.308 to 6.5x284 L Re-Barrel

[MtnCreek]

I have an old Savage rifle chambered in .308 that is due for a barrel swap. I'm thinking about changing it to 6.5x284 Lapua, but I really don't have much info on that cartridge. I found saami specs on the old .284 win, but nothing on the lapua. If the lapua rd is made from the 284 win brass, it looks like I can do the swap w/o changing out the bolt/boltface.

Does the 6.5x284 Lapua use the same case as the .284win?
6.5x284 Norma: Is this different?
Anyone done this?
Anyone have a cutsheet on the cartridge/chamber?
Any additional info on any of the above?

Thanks!!!

 

[50below]

The bolt face is the same diamter (0.473"). The 6.5x284 is a rebated rim as the body diameter is 0.500". If you are planning on running these through a magazine, this MAY cause some issues. Further, the 6.5x284 can end up being a bit longer than the 308Win. Again, if you're going to be using a box magazine, espcially one limited to 2.800" long cartridgers, it may be an issue. If you're building a single shot you're "Golden". I just finished convertering an XP-100 that was chambered for 7mm-08 (what an unpleasnt beast that was! A great bear gun: give it to the bear and let him shoot it) to a 6.5x284 rifle.

Brass is readily avialable from Lapua, Norma, Hornady (maybe others). Or it can be formed by resizing 284 Win Brass. Easier to buy the right stuff right off. Google "6.5x284 reloading data" you'll find plenty of stuff. 6mmBR.com has a good page on it.

Good luck.

 

[MtnCreek]

Thanks for the great info. Currently, the .308 loads from an internal box. I'm not sure if I will stick with that or go with a detachable.

Is the Lapua and Norma the same cartridge?

 

[NCsmitty]

The 6.5x284 is available in Lapua brass, probably the best brass IMO, and is the same as the 6.5x284 Norma.
Here is a good site to check out information on it.

http://www.6mmbr.com/sixfive284.html.

The problem with using a 308 action is that most are short action and will not allow seating out the bullets for optimum performance. They often limit the magazine length to an COAL of 2.800, and some load the long 140gr match bullets out past 3.200 COAL. You can always single load the chamber, if the Savage is a true short action.



NCsmitty

 

[MtnCreek]

The Savage is a long action (at least it's a good bit longer than my Remington). I think I have plenty to work with as far as the action, but the internal box may be a different story.
Thanks!

 

[jimniowa]

I had a 6.5-284 built on a short action Rem 700 VLS . At that time I was interested in 1000 yd shooting so single action was the only choice. The smith that built it warned me that extraction of a unfired round may not be smooth, however never had a problem. I loaded some Hornady 140 g AMAX to COL 3.081 which is .01 off and had no problems with feeding. I am thinking that a little more seating depth should be tried also.
Jim

 

[MtnCreek]

Looking at the rifle last night, it's not really a long action. The back of the action, just behind the mag is solid, limiting case length in the mag. I read through some notes were I loaded .308 for this rifle in the 3" range that functioned, but I do remember running out of mag room when chasing throat erosion. I would hate to have a good working rifle bite the dust in a year because I ran out of mag length capisity. 6.5x284 would probably eat barrels more like a .300wm than a .308, so I'm thinking a diferent cal. will propably serve me better.

What kind of COAL are most people seeing from .260's?

Thanks!