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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
New barrel, results so far – Long text, plus a few photos
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<blockquote data-quote="rifletuner" data-source="post: 20786" data-attributes="member: 26"><p>Guys</p><p></p><p>I thought you might be interested to hear the outcome of the load development I have been doing with my light 1000yd bench gun. This rifle formally wore a Shilen barrel in 6/284, but since I have been seeing such great success with the 6.5 bore, I decided to go to a 6.5mm for competition and serious long range shooting. I asked my gunsmith to get a Madco (Australian premium barrel maker) 6.5mm in 1/8" twist. He then chambered this in 6.5x57 Imp. Using fire-formed RWS cases, fully prepped and neck turned, the case capacity is 62.5 gns of water. I decided on this chambering for a number of reasons:</p><p></p><p>I have had very good results from the 6.5/284, but cases remain an issue (go Lapua!).</p><p>Case capacities of around 62gns seem to perform very well in the 6.5mm bore.</p><p>I had 200 virgin RWS 7x57 cases on hand.</p><p>Dies were easily available by ordering Redding 257 Roberts AI "S" type neck and FL dies, then adding a .290 neck bushing (chamber is a .293 neck). Seating is achieved by running the chamber die into a Wilson 6.5x55 in-line die.</p><p></p><p>I took delivery of this barrel with a very limited time for load development. I concentrated on the Lapua 139gn bullet because the 105gn Lapua had worked well in my 6/284 and because Lapua bullets are easily available locally. My results from a resent competition were encouraging, however I was keen to try more load/bullet combo's. Subsequent testing has shown the Lapua bullets to be the worst performers IN THIS RIFLE. I have had much better results on a consistent basis with the 140gn Amax and the 142gn Matchking. This last weekend I concentrated on getting a load finalised with the 140gn Amax. I kept getting 4 shots in about .3" at 100 yards, but with a 5th shot dropping out below the rest of the group and opening it up to about 1.0" in total. When I got back from the range, I took the couple of hundred Amax bullets I had on hand and started ogive checking them. The results showed two batches, one averaging about 1.422" and another at around 1.522". I expect this batching will eliminate the flyer shots.</p><p></p><p>I briefly tried H4350 (ADI AR2209), H1000 (ADI , N160 and RL22, but generally achieved best results with H4831 with all bullets. Velocities run from around 2800 fps to 2950 fps. The following 5 shot groups were shot at 100 yards in fairly mild wind.</p><p></p><p> <img src="http://wsphotofews.excite.com/011/OW/TW/7o/sA74009.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>This is the best group I have ever gotten from Lapua 139gn bullets.</p><p></p><p> <img src="http://wsphotofews.excite.com/010/sS/QJ/4M/sK29149.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>This group is from Sierra 142gn bullets.</p><p></p><p> <img src="http://wsphotofews.excite.com/011/AW/kc/GW/tP37923.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>This group is with 140gn Amax bullets</p><p></p><p> <img src="http://wsphotofews.excite.com/010/v5/9f/HB/vk82333.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>Another group with 140gn Amax.</p><p></p><p> <img src="http://wsphotofews.excite.com/024/Mf/XB/i5/It89524.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p></p><p>I don't have a current photo with the new barrel, but this is the rifle with the 6/284.</p><p></p><p>Fergus</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rifletuner, post: 20786, member: 26"] Guys I thought you might be interested to hear the outcome of the load development I have been doing with my light 1000yd bench gun. This rifle formally wore a Shilen barrel in 6/284, but since I have been seeing such great success with the 6.5 bore, I decided to go to a 6.5mm for competition and serious long range shooting. I asked my gunsmith to get a Madco (Australian premium barrel maker) 6.5mm in 1/8” twist. He then chambered this in 6.5x57 Imp. Using fire-formed RWS cases, fully prepped and neck turned, the case capacity is 62.5 gns of water. I decided on this chambering for a number of reasons: I have had very good results from the 6.5/284, but cases remain an issue (go Lapua!). Case capacities of around 62gns seem to perform very well in the 6.5mm bore. I had 200 virgin RWS 7x57 cases on hand. Dies were easily available by ordering Redding 257 Roberts AI “S” type neck and FL dies, then adding a .290 neck bushing (chamber is a .293 neck). Seating is achieved by running the chamber die into a Wilson 6.5x55 in-line die. I took delivery of this barrel with a very limited time for load development. I concentrated on the Lapua 139gn bullet because the 105gn Lapua had worked well in my 6/284 and because Lapua bullets are easily available locally. My results from a resent competition were encouraging, however I was keen to try more load/bullet combo’s. Subsequent testing has shown the Lapua bullets to be the worst performers IN THIS RIFLE. I have had much better results on a consistent basis with the 140gn Amax and the 142gn Matchking. This last weekend I concentrated on getting a load finalised with the 140gn Amax. I kept getting 4 shots in about .3” at 100 yards, but with a 5th shot dropping out below the rest of the group and opening it up to about 1.0” in total. When I got back from the range, I took the couple of hundred Amax bullets I had on hand and started ogive checking them. The results showed two batches, one averaging about 1.422” and another at around 1.522”. I expect this batching will eliminate the flyer shots. I briefly tried H4350 (ADI AR2209), H1000 (ADI , N160 and RL22, but generally achieved best results with H4831 with all bullets. Velocities run from around 2800 fps to 2950 fps. The following 5 shot groups were shot at 100 yards in fairly mild wind. [img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/011/OW/TW/7o/sA74009.jpg[/img] This is the best group I have ever gotten from Lapua 139gn bullets. [img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/010/sS/QJ/4M/sK29149.jpg[/img] This group is from Sierra 142gn bullets. [img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/011/AW/kc/GW/tP37923.jpg[/img] This group is with 140gn Amax bullets [img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/010/v5/9f/HB/vk82333.jpg[/img] Another group with 140gn Amax. [img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/024/Mf/XB/i5/It89524.jpg[/img] I don’t have a current photo with the new barrel, but this is the rifle with the 6/284. Fergus [/QUOTE]
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New barrel, results so far – Long text, plus a few photos
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