It is official. I have joined the dark side.

[308Nut]

Well beings how my new barrel arrived today and all my reloading supplies yesterday, its now official,,,,,I have joined the dark side. You see, my new barrel is not 30 caliber. Nor is it 338 caliber. No not a 7mm either. A 26 caliber to be exact. Yes, a new 6.5mm barrel arrived today. The only thing I am waiting on now is my new reamer from PTG. It should be here this up coming week. This will be a 6.5x284. I know how you all know how much I hate barrel burners but I contend that alot of the reason the 6.5x284 has such a bad reputation is due to the long shot strings from shooting in matches. Since it a favorate round among the match crowd for its amazing ballistic performance to recoil ratio. The match crowd also 'hot rods' them milking as much pressure as possible. Between running high pressure loads and 20 round (+sighters) shot strings, I can see why these have such a bad rep as a barrel burner. I have no intentions of running high pressure loads or long shot strings. In fact, I am going to treat this like my 338 Edge. Shoot one and wait a minute before the next one.

 

This will finish to 27-1/4" in Sendero contour with 6 flutes, stainless steel and 8 twist. I have already loaded some 'break in' loads for it and a couple more to test case volume and load density. I think I will try H4831SC, H4350 and H1000. Not neccesarily in that order, BR2 and 215 Gold Medal Match primers, housed by Lapua brass and topped off with 140 AMAX's and 140 Berger VLD's.

 

This will be my coues deer, dall sheep and hopefully one day, antelope rig.

 

Will keep you posted after I get her chambered, threaded, fitted, crowned and finished.

 

Regards!

 

M

[deserthntr]

I just recently got one and love it! Shooting 51gr H4831sc with a 140 Berger. A mild load at only 2880 but.missed a squirrel by about 2 in. Yesterday at 1010 yds. Sweet shooting and verrryyyy accurate

[BRYCE CANYON]

It's about time...

[Coach]

I love seeing guys pushing new territory, expanding beyond their comfort zone and trying new things out. Seems the 6.5MM has been a long-time favorite Euro round that never gained traction here in the states even while we were widcatting everythign in the .25 - .308 range.

 

The six-five has a lot going for it and it's probably the one "niche" round American gunmakers and reloaders tend to overlook. Having .308NUT behind the wheel, I feel confident that we'll get a real good assesment of how it compares to the rounds most of us are more comfortable with.

[billrquimby]

Cartridge...................6.5x284................6.5 mm Remington Magnum

Originated in..............Sweden..............................USA

Designer.....................Norma.........................Remington

Designed....................1963...............................1966

Bullet diameter............264 in...........................264 in

Case length................2.17 in.........................2.17 in.

Overal length.............3.228 in........................2.8 in.

Case capacity............68.33 gr. H2O............68 gr. H2O

 

 

Could it be that my little Remington 700 BDL in 6.5mm RM is only a 6.5x284 SHORT mag? Data from Wikipedia.

 

Bill Quimby

[rcdinaz]

Congrats 308 nut!

 

Can't wait to see the finished product and the results. I really like the 4831sc, I use it in my 6x284 with 95gr CT's.

[pwrguy]

Good luck. What action are you putting this barrell on?

[firstcoueswas80]

H4831sc has been my go to powder for any and all rounds that it is applicable to!

[308Nut]

Good luck. What action are you putting this barrell on?

 

My 700 short since my bolt face and feed rails wont need modification and my long action would need a complete overhaul.

 

Dont forget I am running a long box magazine. Having loaded some dummy rounds at 2.985" I have been able to reliably feed them in and out of my magazine and the bullets are not that far into the case. I have one with 50 grains of H4831 in it and there is plenty of room to spare. Another with 55 grains of H1000 and the bullet just barely bumps the powder. This is with 140's. 55 grains of one powder or the other will most likely be at or beyond max pressure so I am not worried about running these at 2.985" even though many think a short action is a waste for a 6.5x284. Not sure why as where the boat tail meets the bearing surface of the bullet is even with the bottom of the neck with the 140's. Plenty of case capacity is left.

