I currently have a single shot Remington 40x that I had a guy rebarrel to a 6.5x284 (26" Rem. Varmint contour Bartlien stainless steel 1/8 twist) and bed in a McMillan game scout stock. Shooting 140 gr. Amax bullets I can't get more than 2800 fps with R-17 before pressure signs show up. I've had the same results with Hodgen 4350. Could this be a chambering or headspace issue? I can't remember the powder charge but I'm using lapua brass and I've tried CCI br primers and Rem. Mag primers (which I stuck with because I'm getting good accuracy). Or could this just be how my barrel is?
6.5x284 velocity
- Thread starter Jgraf
- Start date
You're within 50 fps of where I got with a 26" Rock Creek. The best load I found with a 26" tube was with H4831sc, Rem 9 1/2 primers and 142SMKs . It shot outstanding. At 600 one day, I put three shots into a 1" paster, but the combo of rifle/shooter was probably .4moa average most days until wind started opening it up. Unfortunately, 850 rounds is all I got out of that barrel before it died.
Thank you for your replies.
I'm not sure what you mean by pressure ring but the chamber was throated with enough freebore to seat the longer 140gr. class bullets out far enough.
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My max load is 47 grains of H4350 at an OAL of 3.045" with a 139 Lapua. Lapua brass only lasts 8-9 firings. The manuals say 42 grains min and 46 grains max. Starting at 48 seems too hot.
What velocity are you getting from that load and from what length of barrel?
waverly
Gold $$ Contributor
700 Remington 26" 8 twist Broughton 5c barrel. 52.5 H4831 Hornady 140 SST. 5 shots 2883 low to high 2890. Magneto speed. Hunting rifle only. I'll probably never wear out brass or barrel. Shoots 2.5-4 inches depending on the driver at 600. Oh and by the way primers are 210(not 210m) still nice and round no hard bolt lift etc. McMillan A-5 with 5-20 Huskemaw. It does weigh in around 11.5 lbs.
I only take to the range once or twice a year. When I do I just zero at 200, and check drops at 300, 600, 800, and go hunt.
Hope this helps. Good luck. Do not start at my load. Start at 50.0 and work up. No two barrels are the same. I shoot 52.8 in my light bench rifle which is also a Broughton, on a Borden action.
Waverly
I only take to the range once or twice a year. When I do I just zero at 200, and check drops at 300, 600, 800, and go hunt.
Hope this helps. Good luck. Do not start at my load. Start at 50.0 and work up. No two barrels are the same. I shoot 52.8 in my light bench rifle which is also a Broughton, on a Borden action.
Waverly
I don't recall chronographing that load. I just worked it up looking for pressure signs and accuracy. It's a 26" barrel, so QL suggests 2759 fps. But QL also suggests only 49000 psi, which seems too low considering the pressure effects on the brass, so the velocity may be higher too.
The 140 (142s) have nodes. I wouldn't be real concerned about chasing a number here. I could easily clean the old (full size) NRA target at 1k with a 142 going 2850. I have a 6.5x47 now that gets the same MV in 26" barrel that my 6.5x284 did. Getting 2830 w/42 gr h4350, no pressure at 65°f. It's not about the MV per say, it's about finding were that bullet wants to be and staying there. How you get tgere is less important IMO. Trying to squeeze out the extra 50 fps may double the group size.
As to Retumbo, I just tried this powder in a short (ish) throat 300wm. Damn what a nice powder. Great numbers for a magnum pushing a 220 with 1/2 the bullet in the case. If it works with x 284 it should be a winner. Seems to me it would be heavily compressed, but that didn't hurt me his weekend.
As to Retumbo, I just tried this powder in a short (ish) throat 300wm. Damn what a nice powder. Great numbers for a magnum pushing a 220 with 1/2 the bullet in the case. If it works with x 284 it should be a winner. Seems to me it would be heavily compressed, but that didn't hurt me his weekend.
Hengehold
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a ...
Barnard action
Bartlien 31in, 5R barrel
h4831, 52gr
Lapua brass
140 hybrid
Fed 210m primer
Speed has not been cronoed but no pressure signs
-Trevor
Hengehold
Silver $$ Contributor
Accuracy: I shoot NRA LR w/ irons and a sling. It is my first 6.5 and have only shot it in 2 matches. For what it is worth, I have shot the best 1000yd score of my life with it (200-15x). Load testing at 300 with scope and lots of mirage, best group was in half MOA neighborhood.
Vel: will post speed if I get to borrow a chrono someday.
-Trevor
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