6.5-284. or 25 wssm

I guess it depends on what you are planning to use the gun for, but the 6.5-284 is one of the more popular benchrest cartridges these days while the 25WSSM seems to be headed toward obsolescence.

Having a M98 rebarreled for 6.5x284 would not be more cost effective than a new Savage, when you factor in the cost of the barrel and labor. I have a 6.5JDJ and I kinda like the odd name of it, as well.

moondog911 said:

The 6.5-284 is a fine cartridge, or the benchrest crowd wold not use it to win the matches. However, I would much rather see the 6.5x57 or the 6.5-06 offered by the gunmakers simply because they both have a longer neck. The longer neck would protect the grease grooves on my cast bullet. Just my wish for the new year.

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When you say 6.5x57, are you referring to a 7x57 Mauser, necked down .020"? With the existence of the 6.5x55 Swedish and the 260 Remington, I would have to say such a cartridge would have almost no chance whatsoever of making a splash in the 6.5mm world. The 6.5-06 has already been legitimized by A-Square, but being as it is just .007" bigger than the well-established 25-'06 and .013" smaller than the 270 Winchester, it is not exactly breaking any sales records, either. Of the two, it is certainly a much better cartridge, at least to my way of thinking.

The 6.5-284 is doing well because it offers optimum case capacity, a short-fat design and the smallest bore that will consistently resist moderate winds for long-range competition.