6.5/284 loads

[jerryday]

Just started loading for this cal. anybody have some loads for 130gr. berger vld? Thanks/ Jerry

 

[parker33]

the one I have from Len shoots nice with H-4831SC and berger 140 vld's. My load is a little hot so start low and work your way up. Berger starts at 48.5 and goes up to 51. I am will above that and getting 3060 fps. I have a Cooper and the same load is too hot but shoots RL-22 very well. I like the extreme powders for my hunting loads though. I haven't even tried the 130's yet. Love the cartridge though. Good luck with yours. Scott

 

[rcol317]

I have two 6.5X284's I shoot 130 VLD's in one I use Retumbo 59gr with WLR primers and the 130's off the lands .020 this may be a hot load so I'd start out a few grains lower and work up. the other load is H4831SC with 51.5gr. and WLR primer with the 130 .010 off the lands. This is also over recommendation by .5 grains but doesn't show any pressure signs in my rifle. I've had several 6.5X284 and have learned they all are different. BE SURE TO START LOW AND WORK UP! what's fine in one rifle is a stiff bolt or hammered primers in another. The little 130 VLD hammers coues deer and is very accurate in my Cooper.

 

[backwoods83]

I have shot the 130 target vlds, same length as the 140 hunting vld only 10grns lighter, mine did well in a 6.5x284Norma match chamber .188" freebore, with .060" jump in Lapua brass with 58grns of H1000 and fed215Ms, start at 55.5grns. I wouldn't use anything faster than H4831sc either.

 

[ShootnMathews]

I just bought a Savage LRH in 6.5x284 Norma and plan to shoot 140 VLD Hunting Berger in it. I already have H4831SC. Does anyone have any pet loads with those? Also I still need to buy brass and dies. Any recommendations on those?? This will be a hunting gun, not a match gun. I was looking at the Redding 3 die set that includes a full length, neck sizer, and bullet seater. Any experience with those? Lapua or Nosler Custom brass? Those were the two I was looking at. I've heard the Lapua is a proven shooter and the Nosler is already preprepped and ready to load and presorted by weight into lots . Any help here will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Jared

 

[backwoods83]

The redding 3 die set will be fine for you. Use fed210M primers, buy the lapua brass. Start at 51grns of H4831sc and work up .5grns at a time to around 54 or so when you find slight pressure, try a 3.125" oal to start off with and adjust .010" in both directions to see if your groups tighten up after you have found your ideal powder charge.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Thanks a ton. Will be a few weeks before I get everything all together. Spent too much money on toys lately. Scope mount should be here in a couple days. Ordered a steel 20 moa mount. Already have steel leupold rings and an SWFA scope. Just need the brass, case trimmer, shell holder, and dies. So in a few weeks I'll let you know how it does. Thanks for the advice.

 

[backwoods83]

You'll likely find that for hunting purposes H1000 or Retumbo with fed215M primers will net similar accuracy with more velocity, even with a 24" barrel 2950fps is pretty easy with Retumbo.

 

[cowboy]

The redding 3 die set will be fine for you. Use fed210M primers, buy the lapua brass. Start at 51grns of H4831sc and work up .5grns at a time to around 54 or so when you find slight pressure, try a 3.125" oal to start off with and adjust .010" in both directions to see if your groups tighten up after you have found your ideal powder charge.

Berger's new reloading manual shows 51.0 gr of H4831sc as max for their 140 gr hunting VLD - I'd be careful.

 

[backwoods83]

Yes it does, as a sa cartridge with a oal less than 3", the 6.5x284norma has a much longer max oal than a 6.5x284win, I myself and several other have went past 55grns, I went to 56.5grns before a heavy ejector mark, but I couldn't get the velocity I wanted outta mine with that powder in the short 26.5" barrel of my hunting rifle, it works good in 29-31" barrels. If it scares you start at 48grns, but in neck sized lapua brass I use 60.5grns of Retumbo, so that leaves you with about a 85-88% charge density which really sucks. Always be careful not matter what, and don't start at my max loads but I'm not going to share info that I think will cause someone to be injured.

