Okay, I know the merits of the 6.5-284 in 1K BR shooting and rifle accuracy, but what would be the best for LRShooting in an Encore 16" Heavy Fluted? Would it be drasticly better than the 260 Remmie, 6.5 Swede, or even 6.5-06 (which I think holds alot of promise). My line of thinking is that in an Encore, the action is real accuracy limiting factor and I also think the acheivable velocitiy of them will be pretty much equal. I have a 6.5JDJ (not enough case capacity for heavyest slugs) and a 7mm-08 that is a sweet shooter to 300 and 400-but I just really need another cartridge! I'm leaning toward the 6.5-284, but what do you other LR shooters recommend? No, I won't get an XP or Striker. I want to make up a LR Encore pistol!

The best long range chambering I've seen is the .280 JDJ. JD rang a 10 inch gong at 600 yards 20 for 20. He says its the best long range chambering going for a 16 inch barrel.

yeah......280AI

222 rem mag improved. Read about it and the Contender/Encore system at Mike B's site.

http://www.bellmtcs.com/BellmChambers/222RemMagImp.htm

For paper and steel, or for varmints and or game? All of the above?

And

What distance is your goal?

Kyode,
The 280JDJ holds a bit more powder than the 280AI. Also when JD said it was the best long range chambering in a 16 inch barrel, he was talking about the Encore, not the XP.

Gerry, how about the 9.3 X 72R

Paper mostly. I already have some big time hammers for hunting at my self imposed 'ethical' ranges. IMHO-just to be able to put a 160(?)gr bullet into the lungs of a deer or Elk at 700 yards and be lucky enough to kill it one time within a reasonable time frame doesn't make it a bonafide 700 yard Elk gun. But that's just me. Doing something once is pretty neat in my book, but that doesn't close the book, it merely opens it. Unfortunately, most of us have to listen and read about others (Mark, Gary, et al) who have multiple opportunities to test various bullets on multitude of game. Unless I find an unending wealth in the near future, I'll have to be happy with taking a few white tail deer and chucks and maybe a Kyode or two (Oops!) Sorry Kyode! I meant Coy-dog type!;) Therefore, I want a paper gun. I am really jealous of those that can take many species like in Africa, or a prarrie dog town with the smaller calibers. I know my big boys can group well and penetrate and kill out to 300, or much more for smaller game, but I want tiny clusters out to 600+ yards. The money for high quality scopes is never a problem, nor is the other gear, but I want to make the right choice in caliber. Will the 260, 6.5-284 and 6.5-06 give me what I want at long range without killing my hand?

Bullelk,
Once I have my .260 dailed in, I have no problem hitting the 600 yard gong at the range. Its not a big powder burner and can get a good many loads out of a pound of powder. The barrel dosen' get as hot as some of the barn burners get. For a paper puncher and hunting gun the best way to keep recoil manageable is to beef up the gun. A heavy 16" barrel and a carbine forend does wonders to tame recoil.

Gerry,
Are you willing to brake it or un braked?
The 260 as mentioned is a good 600 yard cartridge as would be a fast twist 243 w/the 105/107's.
The 6BR has done well in F-Class (600 yard) and the 243 in a SP would be right at that.
If you want more fudge with the wind jump to the 284 as the parent case for either caliber.

i have a custom 6.5-06 in a r-ri-rif-rifl one of those long things.i think the 6.5-06 would be a good round would get more speed than the 260 but would be light on the pouder and the hand.

A true 1-8 twist 6-284 or 6mm-06 with 115 DTACS (BC .585) would work great as would a 6.5-06 or 6.5-284.
I would go with the 6.5-284 for the good brass and no forming. You should get around 2650-2700 with a 16" barrel using the 140 class VLD's (1-8 twist).

Whether you go with JD's wildcat or the standard 280 AI I wouldn't go any lower than the 162 A-Max (.625 BC) and the 180 Berger and 176 Carteruchio BC's are even better.
But as you increase bullet weight so will percieved recoil.
If going with a brake I would choose a baffle style like Holland's Quick Discharge-Best brake I have ever used to date.
Some of the Wildcat bullets would require a faster twist rate than the normal VLD's would need but you also get a bullet that is not sensitive to wind drift compared to the standard VLD's.
I would also consider a Bower Rest System. It my favorite for rear grip SP's shooting off the bench at LR.
I am recommending the 06/284 case capacity or above since you want 600+ yards.

Thanks Ernie. I have Holland brakes on two barrels. My 16" 375H&H and 16" 416 Rigby, but even braked, I can only handle so much. They do work! I shoot my 243, 270, 308, and 06 enough to know I want a tack driver. The 270 shows promise, but I've really wanted a .264 bore barrel because I can get long, 'lighter' (140-160br) with higher BC than teh larger bores. I know the Swede is too slow. In my match rifle, the 308 goes sub-sonic too quickly, otherwise I'd be blasting that one. In my hands it is great to 400 on DanB's 1qt milk jugs, and competitive at 500. I've never really shot the 270 at extreme distances because it seems like when I get over 130gr, the velocity falls off too fast to carry. It might just be my barrel. I'll let you guys know when I decide.

David Tubb shoots his 6mm XC cartridge at the 600 yd. line and i guess that's the only cartridge that's ever shot a perfect score @ Camp Perry. He also uses that cartridge with his new reticle that he takes out to 1200 yds. on 2 ft. silhouettes. I'd bet a straight up 243 would be just fine for 600 yd. shooting with a fast twist barrel and 115's. ...and there's always the choice of using Lapua/Norma brass as well. The 6.5's have only a slight BC edge on the 115 6mm's (Berger and DTAC).