6.5x284 vs 270?

[Montanahunterjon]

What is a better choice for deer/elk hunting. What's the difference in recoil? Barrel life? Cost of reloading? I know the 6.5 is supposed to be more accurate? What are your thoughts on cooper firearms.

 

[jryoung]

I'd consider it almost a push. The 6.5 "statistically" has better bullets (bc and sd). Recoil is nil, both are considered overbored, with the 6.5 a bit hotter. Cost of reloading gives an edge to the 270 since it's in the 06 family.

Coopers are sexy, and I almost bought one, and will always consider them if I want a premium rifle.

 

[Montanahunterjon]

Thanks for your input, does the 270 have a longer barrel life like 2000+ or not? I read on the inter webs that 6.5x284 has about 800-1000 and it needs rebarreled?

 

[noharleyyet]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/pages/barrel-life-part-i

 

[Muleyfanatic]

I have shot both and reloaded for both quite a bit hard to go wrong with either. I personally prefer and own a 6.5x284. Quality brass like lapua is fairly easy to find in 6.5x284, a little better bc's, and sectional density's like jr mentioned are some of the benefits. Cooper rifles are a very quality premium rifle also.

 

[sagebrush]

Never owned or shot a 6.5X284, but I have owned three different .270's. All three are Browning A-Bolts and all three are extremely accurate, can be loaded to produce over 1400 ft/lbs of energy at 1,000 yards (sufficient to kill an elk), are fairly mild recoil and will take 1,000's of rounds down the tube. Nothing against Cooper, but you could put together a Browning for half of what a Cooper will cost. I also have two X-Bolts in other calibers and have achieved the same accuracy results. My latest is an X-Bolt in 7MM Remington and already ringing the gong at 600 every shot on the first trip to the range.

 

[danr55]

Kind of like the difference between Rye and Wheat bread. Both can be good and both do the job. I think the difference in accuracy would be hard measured with the right load. The only measurable difference I can see is if you get caught without your handloads. >270 Winchester is available almost anywhere they sell ammo. I don't think I've seen 6.5X284 on a shelve anywhere except the big outfitter stores like Cabelas and Bass Pro. Something to consider if you hunt a million miles from home.

 

[WT_in_MT]

can be loaded to produce over 1400 ft/lbs of energy at 1,000 yards

Not that I put much stock in ft-lb, but what are you loading to get that? WCF or WSM?

 

[sagebrush]

Factory ammo. From the Hornady website for the Superformance 130 gr Interbond.

Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
3200/2955 2984/2570 2788/2228 2582/1924 2393/1653 2213/1414
Trajectory (inches)
MUZZLE 100 200 300 400 500
-1.50 1.20 0.00 -5.70 -16.70 -33.70

 

[WT_in_MT]

Thanks for clarifying the 1400 is at 500 rather than 1000 yards.

 

[sbhooper]

The 6.5 has a rep as being a bit hard on barrels, which is not a problem for the .270. I doubt that it is too bad, though, for the average guy. I would take the 6.5 if I had the option.

 

[jryoung]

Good chart here on what is "overbored". I've got probably 1500 rounds in my 7RM, I even remember running a full box of shells through it in about 5 minutes when I was a teenager and it still holds well under MOA with handloads.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/overbore-cartridges-defined-by-formula/