SA284

[Fuj]

Something I conjured up over 30 years ago, but was supposed
be a .270 then an additional .257. These were my two favorite's.
Times change and the 7mm/.284 has brought some decent pills
to the front. So for the last several months, between doing forming
dies, and a test rifle, the last several weeks has been devoted to
actual fire forming.....Basically what I wanted was a case, that was
suitable for short actions, fit in the realm of the .308 bolt face, and
did not have the wording Ackley or Magnum attached to it. and gave
me more powder capacity then any case that was brewed within the
.308 family of cases. Also reamers and dies were a huge consideration
wanting off the shelf part's that anyone would find available. Another
consideration was being able to eject a live round if playing in the long
game bullet area. My SA284 has the best fit I can find.....I took the
.284 Winchester and shortened it !! The case has all the same numbers
as the original but one; Rim to shoulder is shortened by .155". I had my
smith "Ethan Lam" use a SAMMI .284 reamer and just run it in short. The
dies are a Lee FL sizer that I shortened, and since Lee does not have a
Collet sizer for the .284, low and behold, the Collet die for a 7mm-08 does
the job with no alterations.....50 test cases have been formed on Hornady
brass, and fire forming is complete using 185 RDF blems. Not a cream of
wheat guy.....Tomorrow will be a short test at 100 with 168 Bergers, and
R-16, and work up to to a reasonable warm load. H4831 and R-23 is in on
the shelf after I see R-16 is a go or no for further testing.

Case in pic was not fire formed.

Fuj

 

[284winner]

Something I conjured up over 30 years ago, but was supposed
be a .270 then an additional .257. These were my two favorite's.
Times change and the 7mm/.284 has brought some decent pills
to the front. So for the last several months, between doing forming
dies, and a test rifle, the last several weeks has been devoted to
actual fire forming.....Basically what I wanted was a case, that was
suitable for short actions, fit in the realm of the .308 bolt face, and
did not have the wording Ackley or Magnum attached to it. and gave
me more powder capacity then any case that was brewed within the
.308 family of cases. Also reamers and dies were a huge consideration
wanting off the shelf part's that anyone would find available. Another
consideration was being able to eject a live round if playing in the long
game bullet area. My SA284 has the best fit I can find.....I took the
.284 Winchester and shortened it !! The case has all the same numbers
as the original but one; Rim to shoulder is shortened by .155". I had my
smith "Ethan Lam" use a SAMMI .284 reamer and just run it in short. The
dies are a Lee FL sizer that I shortened, and since Lee does not have a
Collet sizer for the .284, low and behold, the Collet die for a 7mm-08 does
the job with no alterations.....50 test cases have been formed on Hornady
brass, and fire forming is complete using 185 RDF blems. Not a cream of
wheat guy.....Tomorrow will be a short test at 100 with 168 Bergers, and
R-16, and work up to to a reasonable warm load. H4831 and R-23 is in on
the shelf after I see R-16 is a go or no for further testing.

Case in pic was not fire formed.

Fuj

Please keep this post alive. Sounds like an interesting design. I'm very curious how performance will be. My standard SA 284 is my deer rifle and it's a great set up. 162/168s at 3000 fps from a short action. I need RL17 to get to that number tho. RL26 may be a runner up but none to be found.

 

[Fuj]

Right now I'll be looking for comfortable velocities in the 2700
to 2800 speed ranges for early testing, and of course what the
targets are telling me.....The 168's, I loaded .015 of the lands
which I do for all my starter loads. OAL is measuring 3.020" and
easily ejects from port.....I'll be heading out shortly. Looks like a
nice morning with not a breeze. Should have some numbers this
afternoon.

 

[284winner]

Right now I'll be looking for comfortable velocities in the 2700
to 2800 speed ranges for early testing, and of course what the
targets are telling me.....The 168's, I loaded .015 of the lands
which I do for all my starter loads. OAL is measuring 3.020" and
easily ejects from port.....I'll be heading out shortly. Looks like a
nice morning with not a breeze. Should have some numbers this
afternoon.

I had great weather yesterday BUT mirage was thick. At 100 not so much

 

[338 dude]

Make sure you do try reloader 23 I have had great results with it in a 6.5x 284 hopefully it will work for you

 

[Fuj]

Low velocities to start, but that's a good thing. Test barrel
is a Bartlein M24-5R-8.7 twister finished at 26.5" on a Savage
12 target action.

