6.5x284 LOAD HELP

[NW Hunter]

I've had this Savage weather warrior 6 months now and have tried the recommended Retumbo load of 57.5 grains at .075" off lands, Berger 140 grain HVLD's, Lapua brass with inconsistent results.

I just had a Mini Magnum Muscle brake installed and thought I would start over with load development. I set up loads CBTO at .075" off, .100" off, .125" off and .150" off.

I also did a primer test using CCI BR2 and Fed 215s.

All loads shot with a load of 56.0 grains of Retumbo.

No chronograph readings yet.

Any thoughts on how you would proceed?

Randy

 

[Greyfox]

I would probably hone in on the 56gr/.075" OTL loads with both the Fed and CCI primers and, 1) shoot a few more groups of each to confirm the group sizes. 2) chronograph the loads for MV and ES. I would guess the 215's would be 25-50 FPS faster then the BR2's. I would also see what the groups are doing at 200 yards. Just out of curiosity, is your barrel fully floated? My Savage LRH 6.5-284 had a pressure point at the tip of the forearm. When I sanded it down, my groups shrank from .75 to .25. Same thing with my Predator/22-250. Savages are sensitive to bedding pressure/screw torque. Overall, your groups show promise so I would pursue honing in before going to a component change. For 500-600 yard hunting, I think you could do fine as is.IMO.

 

[NW Hunter]

thanks for your thoughts Greyfox. I do have the barrel free floated. You talk about action torque on the accustock. I have mine at 40 inch pounds in the front and 45 inch pounds in the back. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[cjuve]

You may also try the Feds at .150 off and back out the seating in .003 increments and see if it tightens up I have noticed with my load development that in some of my best loads I will get some horizontal if I am on the long side. I have been working on the edge with seating up near the lands .015 off touch will give me about 1 MOA straight horizontal with less than .2 vertical at 922 yds when you take that to .018 off touch it shrinks to .45 MOA which I am pleased with.

 

[Hotolds442]

Randy,
With the added brake, barrel harmonics have changed somewhat. I'd drop 2 grains and work back up in .3 increments at .075 jump with a ladder test at 250-300 just to make sure you're still in the node. I'd also look at maybe dropping down to a .290 bushing just for gits and shiggles. .0015 neck tension might not be enough. If nothing works out, it might be time to abandon the Retumbo and look elsewhere powder wise. Our 6.5x284 got a bear last weekend, so now we can start working up loads with the VLD's and set up the doping for whatever load we can make work.

 

[Greyfox]

thanks for your thoughts Greyfox. I do have the barrel free floated. You talk about action torque on the accustock. I have mine at 40 inch pounds in the front and 45 inch pounds in the back. What are your thoughts on this?

That a good torque setting. Mine are at 40 inch pounds for front/back. Also, I have found the recent lots of Retumbo give higher velocity than my older lots. Where I was originally at 59 gr several years ago to generate 2965FPS, I'm getting 3015 with 57gr/215 primers. My ES has held at <10FPS and groups at .25 or better with both my Savage and Cooper. I size my Lapua brass to .292".

 

[BrentM]

I run 45 front and rear too. However, Savage, and others recommend front action screw is to be tightened first, then rear. Make sure your lug is fully engaging the face of the stock before you tighten screws.

 

[BrentM]

I am curious why don't just do a complete seating depth test. I have had rifles shoot from jammed in the lands to 0.175 off the lands. I guess you never really know until you try. My stock savages like .075 to .125. My buddies 260 savage loves .035. My current 6.5-284 settled in at .016. I built a 6.5-284 rem/age and it liked .005 off the lands.

Just a thought. Good luck.

 

[NW Hunter]

cjuve,
I also liked that horizontal group at .150" off with mag primer. I may need to look at that one again. I backed down on powder charge 2 grains from 58.0 gr Retumbo because I was worried about pressure changes pushing the bullet into the powder column.

Hotolds442,
Welcome to Longrangehunting! What you say makes sense to me. I could kick myself for not doing a ladder test earlier. Before I neck turned down to .014" neck wall thickness, I used a .292 bushing. I do have a .290 and will try it.
Did your son get the bear?

Greyfox,
58.0 grains gives me 2980-3000fps with ES <10. My groups alternate from mid .4s
to mid .8s. I even sent my Sightron in to have it checked out. They said it was "to spec". I guess it could be the sporter barrel with the .570" muzzle.

BrentM,
I have been following your past posts and like you, I wanted to have enough bearing surface of the Berger HVLD in the neck to hold it in a hunting situation. .075" off the lands is the minimum I will run in this factory long freebore chamber. I could still try .175" off lands.
You may have helped me about the accustock torqueing sequence. I normally tighten the front action screw first, but this time I started with the rear screw.
I picked that idea up on another forum. I know, everything you read on a forum is not always right.
It's good to get to know you guys, as my shooting satisfaction will only get better!

 

[Hotolds442]

Randy,
Yeah, he got the bear. 123SST at 100 yards. Not my choice of bullet, but it did the job. We had other choices, but he had all his doping for that bullet and didn't wanna change in the middle of hunting.
I had totally forgotten about the neck turning. We need to do that too.
I've found with the Berger's that they shoot best where they shoot best at. My testing now is done at .030 steps once I find my powder charge. My 6.5 WSM likes the 140 at .010. It also shoots well at .090. In between its total garbage. I'd also see about shooting a group by volume rather than powder weight just to see whether you're truly in the node. I can load the WSM by volume and still shoot tight groups. Also, check to ensure you're .000 is correct and that the lands haven't moved on you. I'd also make sure there's no carbon build-up at the neck-throat junction. If none of that works and you find yourself at square one again, Bartlein has the solution.....

 

[NW Hunter]

Hey Dan,
Can you enlighten me on what you mean by shooting a group by volume, not powder charge?
I rechecked my .000 after muzzle brake install and lands have not moved.
What do you use to check for carbon build-up in your rifles?

 

[Hotolds442]

Randy,
If you're shooting 58 grains, set your powder measure up to throw 580 grains in 10 charges (reduce it to 464 and 8 if you're limited to 511 grains) and then load straight from the measure. You can weigh them in between, but don't tweak them. What you're aiming for is a consistent volume of powder going into a consistent volume of cartridge case.
I borrow a bore scope from work to check for carbon.

 

[mmman20]

If you don't find the accuracy you are looking with Retumbo you might try Mag Pro, I have been shooting the 6.5 X 284 for almost 20 years now and Mag Pro has been my most consistently accurate and also the highest velocity I have found.
Good luck,
MM

 

[C.O. Shooter]

6.5-284 Cartridge Guide

Bottom of the page, there are a few loads to try.


My 6.5-284: 140 Berger VLD Hunting, 49gr H4350, Lapua Brass, Fed210M Primers = 3040 + FPS.