BrentM
Well-Known Member
FYI-measured the OAL length, base to tip of the round I am using right now. At .075 off the lands, berger 140 VLD, 3.15. Berger book said 3.22 is what they used in their test results.
Savage 111 LRH 6.5-284 Loading Questions
- Thread starter Nimrodmar10
- Start date
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Based on you OAL your chamber is the same measurement as mine as well as four other rifles I know of. Savage appears to be very consistant with their specs.
coues7
Well-Known Member
We free floated my buddies and retorqued all the screws. I believe we went 3-5lbs over what was recommended. He is shooting the load I previously posted and his shoots bugholes all day long. Any specific recommendations for cleaning/removing the carbon ring?
Sargesniper
Well-Known Member
Hi Coues: The carbon ring can be very hard to remove if left too long. I used a product called TM bore cleaner that seemed to work well and it can be left to work in the barrel. I would avoid amonia based cleaners if possible. TM was developed by a BR guy. If corbon persists, use lloso paste or JB bore paste only if necessary. I have used straight Alcohol but this method MUST be followed by a light coat of oil,as this method dries the bore down to bare metal. A quality barrel should not need this method though. Nearly all shooters think of copper build-up is all that needs to be addressed. Carbon is a barrel and accuracy killer. Hope this helps you. ......SEMPER FI!
ShootnMathews
Well-Known Member
Shot some of my test loads. Just 4. I originally loaded 6 at 50 grains and 6 at 51 grains of 4831SC. Of each 6, 2 were loaded at. 3.00" (.02 off the lands), 2 at 2.98", and 2 at 2.95". I started with the 50 grains at 2.98" which shot about 1-1/8'' group. I noticed the primers were just begining to flatten at 50 grains but no stickyness in the bolt. I keep hearing about .04 to .075 off the lands so the next group I shot was the 50 grains at 2.95" and they shot awesome. I measured the group with my digital calipers at .23" center to center on the bullet holes.
I'll pull the 51 grain loads since the 50's started to flatten primers and load some more 50 grain loads at 2.94, 2.95, and 2.96". I think a 3 shot group of each will do. I'll keep you posted. Maybe if weather permits I'll shoot these tomorrow.
I'll pull the 51 grain loads since the 50's started to flatten primers and load some more 50 grain loads at 2.94, 2.95, and 2.96". I think a 3 shot group of each will do. I'll keep you posted. Maybe if weather permits I'll shoot these tomorrow.
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Sargesniper
Well-Known Member
Have you tried H-4350 and RE-19? Both of these were good as well as H-4831sc. Keep playing with seating depth,you look as though you have the Bull by the horns........SEMPER FI!
ShootnMathews
Well-Known Member
No I haven't tried any other powders. Stuff is so hard to get right now. I have two pounds of 4831SC. And I know a lot of people have good results with this caliber with it.
Gave it a good cleaning and loaded 3 rounds each at 2.94, 2.95, 2.96". All at 50 grains. My book list 50.3 as the max and with my COL so short compared to everyone else I prob shouldn't go more. Can't wait to get this thing dialed in and see what it'll do. Gotta say with this muzzle brake it kicks like my 22 mag. It's crazy. I bet you don't even need a brake on this caliber but it should let me spot for myself.
Gave it a good cleaning and loaded 3 rounds each at 2.94, 2.95, 2.96". All at 50 grains. My book list 50.3 as the max and with my COL so short compared to everyone else I prob shouldn't go more. Can't wait to get this thing dialed in and see what it'll do. Gotta say with this muzzle brake it kicks like my 22 mag. It's crazy. I bet you don't even need a brake on this caliber but it should let me spot for myself.
Nimrodmar10
Well-Known Member
Made it back to the range today with some new 6.5x284 loads to try. The weather was warm and sunny. Temperature was 63° with the barometric pressure at 30.13"Hg at 757 ft. above sea level. The humidity was about as low as it gets around here at 24%.
All loads were loaded in once-fired, full length resized Lapua brass. Loading was done with a set of Redding Competition dies. All loads used Federal 210M primers. All groups were 3 shots each. VLD loads with bC.O.L. of 3.144" was 040" off the lands. VLD loads C.O.L. of 3.109" were .075" off the lands. The first four groups were to compare these two seating depths. The last two were the first load tests with the Sierra 142 gr. SMKs.
Here are the results:
Powder Type___Charge Wt.__Bullet Type_____C.O.L._____Avg. Vel.____Group
Retumbo_______58.0 gr._____Berger 140 VLD__3.144"____3023 fps____.985"
Retumbo_______58.0 gr._____Berger 140 VLD__3.109"____3007 fps____1.10"
IMR7828SSC____54.0 gr._____Berger 140 VKD__3.144"____2887 fps____.815"
IMR7828SSC____54.0 gr._____Berger 140 VKD__3.109"____2873 fps____.660"
H4831SC_______51.0 gr._____Sierra 142 SMK__3.100"____2750 fps____.737"
Retumbo_______58.0 gr._____Sierra 142 SMK--3.100"____3016 fps____.653"
Conclusions:
With only four groups fired, I can't see any clear advantage of either.040" or .075" off the lands. I did, however, notice that the bolt was less likely to stick with the bullets seated .075" off the lands. That alone, will make me start seating bullets .O75", or so, off the lands.
