Maxlab You on here? What are you getting out of your gun. We just did one for him that was a 26" 6.5-284. He is running the factory 130s Guessing around 29-2950 all I know is he sent me a 3 shot group at .19 thats what I get crazy about there 100FPS would not bother me with that kind of group and factory ammo I could get at 40 bucks a box

I got 2950 fps out of a .260 Rem shooting 130 Bergers, and would hold 1/4 to 1/2 MOA.

What's the gain in going long action if it doesn't produce more velocity and/ or shoot tighter?

.

My dad has a 6.5-06 built on a Belgian FN action and it loves everything he feeds it. His best friend built one the same year and it never shot well, but I think his barrel twist was the issue.

His pet load pushes 130 gr. Barnes TSX at 3070.

Assuming hand loads? That is what I am saying. I am getting those groups and that speed with Factory ammo. Not loaded hot and not tuned to the gun. He should be able to get really close to the speeds he is looking for with the 6.5x284. But on the days he doesn't feel like hand loading he doesn't have to.

Sounds like the Drop Tine needs to look into the 6.5 SAUM.

Non-handloads don't enter into my thinking. And that's my fault.

I am getting 2900-2950 out of one of my 6.5-284's with 140 Hybrids and Retumbo

6.5 SAUM

Great info fellas, much appreciated.

Not really interested in the 6.5 saum.

6.5-06 vs 6.5x284(LA) vs 264 win.....

Want to shoot 130 gr Swift Scirocco, 130 berger/ABLR, 140 Amax/Berger.

This rifle would be for hunting Ag fields, long senderos, Powerline ROW. I guess 26" barrel wouldn't be out of the question. For deer/pigs/exotics....got a 300 win for bigger critters.

Since you're apperently after MV, the 264 Win Mag would make the most. Would it not?

Another old skewl round that will make velocity is a 7 Rem Mag. Get the correct twist and load it with 162 A-maxes or 168 Bergers. I promise they'll leave the barrel very fast. Either one of the long magnums mentioned would get a 26" barrel, and you seem to be Ok with that.

I told you that 7Rmg is NOT a Buick...
Ron

Correct me If I am wrong but the animals you have listed save your pocket book and run the 6.5 creed.

I like the 264 mag it got a bad Rapp for reloaders running it real hot with 100 grain for burning out the throats.
I am going to build a 264 mag to shoot 120 or heavier, both will give you good mv.

I have a rifle in 6.5-284 that Horizon built. I went to the range today for lunch. Using FACTORY Nosler 130 accubonds. MZ was 2940 avg. Gun now has 17 rounds down the pipe. 3-Derrick shot 14-I shot today. Sighted gun in at 100yds with 3 shots. Then stepped over to the steel at 300 yds. Send one down range and center punched 8" plate. Then moved over to silhouette stacked 5 shots in 1-3/4" group. Vertical was less than 1/4" windage was what threw it off. Variable winds 5-15 mph. On a calm day the gun would of been south of 1" at 300yds. After that 5 shot group I let barrel cool. After 20 mins I picked rifle back up and sent 5 more down range at 300 with same results as above.
Once I go thru the factory Nosler ammo (300) I will do load development with 129 grain accubond LR.

Just some first hand experience with a rifle built by Horizon in caliber mentioned above.

I guess I should put the 280ai back on the table..... don't need another 260......6.5-06 doesn't have any factory ammo available.

Between these 2:

280ai- 120 gr BT - 168 gr Berger....no interest in heavier bullets.
6.5x284- 120 gr BT - 140 gr Berger

Recoil will be heavier with high BC bullets in the 280ai

What cartridge would the 162-168 gr 280ai compare to in recoil?
I'm not that sensitive to recoil, but this rifle is going to weigh less than 8 lbs scoped and loaded to hunt....if possible.

6.5x284 guys- What kind of velocity can be reached accurately with 26" barrels on:
130 gr
140 gr

280ai guys- Same as above except 24" barrel or does the 280ai need 26" also?
150 gr
162-168 gr-

Thanks fellas!

Amen, brother!

Looking at handloads on ether of them. I would say on the 280 as a general rule subtract 100 from a 7 mag. On the 6.5x284 Going to depend on who's reamer you use and how much freebore you have but I would say that 140 you should be able to get really close to that 3000 mark and the the 130s just under the 3100 mark. If you were going to use it more on bigger game I would go 280 if you were staying in the whitetail sized game I would say 6.5 would be more fun.

I suggested that two days ago.

Once Nosler finally ships their 6.5mm 142 gr accubond lr I can get some hard numbers.
I see no problem getting 3000fps w/140.

Could be used as a Elk/Nilgai size game, back up rifle, but I have a 300 win as my primary. Aoudad will definitely been in the plans some day, but this one will get used mostly on deer/pigs/exotics here in Texas. Doubt I'll use either(6.5x284 or 280ai) with Amax/Berger type bullets on bigger game like Elk/Nilgai. And from what I've found running the numbers, if using standard hunting ammo (Accubond/Partition/Sierra GK/ETC) the 6.5/7 mm bullets lose almost all their BC advantage. I'd rather use a 180/200 gr Accubond from the 300 for tougher game.

I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO LOAD MY OWN AMMO!!!! I also need more time to spend loading.....maybe someday

I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO LOAD MY OWN AMMO!!!! I also need more time to spend loading.....maybe someday



Any time you are wanting to build a rifle that is not a common caliber you need to reload.
A 243, 30\06 or 7 mag for example you need to shoot readily available ammo.
I have been reloading for 30 year's I will not buy factory ammo unless it is the only way to get the brass cases.
I have gotten more satisfaction by watching groups sizes shrink and shooting more for the same money with my reloads.
Before you get a wild cat cartridge learn to reload and you will find the time.

You will be happy you did.

+1

Droptine,

I've got a document, I wrote for Korean Redneck as he has tons of questions. It seemed to have helped him. BigA just requested it as well. I'd be happy to send the document to you. I did not post it in the Reloading section due to the probability of it causing much banter, so I just keep it until someone asks for it.

6.5 Creed for cost (and it will kill anything on your list just fine - you don't need that much velocity)
6.5 SAUM - why not (this is on my build list)
26 Nosler - JG can chime in on this

.280AI or why not straight .284?

I've been refraining, but I'll say it with hopes of not offending anyone.

Sure velocity is nice. But there are plenty of cartridges that yield moderate velocity and are still good enough. Even if a guy wants to shoot distance, he doesn't need super high velocity. He needs to learn how to use a ballistic calculator and a Mil scope.