[pwrguy]

Good luck. What action are you putting this barrell on?

 

My 700 short since my bolt face and feed rails wont need modification and my long action would need a complete overhaul.

 

Dont forget I am running a long box magazine. Having loaded some dummy rounds at 2.985" I have been able to reliably feed them in and out of my magazine and the bullets are not that far into the case. I have one with 50 grains of H4831 in it and there is plenty of room to spare. Another with 55 grains of H1000 and the bullet just barely bumps the powder. This is with 140's. 55 grains of one powder or the other will most likely be at or beyond max pressure so I am not worried about running these at 2.985" even though many think a short action is a waste for a 6.5x284. Not sure why as where the boat tail meets the bearing surface of the bullet is even with the bottom of the neck with the 140's. Plenty of case capacity is left.

 

 

How are you going to 308nut without a 308 you better find you another action!!! I like the look of that 6.5 as well, good luck with your new endeavor.

[308Nut]

Good luck. What action are you putting this barrell on?

 

My 700 short since my bolt face and feed rails wont need modification and my long action would need a complete overhaul.

 

Dont forget I am running a long box magazine. Having loaded some dummy rounds at 2.985" I have been able to reliably feed them in and out of my magazine and the bullets are not that far into the case. I have one with 50 grains of H4831 in it and there is plenty of room to spare. Another with 55 grains of H1000 and the bullet just barely bumps the powder. This is with 140's. 55 grains of one powder or the other will most likely be at or beyond max pressure so I am not worried about running these at 2.985" even though many think a short action is a waste for a 6.5x284. Not sure why as where the boat tail meets the bearing surface of the bullet is even with the bottom of the neck with the 140's. Plenty of case capacity is left.

 

 

How are you going to 308nut without a 308 you better find you another action!!! I like the look of that 6.5 as well, good luck with your new endeavor.

 

 

Its very simple! I am still a 308 fan and always will be AND like my 700LA, the recoil lug is pinned to the action where I have my 338 barrel and my 300 barrel. I remove one and thread on the other. My 338 barrel and my 300 are within 2 clicks vertically and 6 clicks horizontally at 300 yards. With a bit of luck, my current 308 barrel and my new 6.5 barrel will be close to the same POI as well. BTW, my 300 barrel still prints .5 MOA. I have been using that lately to 1) save my 338 barrel and 2) lower the recoil.

 

Even though my 308 is cooked, cooked is a subjective term, it still holds MOA accuracy which for range time is sufficient. Simply put, like my 700LA, it is a switch barrel gun. Even though my 700SA may wear a 6.5 barrel, in less than 2 minutes, it can wear my 308 barrel. In that sense, I will still have a 308 and vice versa.

[TAM]

Last year I had a buddy build a 6.5x284 to use as a hunting rifle for my kids. It looks a little rough but the darn thing is a shooter!

 

Welcome to the club

[shortpants]

Congrats on making up your mind Michael, thats easier said than done! I can't wait to hear how she shoots! What is your opinion on nitride treating that barrel after you brake it in and the action as well? I've heard nothing but good things but no real evidence on how much life it adds to a barrel. Good luck with it!

[308Nut]

Congrats on making up your mind Michael, thats easier said than done! I can't wait to hear how she shoots! What is your opinion on nitride treating that barrel after you brake it in and the action as well? I've heard nothing but good things but no real evidence on how much life it adds to a barrel. Good luck with it!

 

I honestly dont know that much about it and am afraid of being a test subject for it. I think with running normal pressures and spacing shots over time I will get the life I am looking for out of it.

[deserthntr]

You don't think that with the short action and the 6.5s liking to be seated way out there will affect feeding issues and fitting in your box? I have my 6.5 built on a LA and my bullets are seated at 3.163. My case has plenty of capacity to seat these shorter but I squoze my accuracy by seating out farther.