6.5's and 7mm's?

Winny

Winny

Sergeant
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Minuteman
May 25, 2005
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#1
Last week I happened to stumble into a Remmy 700 LA .270 in a pawn shop. The rifle was a little worse for wear, but it has promise and the price was right since I have been wanting to build something different anyways.

The main use of the rifle will be steel ringing out to 1200 or so, and maybe some herd thinning at medium, ethical ranges. I have narrowed the caliber choices that I like to 6.5x284, .284, 6.5-06, and .280 through some decent research. I am looking for some more input from members that are shooting or have experience with these calibers.

I understand the barrel life will be short with the faster 6.5's and the 7's will offer me some heavier rounds to reload.

Thanks for the input in advance.

B.
 
#3
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I would deffinately go with a .284 out of the choices you named. It is an extremly accurate round with tons of bullet choices and moderate performance. great barrel life as well.
 
#7
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: diggler44</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one more for the 284 9 twist and don't look back </div></div>

That's what I'd do if I fell into an LA.
 
#8
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I was doing the same thing last week. Looking for a 700 long action at pawn shops. My goal was to build a .284. A friend of mine built a 284 and has shot one hell of a group at 1000 yards. Even took it to 2000 yards the other weekend! Best I could find was a 700 30-06 for $300.

I went with a 700 5r 308 due to not having the reloading equipment right now to support a 284, and not having funds to complete the build. I'm guessing it would have taken about $1300.

I know a 284 is in the future for me.

Also another friend of mine is playing around with a 7mm x 47 on a TRG-22 action. He shot it this weekend but I haven't heard much feedback on it.
 
#13
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

My choice would be to rebarrel with a quality varmint weight barrel chambered in .280 rem.

With a long action, I'm thinking it's kinda a waste not to take advantage of the '06 case capacity. The .280 chambering will feed and function fine in an action spec'd for the .270, and the 7mm/.284" recent bullet selection works in much the same way as the 6.5 does with the .308's case capacity in the .260 Rem chambering.

Chosen and loaded properly, a good varmint weight barrel on a .280 will deliver the mail out to <span style="font-style: italic">wellll</span> beyond 1200yd, and for hunting purposes, I consider it the equal of the .30-'06 in all the truly significant ways.

I have a 22" sporter weight and a 24" varmint weight, both Ruger MKI's chambered in .280Rem (7mm Rem Express). They perform like match rifles with Hornady Custom 139gr SST hunting ammo, and that load stays at/above transsonic at 1kyd. I am doing a very slow process of developing a load using 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and H4350 that should be very utilitarian for reasonable distances (say, 800yd and inward).

Greg
 
#14
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I have been kicking around the same question. 280, 280AI, or 284? I am starting this build around October so I got time. But this thread is exactly what I have been looking for as well. What are some of the loads you guys have worked up?
 
#15
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

What are the pros and cons when comparing the 280 to the 284?

Is it barrel life? 280 has more case capacity right? The only time I can see the 284 as my choice over the 280 is if I'm using a SA.

Am I missing something?
 
#16
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I'll throw in my $.02.....

I'm going with 7mm-06 (no it isn't the same as 280 or 280 AI)
The advantage is you get the performance of a 280 by only sizing down 30-06 brass .....which is cheap and plentiful......
 
#18
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bacarrat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can size up 6.5-284 brass to .284 which is match grade brass. </div></div>

That's what I do
 
#19
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

The 284 has around 66 grains case capacity. But loaded long, i.e. in a long action, you can add about 3-4 grains.

The 280 Rem's case capacity is around 68 grains.

The 280 AI has around 73 grains (or about 7% more than the standard 280).

When looking at current published reload data, it is interesting that:

The 280 Rem is held to 50000 CUP (58000 PSI)
The 284 Win is held to 53000 CUP (62000 PSI)
And the 280 AI shows loads up to 65000 PSI (same as the 270 Winchester)

All use brass of equal strength, and can be loaded to similar CUP/PSI levels as the 270 Winchester.

At best, the 284 and the 280 AI, at equal pressure levels, beat the standard 280 Rem by around 100 FPS.

You have to decide whether that 100 FPS is worth it.

Bob
 
#20
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I don't think it is, and I have serious doubts regarding the wisdom of 'going master blaster' where charges are concerned. I would rather run my gun at a more sedate level and enjoy the capabilities a larger case with a moderate load can provide.

Greg
 
#21
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I have a 280 Rem and a 6.5-06 both built on a long action.

The 280 Rem is not as flat as the 6.5-06 out to a mile, but beyond 1200yd the 180gr Bergers will beat the 140 Bergers in wind.

