Velocity 6.5X284

[dragman]

I am gonna use the 140 hunting VLD's and I have worked up some nice loads for this hog season. Question is how fast should I try and push them? should I stop at a certain speed for any reason or go for the gusto?? what does everyone think??
gun)

 

[BrentM]

I am of the opinion you find the accuracy node and the acceptable pressure level your rifle can handle and you are done. Load em and go. Acceptable pressures for H4350, H4831, and retumbo all produced different velocities for my rifle.

 

[dragman]

I always try to find a load that is backed off of max a little on my bench guns. I like my competition stuff around 2950fps, I was hoping to see if I can get the hunting gun over 3100fps.

 

[BrentM]

There are tons of posts on here regarding the 284 but I don't recall anyone getting that much speed. But I would imagine you could with a 28-30 inch tube. There is one guy who said that beyond 3050 accuracy went south until 3300ish. Since that number was not achievable without pressure issue's he backed off to 3050 and less. I have chrono'd over 3000 but pressures were high and my bolt was sticking. Good luck. I am thinking 6.5WSM for my next barrel. : )

 

[dragman]

Looks like it's time to dig out the chrono and do some playing.

 

[Michael Eichele]

If you're looking for 3100 I would look to RL17. 3100 from traditional powders is not too good on brass and barrels. Some push retumbo to 3100. 4831 and 4350 will give you trouble trying to reach 3100

 

[dragman]

That looks to be the best possibility. I just wanna see what I can get out of it those long shots +1000 are a problem with wind.

 

[BrentM]

3100 vs 2970 at 1300 with 10mph at 90 is .5moa difference. Not to shabby of a change. Good luck

 

[jhibbard24]

I am of the opinion you find the accuracy node and the acceptable pressure level your rifle can handle and you are done. Load em and go. Acceptable pressures for H4350, H4831, and retumbo all produced different velocities for my rifle.

If you're looking for 3100 I would look to RL17. 3100 from traditional powders is not too good on brass and barrels. Some push retumbo to 3100. 4831 and 4350 will give you trouble trying to reach 3100

agreed & agreed


I push 140's out of my 6.5-284 all day with H4350 and a 26" stick. Anything more seemed to start causing some sticky bolt problems. I have been really anxious to try RL-17 behind the 140's. I think a guy could get around 3050 easily without pressure signs. I am still testing with the RL-17 in a .300 wsm load with 190's; got a tack driving and fast load (3070 fps) and it kills good. Some people say they are seeing some temperature sensitivity problems with it but I haven't had issues. H4350 is a **** good powder though.

 

[Greyfox]

I am gonna use the 140 hunting VLD's and I have worked up some nice loads for this hog season. Question is how fast should I try and push them? should I stop at a certain speed for any reason or go for the gusto?? what does everyone think??
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What is your barrel length?

 

[dragman]

29"
I got it shooting really well now.
just a little over 3100 now not gonna play anymore gun has 65 rounds on it i am gonna build my drop chart and take it hunting

 

[BrentM]

Greyfox, any experience with 19? dragman seems to be doing fine with it. I wonder how Retumbo performs in a 29" barrel? If the fps per inch rule is true that means our rifles would be around 3100 with current powder charges and somewhere around 3150-3175 with max. Correct?

 

[Greyfox]

Greyfox, any experience with 19? dragman seems to be doing fine with it. I wonder how Retumbo performs in a 29" barrel? If the fps per inch rule is true that means our rifles would be around 3100 with current powder charges and somewhere around 3150-3175 with max. Correct?

I have not tried Reloader 19. I have heard that it didn't have the temperature stability of Retumbo, but that is information from a few years ago and they have done some work changing the formulation to improve the temperature stability of the Reloader powders since then. I get great performance with current Reloader 15 in my 308. I don't see why Retumbo wouldn't perform well in a longer barrel and you should be able to get at least 3100 FPS out of 29". I have gotten 3025 FPS out of my 26" Cooper with good accuracy using 59 gr of Retumbo with no pressure signs. I settled on 2970FPS because the groups shrink from .5MOA at 3025FPS to sub .25MOA with ES of 7FPS. I'll take the accuracy over that relatively small increase in velocity. It will probably give me a a little longer barrel life as well.