Savage 111 LRH 6.5-284 Loading Questions

[Nimrodmar10]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

I think I heard that HSM uses H1000, but I'm not positive.

Maybe so, but not this bullet and load. That was one of the first I checked.

I thought about the Retumbo but Berger is showing 102% fill rate with 58.5 gr. for a velocity of 2865 fps (2801 fps in 24" barrel) and they're seating out .084" longer than I am.

[MachV]

Originally Posted by Nimrodmar10

I thought about the Retumbo but Berger is showing 102% fill rate with 58.5 gr. for a velocity of 2865 fps (2801 fps in 24" barrel) and they're seating out .084" longer than I am.

Retumbo is showing some promise for me BUT like Greyfox said start low and work up and I even went to 1/3 grain with Retumbo and R17 as they seamed to spike??
They may list Retumbo @ 102% but a drop tube works wonders and pour slow The down side with the Retumbo lot I'm useing is it tends to pack into a solid mass......Not sure yet what this does to the load with time but it makes picking the powder out of a pulled load interesting.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Nimrodmar10

Maybe so, but not this bullet and load. That was one of the first I checked.

I thought about the Retumbo but Berger is showing 102% fill rate with 58.5 gr. for a velocity of 2865 fps (2801 fps in 24" barrel) and they're seating out .084" longer than I am.

I have the Berger Reloading Manual and saw that load data. It doesn't match anything I've seen. I have two rifles and I have two other buddies that shoot 6.5x284's. We are all loading 57-59 grs of Retumbo, 140 Bergers, COAL of 3.1-3.19"(.020-.075"out of the lands)and getting 2950-3010 out of 24-26" barrels with no pressure signs. This also is the standard 6.5x284 load used by BOTW.and I believe, Gunwerks. All my data has been verified with actual drops out to 1000 yards. I think their info is either just off, or the specific rifle they tested, not at spec, or an oddball. IMHO.

[BrentM]

I am new the 6.5-284 so I try and read everything available. This is a great thread and I wanted to say to thanks to the guys puttin their info out there. I will be re-testing tomorrow. I have a savage model 116 6.5-284 in stainless with a 24" savage fluted bull barrel. I assume it will be similar in results. I have tested H4350, H4831SC, and picked up a pound of Retumbo based on Greyfox's recommendations. Temps here have been between 0 and 10 above but tomorrow it looks like I might see 30-40.

Not sure what to expect since my last outing was mediocre. I saw a few 1" goups but the throat on my rifle is too deep to feel good about seating at .015 off the lands. I am going to work from 050 and see what happens with Berger 140 VLD hunting. Would be very happy with 2900 +- 50 and .075 off lands and .25 to .5 consistent accuracy at 200.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by MachV

Retumbo is showing some promise for me BUT like Greyfox said start low and work up and I even went to 1/3 grain with Retumbo and R17 as they seamed to spike??
They may list Retumbo @ 102% but a drop tube works wonders and pour slow The down side with the Retumbo lot I'm useing is it tends to pack into a solid mass......Not sure yet what this does to the load with time but it makes picking the powder out of a pulled load interesting.

The packing of Retumbo is quite typical and appears to have no effect over time as far as accuracy, velocity and ES. It is a pain to unpack, but seems to only occur in the top 10-20% of the case.

[BrentM]

Well grey fox is right. 57.5 Retumbo .075 off lands 2975 fps. .4 moa @ 200. 6 to 7 inch at 980 yards. It was windy so verticals were off. Should have a night force on it this week and see if groups tighten up.

[Nimrodmar10]

Loaded up some 6.5-284s with IMR7828SSC and Retumbo and headed to the range. It was 46°, 46% Humidity, 757 feet above sea level and 30.26" Hg.

Let me say right up front, THESE LOADS ARE ABOVE MAXIMUM. DO NOT SHOOT THESE LOADS IN YOUR RIFLE WITHOUT REDUCING THE LOADS BY AT LEAST 4 GRAINS AND WORKING UP.

Given my results with the H4831SC, I took a chance and started with maximum loads for these two powders from the Berger Reloading Manual. I don't suggest anyone does this. The max load of 52 grains of IMR7828SSC was not a problem. I was able to increase the load to 54 grains IN MY RIFLE without showing signs of high pressure. NOT SO WITH RETUMBO. The manual listed 58.5 grains as MAX and it WAS. At 59.5 grains the bolt was slightly sticky and one case showed brass flow into the ejector hole. At 60.5 grains all three shells had brass flow into the ejector hole and slight brass wipe on bolt lift. Primers were completely flat on all Retumbo loads.

All shells were loaded in Lapua once fired, full length resized brass. Primers were Federal 210M match primers. Bullets were Berger 140 gr. VLD Hunting. Bullets were seated .040" off the lands for an COAL of 3.144".

Here are the results of the tests:

Powder Type_________Weight________Avg. Vel._______Grp. Sz._______Notes

IMR7828SSC_________52.0 gr,_______2814 fps_______.840"___________No sign of high pressure
IMR7828SSC_________53.0 gr._______2822 fps_______.500"___________No sign of high pressure
IMR7828SSC_________54.0 gr._______3000 fps______1.050"wf________ES 6, SD 3, No Hl press.

Retumbo_____________58.5 gr,________3072 fps______.910"___________Max Load
Retumbo_____________59.5 gr.________3107 fps______1.467"__________Over Max, Sticky Bolt
Retumbo_____________60.5 gr_________3159 fps______1.910"__________DANGEROUS LOAD

As in previous test, the fastest load is not the most accurate. I'm going to do more testing with the Retumbo between 57 and 58.5 gr, but no higher. Also more testing of the IMR7828SSC in the 3000 fps area. I'll shoot more of some of the same loads to find best accuracy and then start testing shorter and longer seating depths. Then lastly I'll try different primers. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I'm recovering from knee surgery and have some extra loading and trigger time,

Still open to suggestions on loading for this 6.5-284 Savage 111 LRH.