Hello long range shooters ! I have been loading for 6.5-284 norma in a savage lrh starting loading 140 grain berger with h4831 sc and is showing a lil pressure at 48 gr. Guys is this normal or you think something is wrong with my brass ? This seems to be a light load compared to what i hear ? Any feedback would be appreciated....thx shooters!
max load for 6.5-284 norma
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westcliffe01
Well-Known Member
The Hodgdon reloading site lists H4831 as being from 45gr (min) to 49.5gr (max) so according to that data you are not far from max. The OAL is listed as being 2.91" with a soft point bullet (probably shorter than a Berger) so what OAL are you running? If the bullet is seated out further, then you would probably be able to use bit more powder, or sometimes you can lower pressure by increasing the bullet jump. Bergers tend to be fussy over that though, so OAL will be determined by the jump that gives you the best accuracy.
Hmmm....I ran 51 grns. of H4831 with the 140 grn. Bergers with Lapua Brass and CCI BR-2 primers. No pressure. But, I had the bullets seated way out as I was running it in a long action. I looked at the data on Hodgdon site too. Bergers are usually shorter in the bearing surface the an equal weight soft point bullet which usually allows for a little more powder due to lower pressures. But, every rifle is different.
ShootnMathews
Well-Known Member
What are you calling a" lil pressure" sign? My sav LRH 6.5-284 with lap brass, 140 VLD and 4831sc the primer started getting flat around 47 grains but no more pressure signs occur until 52.7 grains when the bolt is just a tiny bit stiff about 1 out of 10 shots.
My LRH in 6.5x284 using H4831sc, 140Berger VLD's, Lapua brass, Fed210M's, bullet seated .075" off the lands is 53gr. This is a max load that gives slight flattening of the primers, very slight stiffness in bolt lift. The velocity runs 2934FPS and gives .25-.4MOA, and is my standard load. I get another accuracy/ES node at 51.5 gr, with velocity about 2875 FPS. I get stiffer bolt lift at 53.5gr. For higher velocity and lower pressure I prefer Retumbo. Using my standard Retumbo load, 57.5 gr, Fed215 primers, I get 2970FPS, no pressure signs, same accuracy. I can load as much as 59 gr of Retumbo for 3020 FPS with slight flattening of primers, slightly stiff bolt lift, but the accuracy falls off slightly, and ES increases. Both loads are effected by primer selection. A Fed 210 vs 215 magnum is about 40FPS higher resulting in powder charge being backed off about 1 gr to get the same velocity. I generally have used the 215's with Retumbo, and 210's with H4831sc. My ES for both powders run 8-12FPS, and accuracy at .25-.4 MOA. I get just about identical results in my Cooper using equivalent loads except for velocity due to the 26" barrel, about 20FPS higher. I should note that my loads have been checked for pressure and velocity between 20 and 80 degree temps. I would recommend starting loads that are backed off a grain or two from the loads shown to due to possible chamber/barrel differences between rifles.
Thx to all you guys ! I have been using win. 284 brass for this but lapua brass be here this week gonna try that . Maybe that will let me go up more . My old load was with 130 gr. Bergers and 50.5 grains 4831 sc. To answer the question to lil pressure......flat primer and stiff bolt.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Most all of the answers above me are the same as mine.
One thing you might need to do is check head space. I had issues and saw pressure where I should have not seen pressure. I had to bump all my brass back .002 and changed my reloading process.
I just annealed my original Lapau brass for the 2nd time. I am now on 10 reloads and it looks good. I have some primer pockets that are loose now though. I can't complain. I ran some of this brass really hot so there are some nice round extractor marks on my brass. LOL
One thing you might need to do is check head space. I had issues and saw pressure where I should have not seen pressure. I had to bump all my brass back .002 and changed my reloading process.
I just annealed my original Lapau brass for the 2nd time. I am now on 10 reloads and it looks good. I have some primer pockets that are loose now though. I can't complain. I ran some of this brass really hot so there are some nice round extractor marks on my brass. LOL
BrentM
Well-Known Member
I measured my case headspace on multiple fired cases and found it was too tight. I use a redding body now that bumps the shoulders .002. Works perfect for me.
I use a Hornady headspace measuring tool from midway. You can make your own with .375 inside diameter pipe and a caliper.
I use a Hornady headspace measuring tool from midway. You can make your own with .375 inside diameter pipe and a caliper.
Thx alot ! I thought shouldve been able to load more than 48 grains......thats close to what i can shoot in my .260 rem. With a 120 grainer although i switched powder in it .....went with h414 and it came together.....makes me wonder if h414 be any good in 6.5 284
What bullet are you using? That's impressive.
Forgot to put that in it is a Berger 140 VLD
zeroed at 100 yds and 1000 ft. elevation
600 yds = 9.3 MOA
1000 yds = 21.7 MOA
ShootnMathews
Well-Known Member
Is H1000 temp stable??
