6.5-06 or 6.5 x 284

[rdfrench]

I'm leaning toward the 6.5-06 for a hunting round.  I like the fact that an abundance of brass can be had for cheap, and the dies are significantly cheaper for the 06.  What do you guys think? Is the 6.5x284 really that much more impressive ballistically than the 06?

[savageboy]

Prob. not, they both are hard on barrels but for a hunting rig, it should last a lifetime. I pers. would lean toward the 6.5x284.  No forming brass,etc and lots of good brass, loading info out there. Prob. more sellable should you decide to sell it some time in the future. For long range, I would look at the 1:8 twist to take full adv. of the 140gr. high bc tips.

[wbm]

For a hunting rifle in a modern chamber, the 6.5x284 or 6.5x06 don't improve on the 6.5x55 Swede to any great degree.

[Dadams]

6.5-06AI!

[358Hammer]

6.5 X 284 has factory made cases when you can find them.

Ballistically the 6.5 X06 AI is tops in my book with the 6.5X284 right behind.  The 6.5WSM rules my world as a 6.5 hunting and long range round though.

Neal

[rdfrench]

My donor rifle for this project is an older 110 (pre-accutrigger) currently chambered in .270 Win.  Would the rebated rim of the 6.5x284 cause any feeding issues?

[Eric in NC]

I have played with both. I like the 6.5-06 (and the AI version) much better.  Easier to develop good loads (the 6.5x284 is one of the most picky cartridges I have played with), good brass available anywhere, etc.

As for the 6.5-06 being hard on barrels - it isn't nearly as hard on them as 25-06's and most folks don't comlain too much about their quarter bore barrel life.

[358Hammer]

No feeding problems experienced here with the rebated rim.

As an after thought, I can drive all bullet weights one would use in the 6.5 X 284 faster with the standard 284 cartridge than in its offspring.
284 has many more bullets available for it and many are finding with the 284 it and the improved versions are winning matches.  In fact the improved version is not far off the velocities being obtained with the 7WSM using less powder.

Neal

[dcloco]

I use 270 brass necked down to 264/65...so...one pass through the FL die to make the necks round, trim to length, load and shoot.  Not much different than any other new brass.

The 6.5x06 will feed rather well from any long action that was previously a 25/06/270/280/30-06....nothing but up.

Advantage in a lot less cost of dies and brass over the x284 cartridge.

[sinman]

if I was to build a 6.5mm hunting rifle it would be either 6.5x55, 260 rem, 260 ai, 6.5wsm, 6.5-06 ai and 6.5-06   in that order. for target shooting 6.5x47 lapua

[savageboy]

Sinman, I agree on your choice of hunting rounds for my needs here in NC Deer hunting. Maybe if I lived out west my opinion would be different. A 400yd. shot on a deer here is less common (but I can set myself up to do that) than my perception of what hunting out west would be.

I am super happy with my 260AI. Whats not to like: 140gr. tips at 2920FPS and Horn 129gr SST (my choice for our smaller NC deer) at 3165fps. I am hoping to shoot something besides paper with it this year.

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[rdfrench]

if I was to build a 6.5mm hunting rifle it would be either 6.5x55, 260 rem, 260 ai, 6.5wsm, 6.5-06 ai and 6.5-06   in that order. for target shooting 6.5x47 lapua

Nothing against the 6.5x55 or the 260...I'm just a sucker for the 06 length cases.

[BrentWin]

There is another cartridge out there that seems to fit your needs. Now if I could just remember the name of it, wait a minute, its coming to me.........

25-06

[rdfrench]

There is another cartridge out there that seems to fit your needs. Now if I could just remember the name of it, wait a minute, its coming to me.........

25-06

I've got a 25-06...I love it as well

[BrentWin]

That makes it easier, with a 25 to do the work, you can choose anything to play with