6.5X284 load starting point please

[Rugerdiggs]

I have recently purchased a custom remington 700 trued and blued long action, 26" rock creek barrel with 1:8.5 twist, and trying to get a few loads to start from. I picked up some 140gr berger vld hunting bullets, 100 pieces of lapua brass, and a set of hornady series II dies and got a microjust seater stem on the way for it as well, i have a few pounds of H4350 and some CCI BR2 primers, hoping to get a good load from this mixture. My rifle should be here in a week or 10 days. Just trying to get a few loads to work up to hopefully with the components i have. Any thoughts on bullet seating depth would help as well, its on a long action.

All help and suggestions will be appreciated, thanks rugerdiggs

[backwoods83]

With the bergers there is only two seating depths i'd start with, .010" in the lands and the same amount out. I'd start with 48grns H4350 and work up, you'll likely start seeing pressure at 53grns. H4831sc will give you more speed and H1000 will probably give you top velocity and neither should hinder accuracy, they may make your extreme spreads a little higher but not much.

[Joker]

I use the 140 Berger VLD in my 6.5x.284 as well,I also load for three of my friends that have the same(more or less) rifle. I use 52.7 grains of H4831sc(less affected by tempature changes), lapua brass, federal 210 gold match primers and seat my bullet .10 off the lands.This round is insanely accurate for all of the rifles.I started the charge out at 52.0 grains and .20 off the lands and worked up to the 52.7 grains.Remington 700 long action to accomadate the long rounds in the magazine. My barrrel is a 28" Krieger 1:8 twist and all the work has been performed on the action,trigger is a Jewell set at 12 oz. LOVE IT ! I find you get a more accurate measurement on the VLD if you measure from the ogive to establish a COAL. Hopes this helps--good luck !

[Rugerdiggs]

Thanks to the both of you, what kind of velocities are you getting with your loads with the H4831sc and or the 4350, and the ES's if you have the data. I had thought about getting some of the 4831sc but since i already use the 4350 was going to try it. Do you think i would gain alot by going with the 4831 instead of the 4350?

Whats the best way to measure from the ogive, i have a couple of calibers but usually just get the COAL.

thanks again

[Joker]

I dont have the exact info. at hand(its in the shop) but the velocities are generally around 3000 and the es are low. I have a friend that shoots 4350 and his work up range is between 47-49 grains,he is .10-.15 off lands depending on the rifle( he does use federal 210m primers and not cci). I think you can do fine with either powder,cant advise on the primers as I have never used CCI. I use the hornady bullet comparator to get my ogive coal.Without looking in the shop,I think that current number is 2.478. I get a good bit of varience measuring to the tip of the VLD and way more consistance measuring to the ogive.I do this(now) for all of my calibers.While I'm no exspert,I do know this set up works very well for me and several of my shooting buddies.I'm sure some of the very knowledgable people on this site can offer a different view point on this subject.Hope this helps some.

[Rugerdiggs]

Yes this helps alot thanks, will try to get a hornady bullet comparator

[backwoods83]

Using Norma brass with 139 lapua scenars, my oal to the ogive is 2.368", to the tip they measure from 3.131-3.135", I use both Imr and H4350, 48.7grns Imr and 48.5 grns of H, both with CCI BR2s, I normally get an average of 3021fps with a 3-4fps ES (30" barrel) I have ran Imr4350 all the way up to 53grns with heavy bolt lift and hit 3182fps but its not safe and is very hard on brass. If the best of both worlds is what your looking for you can likely get 3100fps from your 26" barrel with 55-58grns of H1000 with the BR2s and still have an ES between 10 and 15fps.