 

[Gene]

Most likely answer is that brass is sticking at the bottom. You can carefully measure and compare fired cases that both stick and those that do not. Use a caliper just above the extractor groove. Even a .0005" difference could cause this problem. If that is the cause a small base die would correct it. I have a brand new unused Redding 6.5-284 small base body die that I would sell for $35 shipped.

 

[Greyfox]

I just bought a Savage LRH in 6.5x284 Norma and plan to shoot 140 VLD Hunting Berger in it. I already have H4831SC. Does anyone have any pet loads with those? Also I still need to buy brass and dies. Any recommendations on those?? This will be a hunting gun, not a match gun. I was looking at the Redding 3 die set that includes a full length, neck sizer, and bullet seater. Any experience with those? Lapua or Nosler Custom brass? Those were the two I was looking at. I've heard the Lapua is a proven shooter and the Nosler is already preprepped and ready to load and presorted by weight into lots . Any help here will be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Jared

I have a couple of 6.5-284's, one a LRH Savage. Lapua and Nosier brass give identical results. I use a Redding Competition 3 Dye Bushing set, with .292" neck bushing. With 140 Berger Hunting VLD's I have two loads that shoot .25-.5 MOA, 5 shot groups.
53 gr. H4831sc, Fed210M, .075" off the lands. Velocity 2945 FPS, ES 12 FPS
59 gr. Retumbo, Fed215M, .075" off the lands. Velocity 3015 FPS, ES 16 FPS
Start a couple of grains low and work up. I neck size for 2-3 reloads, then full size, pushing the shoulder back .002". For hunting, I prefer FL resize. I have seen no difference in group size between the two. It's just faster to neck size. All shooting has been done with the muzzle brake on. With the LRH, check your barrel bedding to make sure there is no contact with the stock, in particular, the fore end tip. Sandpaper, or Dremel it if there is contact. Tighten bedding screws to 40"/#. After the few shots, the adjustable brake will be frozen in position. Brake cleaner will free it. I just leave it frozen. A buddy of mine got a LRH and the chamber dimensions and above load recipes give similar results. Overall, my LRH is quite an accurate rifle with very little felt recoil.

 

[CogburnR]

Yes it does, as a sa cartridge with a oal less than 3", the 6.5x284norma has a much longer max oal than a 6.5x284win, I myself and several other have went past 55grns, I went to 56.5grns before a heavy ejector mark, but I couldn't get the velocity I wanted outta mine with that powder in the short 26.5" barrel of my hunting rifle, it works good in 29-31" barrels. If it scares you start at 48grns, but in neck sized lapua brass I use 60.5grns of Retumbo, so that leaves you with about a 85-88% charge density which really sucks. Always be careful not matter what, and don't start at my max loads but I'm not going to share info that I think will cause someone to be injured.

Actually 51g H4831sc is the max listed load for the 6.5-284 Norma version (NOT the Sa 6.5-284 Winchester wildcat version) in the Berger manual for the 140VLD. If you are off the lands quite a ways then the pressure may be lower allowing a little more powder. In my 6.5-284 Norma 51g is about where I stop because at 52g I get a sticky bolt. Each gun is different and if you have a custom it may not be set up to Saami specs for the 6.5-284 Norma!

 

[backwoods83]

CogburnR I know what your saying, and yes mine is a custom, but it has an identical chamber to the savage model 12 f class that I had, 6.5x284norma match, no turn neck .188" freebore. Like I stated earlier start low and work up always, but I personally think you have excessive neck tension if you're getting heavy bolt lift at 52grns of 4831sc, I get a real heavy bolt lift at 52grns as well if I use H4350, are you using a bushing die? If so you may want to anneal your cases and go .001" bigger on your bushing. One of the most commen loads you will see in 1k match rifles, my style chamber or tight neck short freebore match, its posted on accurateshooter, 49.5grns H4350 with 140 bergers or 142smks on the lands. I'm not arguing with you, I'm just seeing if you may be having an issue, I'm not sure what rifle/chamber you have but 51grns of 4831sc with a 26" barrel pretty well gives you a barrel burning 260rem from what I've seen, around 2830-2850fps.