284 Shehane update

[JamesnTN]

Christmas Eve we had some really great shooting weather so I took the 284 Shehane out with loads from .015 off the lands al other way to .055 off. I shot these seating depth in .010 increments -.055, -.045, -.035, -.025 and back to my original seating depth of -.015 and then I shot -.012 which is .003 longer than my optimum seating depth.
Data of load is Lapua Brass CCI BR2 primers and 57.5 grains of H4831sc.

Needless to say it did not shoot well worse group was probably 2' and all vertical as always. When I got to my optimum seating depth the vertical shrunk to around 9" and then added .003 to that and group went to 13"

Here's that target. The hits circled is the -.012 off lands and the check marks are -.015

Today I decided to try the 215m primers and shoot them over the chronograph, well that didn't work as my ES was like 24 fps and the 210m was 27fps and the BR2 was 19 fps
So needless to say I ended that test.

Now I went to H4350 and started at 53.0 grains ran a few over the chronograph and the velocity was a bit slow so I upped the charge to 53.5 grains and a 210m primer.

The results were much more promising. Here are the chronograph results at 300 yards and it's a 15 shot group.

I also loaded up 10 with the BR2 primers and shot them as well at 300 and only shot 5 because the numbers just weren't there even though the group was nice.

So now next will go out to 1k one more time and test, if it doesn't shoot then I'm at a loss on what to do other than buy a new barrel and start over.

 

[normmatzen]

I think you will find that you have to fine tune at 1000 yds for the gun to be properly compensated there.
The question is, will you be using it at 300 yd or 1000 yd?

I have both a 6BRX and a straight 284 and the 284 must be tuned at 1000 yd.

Still, if I want good groups at 1000, I use my 6BRX and the 284 for score!

 

[JamesnTN]

Have to start someplace and it's easier to see groups at 300 than at 1k I've been testing at 1k with the H4831sc powder and with no good results. So today I switched over to H4350 to get some chronograph numbers and group sizes.

I'll load up a few now up and down of the 53.5 charge and take it to 1k and see if it'll hold up or not.

 

[coford]

James,

What are the specs. on your rifle? I have been struggling with a .284 Shehane to the point of giving up on it. I just can't seem to get near the accuracy of my straight .284's. I'm running a 32" Kreiger, Panda F-Class action, Bix n Andy trigger, and a Masterclass stock. The same setup with a .284 barrel on it shoots great but the Shehane stinks. Keep us informed on your progress. Thanks.

 

[JamesnTN]

James,

What are the specs. on your rifle? I have been struggling with a .284 Shehane to the point of giving up on it. I just can't seem to get near the accuracy of my straight .284's. I'm running a 32" Kreiger, Panda F-Class action, Bix n Andy trigger, and a Masterclass stock. The same setup with a .284 barrel on it shoots great but the Shehane stinks. Keep us informed on your progress. Thanks.

I have a Bat M action bedded in a McMillan MBR stock, Jewell trigger, Brux 1/9 twist 1.250 straight at 30"
Chamber is a .313 neck with .250 FB

 

[tclaunch]

That looks very promising to me James!!!

 

[Scott Harris]

That looks very promising to me James!!!

James, as I mentioned via email, your load with 5.0 SD and the accompanying group are outstanding IMHO. In fact, I've never had a group that small at 300 yards nor an SD that good over 15 shots......really. There comes a point where you have to call the load good and get out and shoot. I think you are there.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

James, I wouldnt pass on a primer because of the ES you see. I would shoot them and see what happens. ES/SD wont make or break a load IMO

 

[JamesnTN]

James, as I mentioned via email, your load with 5.0 SD and the accompanying group are outstanding IMHO. In fact, I've never had a group that small at 300 yards nor an SD that good over 15 shots......really. There comes a point where you have to call the load good and get out and shoot. I think you are there.

I had been fighting the 4831sc load from day one. I kept trying everything possible to make that powder work, (basically waisted time and money). My last ditch effort was to test the H4350 and pray it works before ditching the barrel.
I still can't get the velocities the straight 284 guys are getting and not sure why other than I'm thinking my Magneto speed is slow. I need to test it against my other chrono and see for sure if it is or if it's right.

Now next is the real test and get it back to 1k and fine tune it if that's possible.

 

[Scott Harris]

I had been fighting the 4831sc load from day one. I kept trying everything possible to make that powder work, (basically waisted time and money). My last ditch effort was to test the H4350 and pray it works before ditching the barrel.
I still can't get the velocities the straight 284 guys are getting and not sure why other than I'm thinking my Magneto speed is slow. I need to test it against my other chrono and see for sure if it is or if it's right.

