Biggest Bang for Buck with a 308 Bolt Face

[deerndingo]

Hi Guys,
I'm new here so please excuse any dumber than dumb questions.

I have a 12BVSS in 22-250. Its a long story but I don't need that caliber in that rifle anymore. I do need a long range deer rifle (Red Deer) for sit n wait shooting though. That said, I'm thinking of rebarrelling it to a 6.5x284. It can launch a 120gr pill at a tich over 3000fps. My questions are:

1. Will the 6.5x284 suite the current 22-250 bolt head.
2. Can you suggest another more potent caliber for this rig with a just a rebarrell job.

Thanks

[geargrinder]

I'd say you picked a very good choice.

I also like the plain 284win. Lots of good bullets and powders.

Where you may run into trouble is the length. You probably won't be able to run it as a repeater in a short action.

The easiest would be something based on the 308 case.

[sinman]

280 rem, 280 ai, 260 ai, 25-06, 25-06ai, and with a simple blothead change 7mm wsm 6.5 wsm, 25 wsm,

[desertdog]

? wasn't the the .284 win set up for the short action? so if you change it to the 6.5x284 do you need a long action? i don't know kind of neat idea? might see it in the future for me the 6.5x284?? 8) dd

[handirifle]

The 284 was designed for a short action, BUT you have to seat the bullets too deep for the real gain in FPS. I'd suggest either a 260 (for the 6.5 dia) or a 7-08, and keep it simple. I seriously doubt you'll notice the difference in FPS for holdover.

[deerndingo]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your answers so far. I already have a 270-308 (308 necked to 270/6.8) in a Rem 788 so a 7-08 or a 260 would be too close to the same. No use duplicating what I already have. I need something that reaches out further with higher MV and gives better ME with a caliber of no less than 6.5 for Red Deer.

From what I can see the 6.5x284 or even the 284 may be the upper limit of the rig I have. Is there anything else that goes harder?

Thanks

[BobT]

The 6.5-.284 should work OK if you stay with the shorter 120-125 grain bullets. Mine will not feed through the magazine with the Berger 140 seated out where it needs to be for best accuracy. My gun will not shoot the lighter bullets very well with any load I have tried so far, on the order of 1.1 MOA average for 3 shot groups is the best I have done with the lighter bullets. I used an 8 twist Broughton barrel and it may just not like the lighter bullets. I have a couple of loads so far with the 140 grainers that are very accurate but they are on the low end of the charge weight scale, starting loads actually. One thing I have noticed, the 6.5-.284 is VERY picky to load for. I have some more powders and bullets I want to try I just have not made the time yet, I may find a light bullet load that works for me or I may give up and focus on my current .270/08AI project. As the others have suggested a plain .284 my work for you or the.260AI should get you close to the 6.5-.284 ballistics. With a bolt head swap you could look at the 6.5 Remington Magnum.

Bob

[deerndingo]

Hi Guys,
Excuse the pun, but I might have to bight the bullet and change heads. What does that leave me with. 7WSM maybe. any thoughts. And the you the u no what do I change a head.

Thanks

We are getting there ;D

[geargrinder]

Now your talking.

I just got my 7mmWSM broke in. It's a Shilen 28" Varmint 8" twist. I went with the fast twist to stabilize the 180g Berger VLD as well as the 200g Wildcat RBBT's. But that won't run out of your magazine either.

You'll run into the same problems with the longer bullets an the WSM's

[diriel]

scroll down to the .284 Shehane,

http://www.6mmbr.com/7mm284.html

Good Shooting,
Gary

[deerndingo]

Hi Guys,
I saw the 284 and really there isn't enough difference between mu 270-308 and it to make it worth while. The same for the 270WSM too. That's why I think maybe a 7mmWSM. That'll go bang!

[diriel]

so you are getting a new bolt head for the wsm then. Cool. That first article I linked also has some good info on the 7wsm and a mention of it's variants the 7/270 & 7/300 wsm. It is a great cartridge, but it is also a very serious barrel burner.

Here is a post that you may or may not find informative: http://6mmbr.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3688010&trail=8

And here is a post that is also very informative. The process itself was recommended to me by a friend who has done a lot of work with the 7wsm and it's variants. He now shoots the 7/300, he says it is easier to "dial in".
http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51857
He says that this process actually Did enhance barrel life in a meaningful way. By the way, for a 7wsm the 9 twist barrel is considered by the hardcore shooters as a must. Not a 9 point something twist, well that or and even tighter 8 something twist. That leads into mag length problems of course, but no pain no gain ;D

Have fun!
Gary

[Fjold]

With bolt head change, use the 300wsm, you can launch 150 grain bullets at >3200 fps or 165 grain bullets >3100 fps

[Cycler]

You'll run into the same problems with the longer bullets an the WSM's

True, but the powder capacity of the WSM case is so much larger than the .284 case that you still wind up way ahead.

[geargrinder]

True, but the powder capacity of the WSM case is so much larger than the .284 case that you still wind up way ahead.

Well, if you gonna run single shot, might as well go to a 338 Edge. It will work fine in a short action. Just have to pull the bolt to eject a loaded round.

[loaders_loft]

How about a 6x284 with a fast twist?

Lots of 100+ grain bullets launched way over 3000fps, should be devestating on small deer.

105 a-max and 100gr partition come to mind.

Also, Berger offers 105 and 115 gr hunting VLD's which would maximize your trajectory...

considering the wsm, ask around about any feeding issues or mod's that might be needed. Not sure if this is a real issue or not... ;D

[deerndingo]

Hi,
You know the problem with getting larger capacity cases for the same caliber - burnt barrels. they cost too much here to burn out. The 6.5x284 sounds a bit short of the performance I'm after (but!). The 7mm WSM might be too much for that cal for what I like. Maybe I should go to a 300 WSM. Trust me - Red Deer are bigger than mule or white tail. I don't need that much gun to kill one, but I want something that floats a long way and still hits hard.

"Generally, the male (stag or hart) Red Deer is typically 175 to 230 cm (69 to 91 in) long and weighs 160 to 240 kg (350 to 530 lb); the female is 160 to 210 cm (63 to 83 in) long and weighs 120 to 170 kg (260 to 370 lb).[4] "

I really appreciate your answers. They are enlightening and well thought out.

Thanks

[loaders_loft]

they are bigger than I thought! More like the size of our Tule Elk here in California. That said, with your concerns about barrel life, stick with a smaller cartridge like the 284 win, 260rem, 7mm-08 or even a 308.

If you can stand a longer barrel, most of these cartridges will get higher velocity, but it may not be enough to matter... i struggled with this on a 260rem I'm having built, finally ordered a 26".

[tammons]

The 6.5-284 is a well known barrel burner and for an animal that big I would want a bigger bullet.

The 7mmWSM would certainly not be any worse of a barrel burner.
Anyway as long as it holds 1"-1.5" its good for hunting IMO.

With the straight 284 Bench shooters are getting close to 3000 fps with
the 180 gr bergers over RL17, but it would work best in a long action or single feeding
so you can hang the bullet out.

As mentioned above, a 7mm WSM for long distance would probably be my choice.
Probably an 8 twist for the long Barnes tipped TSX like the 160 gr MRX and 180 gr bergers.

300 WSM magnum would work too.

.284 caliber will have better ballistics than a 308 caliber and still have a lot of knock down power.