284 winchester powder options/performance

[Dan Rhodes]

Hi All,

Wondering if any of you have had any luck using temperature stable powders like RL-16 in the .284 or one of the many new temperature stable powders out there from IMR, etc...I've read a lot about the virtues of pushing 180 grain pills with RL-17 in the 284 win to get 2900 fps plus, but haven't yet found a lot of info on whether RL-16 is a better and even more stable choice for long range shooting than the 17. If there's something else for powders that works as good as this option for you, I'd love to hear about it! I'm considering a new build sometime in the future and would like to collect as much info as I can on this cartridge. Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Yote Hunter]

I haven’t tested the temperature stability of Reloader 23 myself but have read it is very stable just like Reloader 16. I personally have gotten better results at 600 yards with RL 23 than H 4831 SC using 162 gr amaxes and Berger 180 gr Hybrids. I’m achieving 3000 FPS with 180 gr Berger and 3100 FPS with the 162 amax. No obvious signs of pressures using a 30” Bartlein 5R 9 twist.

 

[Yote Hunter]

Also, I forgot....I’m shooting a 284 Shehane using basically the same charge weight loads using RL 23 as H 4831SC but achieving 100 more FPS.

 

[Dan Rhodes]

I haven’t tested the temperature stability of Reloader 23 myself but have read it is very stable just like Reloader 16. I personally have gotten better results at 600 yards with RL 23 than H 4831 SC using 162 gr amaxes and Berger 180 gr Hybrids. I’m achieving 3000 FPS with 180 gr Berger and 3100 FPS with the 162 amax. No obvious signs of pressures using a 30” Bartlein 5R 9 twist.

The Shehane is quite an impressive cartridge to say the least. Amazing that you are getting within 100fps with the 180's vs the 162s...I too have read that RL 23 is very stable and is specifically marketed as such by Alliant, the same as RL-16. With the .284 winchester I've read about how the RL-17 was a game changer in providing at least 100fps additional velocity with the 180's without an increase in pressure in that cartridge. I was trying to figure out if the RL-16 is as good or better in the .284 win as the RL-17 seemed to be when those articles were written a couple of years ago before RL-16 came into existence. Thanks for your response Yotehunter.

 

[86alaskan]

I've been running RL26 in my 260 lately, and I'm thinking that under a 180gr in the 284, the RL26 maybe be the bees knees. Time will tell

 

[normmatzen]

I have a straight 284WIN for long range BR (Heavy gun) and sometimes F Open. I started with 4831sc and changed to RL-17 as I also use it for my K-31 and 7X57 hunting rifle and got a bit more Mv with less pressure. I ended up using 162gr A-MAX.
I switched to 162 ELD-M when A-MAX's became un-obtainium. About the same time I got some RL-16 and ordered some 180 ELD-M's. The RL-16 worked about the same as 17 and the 162 ELD-M's shot better than A-MAX's. Then I got the 180's and characterized the barrel for them and WOW! Mt 284 now shoots as good as my 6BRX! It used to be 3" at 600 and 4 at 1000 with the 284. Now it is 2" at 600 and 3" at 1000!

So, yes, some one is having great luck with RL-16 only it is harder to find!
By the way, in the attempt to get W-W cases to last a while I shoot 180's at 2825 fps. The 6.5-284 Lapua cases caused me too much grief with donuts as well as just not shooting well. I don't think the extra 75 or so fps is worth the bother.
The wind fighting of the 180 ELD-M is good enough even at 2825. You have to account for the wind anyway, just a tiny bit more but consistent.

 

[Dan Rhodes]

I have a straight 284WIN for long range BR (Heavy gun) and sometimes F Open. I started with 4831sc and changed to RL-17 as I also use it for my K-31 and 7X57 hunting rifle and got a bit more Mv with less pressure. I ended up using 162gr A-MAX.
I switched to 162 ELD-M when A-MAX's became un-obtainium. About the same time I got some RL-16 and ordered some 180 ELD-M's. The RL-16 worked about the same as 17 and the 162 ELD-M's shot better than A-MAX's. Then I got the 180's and characterized the barrel for them and WOW! Mt 284 now shoots as good as my 6BRX! It used to be 3" at 600 and 4 at 1000 with the 284. Now it is 2" at 600 and 3" at 1000!

So, yes, some one is having great luck with RL-16 only it is harder to find!
By the way, in the attempt to get W-W cases to last a while I shoot 180's at 2825 fps. The 6.5-284 Lapua cases caused me too much grief with donuts as well as just not shooting well. I don't think the extra 75 or so fps is worth the bother.
The wind fighting of the 180 ELD-M is good enough even at 2825. You have to account for the wind anyway, just a tiny bit more but consistent.

