The parent case .284 Winchester was created around 1963, but did not see extensive commercial use.

The 6.5-284 has been used extensively in benchrest competitions and is known as an extremely accurate long range round.

Using an improved version of the 6.5-284, Rich DeSimone set a 1,000-yard (914.4 m) world record with a 1.564-inch (39.73 mm) group.

[4] Rich DeSimone's 1,000-yard (914.4 m) record has been broken by Tom Sarver, who shot a 1.403-inch (35.64 mm) group in 2007 using a .300 Hulk wildcat cartridge that is based on the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge.

[5] A 140 gr (9.1 g) bullet in this caliber is typically fired at 3,000 ft/s (914 m/s) to 3,100 ft/s (945 m/s).