6.5x284norma for the newb

[Driller54]

Have a rem model 721 in 30-06 thinkin about having a new barrel installed for 6.5x284 Norma. Can someone give me a step by step for reloading for one? Would probably be purchasing lapua brass but from there what kind of dies, bushings etc, etc would like to use Berger vlds or seirras with retumbo or h-1000 any help is appreciated.

 

[Greyfox]

Have a rem model 721 in 30-06 thinkin about having a new barrel installed for 6.5x284 Norma. Can someone give me a step by step for reloading for one? Would probably be purchasing lapua brass but from there what kind of dies, bushings etc, etc would like to use Berger vlds or seirras with retumbo or h-1000 any help is appreciated.

Relatively straight forward. Lapua Brass, 140 VLD Berger or JLK 57-59 gr.Retumbo, Fed 215, I use a Redding FL bushing dye at .292" with the supplied expander. You will have to test seating depth. My best accuracy is .075" of the lands with 59gr. I get .25 MOA, and velocities in the 2950-3000 range with a Cooper 52. 26" barrel. I have had great success with Retumbo in terms of low ES. temperature insensitivity, and high velocity with no pressure signs.

 

[ken snyder]

Driller 54, step by step sounds like you are new to reloading? The only thing that I find unusual about the name 6.5-284 is that there is more than 1 6.5-284 make sure that you are using correct Data for the one you have ( you have stated Norma!!) Use actual published Data. Although many people have a very good load the best advise is to forget you even read it.

 

[Greyfox]

Relatively straight forward. Lapua Brass, 140 VLD Berger or JLK 57-59 gr.Retumbo, Fed 215, I use a Redding FL bushing dye at .292" with the supplied expander. You will have to test seating depth. My best accuracy is .075" of the lands with 59gr. I get .25 MOA, and velocities in the 2950-3000 range with a Cooper 52. 26" barrel. I have had great success with Retumbo in terms of low ES. temperature insensitivity, and high velocity with no pressure signs.

Ken makes a good point. My load data is for 6.5-284 Norma specs and throated for 140 Berger VLD's. This load works in factory Cooper and Savage rifles with long actions.

 

[Driller54]

Yes I am fairly new to reloading I have been reloading for a 7mrm and a 300wm and have been loking into the 6.5 Norma for a while now but I understand it's a wildcat still right? And don't understand that process yet.

 

[Driller54]

Haha sorry I meant 7rm and I guess I shoulda said I don't underhand the budging system that's used. I'm writing from my iPhone so it's a little tough for me I tend to fat finger sometimes sorry guys

 

[Driller54]

Greyfox how did you go about thrusting your barrel for the vlds?

 

[ken snyder]

the 6.5 284 Winchester is no longer a wild cat it is the shorter over all length of the cartridges. The Norma I have no Idea if it is a formally adopted cartridge or not. Several of the reloading manuals carry the Norma as a separate cartridge while others only list the Winchester. No matter what its status is the Norma is extremely popular and very easy to load for. Some concerns are the differences in chambers because it tends to get a lot more custom reams of different dimensions ordered per customer needs, mostly throat length. In my small group of shooting buddys there are probably 6 or 7 6.5-284 rifles built with different thoughts and none of them have the same chamber. There really is no special concerns about reloading for them as long as you have a good basic understanding of reloading.

 

[Greyfox]

Greyfox how did you go about thrusting your barrel for the vlds?

Both my rifles (savage and cooper) are commercially available rifles in 6.5x284 Norma, and came standard with a throat to accommodate the VLD bullets. This round used to be a wildcat but this is no longer the case since Norma standardized it. A lot of people, particularly competition shooters, still specify custom chambering dimensions fot this round. If you were to have a custom barrel installed on your action the most common approach would be to specify to your barrel in a 6.5-284 Norma spec chamber throated for 140VLD's and a barrel twist of 1:8. The length should be at least 26". This set-up would accommodate all the standard components listed in my previous post and still enable you to use factory ammo, or lighter bullets in Standard or VLD style. Hope this helps.

 

[Driller54]

Thanks for all the help guys!