.284 RL 17??

[dragman]

I have a .284 that shoots like a house on fire with 4831SC but doesn't produce a lot of speed ( I KNOW SPEED ISN"T EVERYTHING) I am gonna do some hog shooting out to 1400 and am gonna try some RL17 to get the speed up with my 180 bergers any suggestions on a good starting load?? I am gonna run some H4350 too but I know were to start with that. any help is appriciated. thanks .

 

[FroggyOne2]

When i was shooting the .284, the load that i was using was 49.0 grains.. for a V of 2835 fps.. out of a 30 inch barrel..

Randy

 

[dragman]

I am figuring with H4350 at around 53.2-53.5 grians I should be just over 2900. was hoping to get some RL 17 to get 2950ish.

 

[jsimonh]

52.5 is where my 28" CBI liked it best with the 180 Hybrid. Velocity was well passed what 4831sc is doing for me, but the temp stability always had me second guessing my dopes....

 

[dragman]

thats what the H4350 has always caught my fancy it's stable and pretty good on speed. I am gonna try them both and see I guess.

 

[articmp]

My 30" Douglas,Savage SA,284 Shehane, loaded with Berger 180 targets, 52.0 RL17, was pulling 2850 with pressure issues. About every 3rd to 5 th round was stiff on opening and had flowed brass into the ejector hole.

 

[dragman]

wow that isn't good seems like that set up just doesn't like 17???

 

[articmp]

Yeah, and I have a 5 pound jug of the stuff, minus the 48 rounds I loaded.

 

[dooley]

About 14 months ago I took part in a 1000yd comp using my .284, chatting to the guys before the start it seemed that most people using the .284's were running them at 2900 fps + with 180gr bergers, they asked me how fast was I running this combination at, I replied between 2830-2840 fps, they said I had no real chance of winning with that velocity, guess who won, they obviously had not read the story of the tortoise and the hare, I have found that the best accuracy is a bit down on the max velocity, and of course my cases will last a few reloads more than theirs.
dooley

 

[Ringostar]

Dragman, you mentioned hog hunting. You have to also consider the barrel length into this. If you have a 24-26" hunting barrel then the burn rate of the powder should come into play. A slower powder like 4831 might not be what you need, I would also try H4350.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Where are you hunting hogs at?

 

[Larryh128]

You can start at your 4350 data with RL-17 and probably go up from there. In most cases the velocity will be better than 4350 at the same charge weight. Using LIGHTER bullets I'm well over an additional grain. I run 3300 with 120 gr in a short barrel, 23" with no pressure issues & good brass life.

 

[dragman]

finished up my load development,
53.2 grains of RL 17 with the 180hybrid barrel is a pinch over 30" average speed is 2947fps. and this ended up being the most accurate of all the loads I tested. I could get a bit more speed but this is driving tacs. Gonna load up the brass and shoot up some ground hogs early spring then get it ready for the season of bench shooting.

 

[wyoming .260]

That can't be because I have read on other posts that Reloder 17 is not worth bothering or maybe to burn your name in the grass with!!!!

 

[Larryh128]

LOL Wyoming. ;D I can guarantee you that I wasn't one of those posts. I like it so much that I bought the big jug.

 

[articmp]

Larry, you want another jug? LOL, it isn't working for me. I might have a neck tension issue or something with my tight neck shehane. 52.0 grains with berger 180's was causing issues at 2850fps.

 

[dragman]

What lot??? I only have 2 lbs left

 

[articmp]

02709

 

[articmp]

about 2500 grains used out of it.

 

[birdog]

Robert Whitley tested RL-17 when it came out and got 200 fps
extra but did not report on accuracy.
Here is the article from this board's bulletin board...

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/08/whitley-tests-reloder-17-in-284-win-and-6xc/