Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
260 to 6.5-284 - is it worth it???
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="benchracer" data-source="post: 963221" data-attributes="member: 22069"><p>Lapua brass fired in my 6.5x55 (modern, commercial action) averages a case capacity of 58.5 grains of water. Prvi 7x57 brass fired in my Ruger #1 averages about 61.8 grains. That, at least, gives one a starting point to figure out what either case capacity would look like after being given the Ackley treatment.</p><p> </p><p>My best accuracy load for 6.5x55 uses 48.2 grains of H4831 with a 140 Berger VLD. I have never shot it across a chrono (I need to, though, and I will now that I own one.), but QL says it should be doing 2900ish from my rifle.</p><p> </p><p>My best accuracy load for my 6.5-284 Norma came in at 52.5 grains of H4831 with a 140 AMAX, while showing faint ejector marks. Likewise, I never chronoed that load, but I shot it side by side with my Swede out to 600 yards. There was very little difference between the two. QL estimates 2930ish for that load, which explains a lot about why I saw very little difference.</p><p> </p><p>I, personally, found the 6.5-284 to be a very underwhelming cartridge. To be fair, I never tried Retumbo in it, which might have changed things a bit. </p><p> </p><p>Not long after I shot the two rifles side by side, Winchester re-introduced the Model 70 in .264 WM. I had to have one and finally succeeded in getting my hands on a Model 70 Sporter so chambered. Even shooting 140 Partitions, it easily produced 3000 fps with a lot of throttle left. On the flip side, the rifle responded well to being downloaded to Swede Military action equivalent loads. I have yet to work up loads with 140 Berger VLD's, but all indications are that Retumbo or RL-33 will deliver a good bit more speed at near full throttle loads.</p><p> </p><p>I found the .264 WM to be what I was looking for when I decided to step up from the 6.5x55. Of course, heat and barrel life mean that the WM is best as a hunting round. I wouldn't use it as a target or match round. Since my 6.5-284 wears an 8 twist Krieger barrel, I decided to have it punched out to .264 WM to handle the 160 Matrix VLD class bullets (my 9 twist Winchester won't do that).</p><p> </p><p>If I want to go fast and flat, I will reach for my .264's. If I want to do anything that involves a high round count (like match or varmint shooting), I will reach for my Swede. </p><p> </p><p>Housed in a modern action, and loaded accordingly, I was surprised to learn that my Swede occupied the same performance level as my 6.5-284. With Lapua brass being much less expensive and more available for the Swede, ditching the 6.5-284 seemed like a pretty obvious choice. If someone wants more than the Swede, but doesn't want to go all the way to .264 WM level performance, I think going the 6.5x55AI or 6.5-257AI route makes more sense. I would take either over the 6.5-284, based on my experience with my rifles.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="benchracer, post: 963221, member: 22069"] Lapua brass fired in my 6.5x55 (modern, commercial action) averages a case capacity of 58.5 grains of water. Prvi 7x57 brass fired in my Ruger #1 averages about 61.8 grains. That, at least, gives one a starting point to figure out what either case capacity would look like after being given the Ackley treatment. My best accuracy load for 6.5x55 uses 48.2 grains of H4831 with a 140 Berger VLD. I have never shot it across a chrono (I need to, though, and I will now that I own one.), but QL says it should be doing 2900ish from my rifle. My best accuracy load for my 6.5-284 Norma came in at 52.5 grains of H4831 with a 140 AMAX, while showing faint ejector marks. Likewise, I never chronoed that load, but I shot it side by side with my Swede out to 600 yards. There was very little difference between the two. QL estimates 2930ish for that load, which explains a lot about why I saw very little difference. I, personally, found the 6.5-284 to be a very underwhelming cartridge. To be fair, I never tried Retumbo in it, which might have changed things a bit. Not long after I shot the two rifles side by side, Winchester re-introduced the Model 70 in .264 WM. I had to have one and finally succeeded in getting my hands on a Model 70 Sporter so chambered. Even shooting 140 Partitions, it easily produced 3000 fps with a lot of throttle left. On the flip side, the rifle responded well to being downloaded to Swede Military action equivalent loads. I have yet to work up loads with 140 Berger VLD's, but all indications are that Retumbo or RL-33 will deliver a good bit more speed at near full throttle loads. I found the .264 WM to be what I was looking for when I decided to step up from the 6.5x55. Of course, heat and barrel life mean that the WM is best as a hunting round. I wouldn't use it as a target or match round. Since my 6.5-284 wears an 8 twist Krieger barrel, I decided to have it punched out to .264 WM to handle the 160 Matrix VLD class bullets (my 9 twist Winchester won't do that). If I want to go fast and flat, I will reach for my .264's. If I want to do anything that involves a high round count (like match or varmint shooting), I will reach for my Swede. Housed in a modern action, and loaded accordingly, I was surprised to learn that my Swede occupied the same performance level as my 6.5-284. With Lapua brass being much less expensive and more available for the Swede, ditching the 6.5-284 seemed like a pretty obvious choice. If someone wants more than the Swede, but doesn't want to go all the way to .264 WM level performance, I think going the 6.5x55AI or 6.5-257AI route makes more sense. I would take either over the 6.5-284, based on my experience with my rifles. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
260 to 6.5-284 - is it worth it???
Top