Berger 184gr Hybrids in the .284 revisited

Now that shooters have some time under their belts with the 184gr Hybrid in a .284 is there a consensus on a good velocity and seating depth? I have about 400rds in my straight .284, unturned Norma brass, 30" Bartlein 5r tube. So far it seems to like between 2800-2820fps seated around 0.015" off light touch shooting RL-23. I am shooting H4350 in a match this weekend as a comparison and will shoot a load at just at/above 2800 fps Vavg in once fired cases. It shoots very well with new cases at the same/slightly less velocity. Anyone care to share their experience?

Robin

 

@rardoin
What twist rate are you running?

 

They shoot well around 2830 with a 30 inch barrel 1-9 twist. Looking back at prior scores with the 180s they seems to have pushed my X ring hit rate up in 1000 yard matches, but it's hard to make direct comparisons across different matches and conditions. Jump 007 seems to work but they don't seem sensitive.

 

I'm running them in a 280AI, only early days but I like them so far. In my gun they like a decent jump as far as I can tell, about 40thou. Barrel is 32 and 1:8.5 twist. I'm also running RL23 and they seem happy at 2830 and 2900fps with two different loads I have tried. I'll be running them in the Australian nationals but I expect to get my butt kicked, moreso from the quality of shooters as opposed to the bullets.

 

8.5 in 5-R rifling

 

That’s the spot +/- depending on barrel, powder lot, ...

 

My freebore is 0.230” with a 0.315” neck. 32” Bartlein 5R 8.7 twist 1.25” straight/no taper. 54.26gr H4831SC. BR-2s. New Lapua 6.5-284 brass that was necked up with a 0.281” expander mandrel. Outside deburr and inside chamfer only. The group above was shot with about 75 rds through the barrel at 100 yds. Fire-formed the last 150 of 400 rounds at F-Open 2 day 3x20-600yd. AGG=1191-52x.(No problem with loads/gun...just poor shooting.) Avg. velocity=2820fps, 80°F. It’s looking like mine is liking the lands or <0.010” jump. The velocity began increasing at 150 rds and stabilized around 250 rds at ~2820 for an increase of about 35 fps and SD decreased from 8.8 to ~4.5

 

I settled on 0.016" off light touch/ 2802 Vavg. Working well at 600yds thus far in formed cases. We'll see how it holds at 1000 this weekend.

 

Here's two of my better 5 shot groups while doing load dev. a few weeks ago with the 184's. Both were seated at -.021 out Peterson brass with .0005 neck tension with an average velocity of 2790. So far I'd say I can shoot either the 180 or 184 about the same BUT for me the 184 have the advantage if for no other reason than they have a great point on them out of the box. That being said another HM buddy of mine and I are going to be doing some serious testing with the two next month so we can feel confident one way or the other but for now I'm favoring the 184. Just make sure you have the freeborn to support them if you're jumping them hard.

 

Seating 0.016" off held up at 1000 as best as I could tell with the 'funky' fishtail winds/93deg F in the bright sun mirage and sweat mixed with sunscreen burning my eyes.... Hope to catch a overcast mild rainy day at a 1000yd match before Nats to really confirm. Missed ya' Norm....one of your fellow countrymen, Russel, made it down and scored the F-TR win.

edit- @F Class John ... I am running them at 2800 Vavg. After 3 firings on the Norma brass the primer pockets are holding better than I expected.

Robin

 

What freebore do you have? I'm running a .225.
Thanks,

Lloyd

 

.220

 

I'm running .225" freebore also Lloyd.

 

I'm sorry, I gave everyone the wrong freebore dimensions on my reamer. it is .235"

Lloyd

 

284 Win
30” Krieger 4 groove
184 Hybrid .005 jam
53.5 H4831 SC
Norma Brass .002 Bump
No turn neck
600 yard 1.7” 5 shot

 

That Norma brass is crap...it'll never shoot....particularly if you don't turn it!

Riiiiiiiiggghhhhhtttttt…….. Nice. I've been jumping mine 10-15thou off but it has been a bit finicky with H4350. I'm about to revisit RL-23 in a newer barrel and test seating depths again including jam. Thanks for the post.

What velocity are you running it at Go Devil? I have been at 2790-2800 with H4350 but it hammered with new cases/RL-23 at 2820's.

Robin

 

2790-2830 seems to be pretty good depending on bbl length . I’m running same as F Class John (2790fps) with H4350 with good results . Barrel is 30” Bart 1-8.5 . 225-235fb works well . RL 23 has done well to just don’t have much of it so limited testing to what I have available H 4350/4831sc

 

RL 23 has shot really small but difficult to get in Canada . Grain size on this powder is all over but ..... shoots good ! Good luck with the 23 Robin wish I had more to test . 650 target

 

I have ave not been able to get an accurate chrono measurement on the load. But reverse ballistic calculation I’m coming up 2780-2800 FPS

 

That seems to be where they run well in the straight .284 case.

Robin