedmoor (essentially a 6.5/250Savage AI), and of course the .260Rem (it and creedmoor are ballistic twins. The Creedmoor has a longer neck, fatter body and sharper shoulder).
I'm very fond of the 7mm08. Gives .270wcf performance from short action and lower charge weights....(don't bother to flame me; I've got a .270; shot a lot of game with both cartridges. Not a real difference to ~350yds).

 

[mnhntr]

The 6mm or 6.5mm have a larger selection of bullets. I would got that route. A 6.5CM, 260, 6mm-06, or anything along those lines.

 

[shell70634]

SOLD!! I will build a 260 and a 25 Souper. Dilemma solved. I need a 25 and a 6.5. The first will be the 260 in a Rem 700 with a 26 inch barrel.

 

[browningguy]

The .260 or 6.5 Creedmore would be a perfect build in that gun.