46gr R-16 / BR2 primer / 168 gr Berger / Hornady case

2612 fps avg.
ES.....11
SD....5.4
_______________

Upped to 46.5 grs.

2646 fps avg.
ES......5
SD.....2.8
_______________

Upped to 47 grs.

2678 fps avg.
ES.......30
SD....15.8
_______________

No pressure signs at 47 grs. I will jump another 1/2 grain to
47.5 then go up 1/3rd grain, that is if I don't start crunching
powder.....If time permits I'll try the next 9 shots tomorrow
morning.

 

[FeMan]

A few buddies have done a 284 Shehane in a SA with a freebore of about 0.020". It looks a little funny but they all shoot as good or better than mine/their LA 284s, easily run the 180s at 2800+ and use the SA AI mags. I am thinking of trying one of those.

Your approach is very interesting. How much work is it to form the cases? I am wondering if it is more or less than forming the Shehane cases.

 

[284winner]

Low velocities to start, but that's a good thing. Test barrel
is a Bartlein M24-5R-8.7 twister finished at 26.5" on a Savage
12 target action.

46gr R-16 / BR2 primer / 168 gr Berger / Hornady case

2612 fps avg.
ES.....11
SD....5.4
_______________

Upped to 46.5 grs.

2646 fps avg.
ES......5
SD.....2.8
_______________

Upped to 47 grs.

2678 fps avg.
ES.......30
SD....15.8
_______________

No pressure signs at 47 grs. I will jump another 1/2 grain to
47.5 then go up 1/3rd grain, that is if I don't start crunching
powder.....If time permits I'll try the next 9 shots tomorrow
morning.

Not bad. Looking good.

 

[284winner]

A few buddies have done a 284 Shehane in a SA with a freebore of about 0.020". It looks a little funny but they all shoot as good or better than mine/their LA 284s, easily run the 180s at 2800+ and use the SA AI mags. I am thinking of trying one of those.

Your approach is very interesting. How much work is it to form the cases? I am wondering if it is more or less than forming the Shehane cases.

Might be tough running the 180s in SA mags. Guessing the 168s are easily 3.00" OAL. A 180 would probably go 3.15. Savage mags/actions handle a little longer COAL than Remington but I'd say it'll be a bit long.

 

[whatwind?]

The 7saw is similar

https://westtexordnance.com/7mm-saw/

 

[Fuj]

Had 8 cases left in my 50 case load cycle......As follows

Still on the R-16 / 168 Berger testing.

From 47 grs. Upped to 47.5 grs

2706 fps avg.
ES........27
SD.....14.5
____________

Upped to 47.8 grs

2743 fps avg.
ES.....19
SD.....11

Looks like it's starting to spike at lower increments.
_____________

Upped to 48 grs and no data. Ran out of arm time on the
Lab Radar, And forgot to reset. (Old guy brain fart) Well
anyway the 2 shots are there, and there is the beginning
of hard bolt lift, but no swipe. I have to process the 50
case lot then I will come back to the 48 grain load and do
5 shots.

 

[Fuj]

Your approach is very interesting. How much work is it to form the cases? I am wondering if it is more or less than forming the Shehane cases.

Initially I just used straight walled pistol dies starting with
.45acp. I did a series of shorter steps as I went to a smaller
die, and all the time keeping track of the shoulder angle. I also
made a series of drop in mandrels, so internal material had a
guide and not collapse in on itself. Used lots of lanolin lube.
Time consuming and tedious, but the results were good as when
I pushed it into the FL sizer, they came out that would need little
fire forming......For the next batch, I'm doing a forming die that
will use a series of forming buttons about the same as the ones
used for neck sizing.....If things get out of control later on down
the road. Peterson Brass is about 75 miles south of me. They have
been doing .284 brass for the guy's. I'll just see what it takes to do
a run of a shortened lot.

 

[284winner]

Initially I just used straight walled pistol dies starting with
.45acp. I did a series of shorter steps as I went to a smaller
die, and all the time keeping track of the shoulder angle. I also
made a series of drop in mandrels, so internal material had a
guide and not collapse in on itself. Used lots of lanolin lube.
Time consuming and tedious, but the results were good as when
I pushed it into the FL sizer, they came out that would need little
fire forming......For the next batch, I'm doing a forming die that
will use a series of forming buttons about the same as the ones
used for neck sizing.....If things get out of control later on down
the road. Peterson Brass is about 75 miles south of me. They have
been doing .284 brass for the guy's. I'll just see what it takes to do
a run of a shortened lot.

