284 winchester with 2831sc or R17 loads?

[gman88188]

183 grain SMK, any load experience with either of these powders and the new sierra's. Doing the research for my new gun. Looking for a good start point for 1000 yards.

I have heard about H4350, but 4831SC may be better from what I read.

Thanks.

 

[ShootDots]

183 grain SMK, any load experience with either of these powders and the new sierra's. Doing the research for my new gun. Looking for a good start point for 1000 yards.

I have heard about H4350, but 4831SC may be better from what I read.

Thanks.

With the .284 or ANY of it's derivatives, H4831SC, H4350 and IMR 7828SSC are "go to" powders for those cartridges. "Starting Points" are "relative" to your chamber. Have a LONG freebore and it will be higher>>>have a short one and it will be lower.. Get the Hodgdon manual and study it>>>you will figure where to start..

 

[284winner]

What will be higher ???

 

[ShootDots]

What will be higher ???

The starting charge weights, I believe is what the OP was asking for. If you have a short freebore and the bullet seated deeply, you will see signs of pressure well in advance of a chamber with a much longer freebore..

 

[284winner]

Just about to chamber a barrel for a short action 284 build and my dummy rounds are at 2.900 w/162 amax . Needed them to fit my AI mags. Trying to establish freebore now. May be that the standard saami 284 win reamer will work OK without taking out anymore throat. Makes sense on the longer freebore giving way to less pressure allowing for more charge.

 

[normmatzen]

I have been shooting my 284 WIN long range bench rest gun for over a year now. I started with three bullets, 175 SMK, 162 A-MAX and 180 Hybrid. I also used H4831sc for powder.
I settled on the A-MAX simply as it shot best in my barrel.
Then, H4831sc became un-obtanium at my range so as I had inventory of RL-17 and QL said it was good, I tried it.

First, the load for consistent MV was slightly lower and according to QL was at lower chamber pressure. The barrel time was also different than 4831sc so I did a ladder test to find best load. I also did a powder comparison on QL and found RL-17 was the most efficient powder for 284 WIN. Also had the same results with my 7X57 hunting rifle which was why I had the RL-17 as well as for my K31 Swiss.

RL-17 is more temp variable, but for competition I just keep my ammunition in an insulated case prior to shooting and the problem is
not an issue.

I would do a ladder test starting at loads you would use as the start for an H4831sc ladder

 

[284winner]

Thank you for the info. This will be a cold weather hunt rifle where temps may run from 40f down to 0. Obviously range work would be in comfortable temps. Ya I've had a hell of a time locating 4831sc myself. Even in 1 lbers locally on shelf. I do have some 17. I'll start around 51 and go up in .5 increments to about 53 +/-. Thinking I should find what I want at around 52-53.

 

[DennisH]

Personally I have great results with RL17. Deadly accurate, very low ES & SD. Shooting 180 Hybrids, the below chrono is common for my rifle. My ES & SD are always under 10. I live in the South and rarely does the temp get below 60 degs.

Great idea to start your charge low. Use this information at your own risk.

FWIW, trying other powders, I was showing pressure signs and didn't get anywhere close to the below speeds. And no, my chrono is not broke.

Last time I shot it @ 600 yards, I scored a 595 out of a possible 600. F/Open Class.

Series 1 Shots: 4

Min 2920 Max 2922
Avg 2921

SD 1 - ES 2 BR2 CCI
Lapua 180 Hybrids
.050 off the lands 52.5 grns RL17

Series Shot Speed
1 1 2922 ft/sec
1 2 2920 ft/sec
1 3 2922 ft/sec
1 4 2920 ft/sec

 

[284winner]

Wow pretty impressive.

 

[DennisH]

Wow pretty impressive.

And this is the 3rd barrel I have that the bullet likes to be off the lands .050 .

 

[284winner]

Any experience with the 162 ? I'm chambering for 2.950 coal. Wondering what the 162 prefers, close or jump ?

 

[1shot]

Personally I have great results with RL17. Deadly accurate, very low ES & SD. Shooting 180 Hybrids, the below chrono is common for my rifle. My ES & SD are always under 10. I live in the South and rarely does the temp get below 60 degs.

Great idea to start your charge low. Use this information at your own risk.

FWIW, trying other powders, I was showing pressure signs and didn't get anywhere close to the below speeds. And no, my chrono is not broke.

Last time I shot it @ 600 yards, I scored a 595 out of a possible 600. F/Open Class.

Series 1 Shots: 4

Min 2920 Max 2922
Avg 2921

SD 1 - ES 2 BR2 CCI
Lapua 180 Hybrids
.050 off the lands 52.5 grns RL15

Series Shot Speed
1 1 2922 ft/sec
1 2 2920 ft/sec
1 3 2922 ft/sec
1 4 2920 ft/sec

DennisH,
Is that a typo in your post? You state RL-17 at the top, but RL-15 with your chrono. numbers. Please clarify this for us.
Lloyd

 

[DennisH]

DennisH,
Is that a typo in your post? You state RL-17 at the top, but RL-15 with your chrono. numbers. Please clarify this for us.
Lloyd

DEFINITELY a Typo, thanks for bringing this to my attention. The post is corrected. I wouldn't dare use RL15 with this setup.

RL17 is Correct.

Dennis

 

[RAVEN]

SD & ES on 4 shot is Meaningless IMO
10 to 20 shot would have been of more value
H4831SC & H4350 is less sensitive to temp extremes
I couldn't say the same for the other brands
RB

 

[DennisH]

SD & ES on 4 shot is Meaningless IMO
10 to 20 shot would have been of more value
H4831SC & H4350 is less sensitive to temp extremes
I couldn't say the same for the other brands
RB

The rifle stayed under 10 with several 4 shot groups on different days. Being in the South I am sure this makes a difference using RL17. I experienced pressure problems with the above powders and was 200fps slower.

 

[Cakes]

All the lots of 162 A-max's that I shot enjoyed approximately a 20 thou. jump. Fine tune a bit either way. FWIW, I also load develop with 4 shot groups as it lets me see just a little more of the trend versus 3 shot and saves a bit on components compared to the 5 shot. As far as repeat-ability in a load, 5, 4 shot groups or 4, 5 shot groups...all the same IMO. For me the 4 shot allows me to cull out the "loads" quicker versus always shooting batches of five. We are all creatures of habit and do what is most comfortable for us...."the happy zone". Eric in DL

 

[284winner]

Thanks Eric. I'll keep that mind. Look forward to beginning the process.