284 Shehane for a hunting rig??

[xswanted]

I've been looking at this caliber more and more and its pretty interesting.

If a guy were to set it up on a 26" barrel, 700 action platform in a 10ish pound gun.....

Will it feed properly??
How bad is going to recoil??
What kind of velocity would a guy get with 168s or 180s?

Thoughts on this??

 

[Scott Harris]

We use Shehane in a short action for F-class, but I'd go with a straight 284 WIN in a long action for hunting. KISS

Using a long action will do a lot more for performance out of a repeater than worrying about Shehane vs 284 WIN. Why worry about fire-forming for a hunting rifle: too complicated IMHO. Recoil? Yes. Velocity depends on barrel length, but 2650-2750 for 180s should be doable.

 

[xswanted]

I guess I'd like the extra velocity it seems people are getting with the Shehane.

Fireforming isn't a big deal for me, I don't mind it.

 

[BradY]

If its extra velocity your after, get a 7mm SAUM or 7mm WSM. The 284 shehane would not be my first choice to hunt with due to me usually losing fireformed wildcat brass when I go hunting/spotlighting. Going from a dasher back to straight no turn 6BR now for that reason. Hate losing cases that I put a fair bit of time and effort into with case prep.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Let me chime in on the recoil issue. Ever shot a 7mm Rem mag? Should be real similar or just a little less depending on whether you shoot max loads.

As for 284 vs Shehane, I'd go with the original as well. The fundamental difference in loads just doesn't justify having a wildcat. If you get a real 50 fps, I'd be shocked with the short barrel length being discussed. Just my opinion...

 

[Erik Cortina]

Use a long action.
As for deciding between the .284 Winchester or the .284 Shehane, I would use the Shehane simply because I use one in F-Class so I'm already "tooled" for it.

I would still build one if I didn't already shoot one, fireforming is not a big deal since you do not need that many pieces of brass for hunting, 50 is more than enough in my situation. If you break in barrels, you can fire form during barrel break in. You can also fireform a few every time you go to the range while getting on paper or fouling the barrel. It is not a big issue.

The .284 Shehane is not a wildcat, it's an improved cartridge.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I was getting 2830 fps with a 180 vld in my 26" Shehane with a long action.

 

[effendude]

I just got my .284 Shehane hunting platform back from the smith a couple weeks before the MN rifle deer season. My intentions from the start were to have a place to use my aging match brass. You know, the brass that won't hold for another season but is far too nice to throw away. The brass can be used a few more firings in a hunting rifle and I don't cry if I lose a few in the tall grass. I just counted the 30 big game animal hunting shots I have fired in the last 4 years, the only brass I lost was 2 pieces of the three shots on an Alaskan moose this fall. If I wasn't so excited to get to him, I could have looked longer.

The rifle is a Surgeon LA in a McMillan A3 Sporter, #4 Bartlein 1-9" barrel, SSG brake, with HS LA bottom metal. I have not fine tuned the bottom metal feeding yet but I am close. I think a LA BDL would have been easier. I had the chamber cut with the same reamer I use for my F-class rifles.
The rifle was a joy to shoot with the 180 Hybrids, I didn't want to run my 57gr. full loads without carefully working up so I loaded some tired brass at 55gr and shot 5 to break it in and sight-in. Recoil was like a .223 with the brake. I shot a big 203# field dressed MN 9 point last Sunday with it, 125 yards, high lung shot. Lungs were mush with a 3" exit hole after hitting a rib. I know the 180 was overkill, but dead is dead.

Stiller now makes a medium length action specifically for the 284 length cases with the long bullets. I would seriously look at that platform if I was doing another hunting build.

Scott

 

[LCazador]

I built a hunting rig in 284 Shehane, it's an awesome shooter! I used a Stiller Tactical long action, Kreiger, 26inch 8twist 5R barrel, Remington Sendero contour, McMillan A3 stock with PTG detachable mag box. Feeds great with no problems. Rifle weighs about 10 pounds. I have no problems toting this rifle up and down the mountain sides. If you don't want to invest in a custom action, a Remington long action will work also. It shoots the 180's at 2800-2900fps without standing on the brass. Recoil about the same as Remington 7mm mag. The 284S is not a wildcat, as matter of fact there is little difference between the 284 Win and the 284 Shehane. There is about 3-4 thousands less body taper in the 284S and that's it. That reduced body taper accounts for higher velocity and extended brass life!

 

[JHardy]

You are WAY down on velocity with the Shehane. Your numbers equate to a standard 284 with H4350. I have shot several Shehane chamberings and I was running 2951 (ES of 3) with no blown primers or pressure signs in 105 degree heat at Camp Butner, NC.

You may have a slow barrel. What is your load with 180 grain bullets? Maybe we can help you out some.

Jim Hardy

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Use a long action.
As for deciding between the .284 Winchester or the .284 Shehane, I would use the Shehane simply because I use one in F-Class so I'm already "tooled" for it.

This is exactly the reason my hunting rifle is a .284 Shehane (R700 LA). I even throated it to the same length as my match barrels (still fit in the internal mag) so that I wouldn't have to modify my seating depth overmuch. Accurate and deadly with 180 Hunting VLD's. The only real difference in my hunting and match loads is powder - I use a few grains less in my hunting loads because the barrel is quite a bit shorter and the node I want is at a different velocity.

 

[Steve Blair]

There is about 3-4 thousands less body taper in the 284S and that's it. That reduced body taper accounts for higher velocity and extended brass life!

[br]
That's not correct. The .284 Shehane is .010" larger diameter at the shoulder than .284 Win. That provides ~3 grains more capacity and accounts for the velocity difference. As for case life; they both have 35° shoulders and I have seen no difference shooting both. Other than velocity, the only difference I've noted is the Shehane seems slightly easier to tune. Either one would be an excellent choice for hunting or competition.

 

[LCazador]

There is about 3-4 thousands less body taper in the 284S and that's it. That reduced body taper accounts for higher velocity and extended brass life!

[br]
That's not correct. The .284 Shehane is .010" larger diameter at the shoulder than .284 Win. That provides ~3 grains more capacity and accounts for the velocity difference. As for case life; they both have 35° shoulders and I have seen no difference shooting both. Other than velocity, the only difference I've noted is the Shehane seems slightly easier to tune. Either one would be an excellent choice for hunting or competition.

Steve, I quoted that reduced taper off the top of my head, missed it by a .001"! Five thousands less taper would translate to .010" diameter at the shoulder, that's .005" per side. In my experience the Shehane version is a lot easier on brass. Everyone's experience is unique!