284 Improved - is it worth it?
- Thread starter 300SALRH
- Start date
That depends largely on what powders you use, if you load to the HIGHER node and how many rounds are in your sustained fire. You do not mention what you are planning to use it for. As they say, there are no free lunches in ANY sport. If "stacking the odds in your favor" means somewhat less barrel life, that is the real question. On my one .300WSM that shoots 230s, I have 480 rounds on it. There is still NO firecracking in the barrel! I use a low node of 2770f.p.s. shooting VV N565. On my Sherman, I only have 400 rounds. I use VV N165 at 2905. So far there is no firecracking in it either. At this rate, with either rifle, I should top 1500 rounds easily.. That 'taint bad for mags!
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linebaugh
Silver $$ Contributor
I have been running the Viht N series powders and I can promise there are great gains in bbl life. That said the trade off is lower velocity and larger temp sensitivity. To each his own. Im content but the next guy may not be
Think Terry hit the nail on the head . You can run lower pressures in the improved for same velocity . Bolt lift is improved . Also have the case capacity to run higher nodes . Most of the improved variants are +10 at the shoulder . Shehane you can get dies from Whidden , or Bill has Redding I believe . Some of the 40* variants up the cost on tooling . 1500-2000 rounds seems very common for round count .
Thanks guys. Appreciate the input.
Looking for something to compete with and to get into the swing of things. For the time it is just for the fun and to make the cost of practice a little cheaper.
Question, I assume there are 3 nodes for the 7mm with the 180-190gr bullets that the guys normally run in f class? The SAUM is able to run comfortably at all three, the Shehane at the lower two and the straight 284 win at lowest one?
You guys agree that running a 284 Shehane and straight 284 at the lower node, you will get more bbl life out of the Shehane? If you run the Shehane and SAUM at the middle node, will you get similar or less bbl life out of the SAUM? And what about Bbl life if you run a improved version of SAUM at the same node?
@ShootDots are you running a 300 Sherman or 7mm and the SS or the Max and also running the 230gr in the Sherman?
Looking for something to compete with and to get into the swing of things. For the time it is just for the fun and to make the cost of practice a little cheaper.
Question, I assume there are 3 nodes for the 7mm with the 180-190gr bullets that the guys normally run in f class? The SAUM is able to run comfortably at all three, the Shehane at the lower two and the straight 284 win at lowest one?
You guys agree that running a 284 Shehane and straight 284 at the lower node, you will get more bbl life out of the Shehane? If you run the Shehane and SAUM at the middle node, will you get similar or less bbl life out of the SAUM? And what about Bbl life if you run a improved version of SAUM at the same node?
@ShootDots are you running a 300 Sherman or 7mm and the SS or the Max and also running the 230gr in the Sherman?
I am running the 7mm SS "Sherman Short" mag. I am running Berger 180 Hybrids at a "comfortable" 2905f.p.s. In addition to the Sherman, I have 2 .300WSMs. One shoots the 230 Hybrids and the other shoots the 200-20Xs.
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
I have done improved in the past not a fan. Time fire forming cost of tooling = ?
I had a straight .284 Barrel done for a F/Class Rifle. Throated for 180 Berger's ,30" 1-8.5 Krieger .
Necked up Lapua Brass,BR2 H4350 50 -51.3 grains 2800 to 2810 .
Very nice to shoot easy to load for . Will I be the King on the Hill ? Will Wind reading and trigger Control Help ?
I won't get the checkered Flag at 1000 yards.
I think a .284 Won the SW National ?
I had a straight .284 Barrel done for a F/Class Rifle. Throated for 180 Berger's ,30" 1-8.5 Krieger .
Necked up Lapua Brass,BR2 H4350 50 -51.3 grains 2800 to 2810 .
Very nice to shoot easy to load for . Will I be the King on the Hill ? Will Wind reading and trigger Control Help ?
I won't get the checkered Flag at 1000 yards.
I think a .284 Won the SW National ?
For those that want better velocity in the straight 284, give Reloader 17 a shot. Many don't like it but I find it excellent powder for both velocity and accuracy. I can easily push the 180s to 3000 fps in my 30" barrels. I'm getting 3000 fps with 162s using it in a SA 284. I really cannot say that I get much better accuracy with any other powders. If I do, it's not noticable and since my rifles are hunting rifles, I can live with the difference.
Barrel life depends more on how fast and hot you shoot any caliber and burn out the barrel/throat with wear and fire cracking, not a given caliber or if it is standard or improved chamber.
The improved calibers give less case stretch/trimming and some increase in FPS. Some like the improved (Ackley style), some don't. I personally do.
Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
A straight 284 is capable of safely achieving the higher nodes with 180 grain bullets. Slower burning powders, like H4831SC, allow speeds in the 2850 range from 30-32" barrels.
Including RL-23.
I haven't personally tried RL26 but understand it's another option for the 284. I do not know anyone that has experience but I'm sure someone here will respond if they have. My favorite was always H4350 until I started using RL17. As stated above, H4831 can achieve good velocities nearing 2900 fps. Really at 2850, accuracy being #1, it will do anything a bullet moving nearly 3000 fps will a do with adding little more elevation.
Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
I tried RL-26 in a tired barrel..... 3000fps was easy in a 284. Plenty accurate for hunting, with me tuning (not great) it did not have what it takes to shoot against the masters in wind reading......
Out of my rifle, it is tough to beat the RL-16 pushing the 180’s around 2750 for BR accuracy.
CW
I'm sure my opinion of RL17 would be different if I did compete and wanted the absolute best accuracy money can buy. I'm pretty happy with under 1 moa for 10 shot groups. Often times much more accurate if I do my part. 3-5 shot groups being around .3 at 100 seems pretty easy. Those are kinda lousy for the guys shooting competition I know but as a hunting rig, I'm real happy.
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All of the velocity getting powders mentioned, work in the improved versions not just straight 284's.
IMO the history of magnums agging ability in long range Fclass doesn't seem to be as good as the 284 and the improved versions. And it could be a numbers game as well, a lot more folks shooting the 284/improved.
It doesn't matter what a guy/gal shoots, you still gotta make a wind call.
IMO the history of magnums agging ability in long range Fclass doesn't seem to be as good as the 284 and the improved versions. And it could be a numbers game as well, a lot more folks shooting the 284/improved.
It doesn't matter what a guy/gal shoots, you still gotta make a wind call.
I tried RL-26 and got great accuracy with lots of velocity as well. The problem was, I could never get 60 record shots without dropping a bunch of points in the 3rd match. I’m a sling/coat shooter and shoot as fast as conditions and pit pullers will allow. RL-23 gave me everything RL-26 did but burns much cleaner in my system.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
I hope this helps,
Lloyd
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