6.5x284 hunters

gunsmith89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 4, 2019
Messages
171
Location
Minnesota
Just ordered a barrel to start putting together a rifle. 26" barrel that I plan to use for deer up to elk.

What bullets have guys had good success with or does anyone have recommendations on what they use. I was looking into 130 grain Bergers.
 
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gunsmith89

gunsmith89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 4, 2019
Messages
171
Location
Minnesota
How did they do on deer? I use 140 SP in my sweed and feel like i just poke pin holes with very little expansion.
 
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
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Location
Weiser, ID
They're great on deer , expansion will be the least of your worries. You may want a tougher bullet for elk but the 140 VLD's are an excellent choice for deer in my opinion. I sold my 6.5x284 a few years ago and haven't had a chance to try any of the newer bullets available.
 
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gunsmith89

gunsmith89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 4, 2019
Messages
171
Location
Minnesota
I have found a few different chains on other forums and alot of guys are VLD and some accubond as far as their choices. I use accubonds on my 7WSM and have had excellent luck with them.

95% of the time this will be mule deer/white tail.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2015
Messages
1,891
Location
Colorado
143 eldx out of my 6.5x284 at 2950fps and I have never had to shoot twice at an animal. It’s been an amazing 1 shot gun if I do my part.
 

Sykes

WKR
Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
550
I'm shooting the 140 berger vld with retumbo in my Cooper JLR. A buddy of mine killed his first elk with it 2 years ago. A bull at 340 yards. I'm sure a deer won't stand a chance against a 140 berger.
 

Paulcobb

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Messages
213
I built a 6.5x284 a couple years ago. I experimented with different bullets and narrowed it down to the 143 eldx and 140 hybrid. the bergers were much more consistent in weight and shot amazing. I shot a bull with it this fall and was amazed at how well the 140 hybrid performed....
 

Dioni A

Basque Assassin
Joined
Mar 29, 2016
Messages
1,547
Location
Nampa, Idaho
I'm running the 147 eldm and it's been fair. Haven't had and crazy shot situations to really vet it out. They are very forgiving in the wind though.
 

Yotekiller

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
131
Location
Idaho
My main big game rifle for the last 11 years 6.5x284, 26", 8 twist, 140 vld, h4831sc. Extremely accurate, low single digit sd, deer instantly crumble in their tracks, elk have gone down within 10 seconds. Nothing required a 2nd shot. All of the animals have been between 500-950 yards.
Tried the 156 but had instability issues.
 
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gunsmith89

gunsmith89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 4, 2019
Messages
171
Location
Minnesota
Thank you Yotekiller! How many grains of 4831 are you using and what velocity are you getting? I was going to try 4831 and RL26.
 
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
3,474
Location
Lewiston ID
140 Berger VLD’s in the 6.5mm variant have been stellar on game in everything.

Last customer wanted to shoot the 143’s and it shot like this. Off a tikka action and i throated it way out for him.

b0ca49071e23b6001054352c83c68b8f.jpg


Mike


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ID_Matt

WKR
Joined
May 16, 2017
Messages
1,365
Location
Southern ID
156 Bergers with RL-26 @ 3,000 FPS have worked great for me. Super easy to tune and buck the wind like crazy. Only took 2 animals with them last year but both were dead on impact. Pencil sized entrance with golf ball sized exit holes. 430 yards on a deer and 490 yards on an elk.
 

Yotekiller

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 12, 2016
Messages
131
Location
Idaho

53 grains, cci mag primer, 2927
 
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gunsmith89

gunsmith89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 4, 2019
Messages
171
Location
Minnesota
156 Bergers with RL-26 @ 3,000 FPS have worked great for me. Super easy to tune and buck the wind like crazy. Only took 2 animals with them last year but both were dead on impact. Pencil sized entrance with golf ball sized exit holes. 430 yards on a deer and 490 yards on an elk.
What’s your barrel length?
 

jonboatjockey

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Messages
248
I been shooting the 140 hybrids and the 156’s. Moved away from the eldx’s after some performance issues. Never lost a critter to them, but found they like a little distance to work properly IMO. The 156’s have been shooting lights out in my 6.5x284 26” Lilja tube. 4831sc and RL26 have proven very good so far too. I’ve killed a 5 or so elk and a pile of deer and antelope with mine and love it
 
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