Now next is the real test and get it back to 1k and fine tune it if that's possible.

I wouldn't trust the "internet" velocities that get posted: trust your numbers. Also, I'm not sure how you "fine tune" a load at 1K. Between the muzzle and the target, the wind could be going a 100 different directions and that will cause you to chase your tail. I'm a big fan of the Bryan Litz load development method. Get a load to shoot one ragged hole at 100 yards with an SD of 5 or less. Verify it shoots "well" at 1K and you are done. "Well" does not mean as tight as it shoots at shorter distances...that is virtually impossible due to environments. For example, the same wind at 1K will push your bullet 3X more than it does at 500...hence the comment about the futility of "fine tuning" at 1K. That's my .02 and it's worth what you paid for it.

 

[dkhunt14]

I wouldn't trust the "internet" velocities that get posted: trust your numbers. Also, I'm not sure how you "fine tune" a load at 1K. Between the muzzle and the target, the wind could be going a 100 different directions and that will cause you to chase your tail. I'm a big fan of the Bryan Litz load development method. Get a load to shoot one ragged hole at 100 yards with an SD of 5 or less. Verify it shoots "well" at 1K and you are done. "Well" does not mean as tight as it shoots at shorter distances...that is virtually impossible due to environments. For example, the same wind at 1K will push your bullet 3X more than it does at 500...hence the comment about the futility of "fine tuning" at 1K. That's my .02 and it's worth what you paid for it.

That doesn't work for 1000 yard BR. Some of my best ES and 100 yard groups were my worst at 1000. Big time vertical. I look for the load that shoots through the wind to some extant. It is kind of like the hummer barrel thing. Almost all the good 1000 yard BR shooters that win a lot, do their testing at 1000. There is a difference in shooting for score like F-Class and shooting groups on paper for group. Finding that special load can take lots of fine tuning. Matt

 

[tclaunch]

I am waiting on Mr. Oharas take.....

 

[Alex Wheeler]

That doesn't work for 1000 yard BR. Some of my best ES and 100 yard groups were my worst at 1000. Big time vertical. I look for the load that shoots through the wind to some extant. It is kind of like the hummer barrel thing. Almost all the good 1000 yard BR shooters that win a lot, do their testing at 1000. There is a difference in shooting for score like F-Class and shooting groups on paper for group. Finding that special load can take lots of fine tuning. Matt

+1

 

[highlife]

James
Hows the prime pockets holding up? H4350 vs the H4831sc? I know 49.0 of H4350 in the 6.5.X284 would loosin the pockets a bit. Iam about to go down the same road with the Shehane. 100rds prep and waiting.
Richard

 

[JamesnTN]

James
Hows the prime pockets holding up? H4350 vs the H4831sc? I know 49.0 of H4350 in the 6.5.X284 would loosin the pockets a bit. Iam about to go down the same road with the Shehane. 100rds prep and waiting.
Richard

Yesterday was my first test using H4350, before that everything thru it had been H4831sc. In saying that and all the testing I've done using the 4831sc the pockets are still snug. Some looser than others but snug. Once I can test what I have with the 4350 and if it proves out I'll start over with new brass and have an all new fresh start and later I can provide you more info on primer pockets.

But so far with just over 300 rounds down the tube all is well on the primer pockets holding up and I pushed the powder charge up near 59 grains before I decided to back off because I was going to trash that brass way too quickly.

 

[21shooter]

Hi Jim, Did You crono the 57.5grn. 4831sc I missed it if you did. Thanks,John

 

[JamesnTN]

Hi Jim, Did You crono the 57.5grn. 4831sc I missed it if you did. Thanks,John

Yes the velocity was 2868. I did run a load over the chrono to check ES with the BR2 and it was like 19 fps and 57.0 grains with the 215m was in the high 20's something like 28fps ES. These were just only 3 shots as I saw no need in shooting more.

 

[highlife]

Yes the velocity was 2868. I did run a load over the chrono to check ES with the BR2 and it was like 19 fps and 57.0 grains with the 215m was in the high 20's something like 28fps ES. These were just only 3 shots as I saw no need in shooting more.

Keep us posted! Iam curious how the pockets hold up on that charge of H4350. I think thats why everone goes to H4831sc. Because of pressure spike.
Richard

 

[BradY]

52.5gr h4350 gets me very close to 2900fps with 180 hybrids in a 30 inch barrel with BR2's. Don't expect more than 6 firings from the cases but that's what you do for competition. Hydro forming then a soft first firing with 168gr bullets seems to help harden the brass a little to make them last longer.

 

[lawrence97]

Both of your H4350 loads look very promising. I'm curious how it's going to look at 1000. Please keep us posted.