Both are built on 28" tubes and the 7mm is much more suited to this length. I'm thinking that the 6.5-06 would be more useful in 32"

I get 2900fps with RL22 and 180s in the 280. This just happens to be the fastest node with RL22, I think with H1000 or RL17 I can speed it up some. I haven't felt the need to try.

I get 3175fps with Retumbo and 140's in the 6.5-06, this is a HOTTTT load and 105% capacity.

The barrel life on the 280 is probably triple the 6.5-06 (3000 vs. 1000-1200 rounds). The 6.5-06 sure is fun though... Very low recoil and under 19 minutes to 1000yd is awesome.

It helps that I chamber my own barrels or else I couldn't see owning either of the 6.5's that you mentioned. The 6.5-284 is a throat eater as well, you'll likely see 1200-1500 rounds from it too. Most guys shooting them are flirting with 3000fps from the 140gr bullets out of 28-30" barrels.
 
#22
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

Hi Winny

I have shot and owned both 6.5x284 as wel as a straight 284Win and both are really incredible long-range calibers. 6.5x284 dominated the long-range shooting scene for a long time, and the 284 win with 180 Bergers are all the rage now. I ended up choosing the 6.5x284 for hunting and the odd bit of plinking. Everybody's trade-offs in this decision are unique.

In my case the issue about barrel life with the 6.5x284 was less critical, as I was not intending on loading the hunting rifle with heavy 140g bergers loaded to the brim with propellant. Nor did I intend to shoot competition events that would require me to shoot 15-20 rounds rapid fire. I was happy to load down on the powder a bit, and I shoot lighter bullets like the Sierra 123MK for plinking (3050 fps), as well as 130 Accubond for hunting (2900 fps) from a 24.5 inch barrel. I have a much more manageable recoil in a medium weight rig compared to the 284 win (which does kick a bit with 168 grain bullets without a muzzle break in a medium weight rifle), and 130g Accubonds at 2900 fps have been enough punch to put down all deer I hunt here in Africa, excluding eland and larger.

On barrel life, in my hunting/tactical rifle above, I am well on the way to 3000 rounds and the rifle comfortably holds 0.5 to 0.7 MOA with even the hunting ammo if I do my bit. Yet my F-Class gun in the same caliber needs work every 1000 rounds.

I guess my message to you is to know what your priorities are for the rifle. For me a comfortable to shoot, flexible rifle package was the overriding factor compared to the barrel life - and for me personally, the 6.5x284 fit that bill the best. If I had to choose again, I would stick with the 6.5. Try and shoot with both calibers in the type of rifle weights you intend building and then decide.

Cheers,
J
 
#23
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

In the last 6 months or so I went through the same decision making process. I went with the straight .284 Winchester. Simply ran Lapua 6.5x284 brass through the .284 sizing die and loaded it. 7mm bullets from 100gr. HP's to 180 JLK's have worked well. No trouble at all to get very accurate loads for it. Results are very good with H4831SC. Which is the powder that I started with and never had the need to try other powders.
Semper Fi
 
#24
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm kinda like Greg...why waste a LA on a SA round...but I can see why this is done. I am concerned about barrel life, however this will not be my "daily shooter"..I have Tinkerbell for that. The more I read...the more I like the 7mm's, but as I type this I have a voice in my head telling me to go with the 6.5x284...

Decisions, decisions....

B.
 
#26
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

pwc001 just finished a 280AI and I have to say it is impressive.

I may build one someday, but 280AI would be my pick.


I forgot to mention, Nosler sells factory brass and Ackley brass seldom needs trimming.
 
#28
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

I'm thinking .284 is looking pretty promising with the .280 running a close second...I don't think that I can justify re-barreling every year running the 6.5x284. Thanks for the input.
 
#29
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

My 0.02 of a dollar.....take advantage of the long action with a 6.5x55mm or .280 Improved if you want the extra velocity/bullet weight/recoil. The .280 Improved can be an extremely impressive round when loaded with the right powder.

The 6.5x55 offers excellent flexibility: 1) you can load down for training or short-range work (100+ years of load data), 2) it is extremely accurate as far down as 2350fps with 140gr class bullets & you can get 2900fps or so on the top end, 3) Lapua, WW, RP, Norma, Prvi all make brass, 4) lots of high quality bullets from which to choose, 5) Varget to H1000 burn rates work great.
 
#30
Re: 6.5's and 7mm's?

i have a 280 ai. Run nosler brass and 162 amaxes from a 28 in barrel. I love everthing about it. Great performance low recoil. The only thing is I would back the barrel up to 24. 28 plus a break is big bitch. I can kill stuff a long ways away. Those 162s fly really good.
 
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