6.5x284 Berger 130 VLD hunting

[C-Crist276]

I need some group therapy….

I'm shooting a Cooper 92 chambered in 6.5x284. I have been having good luck grouping Berger 130 VLD hunting's utilizing 53 gr H1000 with mag primers. I'm very happy with the grouping 1/2" MOA +\-

My mental issue (only mental) is it's flying at 2792 FPS….

I feel like I'm leaving something on the table in the FPS department. Before I order turrets and do all the calc's I'm wandering should find a new load with better FPS closer to 2900-3000 or sit on what's working…

 

[Recon$$]

I shoot your sister cartridge the 6.5 prc with the same projectile in 140's at 3050 with rl-25. I'd say try and find more speed for sure but if it don't work least you have that load.

 

[338 dude]

I need some group therapy….

I'm shooting a Cooper 92 chambered in 6.5x284. I have been having good luck grouping Berger 130 VLD hunting's utilizing 53 gr H1000 with mag primers. I'm very happy with the grouping 1/2" MOA +\-

My mental issue (only mental) is it's flying at 2792 FPS….

I feel like I'm leaving something on the table in the FPS department. Before I order turrets and do all the calc's I'm wandering should find a new load with better FPS closer to 2900-3000 or sit on what's working…

I'm running a 140 VLD at 2980 in my 6.5 x 284 Norma, So yes you're leaving a lot of velocity on the table

 

[Longtine88]

I need some group therapy….

I'm shooting a Cooper 92 chambered in 6.5x284. I have been having good luck grouping Berger 130 VLD hunting's utilizing 53 gr H1000 with mag primers. I'm very happy with the grouping 1/2" MOA +\-

My mental issue (only mental) is it's flying at 2792 FPS….

I feel like I'm leaving something on the table in the FPS department. Before I order turrets and do all the calc's I'm wandering should find a new load with better FPS closer to 2900-3000 or sit on what's working…

God yes find another load for her......you might as well be shooting a 30-30

 

[C.O. Shooter]

What powders do you have at your disposal?

 

[C-Crist276]

What powders do you have at your disposal?

H1000, 4350, RL22, 7828, 4831 & sc, hybrid v, superformance, v160, and 565, few other

 

[Wedgy]

I run the Berger 140 with ~56 grains of H1000 for 3,020 fps with a 26" barrel so i think you are leaving a lot behind. The Berger manual is known to be very conservative and has over 2,900 fps with a 130 grain pill.

 

[Savagehunter1968]

At most you have 1500 rounds to play with. .5 moa at essentially 2800 fps Is pretty good. Of course there is room for more i use 140 gr hvld in my 3 6.5x284 rifles and get 2850 to 3000 fps using 4831 sc. I have a savage lwh with a 22 in krieger barrel that I'm shooting 130gr hvld in 6.5 creed using a stout load of h 4350 I'm getting 2950 the animals never know the difference and out of those 4 rifles only one gets. 5 moa accuracy the others average .75 to 1 . But half the fun is loading so if you want more its there to be had.

 

[The Oregonian]

I would say you definitely are missing quite a bit of potential velocity. If that were the goal you could do it in a SA 6.5, like Creed, 260, x47, etc. I am getting 2900 in my creed with a 140 using 43.2gr of powder.

I don't own a 6.5-284 but have been researching as it may be my next cartridge. Seems like with 140's people use slower powders like Retumbo, H1000, N565, and N570. Looks like you have H1000 and N565, so those would be where I would start.

Side note, I really like N565 in my 30N. My understanding is that N565 and H1000 are very similar burn rates and N570 and Retumbo are very similar.

 

[Dmagna]

You should be pushing that 130 to about 3100 fps. Most reloading manuals do not load for the 6.5x284 Norma, they load for a 6.5x284 Winchester.

 

[Mikecr]

I don't get the allure with 6.5x284 for the bullet/velocities people use them at. It just seems excess capacity and poor barrel life to me.
260AI capacity provides ~3Kfps with 140gr bullets, and even smaller 6.5x47L does it with 130gr bullets.
The 6.5x284 should be for 150gr+ bullets.

I know it's not all about velocity, but for accuracy in the long run, barrel life matters. Replacing barrels and brass less often helps.
Where it is about velocity for some reason, the 260AI with 123-130gr bullets should get up there pretty good.

 

[squarefour]

Some perspective...

 

[C-Crist276]

Some perspective...

Yes, that is what I saw, it's not major ballistic advantage. It is hunting rifle, not a target. 4" drop difference at 1,000 is relatively minor. Ultimately 550 is my max ethical shot I would consider.

 

[twister]

4831sc and the 140's, you should wind up in the mid 2900's.