6.5-284 Build

[burns5539]

All,

Based on reading threads on this site and many others, I convinced myself that I needed a rig that was more suitable for shooting long range.

After a lot of research, I settled on a 6.5x284.


Donor = Remington 270 Win M700 SPS.
Barrel = Krieger, 1 in 8" twist, 26" finished length, remington sendero contour
Stock = HS Precision (PST087 - Tan Web)
Trigger = Jewell, 1-1/2 oz to 3 lb (HVRTSBR-A)
Scope = Vortex PST 6-24x50 FFP (Vortex #: PST-624F1-A)
Base = Picatinny Style, Leupold, 15 MOA (Leupold #: 65970)
Rings = 30mm Medium Burris Tactical (Burris #: 420162)
Muzzle Break / Supressor = YHM Titanium .30 Cal. Q.D. Phantom (still waiting for the form 4 to clear for the supressor)

I will be using Redding competition dies, lapua brass, 140 Gr. VLD Hunting Bergers, CCI BR2 primers, and hopefully either H4350 or 4831SC.

I should get away from the house this next week to do barrel break in.

I will be using this gun primarily for predator / varmint hunting in Idaho as well as a pronghorn hunt this September.

I am new to the long range game stuff but it should be a fun experience.

I thought I would share this with you guys since you had an unknowing role in the decisions for the various components I selected.


Thanks,

Ryan

 

[ust421]

Very nice looking gun. I just bought myself a cooper 6.5x284. Let us know how it shoots. gun)

 

[joseph]

I have my rings turned around so the tightening nuts are out of the way of your receiver opening. Good luck with your new toy. I'm sure it will shoot great.

Don't get confused. I have a duel port action.

Vortex Viper PST mounted with pics. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

joseph

PS: I used the screws that came with the rings. I later had to change them for harder ones because the female hole in two of the screws stripped.

 

[Greyfox]

Very nice build! I would consider trying Retumbo powder with the 140 VLD's. It generally will produce superb accuracy, low ES, and the highest velocities velocities in the 6.5x284. iMO.

 

[burns5539]

Thanks guys. I really enjoy shooting the new gun.

I have only tried one powder so far 4831SC and it is performing well but I haven't had an optimal day for shooting conditions (windy).

For 4831SC, I loaded 10 rounds of each of 50.0, 50.5, 51.0, and 51.5 seated touching the lands.

The 50.5 gr. loads performed the best on paper as well as providing the smallest velocity spread. The average velocity is 2758 with a 12fps extreme spread. As I increased velocity to 51.0 and 51.5, the groups opened up some as did the extreme spread. I am going to stick with the 50.5 load for now and develop / calibrate a ballistics curve for my Idaho antelope hunt in September. I am confident that the 50.5 load will shoot better than 1/2" per below in calm shooting conditions if I do my part.

I was hoping for a faster load but I may have to try a different powder at some point. I just don't have a lot of spare time to keep fiddling with powders and loads before the hunt.

The group below is 4 shots at 100yds.

 

[burns5539]

Very nice build! I would consider trying Retumbo powder with the 140 VLD's. It generally will produce superb accuracy, low ES, and the highest velocities velocities in the 6.5x284. iMO.

Thanks Greyfox. I will try Retumbo if powder becomes more available for purchase. For now, the only suitable powders that I have are 4831SC and 4350.

Our store shelves around here are empty with regard to ammunition and components.

 

[joseph]

burns5539,

I would check the laws about using the suppressor. I think it will be illegal to hunt with it attached.

Just incase you don't know this (????). When using a suppressor the report of your rifle will only be silenced when you are shooting ammo that is subsonic. It might be dangerous to load way down to get subsonic velocities.

joseph

 

[burns5539]

burns5539,

I would check the laws about using the suppressor. I think it will be illegal to hunt with it attached.

Just incase you don't know this (????). When using a suppressor the report of your rifle will only be silenced when you are shooting ammo that is subsonic. It might be dangerous to load way down to get subsonic velocities.

joseph

Joseph,

I would definitely make sure it is legal before I hunted big game with it but I do not see anything in the Idaho regulations that states that using a supressor to take big game is unlawful.

"It is legal to hunt in Idaho with a suppressor. Keep in mind that there is a federal permit required to possess a suppressor in Idaho and the weight of your weapon must stay under 16 lbs." - https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/question/it-legal-hunt-suppressor-idaho

The real benefits of the suppressor are that you get the recoil reduction of the muzzle brake along with the sound reduction (32db) of the supressor. You essentially reduce recoil via the muzzle brake but you do not need to wear ear protection while shooting because of the supressors reduction of report at the muzzle. My friend has the same set up on a remington sendero 300RUM. It is pleasantly mild with regard to recoil and has the report similar to a 22 Hornet from the perspective of the shooter.

 

[burns5539]

I couldn't settle with the results I was getting so after a bit of frustration at the range, I decided to try some loads jumping to the lands rather than jamming. I finally found a load that I am happy with.

49.5 Gr of 4831SC seated .010 off the lands. The results are an average of 2781fps at 7 feet from the muzzle with a 6fps extreme spread.

The COAL of this load is 3.1975" which is under the COAL in the Berger manual for the Berger VLD.

this is a 5 shot group shot at 106 yards. At this point, I think the load and gun are capable of shooting better than I can so I am going to stop load development before I wear out the barrel. I have exactly 100 shots through it now.

 

[g0rd0]

I see a supprised prong horn in your near future
Nice group! Now that your barrel is broken in and you have load combo it is time to start the climb to 1K

 

[joseph]

X2. ^^^^

joseph

 

[joseph]

Since I have the same scope as you I thought I'd post these for you incase you might be interested.

Drop chart. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

Testing new Vortex custom turret. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

I really like using my Vortex custom Turret. It is dead nuts accurate at all ranges. gun) - - - - - - - - - - - -

joseph

 

[burns5539]

Since I have the same scope as you I thought I'd post these for you incase you might be interested.

Drop chart. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

Testing new Vortex custom turret. - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

I really like using my Vortex custom Turret. It is dead nuts accurate at all ranges. gun) - - - - - - - - - - - -

joseph

Thanks Joseph.

I am going to try to make it out this weekend to start working out to longer ranges and calibrating a ballistics calculator (iStrelok). I plan on zeroing the rifle at 100yds and then recording calculated drop vs actual drop at 300, 400, 500, 600, 700.

Since I will know all of the variables such as elevation, muzzle velocity (I will shoot through chrono), pressure, temperature, etc, I am hoping that I can fudge the BC in the calculator to match my actual drop on paper at the various distances and have a reliable tool.

I am new to this long range stuff, but in theory, once I calibrate the calculator to match some real shooting conditions and results, I should be able to change elevation, temperature, etc and get a calculated result that is really close if not spot on.

eventually, maybe I will just get a few turrets made through vortex to match the common hunting/shooting conditions that I hunt/shoot in.

Burns

 

[bruce_ventura]

I'm looking at a similar set in the near future. How heavy is that rifle (with the optic)?