I turned my first rifle, a 6mm Rem, Ruger M77 tang safety into a 284 after I wore out the 6mm barrel. Harry Lawson suggested I have his shop install a Rem take off barrel in 7 Rem Mag which would have one inch cut off barrel shank and rechambered in 284 Win. Still glad Harry talked me into it.
That was in 1985. I am on my third 7 mag takeoff now. It was my only rifle for all activities for many years. I killed many elk, coues wt, javelina, coyotes, cottontails and jackrabbits with it. Used every bullet imaginable from the original X bullet in 100 gr and 120 gr, 120, 140 and 150 nos bt, 140, 150 and 160 nos pt, 160 accubond and most recently the 168 Berger hybrid classic hunter.
IMR 4350 was the powder for a couple of decades. Then moved to H4350 which fit better and was more temp stable. Most recent change was to RL-17. Worked with the 150 nos bt and 160 accubond. Found a great year round load with the 150 bt at 3000 fps. Maxed out load with the 160 at 3050 fps. Those bullets were moly coated.
I ran out of loaded ammo right when the new 168 Berger classic hunter showed. It was very friendly and I got it to shoot very well at 3030 fps. Also moly coated.
The Ruger sits in a McMillan lightweight Ruger stock and with scope weighs 7 1/4 lbs. At one point around 8 yrs ago my friend bought a NULA in 7-08 which had the 3" box magazine. I got jealous and had my gunsmith lengthen my Ruger's mag box to 3.1". Incidentally that Ruger never had to have anything done to it to make it feed the 284 except a slight change to the feed ramp. It feeds fast or slow to perfection.
I still use Win brass and have a huge supply. If I were to make a new rifle today I'd buy 6.5-284 Lapua brass instead.
Get one and have a custom reamer made to your specs. I think you will enjoy it. Long barrel life compared to the larger 7mms and very reasonable recoil.
