Barrel life expectancy of the 6.5-284 Vs 6mm BR
Your take? Yes I know, I am still hemming and hawing over the two.
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I never liked that rebaited rim concept. If you are hunting dinner and it could make a meal out of you bigger is usually better. However, punching holes in paper seams like less powder and recoil, cheaper bullets and a chance for better barrel life makes more cents. Just my thoughts. 0 -
well using the 'old' method of 40 lbs of powder 6mm br=about 9000 rds., 6.5x284= about 4912 rds. 0 -
FrancF,
I shoot and compete with both cartridges in several rifles. I also hunt with both although the last of my 6BRs for hunting is in a 'pistol' format.
Competition barrel life for the 6.5x284 Norma, when loaded for the accuracy velocity level of approximately 2950 FPS, will yield about 1,200 shots. I have a couple that have more but I also had one go south after 800 shots. I attributed this to the barrel steel and the barrel maker since I did nothing different from the others. This number is based on actual competition records for 600 - 1,000 yards.
Competition barrel life for the 6mmBR can be several thousand shots. Norma claims to have tested non-moly vs. moly bullets in a barrel life test which resulted in 10,000 shots on the moly barrel. No matter what the story, this is a mild cartridge capable of fine performance for a longer competition life.
Honestly though, I have switched over to the 6BRX for competition using both a gas gun and a bolt gun. I get far better performance with similar barrel wear as with the standard 6mmBR. It's a very simple chamber and you can use standard 6mmBR dies.
In 2011, I will be fielding two different chambers just for a change of pace. The 6.5mm is more aggressive than the 6.5x284 Norma and as such will have a short competition life. I have taken the precaution of making 3 barrels for rapid changeover. The new 6mm chamber will have a life of approximately 2,500 shots, more than enough for the year including practice.
For mild performance and longevity, go with the 6mmBR.
For exciting shooting, fewer corrections and short barrel life go with the 6.5x284 Norma.
Best.0 -
First, we'd have to know what you mean by "barrel life." Is it some arbitrary accuracy standard? Some degree of throat erosion? Or years?
In general, the more powder a cartridge torches down a smaller hole, the more damage it causes to the throat/bore.
An interesting take on barrel life: If you add up the actual amount of time bullets are actually traveling through the bore, most barrels have a "life" of between three to five seconds.0 -
If you are looking for a long range hole puncher, you might take a gander at the 6.5 creedmore round. It does it all...with less. Bob 0 -
6mmBR will give longer barrel life. It will take more hold for drift in wind than the 6.5-284.
IMO the 6.5-284 is right at the edge of being overbore. For serious accuracy competitions this isn't good. Again, IMO. As the saying I've heard goes, "You can cut your mistakes in half by using a flatter shooting, less drifting cartridge/bullet combo, the problem is the guys on either side of you aren't making those mistakes." Meaning all that wind-cheating and flat shooting don't mean a hill of beans if the guy next to you is shooting a cartridge that drifts more and doesn't shoot as flat if you don't eliminate your mistakes in calling the wind. The best way to call the wind is use one rifle that you KNOW the ballistics on. Longer barrel life, simple as that.
As nononsense says you might want to check out the BRX cases. They hold up to 40 gr. of powder depending on which caliber and which bullet in that caliber you are loading. An empty case holds about 43 gr. of water.
Anyhow, I'm not sure if you shoot Service rifle or highpower but a 6.5 BRX will launch a 123 gr. bullet @ 2850. I've seen it done.
Also, part of making one work the best in an AR, if you do that, is to get the right barrel extension and bolt. I know nononsense has talked about getting the parts done for his 6 BRX, but that bolt (.473) and extension have matching slots that have a radius in the bottom corners and over the top that make them stronger. A good design is seen at www.ar15performance.com . You can see the radii in both the bolt and extension and why they are stronger.0 -
To give you an idea most competative shooters (not target or part time shooters) change a barrel each year. Cleaning methods, speed of shooting, bullet type, powder type, speed of bullet and a thousand other things will determine barrel life! 0
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