6.5x284 140 A-max & Bergers ??s

[metal2meat]

I recently purchased a Savage m12 BVSS in 6.5x284 (long action). I've done some load development with 140gr Berger vlds and am very pleased. Two loads, 51gr of RL-22 and 52.5gr RL-22 are shooting at/under .3 and.5 inch@100. By the book the 52.5gr load is max, but there is no showing of any signs of pressure. I don't think I need to push it any harder as this should be near 2,925-2,975fps, and thats just great for me. I'm seating the 140 VLD's 0.001 from the lands. the throat on the rifle is pretty long as the length of the load is 2.500 to the ogive. This means the bullet is only in the neck ~0.149, which is not much. I've tried loads with them seated deeper into the brass/neck but they didn't group very well. I don't think I'm going to have trouble with recoil shifting bullets in the neck when they're in the magazinge as recoil is very light. Anyone think I might have trouble here?

Secondly, I want to try 140gr Amaxs. I always here folks talking about Bergers and jamming them to the lands or loading just a few thousands off the lands. Any advice on the Amaxs and distance the lands?
By my rough measuring the bearing surface on the bergers is ~0.500 and the bearing surface on the Amax is ~0.575. So if proximity to the lands is not as important, I might be able to seat them further into the neck.

I intend to use the rifle mostly for a steel safari target type match (300-800 yrd type shooting), but would like to use it for long range deer and antelope hunting as well (therefor, my interest in the amount of bullet sitting in the neck).

Lastly, without the 140gr berger loads showing any signs of pressure at a book max load and the bullet not touching the lands, would I be pushing a safety factor by starting load development with the 140 amaxs closer to max if they were not touching the lands as well?
Thanks!

 

[kendoka66]

I shoot a Savage LRH in 6.5mmx.284 Norma, I use the Berger VLD,s also but my c.o.a.l. is 3.180" or using the comparator it measures 3.473". groups are running in the .145'' to .282'' on a good day.I use H4831sc 51.0 grains. ES is 13 and SD is 4.the MV is 2840.
I have not tried the 140 Amax as yet but will later. I am shooting the 140 Nosler competition bullet now and looks real good also.
I would not use the A Max for big game they will not penetrate bone, Hornady does not recommend them for game. Use the SST 129 they are made for hunting. Buy a Hornady Lock and Load Gauge to measure your throat and the O.A.L.

 

[metal2meat]

Hey Jim, thanks for the reply. I do use a Hornady L&L OAL gauge, but I use Sinclair comparator to measure to the ogive instead of C.O.A.L. because I've found to many differences in bullet length. For comparison to your loads- on average my overall length is 3.202 with the 140 bergers. I guess that would mean your seating them about 0.022 deeper than I am. Does it concern you that there is not alot of bullet inside the neck of your brass? I've heard it preferred to have the top of the boattail/start of the ogive very near to the shoulder/neck junction of your brass. With the bergers being 0.001 from the lands, it leaves me kinda short as far as bullet grab by the neck.

Others are telling me the same about the amax and hunting apps- Thanks. I'm not going to go that route.

 

[kendoka66]

I use the same comparator Sinclair,s Hex style. The long nose on the vld,s. vary a lot. The bullets have enough hold on the then as far tension goes, and they fit the magazine with room to spare. I just tried Reloader 25 on Friday and it shot great with the 142SMK,s. I used Quick Loads to find the best load that they recommended and I also used the Federal 215Gold Medal Magnum primer ,MV was 2814 fps. grouped 5 into .435".

 

[metal2meat]

I ran some through the magazine the other day and the bullet doesn't hit or hang up anywhere where it could push the bullet further into the neck. I'll play with it a bit a see what happens. I picked up H4831sc yesterday and we'll see what I can work up with that. Thanks for the info- happy shooting.

 

[bozo699]

Mine really likes the h-4831 52.5 gr.and 139 scenars @ 2980 fps. low .2s -factory f-class #12 savage
Wayne.

 

[Kenny474]

Metal, I am a bit confused about what model rifle you have. Was your rifle special ordered? The reason I ask is the BVSS is a short action and isn't offered in 6.5-284. The only repeater offered in that caliber is the Long Range Hunter. Just curious and trying to figure out what you're shooting.

 

[Obtunded]

As you are probably aware, that cartridge is brutal on barrels. My last one required bullets to be seated out 5 thou after every 100 rounds, and was done at about 800.

I used 140 VLD's but they were jammed, and I used a custom barrel/chamber.

