Best bullets and powder for 6.5 284

[ellagrace]

Hello everyone:

Any thoughts one best brands of bullets and powders for 6.5 284. I have loaded 50 rounds of lapua cases with 142mk sierra bullets and used Hodgdon h4831sc.

Since then I have talked with a few shooters and they said that loads weren't the best. That being said they failed to mention what a better load would be ie. bullets and powder.

Any suggestions, would be much appreciated

nick

 

[bozo699]

ellagrace,
I don't know who told you that but don't listen to them anymore They don't know what there talking about, That is a excellent reciepe you have there.I shoot 52.5 h4831- 139 lapua scenars and 142 smk's with excellent results.( Warning 52.5gr. of h-4831 lc not short cut shoots good in my rifle thats pretty hot in some rifles better back off that to start with) Good luck and be safe!!!! Oh by the way Welcome to the forum.
Wayne.

 

[watercam]

I agree. Before you listen to the 'guys at the range' make sure they load (successfully) for the cartridge at hand. Look at the 6.5/284 cartridge guide on the home page for this site for some load ideas. I shoot 47.5 gr. of Reloader 17 w/ 142 Sierras for 3030 fps and great accuracy. H4350 works well also. H4831 is a classic in this cartridge.

 

[ellagrace]

Hey Guys

Thanks for the great advise and honesty. I will play around with some different combinations, and see what will work the best. Im still waiting for a new scope, I had used a 15 power hunting scope to shoot the gun for the first time and found its limitations out very quickly.

Thanks for the welcome
Nick

 

[highlife]

Nick,
i would try some 4350 with the 142smk. work up from 47.0gr
the load iam using is 48.5 4350 with the 142smk.
highlife

 

[camac]

Welcome Nick, A warning from someone who has learnt the hard way. Avoid mucking around with too many powder bullet combinations in this caliber. I burnt out my first barrel Trying to get the 142's, Berger 140's and Scenar 139's shooting well (used 4350 and 4831SC). Finally had success with 120 and 123 class bullets but the barrel was nearly gone before discovering combination.
In hindsight I would have picked one bullet powder primer combination in the 140 class bullet (The one you have selected is a proven one in many rifles - including all my subesquent barrels) and just work through the powder charges and seating depths methodically. Avoid wasting shots.
If this didn't work in any combination of powder charge/seating depth (and this may take you 100-200 shots to trial properly) I would go straight for a SMK or Lapua 123 and try again (Same powder primer will do).
I keep posting this but very Interestingly the 123 Lapua Scenar (at 3150fps) gives up nothing in windage to a SMK 142 at 2950 all the way out to 1000yds but in some rifles that can't handle the larger bullets they may well prove more accurate.
BUT give the SMK 142 and 4831 a good go first. Often the 142's can like a good jump.

 

[1000yardstare]

+1 on Camac`s experience with leaving the best part of a barrel`s life on the bench.

I got one season out of an F Class 6AI barrel because early on I spent too much time looking for the "perfect" load off a bench.

 

[ellagrace]

Hey Guys

Thanks for all the info, will take it all and use it for getting best combination for rifle.

Nick

 

[ChipEckardt]

I have also shoot the Sierra 140 gr and for me they are as accurate as the 142 gr. at least out to 1000 yards.

Chip

 

[TerryPohl]

I built my gun thinking of the 142SMK's, Knowing it was a barrel burner and seeing prety quick that it did not like them to well I went to the Berger 140 with the same load and everything is good. To make a long story short if you and your gun are happy with your choice that and little groups are what counts.
Terry Pohl

 

[kyreloader]

140g JLKs and H1000 shot best for me.

 

[camac]

Good points Wayne but I can't see where the author was talking about ELK.?? Was it a PM?

 

[bozo699]

Camac,Terry,everyone else,
I am Sorry I was on big stuff forum here on 6br Brianc74 has a post on 6-5*284 w/142smk for hunting.I was about to write a post,phone rang, long story short when i got back to write post I ended up here I still feel the same but am very sory for posting on wrong forum.
Wayne.

 

[itfliesitdies]

All of these I beleive are good loads for the right gun. I have had the best luck 139 scenars/H4350 at 48.7gr/fed210m/ seated at .020 into the lands. Some bullets work well with a .020 or so jump as well. H4350, H4831 LC and SC are great powders. H4831SC 51.8gr/142 SMK/ Fed210m/ also worked well for me.

I would norrow down the right load at a .020 jump and then do a ladder test for seating depth starting at .030 jump and going to .030 into the lands.

I have recently had some problems with bad batches of 6.5/284 Lapua brass though. One box I had was loaded with horribly out of round, non concentric, necks. Nothing I tried could make them shoot a group.
Anyone else have this problem?

 

[ellagrace]

Thanks itfliesitdies

Not quite sure what you mean by seating depth. I thought you wanted the bullet seated right into the lands. I'm new to this and trying to learn.

thanks
nick

 

[itfliesitdies]

Every load is different. The seating depth can greatly effect your accuracy. Some ammo shoots well with a "jump" (out of the lands), and some shoot well into the lands. You need to test to see where your setup shoots best. I have generally found that the "grey area" where the lands start, usually doesnt produce very good accuracy. Either you go in the lands a little, or you jump. A good starting point is to try .020" into the lands and .020" out of the lands. you can also try in .005" increments in between. Horandy make a OAL tool that uses a modified case to match your caliber that you stick in the chamber with your particular round and get an OAL measurement that will tell you where the lands start in teference to your bullets ogive. Then you can adjust your seater to the correct depths and see what works for you. FYI.. when you take the measurement, use the same exact bullet you used to set up your seater. Because you are taking OAL length readings, every single bullet in a box may vary a few thousandths or more in OAL. So everytime you take a new measurement and set up the die depth differently,use a single bullet to take the measurement and set up the seater.

 

[camac]

Camac,Terry,everyone else,
I am Sorry I was on big stuff forum here on 6br Brianc74 has a post on 6-5*284 w/142smk for hunting.I was about to write a post,phone rang, long story short when i got back to write post I ended up here I still feel the same but am very sory for posting on wrong forum.
Wayne.

No worries Wayne - Have done the same myself. There are often multiple threads running on the same topic and it is easy to get on the wrong one. Who reads right back through each one every time anyway?

 

[bozo699]

Thanks camac
Wayne.

 

[ellagrace]

I understand, thanks. Just got new scope in tonight, so won't be shooting it for a few weeks. I have that tool for seating depth and are loading into the lands now. Will try and see if the gun shoots better with a jump after I do the ladder test.

thanks
Nick

 

[boogershooter]

Nick, Mine seems to like .20 off. Just stay open minded, and experiment with three shot groups at first to save that bore! And if you are shooting free recoil,try holding the rifle.