6.5-284 Lightweight Build

[WeatherbyFan 65]

A few months back at a gun show I was sharing a table with my gunsmith and and proudly displaying my new Kimber Montana 6.5CM that the gunsmith had gussied up and of course it wasn't for sale but somehow a smooth talking gentleman left with my rifle and scope.......

So I scrounged up an used Kimber Montana 84M and a SS Benchmark 1-8 twist 5R #1 contour barrel and dropped it off to Gary's Bench and I says 6.5CM and he nope 6.5-284........so he worked his magic on a 6.5-284, opened up the mag box, added a hand made brake, slabbed the action, added an alloy bolt handle and poof out pops out my new sheep hunting rifle weighing in at 5 lbs

1st time at the range and Im loving it, just a dream to shoot, I tried 3 types of Nosler Factory ammo, 130gr AB, 140gr AB and 129gr ABLR, it loved the 130gr Accubonds the 140s were ok and it really didn't like the ABLR bullets at all

after two shoots to zero and a cleaning this is the 1st 3 shot group out of the rifle with 130gr Accubonds



group 5 I shot 3 shots as fast as I could and still grouped very well with the 130gr AB

[terminator]

Damn. That is one lightweight shooter.Your builder deserves a good tip.Of course the guy pulling the trigger makes it all come together though.Congrats.What scope?

[WeatherbyFan 65]

Damn. That is one lightweight shooter.Your builder deserves a good tip.Of course the guy pulling the trigger makes it all come together though.Congrats.What scope?

Thanks for the kind words,

The scope I put on it as pictured is a Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x44 Z-Plex reticle, Ill get it dialled in and probably put a lighter Leupold VX3i on there before I go hunting with it.

[.257]

It does like the 130 gr AB. I think you are really going to like that caliber. I have 2 and both are great shooters also and very nice to shoot.
Great shooting and a nice job on the custom rifle

[WeatherbyFan 65]

It does like the 130 gr AB. I think you are really going to like that caliber. I have 2 and both are great shooters also and very nice to shoot.
Great shooting and a nice job on the custom rifle

Thank you and yes its my 2nd one also, I have one built on a Husqvarna HVA action, it shoots really well, one of my favourite cartridges for sure, ideal for deer and sheep.

[DW5]

Cool rifle! Got a first hunt planned for it yet?

[WeatherbyFan 65]

Cool rifle! Got a first hunt planned for it yet?

Yes sir off for a Mule Deer hunt on Tuesday,


I tried a long string of 130 Accubonds in my 6.5-284 with Reloader 26 starting at 53.0grs and going up in .2gr increments, no pressure signs.

53.0-2797
53.2-2841
53.4-2821
53.6-2833
53.8-2859
54.0-2866
54.2-2895
54.4-2894 seemed to be fairly close, so ill start at 54.2 with some 3 shot groups
54.6-2889
54.8-2916
55.0-2951
55.2-2961
55.4-2965
55.6-2976
55.8-2991
56.0-3004

Also tried some 143gr ELD-X with 54grs of R26 and got 2860fps and a .2" group
soon as I went to 54.5 it opened up to 0.65" and then at least 55gr it went to 0.75"

[.257]

You might try H-4350 with the ELD's
Also sierra just came out with the game changer bullet which may match up up with this caliber.
That is if your still looking to find the load you like

[DW5]

Cool rifle! Got a first hunt planned for it yet?

Yes sir off for a Mule Deer hunt on Tuesday,


I tried a long string of 130 Accubonds in my 6.5-284 with Reloader 26 starting at 53.0grs and going up in .2gr increments, no pressure signs.

53.0-2797
53.2-2841
53.4-2821
53.6-2833
53.8-2859
54.0-2866
54.2-2895
54.4-2894 seemed to be fairly close, so ill start at 54.2 with some 3 shot groups
54.6-2889
54.8-2916
55.0-2951
55.2-2961
55.4-2965
55.6-2976
55.8-2991
56.0-3004

Also tried some 143gr ELD-X with 54grs of R26 and got 2860fps and a .2" group
soon as I went to 54.5 it opened up to 0.65" and then at least 55gr it went to 0.75"

I recently switched to the factory loaded 143 ELD-X in my 6.5 creed. It’s my primary nighttime hog rig. Haven’t  shot any game with it yet  but the gun sure seems to like them.

Good luck on the mule deer hunt, hope to see some success pics! You may have already said and I missed it, where are you headed for it?