.284Win and new barrel speeds

[Kayle]

I just started working up loads for my new 284 and was was wondering what speeds I could expect after barrel gets broke in......

Bartlien 9 twist HV at 28"
Norma virgin brass
CCI BR2 primers
Berger 180 hybrids .015 off
lands
54.5grs H4831SC
2750 FPS

I tested from 53-56 grains with no pressure signs but only cronographed the 54.5 load. I shot 2 rounds a piece in half grain increments. The 54-54.5 went into the same hole and the 55-55.5 just cut the edge of the others for an 8 shot group that could easily be covered by a dime.
I have 20rds down the barrel now. Should I just stick with the 54.5 load and be happy with the 2750 fps I'm getting right now and continue forming the rest of my 100pcs of brass until my barrel gets more rounds down it??

 

[ShootDots]

I just started working up loads for my new 284 and was was wondering what speeds I could expect after barrel gets broke in......

Bartlien 9 twist HV at 28"
Norma virgin brass
CCI BR2 primers
Berger 180 hybrids .015 off
lands
54.5grs H4831SC
2750 FPS

I tested from 53-56 grains with no pressure signs but only cronographed the 54.5 load. I shot 2 rounds a piece in half grain increments. The 54-54.5 went into the same hole and the 55-55.5 just cut the edge of the others for an 8 shot group that could easily be covered by a dime.
I have 20rds down the barrel now. Should I just stick with the 54.5 load and be happy with the 2750 fps I'm getting right now and continue forming the rest of my 100pcs of brass until my barrel gets more rounds down it??

Generally, once a barrel is fully broke in, you can expect somewhere between 40 and 100 f.p.s. My experience is "about" a 60 f.p.s. increase on average. If this is correct for YOUR barrel, you are right in the perfect mix, especially for a 28" barrel. MOST competitors barrels are at least 30" BUT do not worry about that! You keep worrying about accuracy!
P.S. My 'Smith is a big fan of Broughton barrels. and he has said that Broughton states at least 80f.p.s. in their barrels... So some barrel makers use that as a selling point.

 

[Kayle]

Generally, once a barrel is fully broke in, you can expect somewhere between 40 and 100 f.p.s. My experience is "about" a 60 f.p.s. increase on average. If this is correct for YOUR barrel, you are right in the perfect mix, especially for a 28" barrel. MOST competitors barrels are at least 30" BUT do not worry about that! You keep worrying about accuracy!
P.S. My 'Smith is a big fan of Broughton barrels. and he has said that Broughton states at least 80f.p.s. in their barrels... So some barrel makers use that as a selling point.

Thanks for the reply, that's what I was hoping. Not trying to push for high speeds because I wanted good brass life but was wanting to get in the 2800-2850 range if I could. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to with a 28" barrel so was very happy with 2750fps knowing that it should speed up. Not to mention that it shot great also!!

 

[ShootDots]

Thanks for the reply, that's what I was hoping. Not trying to push for high speeds because I wanted good brass life but was wanting to get in the 2800-2850 range if I could. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to with a 28" barrel so was very happy with 2750fps knowing that it should speed up. Not to mention that it shot great also!!

I had one barrel speed up OVER 100 f.p.s. and another barely 25>>>but they were both outside of the "norm". I bet you will get from 2790 to 2810.. Let me know.. your "knowing" is less than 150 rounds away!!

 

[Willow]

My 30" Brux is slow I believe. Only getting 2700fps with 54.5gr of H4831SC and Berger 180's. It is accurate but I was hoping to be in the ballpark of others running around the 2800 mark.

 

[ShootDots]

My 30" Brux is slow I believe. Only getting 2700fps with 54.5gr of H4831SC and Berger 180's. It is accurate but I was hoping to be in the ballpark of others running around the 2800 mark.

Not necessarily Willow... There are some "fast" lots and some "slow" lots of H4831SC.. If this is the first and only lot you have tried in this rifle and you have tried going higher, forget what I am about to say.. BUT If you have shot other lots and found that you were getting higher velocity, slowly start to add more powder til you reach your previous velocity levels.. I have seen them vary by as much as 1.5grs of powder to reach the same velocity levels. I have also seen the reverse, where you get a "fast" lot and have to drop the powder charge..

