6.5x284 loads, anything but 4831

Well, that is strictly a hunting load, and again 1 fps ES and 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards with a 16x scope, thats pretty much as good as I am. It places 5 touching at 100 yards. I tried everything but BR2 primers and only because the only BR primers I can find without ordering and paying hazmat are 210Ms. I got the best consistency and groups with RL17 with Fed 215 primers. I figure that likely has something to do with the pressure difference,to some extent at least. When just shooting I use the H4831SC load and it does about the same regardless of the primer I use.
 
Yeah using a 215 is almost like adding an extra grain of powder and a more erratic ignition, plus lapua cases are thicker and softer than norma cases, the normas will hold just a tid bit more. Jam those bergers in the lands and try 49-50.5grns Imr 4350 with 210m's or BR2s and I bet you can't see how many holes you left at 100yards until you see how raggedy the 3/8s hole is on the back of the target! That is quite a mean hunt load you got though, 1K deer and antelope nightmare!
 
Well as I mentioned in a previous post I was running 3020fps with a 4fps ES with 48.7grns Imr 4350, norma cases, CCI BR2s, and an average around 35lbs neck tension and jammed .005" in the lands on a 139 lapua scenar. I have hit 3176 with 51.5grns Imr 4350 but it started vertical so I backed it off for accuracy, went from 8" groups to 5" groups, so I guess the question is why use about 10 grns more powder to do the same thing?
How do you go about measuring that 35 pound neck pressure?
 
Funny you asked this question. I have been using h4350 and was getting good results but at 48g it was showing slight pressure and was only getting 2850 to 2863fps. So I borrowed a little retumbo from a friend using it in a 338 edge. 57g was showing some pressure so I dropped to 56.5 today which is almost a compressed load with 140 bergers. I am getting great groups and ES now and its down to either winchester(2993-3004fps) or 210m (3031-2991fps) primers in lapua brass.
 
I shoot a 6.5-06 that pretty comparable to the 6.5x284 ballistically. I use H4831SC. Try RL22 with is about the same burn rate.
 
Is the Hodgdon data on the conservative side? I am working up with H1000 and Hornady 140gr sst and it sure does not look like Im going to get close to 2900 fps. Hornady says I should get to about 2700 with 52.5gr H1000 and that seems close to where I am at. I do have a 24" barrel, maybe longer barrels is how everyone is getting closer to 3000.
 
This is a very odd question to say the least. Why spend the money if you are not going to try what is arguably the one of the very top propellants for this cartridge????? I guess it takes all kinds but to try and go cheap on powder just does not make any sense. If the OP thinks powder is expensive just wait until he starts buying the Lapua brass!!

The loads I shoot in all of my tubes as well as rifles in this chambering all use between 49 and 49.5 grains of H4350 lit by a 215M (do not have the lot number of the powder here) using the SMK 142 getting between 2935 and 2950 depending on the outside temp. Usually with the prepared brass the velocity spread is between 5 and 10 fps.
 
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Is the Hodgdon data on the conservative side? I am working up with H1000 and Hornady 140gr sst and it sure does not look like Im going to get close to 2900 fps. Hornady says I should get to about 2700 with 52.5gr H1000 and that seems close to where I am at. I do have a 24" barrel, maybe longer barrels is how everyone is getting closer to 3000.

It just depends on what they used for their test barrel.

I run h4831sc in my Savage 12F with a 30 inch barrel and I get >300 fps more than they show for max load. I'm also about 1.2 gr over their max load with no signs of pressure.

You'll probably loose about 50 fps for every inch you chop off.

I'm just about finished building another 6.5x284 with a 24 inch barrel. I'm figuring on about 2750 fps tops. Anything thereabouts will be just fine for my purposes.

Be safe and work up carefully from a minimum load.

-- richard
 
Hodgdon has similar max velocities for H4831 and H1000 for a 140gr bullet. I just found it odd that their quoted potential for a 6.5x284 is very close to the potential for a 260.

I am not yet up to their max loading on my workup, so I will wait on my final decision regarding H1000 with this cartridge. I would hope to get over 2800 with 140s and maybe into the mid 2800s even.
 
Hodgdon has similar max velocities for H4831 and H1000 for a 140gr bullet. I just found it odd that their quoted potential for a 6.5x284 is very close to the potential for a 260.

I am not yet up to their max loading on my workup, so I will wait on my final decision regarding H1000 with this cartridge. I would hope to get over 2800 with 140s and maybe into the mid 2800s even.

I completed my new rifle today. I actually got up to 2907 fps stopping at 1.0gr over Hodgdon's listed max with no signs of pressure. Of course, my chrony hasn't been calibrated lately and the sun was dropping rapidly. So, who knows. But, I was certainly pleased to get into the 2800 fps range very easily with the shorter barrel.

Here's my target and load data... http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/my-first-build-72748/

On the other hand, my Savage does exhibit some primer flattening at 51.3gr. So, it just goes to show that each rifle is different.
 
I worked up to 53.8 hh1000, and only getting 2750fps. One of those had blue material around the primer in 95 deg temps. Hodgdon says this is what I should be getting roughly with 53.5 which is rare for me. I usually reach their number before I reach their max load weight. I am moving on to h4350next.
 
I use 4831 SC with 140 gr Berger VLD's and 140 gr. Match King's for 1 hole 5 shot groups. There is no need to look elsewhere.
 
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