Thank you for the insights on that! Just the info I was looking to get from a .284 shooter who's compared the two powders with bullets I have been thinking about also. Would you say that the RL-16 has noticeably less variation in velocity with changes in humidity and temperature or would you say that the difference between the RL-16 and 17 are negligible along those lines? I definitely agree that RL-16 has been super hard to find over the last year or more, but for some reason I've been seeing it in stock within more than one reloading wholesaler lately, so maybe the supply is finally catching up to demand..We'll see I guess. The other big problem with the .284 as you mentioned is available and/or affordable brass, since it seems Norma is one of the only premium quality brass manufacturer that has it somewhat reliably, and if the norma stuff is in stock it is super expensive! I just saw this week that midway has a shipment of new winchester .284 brass in stock, and there are 5 star ratings on it, but in the past year or more I have seen very poor ratings on new winchester brass everywhere I look..Do you think winchester's quality control has improved lately or do you think these are just some vague flaky reviewers that aren't really testing their brass much for consistency? Do you have any other suggestions on where to get good quality brass for the .284 at a decent price without having to try to neck up lapua brass and have issues with the doughnuts? Thanks for your thoughts on all these points!

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Most of us either use the Norma brass or make 284 out of 6.5-284 Lapua (my favorite). Donuts really aren't the problem that many think they are.

If you want stability in powder performance, I'd suggest looking at what F-open shooters have been doing. Many run H4350 with excellent results.

 

[284winner]

RL23/26 both work well in the 284 with 162s. The RL17 is harder in throats but will achieve great accuracy and velocities, especially with the heavier bullets. Temperature sensitivity is greater with the 17 than the 23/26 and haven't tried RL16 as of yet for comparison. For hunting, its no issue. If your shooting for groups and temps are changing thru the day, take the loaded ammo in a cooler where it stays at a consistent temp. Very soon I will be comparing all 4.

 

[JBT47]

R16 is every bit as temp stable as H4350 and may be even more so.

 

[KenOath]

Lapua 6.5x284 brass necked up is very consistent brass, I run a no turn neck and have had no problem with neck tension consistency. Run a long enough free bore to keep bearing surface above donut then the donut is a non issue. I’ve been running the same load of H4350 for almost 2 years now and shoots the same in all weather conditions, have just chased lands.. i find it as easy as a 6br to keep in tune... H4350, Lapua brass, 180gn Berger bullets and a match Barrel , shoot them at 2740 to 2830 and you’ll find something that works. Sorry I didn’t mention RL powders but H4350 has been so user friendly I haven’t bothered with any other powders.

 

[KenOath]

Most of us either use the Norma brass or make 284 out of 6.5-284 Lapua (my favorite). Donuts really aren't the problem that many think they are.

If you want stability in powder performance, I'd suggest looking at what F-open shooters have been doing. Many run H4350 with excellent results.

Sorry of topic here just one question for Keith I see your possibly sponsored by McMillan In some way, do you or any of the other FOpen shooters run the the Kestros stock either the standard or R or any of the other new Kestros models ?

Cheers Rushty

 

[Falfan2017]

I got a bunch of ramshot hunter and imr4831 on hand. Anybody try either of those in the .284 with 175+ grain pills?

 

[pat fulghum]

Sorry of topic here just one question for Keith I see your possibly sponsored by McMillan In some way, do you or any of the other FOpen shooters run the the Kestros stock either the standard or R or any of the other new Kestros models ?

Cheers Rushty

@Keith Glasscock - this is a question for you

(By putting a “@“ in front of his name will cause an alert in his mailbox)

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Sorry of topic here just one question for Keith I see your possibly sponsored by McMillan In some way, do you or any of the other FOpen shooters run the the Kestros stock either the standard or R or any of the other new Kestros models ?

Cheers Rushty

Yes we do. My team is currently running the Kestros ZR. I am within a week or two of getting a second stock. This one will be a Kestros R so I can evaluate which suits me better.

The nice thing about the Kestros line is the variety of models available. If you want a super long, low CG stock, the ZR is exactly that. If you are a bit more traditional, but want a catamaran bottom, the R has the aluminum rails built in. The FRE and original Kestros are also excellent stocks.

McMillan just announced two days ago that they are a dealer for the Hart RAD (recoil absorbing device). It replaces the buttplate and nicely smooths out the recoil impulse. My new Kestros R has one.

Please feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[KenOath]

@Keith Glasscock - this is a question for you

(By putting a “@“ in front of his name will cause an alert in his mailbox)

Thankyou Pat.

 

[KenOath]

Yes we do. My team is currently running the Kestros ZR. I am within a week or two of getting a second stock. This one will be a Kestros R so I can evaluate which suits me better.

The nice thing about the Kestros line is the variety of models available. If you want a super long, low CG stock, the ZR is exactly that. If you are a bit more traditional, but want a catamaran bottom, the R has the aluminum rails built in. The FRE and original Kestros are also excellent stocks.

McMillan just announced two days ago that they are a dealer for the Hart RAD (recoil absorbing device). It replaces the buttplate and nicely smooths out the recoil impulse. My new Kestros R has one.

Please feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Was curious about which McMillan stocks were used by people affiliated with McMillan, thanks for answering my questions much appreciated..I won’t hijack this thread any longer.