Give some RL17 a shot. You'll pick up quite a bite of velocity more than likely. Accuracy is good for me when I use it in my 284 SA

 

[spclark]

From a couple years back -

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/284-wildcat.3966068/#post-37365442



L to R: 6XC, 284INCH, 308WIN, 284WIN

 

[Fuj]

I appreciate the read. Did a lot of researching over the years
on who did what and when. Pre internet stuff is hard to track
down, and the gun magazines years ago never showed any
real decent light on the .284 or any siblings. Generally if you
did, it was just a simple neck up or down. Lot's of work I have
run across is cases in the .308 family. Just a bit boring in my
opinion. That .284 case just has more capacity to play with
then any .308 case can offer. I did look over the SAW publicity
and still scratchin' my head over the claims !!. I'm one to find
something that is a shooter, and not chase speed......Still have
a lot of tests at 100 yards, with various bullets and powders.
For the time being, that 168 looks good. I'm having fun.....

 

[FeMan]

Might be tough running the 180s in SA mags. Guessing the 168s are easily 3.00" OAL. A 180 would probably go 3.15. Savage mags/actions handle a little longer COAL than Remington but I'd say it'll be a bit long.

Thats what I thought but it actually works great. My buddies are using them in tactical matches and winning with them. If you use the ARC mags and 419 extensions, you can get 12, 284 Shehane rounds in a surprisingly short length mag and run the COAL to 2.940. Their freebore is short as I say but they get 2810 fps in 26-inch barrels using H4350.

 

[284winner]

Thats what I thought but it actually works great. My buddies are using them in tactical matches and winning with them. If you use the ARC mags and 419 extensions, you can get 12, 284 Shehane rounds in a surprisingly short length mag and run the COAL to 2.940. Their freebore is short as I say but they get 2810 fps in 26-inch barrels using H4350.

Believable for sure. I don't shoot match's so fill me in on the use of 180s in the 284 short action. Any reason why they wouldn't run 162-168 grain ammo ? At 1000 yards I understand the heavier bullet option. Maybe tactical match's shoot those longer distances, I do not know.

 

[Fuj]

Cases are all prepped and ready to get back to work tomorrow
morning. Did a 3 case average for water capacity after full length
resizing. I had not checked it before fire forming. Average full
fill is 60.36 grains.

Now I'm a little disapointed in these Berger 168's, lot number
P01318. I do not shoot Bergers normally because of the costs
and Nosler and Sierra, have done me well over the years . I
finished my bullet sort, weight's, base to ogive, yadda, yadda
And came up with about the same amount of piles !! The tips
are looking more blunt then the Noslers and Sierra's. People
say they do not need pointed, and may be true. On paper they
are doing there job, and I'm pleased. Cost wise in relation to
the sort of this particular lot, I am not pleased . Soooooo, not
to stretch this out too far.....Who else is making a 7mm /.284
160 grain class bullet, I can ponder over ??

 

[284winner]

Cases are all prepped and ready to get back to work tomorrow
morning. Did a 3 case average for water capacity after full length
resizing. I had not checked it before fire forming. Average full
fill is 60.36 grains.

Now I'm a little disapointed in these Berger 168's, lot number
P01318. I do not shoot Bergers normally because of the costs
and Nosler and Sierra, have done me well over the years . I
finished my bullet sort, weight's, base to ogive, yadda, yadda
And came up with about the same amount of piles !! The tips
are looking more blunt then the Noslers and Sierra's. People
say they do not need pointed, and may be true. On paper they
are doing there job, and I'm pleased. Cost wise in relation to
the sort of this particular lot, I am not pleased . Soooooo, not
to stretch this out too far.....Who else is making a 7mm /.284
160 grain class bullet, I can ponder over ??

Hornady bullets are tough to beat in both cost and quality. Not a Berger but also much cheaper. If your not shooting them competitively, Hornady is a great option.

 

[std7mag]

I shoot a lot of Hornady. As mentioned, they are a more cost effective bullet.
Their Match bullets do well, but i don't get my smallest groups with Hornady's.

Same powder charge, COAL, etc, i get smaller groups with Noslers. But not cost effective.

Sierra GameKings are about as accurate as Hornady Match, from my experience.

For my 7mm-08AI build i'm looking at the Sierra 160gr Tipped MatchKing.

I've had good luck with Berger VLD-H. But have heard that it's hard to get consistent lot to lot accuracy out of them.
Effective as all get out on deer though!