Building a 284 win

[Bav57]

I am currently building a 284 win on a savage 110 long action. I’m thinking of going with a Shilen varmint 26” barrel. Wanting to use this for hunting mainly but might get into some recreational long range shooting. Also wanting to lengthen throat or free bore to achieve the full capacity of this cartridge. I’ve spoke with Shilen and they told me they only have the saami spec reamer but if I would send them a dummy cartridge with bullet of my choice the would custom fit it to that bullet. I have some hornady 162 gr sst on hand and could seat them out to 3.000 oal. Would this be beneficial to achieve my goal. Also which barrel twist would be recommended. Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[284winner]

I am currently building a 284 win on a savage 110 long action. I’m thinking of going with a Shilen varmint 26” barrel. Wanting to use this for hunting mainly but might get into some recreational long range shooting. Also wanting to lengthen throat or free bore to achieve the full capacity of this cartridge. I’ve spoke with Shilen and they told me they only have the saami spec reamer but if I would send them a dummy cartridge with bullet of my choice the would custom fit it to that bullet. I have some hornady 162 gr sst on hand and could seat them out to 3.000 oal. Would this be beneficial to achieve my goal. Also which barrel twist would be recommended. Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

U may want to throat the chamber for some better long range bullets than the 162 SST bullets if your planning on shooting that rifle at long (600-1000) ranges. The 162 ELDX or ELDM may be the bullet design you want or if your considering heavier, try the 175/180 ELD bullets. The COAL will be over 3.1 if using any LR match type bullet for sure. If you throat the chamber for any of those, chances are you'll be able to shoot the same weight Berger's or Sierra bullets in that chamber. It's all a matter of what you'll hunt. Most anything can be hunted with a 162-180 grain.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I agree with the above. Get a heavy ELD-M or Berger bullet and use that to throat the barrel.

One thing I will add is that a 26” Varmint contour barrel is going to be HEAVY. Not sure how you plan to hunt with it, but unless it is out of a box blind that is easy to get to, you may want to reconsider going that heavy on the contour.

 

[Bav57]

U may want to throat the chamber for some better long range bullets than the 162 SST bullets if your planning on shooting that rifle at long (600-1000) ranges. The 162 ELDX or ELDM may be the bullet design you want or if your considering heavier, try the 175/180 ELD bullets. The COAL will be over 3.1 if using any LR match type bullet for sure. If you throat the chamber for any of those, chances are you'll be able to shoot the same weight Berger's or Sierra bullets in that chamber. It's all a matter of what you'll hunt. Most anything can be hunted with a 162-180 grain.

Is it the oal I should be concerned about or or the ogive. I can seat the 162 at pretty much any oal need or want. What concerns about bullet jump with lighter bullets As far as accuracy would I have. And would would the lighter 130/140 gr be ok for a 9 or 91/2 twist.

 

[284winner]

Is it the oal I should be concerned about or or the ogive. I can seat the 162 at pretty much any oal need or want. What concerns about bullet jump with lighter bullets As far as accuracy would I have. And would would the lighter 130/140 gr be ok for a 9 or 91/2 twist.

Your ogive measurement is of course what matters for chamber throat length but if you sent dummy rounds to NSS or Shilen, they'll figure all that out. The 9 twist is perfect IMO for the 180 or lighter ( shorter). Accuracy will be great with the 140 grain bullets also.

 

[FNSafari]

I agree with the above. Get a heavy ELD-M or Berger bullet and use that to throat the barrel.

One thing I will add is that a 26” Varmint contour barrel is going to be HEAVY. Not sure how you plan to hunt with it, but unless it is out of a box blind that is easy to get to, you may want to reconsider going that heavy on the contour.

Would you use a match bullet for hunting?

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Sierra recommends 8 twist for 180s

 

[HandgunHTR]

Would you use a match bullet for hunting?

No, but he also stated that he wanted to use it for recreational long range shooting. Therefore, if it is throated to accept the Match bullets that happen to have the ogive a bit forward, when he switches over to the hunting bullets, he will be just fine.
Additionally, there is not a lot of dimensional differences between the Hornady ELD-M and ELD-X or the Berger VLD match and VLD hunters.

 

[FeMan]

I am at sea level and the 1:9 twists have worked fine for for me with 180 hybrids and lighter. The 175 ELDX and 180 ELDMs are longer and have required me to go to a 8.5 twist.

 

[CharlieNC]

Magazine length? Or does the long action negate that as a limitation?

 

[Bav57]

No, but he also stated that he wanted to use it for recreational long range shooting. Therefore, if it is throated to accept the Match bullets that happen to have the ogive a bit forward, when he switches over to the hunting bullets, he will be just fine.
Additionally, there is not a lot of dimensional differences between the Hornady ELD-M and ELD-X or the Berger VLD match and VLD hunters.

What oal would you suggest. I’m using a long action so magazine length is not an issue.

 

[HandgunHTR]

As I don't have a .284 case handy to stick a 168 grain VLD hunter into, I cannot say exactly what OAL you should go for. I would recommend getting one or two of the heaviest bullets you plan to shoot, load them up so that you have at least .280" of the bullets bearing surface into the case neck and go with that.

 

[284winner]

Would you use a match bullet for hunting?

I use them all the time. They work better for me than most hunting bullets do. You just have to shoot for rib cage. They destroy everything in the middle of the rib cage. Plus you hit where the crosshairs are Everytime.

 

[284winner]

Sierra recommends 8 twist for 180s

Sierra recommends the 8 twist because some guys run the 180s in the 7-08. The 284 will stabilize them fine with a 9 twist barrel. Because he's shooting 162s or less it sounds like, I'd probably stick with a 9. If the 180-184s were going to be a consideration, I'd probably say an 8.5 would be better.

 

[Old Navy]

This might be comparing apples to oranges because I am shooting 6.5 140 and 147 ELDMs. My 6.5s have a very short base to heel compared to the Bergers. I have been shooting 140 Bergers and 142 SMKs with great success just off the lands and out of the donut. I could not do that with the ELDMs. they are well below the donut and seriously compressing H4350. I ran the throat out far enough to get out of the donut and stay .020"off. The SMKs are still going to be in the neck far enough to hold the bullet at - .020" jump. The Berger VLD on the other hand will have to jump a mile. Just something to think about.
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[Liven The Dream]

Most F/class Guy’s and me Run 1-8.5 30-32” Barrels
JGS has a Great Reamer .
Sad News 1700 to 2000 Rounds your Barrel is not 1000 yard Winning Rifle

 

[beak]

i have some 284 unfired brass that i do not have use for if u are interested. RSVP & iwill count them & let u know. sldimon@roadrunner.com. [steve]. thank u