STOMP442

Agree H4831 is a great powder for the 6.5-284. Mine loves it as well with two accuracy nodes. One at 44 grains with a velocity of 2820 and one at 51.5 at 2980 fps. H4350 also works pretty good and put me over 3000fps with 52 grains but the accuracy wasn't quite as good. R17 gave great results at 100 yards with good ES & SDs but I couldn't get it to hold that accuracy past 300 yards. Still not sure why on that one. If I had to pick one powder for that cartridge though it would be H4831 great accuracy and good velocity.

Don't really need to. The 6.5-284 is really pretty mild I would make sure and get a stock that's comfortable and fits you well and call it good.

1:8 twist all the way. With a 1:8 you should have no problem shooting any bullet you want to even the light stuff should shoot fine. 140s in a 9 twist can be done but is better suited with higher velocity. My 6.5-06 Ackley has a 9 twist and runs the 140s fine but they are leaving the muzzle a touch over 3100 fps.

I wouldn't go any shorter than 26" but that's just me. I feel 26" provides all the length you need to get great performance out of the cartridge and is still manageable in the field.

Personally I wouldn't take a hot rod cartridge like the 6.5-284 and chop its nuts off along with the barrel. If you really want a 6.5 cartridge in a shorter barrel the 6.5x47, creedmoor or the 260 Remington would probably be better suited for that. Not sure if savage offers those calibers in that set up or not but that's my opinion.

Hey Jim good pick up on the 6.5-284, thats a great caliber. I have had really good results using the Bergers on game in my other 6.5s but my 6.5-284 seems to be a little picky on bullets and really loves the 140 Amax over any of them. Its what I used last year to make that long shot on that little coues and it perfomed really well. I got full penetration even past 1000 yards leaving about a quarter sized exit on the off side so it did expand and not simply poke straight through.

Oh really. Well last I checked the OP started this thread based on the merrits of the .260 as a hunting cartrige. Also, I have plenty of experience in shooting, not only in hunting but match shooting as well and probably put 10 times as much lead down range in any given month than most people on this site. My statements are based in fact as well and perhaps 308Nut is not the only guy on this site with extensive shooting time or knowldge. You should think before you type.

The 6x45 is a fine cartridge but only if you are going to shoot bullets heavier than 70 grains to truely get the most out of the 6mm platform. I say that because a .223 will shoot up to a 70 grain bullet just fine and it having a smaller diameter and longer length will have a higher B.C than any of the 6mms of the same weight. Higher B.C. translates into less windage and more retained energy at longer ranges. If you just want something different I say go for it nothing wrong with that but as far as performance goes your really not going to gain much if anything over the 223 if you are going to be using the light bullets. That being said the cartrige I would choose for a custom AR build would be the 6.5 grendel. Excellent bullet selections and a definite improvement over the .223 platform and absolutely deadly on coues out to 500 yards with the 123 Amax.

Every one of my savages prefers a 25 thou jump using the Bergers. In fact I only had one rifle ever that preferred them touching the lands.

Im so absolute because physics doesn't lie. I have both a 308 and a .30-06 as well as a bunch of 6.5s including a .260 Remington that can and does out shoot both of the 30s in windage and trajectory until the 200 grain bullets are used and even then they are so close why bother with the added powder usage and increased recoil for the same end result. As far as the barrel ware argument goes we are talking about hunting rifles. The barrel life of any of these cartridges will last longer than most hunters when used in actual hunting scenarios by that I mean normal sight in, practice and actual hunting use.

Oh I have. Never said the 260 would out perform the 300 only that it can duplicate the trajectory with 20 grains less powder. I know there are some great heavy 30 cal pills out there but let's be honest, 9 out of 10 hunters using the 308 or 06 are topping out at 180 grains because at that point it makes more sense to jump up to the 300s for the added horsepower and case capacity for the heavies. The fact that the 06 needs to push a 200 grain bullet to even compete with the 260s ballistic performance proves my point on just how good of a cartridge it is. Yeah the 06 will have more energy at long range but not a whole lot more at the cost of much more recoil and powder usage. The 155s are not even in the same ballpark in any category.

Great rifles for the money with lots of aftermarket parts and accessories if you ever decide to customize a bit in the future. I think you will be very happy with the rifle and the caliber choice.

I own plenty of 30 cals and love shooting them but when it comes to hunting and making a long shot when it counts the 30 cals are the last caliber I reach for. I don't hate any caliber but I will openly admit that I have my favorites. I only brought up the 30 cals for comparison as most everyone is familiar with their performance and don't question their ability to take game even at long range. The 260 and 6.5s however are often looked at as not being big enough or effective for hunting big game which could not be further from the truth. Since the 260 is based off the 308 I felt there was a literal connection to compare the two.

Oh really? How exactly?

The last build I did for a friend using a savage action and a 24" heavy sporter shilen barrel with federal 308 cases necked down and neck turned with 43.5 grains of H4350 produced a velocity of 2860 with a 140 berger with no pressure signs. Run those numbers against a 308 or a 30-06 and even a 300 win mag and if that don't tickle your fancy something is wrong with you. Yeah the 300 is going to hit harder but it sure as heck should considering bullet weight and the amount of powder used.

One of my favorites and absolutely awesome. Ballistically superior to a 308 in every way unless a 200 plus grain bullet used. Excellent b.c. and very high sectional densities make this cartridge much more deadly and effective at long range. Recoil is mild and a 140 berger at 2800 fps will duplicate trajectories of the much larger 300 wm with about 20 grains less powder.

Spending 20 bucks on a insert kit is much cheaper than a new scope.

The egw rail and Burris rings is a good choice. May not even need the rail. If you set up your Burris inserts correctly you should be able to achieve 40 moa. Put a minus 20 on bottom and a plus 20 on top on the front ring and a plus 20 on bottom and minus 20 on top in the back ring and you should be good to go.

Any of the big name scopes will work even the Nikon's with 1" tubes. Elevation is an easy problem to fix with proper rings and or mounts. Caliber also plays a big part in it as the 308 is going to require a lot more elevation than say a 6.5-284 or 270 to reach 1000 yards.

Best bang for the buck would be to send the rifle off to E.R. Shaw. They will rebarrel, true the action, lap the lugs and add a break all at a very reasonable cost. I have a few shaw barrels and they shoot beautifully. Here is the price list for shaw. Looks like you could get everything you want for right around $500 http://www.ershawbarrels.com/scb-price-list.php

Imr 3031 will work awesome and probably give some of the best groups and velocity but is horribly temp sensitive. Imr 4064 should also give good results as it is very close to Varget as far as burn rate goes and far more stable than 3031.

Great looking gun. I would stick with bullet weights above 70 grains to maximize the calibers potential. With bullet weights 70 grains and under your not really doing anything different than the 223 as the 22 cal bullets will have a higher b.c. from being longer and sleeker and will retain energy and velocity better down range. The 85 game king would be great coues medicine.

Have you looked at the 6.5 Grendel? Now thats a sweet setup for the AR platform. Better velocity, b.c. and sectional densities than the 6.8. I have a buddy that shot a coues last year at 500 yards with the 123 Amax and it dropped like a wet turd.

130s always seem to shoot best for me in the 270. I would go with a 130 berger vld set 25 thou from the lands or right at maximum mag length. The sierra game king would be my 2nd choice.

Gun slick foaming bore cleaner is a one stop shop. Spray it in and let sit at least a couple hours and wipe it out. It gets it all, powder and copper fouling.