Author Topic: I want to build a 6.5-284 (Read 1176 times)

txhunter · « **on:** November 25, 2004, 01:50:59 PM »

I am wanting to buy/build a 6.5-284. I am new to the custom rifle market and I am not sure of the type of action/rifle/caliber to purchase as a base platform. Is it a short action caliber? I know that the round looks long, but I just don't know where to start. I would appreciate some advise. Thanks

Siskiyou · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2004, 08:49:31 PM »

txhunter: I believe that I know someone who has a 6.5-.284. I'll try and contact them in the next few days and see if I can get some answers. The poor guy is adicited to 6.5 rifles.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2004, 10:56:11 PM »

The .284 case is just fat enough to cause feeding problems from many rifles made for the .308 case. Yes it is a short action round like the .308 Win. Someone who understands the changes needed to make it feed will be real important.

I believe Sako is making rifles chambered to the round. I think both they and Hornady make cases for it also. You might want to look to the Sako already chambered to it.

roper · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:11:33 AM »

You can use a rem700 short action and get an special magazine from Brownells. Mine is build on a win 70 action and feeds great. Mike Bryant build this rifle and has a Jewell trigger. The first 6x284 I had build was on the rem action short and my present one is on a 700 long action. If it was me I'd go with a win action alot less headaches. You will like the 6.5x284.

Judson · « **Reply #4 on:** November 27, 2004, 01:42:16 PM »

I do not know if you want to shoot targets or game with this rifle but in either case if you want accuracy you want an action / magizine length long enough for you to seat the bullets around .010 off the lands. Any action long enough for the 7X57 or longer will give you this length. I have built several rifles in both 6.5/284 and 6mm/284 for my customers and feeding is not a problem with any cartridge based on that case. The problem is with the rebated rim and even that is not really a problem if the gunsmith you choose knows what they are doing.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2004, 07:07:09 PM »

txhunter: I checked with my brother (friend). He did not build a 6.5-.284. His gunsmith wanted him to build one, but he option to build a .25-.284 Win. He had it built on a Remington 722 short action. He has had no feeding problems using the 722 action. He killed two bucks with it the year he had it built. He says it seems the bullet gets there before the trigger is pulled.

He loves the 6.5 caliber. But he already had an 6.5 Improved on a 7x57 case. Says the difference in case capacity between the .284 Win. case and the 7x57 case did not justify the investment.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2004, 10:58:21 AM »

The 6.5-284 can be built on a short action and makes an ideal, light, flat shooting deer rifle. Be sure the smith that builds your rifle has experience with .284 cases rifles. some rifle require mods to the magazine and/or follower to make them feed well. I have a Model Seven I built for my son when he was born. He killed his first deer with it this year at age 11.
If you use a short action the somewhat, longish for thier weight, 6.5 bullets will take up some space in the case and reduce your powder capacity. This is not much of a problem unless you plan on pushing the envelope on velocity. I can get over 2980 FPS out of a 120 grain Sierra Game King and close to that out of a 129 grain Hornady SP Interlock using H4831 and a CCI Benchrest primer. That nips at the heels of a long action .270 and my Model Seven only has a 20" barrel. Most .270's have at least a 22 or 24".
My gunsmith's son has a 6.5-284 that is built on 30-06 standard action with a 22" barrel. He can beat my 120 and 129 grain bullet velocities by 150 FPS with most loadings because he can seat his bullet out a lot farther than me, for more powder room, and still fit the magazine. The same gunsmith has a 6.5-06 with a 22" barrel. Velocities are almost identical to the 6.5-284 on the long action but the 6.5-284 is a touch more accurate. I am not sure why but it may be due to the short, fat case.
If I had my choice and was building a standard action hunting rifle and was handloading anyway I would probably go for the 6.5-06. Brass is easy to get from .270's, 30-06's and 25-06's. Velocities are almost identical to a 6.5-284 built on a long action and the accuracy issue would be moot on a target the size of a deer's shoulder.
I built my son's rifle in 6.5-284 due to the fact I had a Model Seven Youth Model to begin with and I wanted to be sure he learned to reload by giving him a cartridge he had to form brass for and reload due to a lack of factory ammo. Now it looks as though we have factory brass and maybe soon factory ammo. Hummm, well I guess I wont tell him until he learns to do his own.

270Handiman · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2004, 11:31:29 AM »

OK, it Can be built on a short Action. What does that mean? Can it be built on a long action also? What size bolt face is needed. I would assume a 308, but I'm just not that familiar with the 284 Win.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2004, 12:15:38 PM »

Both .308 and .284 have a .473 web diameter. The .284 based cartridges will fit a short action but if they are fitted to a standard action you will have more room to seat the bullet futher out. Any bolt that will take a .308, 7x57 or a 30-06 parent case will work.

270Handiman · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2004, 12:37:53 PM »

Thats what I needed to hear, that a standard 30-06 bolt face will work. Excellant.

Thanks, project now officially underway. :wink: