6.5 284 Norma Are any of my loads good enough for long range?

[Lazerus]

Just had a 6.5 284 Norma built on a Tika action with a 28 in Brux barrel. Mu bullet and powder selection lately has been limited,however I had lots of reloader 22and Winchester large rifle primers. I also had alot of H4831SC and CCI BR primers. The only two bullets I could get in 140 grains were the A Max's and Berger. THe A Max's didn't seem to work at all, but both primer and powder combinations are giving me about 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards. The H4831 I chronographed it today and this is what it gave me:
2980
2957
2980
2985
2963
2981
2964
That is with 52.8 grains. The reloader22 gave me:
2953
2949
2927
2923
2945
2937
This is at 52 grains. I don't have alot more time to play with this but am wondering if this is going to be good enough for some long range hunting? Both groups were shot at 100 yards. Any input would be helpful, thanks!

 

[sendero72]

Set up a target at 600yds and do a drop chart to verify your MV and see how tight the group holds.

 

[SBruce]

Very nice 100 yd groups! Congrats.

IME shooting the Berger 140's..........100 yds is not the place to test LR ammo. Sure, its a place to start but that's it. Good groups like yours show that we know our rifle is capable and its' time to move on..........the Bergers really show their "shine" at further distances. We need to at least move out to 200 or 300 yds for good data. Not saying we wont get good groups at 100, but we need those groups to hold true at 300 and further.

Both groups look good, but the 4831SC is more "round"......... That being said, both are worth a better look at further distances..............We are after a load that maintains 1/4 to 3/4 MOA at all distances.

My rifle shot ~ 3/4" at 200 and ~3" at 700 yds with the Berger 140 and 4831SC. See Pics below.

FWIW, I wasn't ever able to get all three shots touching at 100, but I was able to get the first two nearly in the same hole many many times..........Hunting Rifle, first two is all that matters right.? LOL!

If it were me, I'd take the more "round" group over the other one and try that load at 300 to 600 yds. We are after something that will hold 1/2 MOA to 1/2 mile (under good conditions) and it looks like you've got a good start.
Best O Luck

 

[Greyfox]

Just had a 6.5 284 Norma built on a Tika action with a 28 in Brux barrel. Mu bullet and powder selection lately has been limited,however I had lots of reloader 22and Winchester large rifle primers. I also had alot of H4831SC and CCI BR primers. The only two bullets I could get in 140 grains were the A Max's and Berger. THe A Max's didn't seem to work at all, but both primer and powder combinations are giving me about 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards. The H4831 I chronographed it today and this is what it gave me:
2980
2957
2980
2985
2963
2981
2964
That is with 52.8 grains. The reloader22 gave me:
295
2949
2927
2923
2945
2937
This is at 52 grains. I don't have alot more time to play with this but am wondering if this is going to be good enough for some long range hunting? Both groups were shot at 100 yards. Any input would be helpful, thanks!

I think you are in good shape. I would go with the H4831sc load. I have used this load successfully out to 1000 yards on deer sized game using 140 Bergers at 2950FPS out of my 24" barrel 6.5x284. My 26" runs at 2970FPS. I never tried R22, but have confirmed that the H4831sc is very temperature stable. Your average velocity of 2973FPS is good. The SD of 11 is on the edge of the exceptence range but I have little faith in chronograph results, particularly with the highly polished Bergers. My next step would be to get a velocity/drop confirmation at 700 yards or more. If my vertical spread was .5MOA or less I would load my ballistic calculator for the actual velocity(if necessary), and go hunting with confidence.IMHO.

 

[digger11]

If your gun won't shoot any better than that I'd sell it. I might know a guy that would cash you out on it. GRIN

 

[BrentM]

Looks good. I am no expert but it seems any time you can get a berger close to 3000 fps it does well at LR. My 6.5x284 at 2970-3000 fps (depending on temp and elevation) has thrown lead well under 1 MOA out to 1500.

If you can find some retumbo I bet you get close to 3100 fps. My rifle is a 24". So that extra 4" might get you close.

 

[80Rooster]

IMO 2950 fps out of a 140 in a 6.5 is about all you will get you can push it faster but your just burning powder at that point .... That said I shoot a 6.5-284 on a rem 700 with a 26" brux barrel I shoot 54 gr of retumbo fed 215M 140 Berger seated .020" on the land. 5 shot average (100 yds) of 2960 fps and 1/2" moa it shoots a 7" group at 1000. This is at 7000' elev. I have taken mule deer with this load at 800 yds. 1 shot 1 kill full pass thru. The berger opens up nice .25" in .5" out

 

[roninflag]

looks real nice to me. what are you going to hunt??

 

[BrentM]

Surprised you are not running more powder. At 57.5 Retumbo I had an occasional flyer. Wound up at 56.5 and then seated bullets .100 off. 200 yard zero nets .25moa groups.

Last outing I shot 1500 and 1660 with adjusted speed at about 3000 fps. 46 moa for 1660, 7000 ft, 78 degrees.

 

[Greyfox]

Surprised you are not running more powder. At 57.5 Retumbo I had an occasional flyer. Wound up at 56.5 and then seated bullets .100 off. 200 yard zero nets .25moa groups.

Last outing I shot 1500 and 1660 with adjusted speed at about 3000 fps. 46 moa for 1660, 7000 ft, 78 degrees.

I'm running very similar loads and speeds out of my 24/26" rifles.

 

[BrentM]

Well thanks to you buddy I have a working load. Thanks a million. I have shot 4" groups at 1000 with this set up if I do my job.

Greyfox knows what he is doing. If he says try something do it.

 

[Greyfox]

I appreciate the kind words Brent. Sure looks like like you have that Savage ready for some serious long range hunting!

 

[ShootnMathews]

Wish I could get mine shooting like that. Just started working with it again. Still getting flyers. I want to shoot the 140 VLD hunting bullets but if I can't get it tuned in on them soon I may try another bullet to try to scrap together any accurate load for season