Retumbo powder will give me the 3000 fps I was looking for.
The Sierra 142 gr. Match Kings are showing promise for accuracy.
All loads were loaded in once-fired, full length resized Lapua brass. Loading was done with a set of Redding Competition dies. All loads used Federal 210M primers. All groups were 3 shots each. VLD loads with bC.O.L. of 3.144" was 040" off the lands. VLD loads C.O.L. of 3.109" were .075" off the lands. The first four groups were to compare these two seating depths. The last two were the first load tests with the Sierra 142 gr. SMKs.
Here are the results:
Powder Type___Charge Wt.__Bullet Type_____C.O.L._____Avg. Vel.____Group
Retumbo_______58.0 gr._____Berger 140 VLD__3.144"____3023 fps____.985"
Retumbo_______58.0 gr._____Berger 140 VLD__3.109"____3007 fps____1.10"
IMR7828SSC____54.0 gr._____Berger 140 VKD__3.144"____2887 fps____.815"
IMR7828SSC____54.0 gr._____Berger 140 VKD__3.109"____2873 fps____.660"
H4831SC_______51.0 gr._____Sierra 142 SMK__3.100"____2750 fps____.737"
Retumbo_______58.0 gr._____Sierra 142 SMK--3.100"____3016 fps____.653"
Conclusions:
With only four groups fired, I can't see any clear advantage of either.040" or .075" off the lands. I did, however, notice that the bolt was less likely to stick with the bullets seated .075" off the lands. That alone, will make me start seating bullets .O75", or so, off the lands.
Retumbo powder will give me the 3000 fps I was looking for.
The Sierra 142 gr. Match Kings are showing promise for accuracy.
ShootnMathews
Well-Known Member
So was your bolt sticky a lot? Get a lot of flat primers? My LRH was getting flat primers at 50 grains 4831SC. Bolt worked nice and free still. I was hoping to get up around 2900 fps with it but yours shows much slower. I don't have a chrony. I'm shooting the VLD 140. If retumbo is that much faster I may switch. Would like to keep groups at 1/2 MOA or better though
BrentM
Well-Known Member
I tried H4350 and H4831sc. Both powders worked fine and produced decent results. At 54 gr of 4831sc I threw 140 vlds at 2900. Pressure was high though, so I was back down to 53 at about 2850. I went to 57.5 grains Retumbo, Greyfox recommended, and my speeds went up to 2975 according to the chrono. The one thing I think could be done on Nimrods testing with the berger is to back down the powder and see what happens. For example on my rifle the gain from 57.5 to 59 was minimal (3035) as the barrel was not able to burn it all. Backing down my rifle seemed to burn the powder better. Now remember, I am using a 24" barrel so if you have a 26" you might get away with more powder.
Also, I am not done testing but right now 57.5 has given me several groups at .75 @ 200 and when if and when I do happen to shoot 100 yards it is consistently giving me .35-.45. My buddy is taking my rifle out today and going to confirm drop etc at long range and we'll see if the chrono was lying or not. I wish I could go but I have to work.....and play on this computer.
Also, I am not done testing but right now 57.5 has given me several groups at .75 @ 200 and when if and when I do happen to shoot 100 yards it is consistently giving me .35-.45. My buddy is taking my rifle out today and going to confirm drop etc at long range and we'll see if the chrono was lying or not. I wish I could go but I have to work.....and play on this computer.
Sargesniper
Well-Known Member
Looks like you are in the right speed. I would try to seat the Bergers closer and drop the powder charge down as Bergers tend to like to get close and personal. As for the SMK goes, they will tolerate more jump. Let me know how it turns out. Remember to keep the barrel carbon free and cool. Will be waiting to hear from you. ........SEMPER FI!
Both my rifles had an accuracy sweet spot between 57 and 59 gr. of Retumbo, .075" off th lands with 140 VLD's. Accuracy ranged .25-1MOA. For both rifles it occured at 2950-2980 FPS. The weight was 57- 57.5 with my recent lot of Retumbo.
Sargesniper
Well-Known Member
I never used that powder when i had my 6.5. Burned up before i had much of a chance to use anything. You too may want to drop down to the next level of accuracy. You have it in afterburner now. I kept mine there for too long. Learned the hard way unfortunately. I decided to go with the .260 after having my heart break. Can still get 6.5x284 vel. out of 30" barrel but dont want to match reputation of 6.5x284. 2780 to 2850 seems to be right on with accuracy. Good luck and keep it clean and cool. ........SEMPER FI!
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Still struggling to find the answer to why the speed has anything to do with the barrel life. I had way more pressure issue's with 4350 and 4831 than I do with retumbo.
