The 6.5 GWI really does interest me! A little barrel life over 6.5 x 284 would be great! I love the swede and its been good to me! Did you have better success with 150's coated or non-coated?
150 SMKs and the 6.5 x 284 ***UPDATE***
- Thread starter ShootDots
- Start date
I normally shoot coated bullets in all my rifles, but decided to do break in with bare bullets. This particular barrel coppered exceptionally bad so I switched to coated bullets and had no further problems. In answer to your question I have found coated bullets to be superior for cleaning purposes only with no increase or decrease in accuracy.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
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swd
Silver $$ Contributor
One of my shooting buds has a custom built Creedmoor with a conventional 6 groove 1-7" twist. It has about 600 rounds through it and he's only shot 150 SMK's out of it. He does HBN coat them. He runs them just under 2800 and so far with zero bullet failures. He's shot the last 2 3x600's with us and he and the rifle are shooting very well.
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
I will have a 6.5 PRC chambered in a 30" Bartlein 5R 7.5t to test in a couple of weeks. Will start with the 150 smk, and h1000. Would like a load 3100 range and hope to be able to reach this with moderate pressures.
Will give update when we start testing.
I just started testing the 150 SMK in a 6.5 x55 BJAI....very similar to Lloyd's GWI/same parent case. Loaded up a 5 cartridge velocity series then a 5 group seat depth test using Rl-23 (49.4gr), three shots each from 0.015" in to 0.015" out lands. The groups got tighter at 0.015" out. I shot at 300yds this am at sunrise in still conditions and tested a small charge range (48.8-49.2gr) and 0.015 and 0.020" off lands and the 0.020" off was definitley better with 2/3 groups at/just under 1" and the 2950fps load grouping 0.46". I think it has potential so I will shoot it at a 600yd match in 2 weeks to see how she does. I am hoping this bullet will keep me from building a .284 for 1000yds..LOL
Most likely it will out perform ballistically the 183. Getting 3010 from a 150 SMK and a 6.5-284 with no pressure issues or troubles. Need to find the accuracy spot but pretty darn accurate as well and banking on it getting better with work.
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
What powder you using?
I believe Sierra placed a .713 G1 BC on both bullets. If run at same velocity you would expect fairly equal numbers if it actually works out that way in real dynamic conditions. At 5-600 yards 6.5's, 7's, and 30's can easily win. In fact with 22 shooters at the line in 5-6 crosswind I've seen 6 XC's and Dashers cleanup! At 1,000 the 284 seems to have an advantage. The heavies seem to buck the wind better even though on paper the ballistics look the same. I'm 67 with bad neck and shoulder and the additional recoil works me over after a bit of shooting. Love the 6's and 6.5's. When Sierra and Hornady came with 150 and 147 I quickly developed loads and have not been disappointed!
Great velocity to be at with 150. Most guys I know are running around 2950 with H4831 or H4350 2800 elevation. The Shehane runs at 3050 with 142's. Hard to beat what you can do with a 6.5 x 284, although a little shorter barrel life. Again, were it not for barrel life, a 26 Nosler or something with that powder capacity would be a killer ultra-longrange cartridge for 150 SMK.
H1000 for the 150s. 57.8-58.2 grains. It's a 30" barrel which helps. Typically the 4831sc is my preferred powder but really liking keeping that 150s around 3000. Everything else gets the 4831sc behind it. Excited to try the RL26 soon.
As I stated earlier, I have been able to get over 3,100 with my rig, but it trashed brass and had fliers. With that said, 2,980 is very stable and accurate. I would have bet that RL-23 or
H-4831sc would have been the go to powders, but oddly enough, RL-16 gave the lowest ES and the best groups, both at 100 and at 1K. After reading your post, I'll see if I can get enough H-1000 in the case to reach my target velocity.
Thanks,
Lloyd
H-4831sc would have been the go to powders, but oddly enough, RL-16 gave the lowest ES and the best groups, both at 100 and at 1K. After reading your post, I'll see if I can get enough H-1000 in the case to reach my target velocity.
Thanks,
Lloyd
284winner, looks like a good combo! Have not run H1000 in 6.5 x 284 and nobody around here does, but slower burning powder makes sense especially concerning throat erosion and barrel life. Might even play with it in my 55 swede. Keep us posted, sounds like you are on to something. Thx
Just heard of a fella running gain twist barrel on a 6.5 PRC. I believe this may have been a Bartlein barrel. Suppose to be less fouling and you are probably right, could help with blowup issues!
I think RL26 sounds like it's gonna be the perfect powder. Many guys using it already had very good experience with it.
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a 6.5 PRC with a 7.5 Bartlein 5r I will start testing soon. I am going straight to the 150smks.
Bill
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
I am starting with h1000 to see how it does. It is supposed to burn a little cooler than rl26
I do get both accuracy and velocity in a standard 260 with 142 smks
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