6.5 x 284 / H4831SC

[TackDriv3r]

Going to work up a load for the 6.5 x 284 ( 27 inch barrel ) with H4831SC and 123 SMK, I see three nodes on Quickload with #4 node as the fastest around 3175 fps ( 57.6 grains) . What loads ( powders ) do most of you who sling 120 to 123 bullets out of the 6 .5 x 284 and what velocity? Just curious about highest velocity because reloading manuals say 51 grains as max charge when QL max charge would be 57+ grains. Of course I will do the .4 increment loads to find max load. Just don't want to waste bullets on a barrel burner. This barrel is close to its demise.

 

[RonAKA]

Going to work up a load for the 6.5 x 284 ( 27 inch barrel ) with H4831SC and 123 SMK, I see three nodes on Quickload with #4 node as the fastest around 3175 fps ( 57.6 grains) . What loads ( powders ) do most of you who sling 120 to 123 bullets out of the 6 .5 x 284 and what velocity? Just curious about highest velocity because reloading manuals say 51 grains as max charge when QL max charge would be 57+ grains. Of course I will do the .4 increment loads to find max load. Just don't want to waste bullets on a barrel burner. This barrel is close to its demise.

I see Nosler recommends a max of 53.5 grains of H4831SC on a 123-125 bullet. Hodgdon says 52.5 on a 120. If you work loads up carefully you probably can go a bit beyond that. Reaching 3175 might be difficult without going too high in pressure... You might get a touch more velocity out of H1000. I have a 6.5 RM in the works which has a touch more case capacity and plan to try H1000 and VV N165, as well as H4831.

 

[josh shrum]

In my 6.5-284 I have found that Reloder 23 gives almost 150 fps more velocity than 4831sc, worth a try IMO.

 

[Brians356]

As RonAKA points out, you would be a full 5 grains above Hodgdon's max load 52.5 grs. <Gulp>

I strongly suggest you consider IMR 7977. It's intended to nestle with H1000 in the burn chart, but delivers considerably more velocity than H1000, or any other powder in your bullet weight class (120 - 129 grs). (Of course there's no free lunch - it also develops a lot higher pressure!)
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