 

[billlarson]

BE VERY CAREFUL IN HOW MUCH FAITH YOU PUT IN YOUR CHRONGRAPH READINGS...... until you compare against another..... I have owned several.....and I would recommend a quality unit...such as an Ohler 35P...
bill

 

[Kayle]

BE VERY CAREFUL IN HOW MUCH FAITH YOU PUT IN YOUR CHRONGRAPH READINGS...... until you compare against another..... I have owned several.....and I would recommend a quality unit...such as an Ohler 35P...

bill

I was using a Magnetospeed so feel like I was a getting an accurate reading.

 

[kendoka66]

I was using a Magnetospeed so feel like I was a getting an accurate reading.

You might want to try RL26 and RL17 with the 168 and 180,s

 

[ljmontano]

I was using a Magnetospeed so feel like I was a getting an accurate reading.

What was the temp? I get a low reading from my magnetospeed in cold weather, which will also have a effect on powder. This winter I went from 56.0 to 57.0 to reach 2930 using H4831sc.

 

[ShootDots]

Kayle, my 30" Bartlein, "straight" .284 shoots 180 Hybrids at 2830f.p.s. with 51.4grs of H4350. BOTH H4831SC and H4350 are two top powders in the .284. If the one is not doing what you expect, try the other. But with a 28" barrel, my opinion would be that your rifle, with one or the other of them powders should be 2775+ where the sweet spot will be.. But as they say, every barrel is different..

 

[Kayle]

What was the temp? I get a low reading from my magnetospeed in cold weather, which will also have a effect on powder. This winter I went from 56.0 to 57.0 to reach 2930 using H4831sc.

It was in the 50's

 

[Kayle]

Kayle, my 30" Bartlein, "straight" .284 shoots 180 Hybrids at 2830f.p.s. with 51.4grs of H4350. BOTH H4831SC and H4350 are two top powders in the .284. If the one is not doing what you expect, try the other. But with a 28" barrel, my opinion would be that your rifle, with one or the other of them powders should be 2775+ where the sweet spot will be.. But as they say, every barrel is different..

I plan on shooting again this weekend and checking speeds with the magnetospeed now that I have 100 rds down the barrel and all the brass shot in. Was able to stretch it out to 1k with some very nice result though. Wind wasn't great but my last seven rounds i fired I had five of them that went into a group about 3-1/2" inches with two out to the left about 6" inches but feel like the wind got me sense we didn't have any flags up. Really loving this round and can't thank everyone enough on this forum that have helped me with all the questions I've had.
Thanks!!!!

 

[Endyo]

Fwiw. My Brux 32" posted ~2750fps over and Oehler with H4831 and H4831SC at 53.5grs. My barrel was slow also.

I found H4350 provided slightly better accuracy so I went that way. But it sounds like you found a great node.

 

[1shot]

In regards to Shoot Dots statement about fast/slow lots. I was shooting a 6.5 caliber 140 gr. bullet at 3,060 fps. Changed the lot of powder (H-4831sc) and it dropped to 2,990 fps. My ES changed from 3 fps. to 13 fps using the same charge weight. Maybe those two lots were at the extreme ends of the spectrum, but it sure showed up on the target.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[ShootDots]

In regards to Shoot Dots statement about fast/slow lots. I was shooting a 6.5 caliber 140 gr. bullet at 3,060 fps. Changed the lot of powder (H-4831sc) and it dropped to 2,990 fps. My ES changed from 3 fps. to 13 fps using the same charge weight. Maybe those two lots were at the extreme ends of the spectrum, but it sure showed up on the target.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

I do not know why H4831SC has such variations in their lots, but they do! AND I have found Varget to be much the same way! Conversely, I have found H4350 to be "steady as she goes".. WHY? I can't answer..

 

[Kayle]

I have about 4 pounds of this powder lot that's close to 3 yrs old. When it runs out I'm hoping I can just bump the powder charge a little up or down to match my velocity and all stays well. Right now it's shooting great, hats off to Mr. Jon Beanland for building an unbelievable accurate rifle!!

 

[Kayle]

 

[Kayle]

First 4 shots out the barrel
2 at 54.0grs and 2 at 54.5grs.

 

[Kayle]