Best Accuracy for 6.5x284

[rebel107]

I've just started with a 6.5x284 and wondering if accuracy is better at a lower speed or higher. Krieger 30" barrel 8 twist using H4350 & 140gr VLD bullets seated 5 thou off. Lapua brass neck turned to suit a .291" chamber neck. Fed 210 primers. 5 off seems to give the best accuracy but it's still not great at 2800 FPS. Is this the best accuracy area to look at or should I look higher? Shooting F class I didn't want to waste the barrel searching everywhere so thought here someone would know best. I do have 140gr Hybrids if they shoot better.

 

[B23]

My 6.5-284 is a trued Rem 700 long action with a Sendero contour 8tw 26in Shilen barrel. It really likes the Berger 140 Hybrid Target (part# 26414) with RL26, Fed 210M, and Lapua brass. Mine is throated for the heavies so it has a decent amount of FB as well as it has a Defensive Edge +P throat design so my velocities are typically a good 150 +/- faster then the same with a conventional throat but all that being said I'm sending them just over 3200 and those 140 Hybrid Target group very nicely.

For me the Berger Hybrids always seem to shoot well in most everything and that's not to say the other Berger's don't but their Hybrid bullets just seem to be more forgiving and easier to dial in and stay in tune so if you have them I'd shoot them over the other Berger's.

Also, if you have any slower powders like N565, IMR 7828ssc, or H4831 you can use I'd switch to one of them too.. RL26 is nearly impossible to find so unless you already have some I wouldn't bother with thinking about that particular powder but finding the other three shouldn't be difficult.

Even playing it safe with any of those powders in a 30in tube you should be able to launch 140's 3000-3000+ fps.

 

[rebel107]

B23, did you jam or jump the 140gr hybrids?

 

[long40shot]

I had great luck with hornady 140s with H4831sc.

 

[B23]

B23, did you jam or jump the 140gr hybrids?

I'm seating them right around 10 thou off touching.

 

[STOMP442]

Give a slower powder a try. 55ish gr of H1000 has always provided excellent accuracy and velocity with 140 class bullets. Even Retumbo has worked well for me in a couple rifles.

 

[koger]

I have a Benchmark 30" bull barrel 6.5x24 that I built on a Savage Stainless action, trued the action and nut up, added a surface ground recoil lug and a Sightron 10x50x60 with Mil Dot. I am getting 3100 fps out of Danzac coated 142 gr Sierra Match Kings, no pressure signs and you can lift the bolt with one finger, smoothly. This has always seemed to be a fast barrel, and H 4350 and H4831 was the 2 powders I decided to do load development with, and H4831 was much more accurate and consistent with that long barrel to utilize the slow burn rate. With 5 shot groups in the low .3's or less. I seated the bullets to just touch the lands. I am shooting over 50 grains of powder. I use the same load in a Savage Long range hunter that shoots about the same group size for 3 shot groups with 140 Sierra Game Kings and it is my primary hunting rifle.

 

[284winner]

I've just started with a 6.5x284 and wondering if accuracy is better at a lower speed or higher. Krieger 30" barrel 8 twist using H4350 & 140gr VLD bullets seated 5 thou off. Lapua brass neck turned to suit a .291" chamber neck. Fed 210 primers. 5 off seems to give the best accuracy but it's still not great at 2800 FPS. Is this the best accuracy area to look at or should I look higher? Shooting F class I didn't want to waste the barrel searching everywhere so thought here someone would know best. I do have 140gr Hybrids if they shoot better.

2975 is my sweet spot with H4831sc and 140 VLD Bergers. I shoot 140 elds also. Same barrel length. .297 neck in my chamber. 4350 is faster than 4831sc. I don't push the rifle but 3200 is easily obtainable. I'm happy at or just under 3000.

 

[Bc'z]

H4350, 140 vldh 28" barrel 2980 fps.
I haven't felt the need to push it any harder.

 

[rebel107]

So, everyone is pushing them harder up tp 2970-80fps rather than at 2800fps

 

[Bc'z]

So, everyone is pushing them harder up tp 2970-80fps rather than at 2800fps

Yes

 

[Bob3700]

Traditionally, the 6.5x284 w/ 142s has a sweet spot at 2950 fps. H4350 was the standard powder but also contributed to short bbl life. The slower the powder u can use, the better ur bbl life will be. Move in the direction of H1000 , stay in the same velocity range. Think about bbl hardening to extend life.

 

[Desert Fox]

10 shot group with my 6.5-284 Norma.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

10 shot group with my 6.5-284 Norma.

I think if you post a group like that you should show the rifle that shot it, if it isn't already posted. Very nice.

 

[Desert Fox]

I think if you post a group like that you should show the rifle that shot it, if it isn't already posted. Very nice.

 

[SteveUrban]

My load was 55.5 of N165 with a 142smk moly coated. Velocity was 2950. Barrel life was excellent!

 

[Bob3700]

Is that a Barnard “P” or “S”?

 

[Desert Fox]

Is that a Barnard “P” or “S”?

Barnard P, Krieger 8 twist, Masterclass stock, smithed by Warner.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

looks very well put together!

 

[ebb]

Right now I am shooting up the last of the 140 JLKs. My go to load was 50+ grains of N165 Lapua brass and 140 Berger hunting VLD. H1000, hybrid 100v or N165 for the win in barrel life.