I need some help on a project. I want to convert an XP to a 6.5 X 284 and I understand you two have these. What can you tell me about this caliber as far velocities and game that may be harvested.

Thanks...
Randy

Depending on barrel length, twist (mine is a 1-8), MV's will be around 2650 to just below 2800. Steve has taken a bighorn ram, mountain goat, and a cow elk with his. I am using mine for deer hunting right now (could have taken does but passed up on them) with 140 A-Max's.

The 6.5-284 is definitely starting to become accepted in all areas of the shooting industry besides just long-range target. When i decide on a particular caliber the first thing i check is the availability of bullets for it-- controlled expansion, varmint and LR target-- of which there is now a respectable offering for the 6.5's these days-- Hornady covers the gamut with their SST's, and A-Max's, and plenty of offerings from the others also. I believe Swift is making a Scirocco now, as well. Norma, Lapua, and Hornady are all making quality brass for it since it's become legitimized. It has been just excellent in both our guns-- here's a link to my Bighorn, and long-range coyote-- http://www.perry-systems.com/what_others_have_to_say.htm#Steve

Thank you both for your replys. I appreciate your time.
Who did the barrels/guns for you and who would you recommend or can any good gunsmith take care of it? What barrels did you finally settle on?

Steve's XP started it's life with me in a rifle form(6.5x308 Imp 30 degree shoulder). I had my 7-08 XP handgun built by Chunk Youngbllod with a planned pistol in the afore mentioned wildcat. After I had the 7-08 for awhile I realized I didn't need something so close to it so I had it made into a rifle instead. I only used it for PD's and coyotes and ended up selling it to Steve. Steve later had it rechambered into the 6.5-284 by Greg Tannel (Chunk is no longer smithing and referred Tannel to each of us). Steve's XP is a combination of Youngblood's/Tannel's work.
My 284 Win XP was built by Youngblood too.
Steve's 6.5-284 has a 1-9 twist Shilen, whereas my 6.5-284 built by Tannel has a Kreiger 1-8 twist.
Tannel is one of the best when it comes to accuracy smithing www.gtrtooling.com Another good one that I have not used yet but will in the future is Kirby Allen (50 or fiftydriver). A third smith I am using right now for a 6-284 XP project is David White. David doesn't have a 6.5-284 reamer yet, while Tannel does (unsure about Kirby).
I am going with a Broughton barrel with my 6-284. Krieger & Shilen have also been very good to me. Tim North of Broughton barrels has been a friend in helping getting the handgun class going in 1k shooting in Iowa. The nudge would go to him for a barrel now in my opinion. Hope this answers your questions.

Where do you get your XP actions?

Pawn shops and gun stores for me. you can buy them via the web, but they seem to be pricey.

I've obtained most of my SSP actions as Ernie mentioned from him. Another consideration may be to give the Savage Striker a try. That action has quite the rep for delivering great accuracy. I'd definitely get ahold of FiftyDriver as Ernie mentioned he's extremely knowledgeable regarding bolt SSP's, and big, bottle-necked, long-range cartridges (u'll have to ask him about his XP .338 WSM, and 6.5 WSM). He's quite active at www.longrangehunting.com , and in fact has become one of the "go to" guys there for tech. info.

can't say much fer "mutt n jeff" there....but them dang guns are purrrty! ...hehehehe. lol lol

Thanks a lot Kyode-- uhh, that's a 1/2 thanks to be exact. Actually Ernie's shorter than i am. It's just hard to tell from that pic. I'll never forget 1 time when he got sick while we were hunting, i was supposed to carry him across the Poudre River in No. CO, back to the truck. Sure!

Steve,
I wasn't really sick, I was just faking to see how much you cared