6.5x284. Worth it if you don't reload?

[TransPecos]

I am thinking about a custom build here soon and I really like this caliber. I would like to get into longer range shooting. I just don't have the time to reload. I even bought a full reloading set up only to watch it sit there in the garage for 2 years unused.

Is it worth buying a gun in this caliber if you don't reload?

[kck]

In my humble opinion, you'd be doing yourself and an injustice to not reload in any caliber that's on a custom build. However, if you have someone you know that is skilled in the art of reloading and can do that for you then you'll be covered. Finding the right powder, powder charges, seating depths, etc. is critical for reaching out to distance and being accurate which is why I reload but yes, it does take some time and homework to do it correctly but it's 1000% worth the effort in accuracy. There are a few custom load developers that I know of but that stuff will get EXPENSIVE.

[Maxlab]

I recently had 6.5x284 built, I don't reload yet. I'm slowly buying what I need to reload. Until then I have been using Nosler Factory Ammo and it shoots very well for factory ammo. Very accurate.

[TX Doc]

It really depends on what you are wanting the rifle for. If you don't plan on reloading any time in the near future, then you will be fairly limited with the number of factory loadings. If one of those happens to shoot well in your rifle great. On the other hand, if none of them perform to your expectations then your stuck. Are you going to be hunting with it or shooting paper? You may can find other calibers that will perform similarly for the given application that will have more factory loadings to choose from.

[TransPecos]

Hunting applications.

[JakeGraves]

Hornady has some pretty good 6.5 Creedmoor ammo out. You can find factory 6.5/284 but not easily. HSM would be my pick if dead set on the 284.

[gumbl3]

In my opinion, no.
All of the 6.5 have pretty similar ballistics but what draws people to the 6.5x284 is that it is a SA cartridge according to SAAMI. What they end up doing is building their custom rigs on a long action. This has a couple of advantages that you're only going to find reloading.

1. VLD bullets can be seated waaayy out, making the c.o.a.l. over 3" sometimes and this is where these bullets perform best is jammed or right off the lands. There's plenty of room for the action to cycle and if they're lucky blind magazines still will hold their capacity.

2. By seating bullets out they're getting a bigger charge than listed and punching higher velocities which makes adjusting dope that much either.

Any ammo you buy is going to be SAMMI spec and off the SA variety (2.85" I think). From my experience the 140 VLD from HSM was flat terrible shooting 3" groups from my gun when I can handload to sub .5 moa by adjusting the seating depth.

You may want to look towards .260, lots and lots of factory ammo to find something that works well

[Maxlab]

You can go to Midwayusa they have a good selection of Factory Ammo for it.

[CADDOKILLER]

If your not going to reload yourself you can have Chad at Dallas reloads do a full load development on your rifle. I think he charges 250. Then you can buy the ammo from him custom for your rifle for about 200ish per 100. Which is $40 per box.

Or you can buy a sample pack from Cooper Creek mo and see what suits best from your rifle.

There's no way I'd spend the money on a custom and not do a load development either myself or someone else