Enjoy the 140's while they work, but it is my belief that that throat will wear fast, meaning you will run into problems seating into the lands and keeping in a box magazine. A non-seating depth sensitive bullet like the Sierra 140, the Amax or the 139 scenar may be the next step.

While your cases may not show pressure, you are clearly getting good results. Less is better when it comes to powder in that cartrige. They eat throats for breakfast.

 

[metal2meat]

Kenny, I hear you. I found the gun listed on a forum and then gunbroker. I called Savage Arms to get info about the barrel twist and was told that it was probably a special order. The guy selling insisted it was a limited edition or special run they did on them.

Google "savage 6.5x284 bvss" and theres some info on them. Its a nice rifle, pretty heavy, but its shooting great- so I'm happy.

 

[metal2meat]

Obtunded- thanks for the info. I guess I knew it going into it, just couldn't help myself- I really wanted to try one. I hope that with throat wear I don't have to keep extending the seating depth! It won't be long before I wouldn't have any bullet in the case neck (see my comments above). I guess at that point or sometime before that, I would order another barrel with a chamber and throat cut the way I want it.

 

[Kenny474]

Metal, you will never believe it, but I actually saw one at a gun show Sunday and never put it together in my head. (I'm a bit dense at times) They are nice rifles, very nice actually. They are in fact a limited edition. And with that barrel burner it's chambered in, "limited" is very fitting. I was in no way calling you a liar or anything, I was just curious. Though if I had opened my brain a bit and thought, I would have realized I had one in my hands the day before!

I too have suffered from the -284 impulse, as I have a 6-284 that has about had it in the barrel department. I told myself I was going to "save" the barrel and keep the round count down. But it just rang the steel with such authority that I couldn't help but shoot it.

 

[kendoka66]

Savage Arms offer their M12 F class in 6.5x.284 Norma, a friend ordered one and received it 3 days later. he shoots F class with it.His has a long throat also he uses the 140 Berger Match bullet not the VLD.the ogive is more uniform.

I also own a six mm x .284 I switched to yhe very long 115 Berger
and it has over 1500 rounds and going strong!. I love to shoot steel also at long range.

 

[bozo699]

No offence intended towards anyone so don't everybody jump on me for this BUT,
I here over and over here barrel burner barrel burner,not just on this thread,but all over the forum? Look fella's you can't have power and fuel milage @ the same time!
You wouldn't buy a ugo or geo metro for a street racer or to drive on the autobon,and you wouldn't buy a corvette if you were interested in fuel milage and saving money ??? The 6 and 6.5*284 are hot rods They hit the gong with autority! there fun to shoot just like a Vette is fun to drive,when the Vette runs out of gas every hundred miles or so filler up and have some more fun When the 6.5*284 runs out of gas (barrel life) Rebarrel her and have some more fun!!!
Thats All
Wayne.

 

[metal2meat]

Kenny, No offense taken! It's tough- you never know how someone is going to "read" a comment. Hopefully someone else reads this and is enlightened in case they find themselves looking at one a wondering what it is. I plan to do something different in the stock department and want to use it in a steel safari match next summer. While I want to "ring the steel" I also want to "ring some critters bell" with it.

Funny- I didn't have a great itch to try one but did it more on whim. So far, I really like it. I don't think I'll have too much heartburn if i have to rebarrel later.

Wayne- I agree with you totally. Hell, hardly any of us are in shooting games/hobbies/sports to save money. There are some misers out there but even they spend bucks on what they love. We have to shoot'em! In one way or another that costs$$, might as well enjoy it while we can!

 

[Obtunded]

The 6.5-284 is indeed a barrel burner and it is indeed the price of doing business. It must be considered however that it is a less than ideal choice for magazine-fed rifles due to the drastic changes in throat dimensions.

Performance wise, a 260AI is so close, and lasts so much longer that it is worth doing some homework on it.

Also... us poor Canadians pay twice what you guys do on average for good barrels. Betweeen the unbelievable road blocks to importing them from the US to the costs of state dept. licenses etc. we pay through the nose. Our "price of doing business" is far more expensive than yours...

 

[metal2meat]

Wayne, Sorry to hear about your costs up north. Do you think you can do a .260ai shooting longer bullets like bergers, matchkings, etc in short action or would it have to be a long action to do magazine/repeater? Just curious. Do you know the approximate COAL of a .260ai, loaded with a 140 berger where the bullet is seated at least .240 in the neck?

Sounds like a cool way to go. Thanks