Considering parting with my 6-284 barrel

[Nomad47]

If my 26" barrel was 2" longer, I would still be working with the 105 Hybrids. Unfortunately, nodes and 105s just don't work well on the 26" barrel - either at max or a very mild load.

I tried RL-17 today and got a 4 shot group just over .25 MOA at 200 yards. I will try that again to see if it repeats plus loads of 7828ssc. And I may be able to buy a pound or so of RL-25 from a friend.

 

[Nomad47]

The RL-17 load didn't repeat. And a load of 7828ssc didn't look very good, but I will adjust QL burning rate and make another load that will put me on a Chris Long OBT.

I also just bought a little RL-25 from a friend and I will see how it shoots. I will be sticking with the 95 VLDs as I don't think a 26" barrel and 105s in a 6-284 are a good combination.

 

[bozo699]

Bill,
What is your neck clearance? and how much neck tension are you running, I really had problems with flyers at 1K until I got the right amount of clearance and tension.
Wayne.

 

[Nomad47]

Wayne,

Norma 6.5-284 brass, annealed after every firing, sized necks are .270", necks of loaded rounds are .272" and chamber neck is .277".

 

[PALarson]

Bill, if you are planning to shoot up towards 1000 you need to use the heaver bullets. Although they have more drop than lighter bullets, they follow the path better. If you get your hands on some RE25 or VV165 you will be able to get the bullets up towards 3400 - 3500 and will have great accuracy, .025 or better if your barrel is ok and your bedding is ok.
Paul Larson Mid Range and Long Range High Master

 

[Nomad47]

Paul, I started out shooting the 105s - Hornady Amax, then Berger Hybrids. But after many combinations, I have come to the conclusion that with a 26" barrel, the accuracy nodes are either at max pressure or mild with velocities achievable with a 243.
Also, I bought the barrel used and I am starting to suspect I bought someone else's problems. After all the frustration I have had with this barrel, I can tell you this - I will never EVER buy another used barrel. At least not without seeing how it shoots first.

 

[PALarson]

Hi Bill, I feel your frustration, I've been there and done that. Hears the deal, in order to shoot competitively or accurately you will likely need to stay with the heaver bullets. I know that if the wind were never to blow that the lighter bullets would be OK, but that's not very often the case. Check the barrel crown, your bedding and if all is OK, try to get some of the RE25 or VV 165 and develop a load from there. If that doesn't work get a new barrel. The 6-284 has a lot of potential, only problem with it is barrel life. If you do get another barrel give the 6XC a try, it holds a lot of long range records, not to hard to get up to 3100 -3200 with outstanding accuracy. Just a thought. Used barrels are always a chance, I for one will not sell a used barrel that won't shoot, but some others either don't know any better or they don't have the scruples to use the bad barrel as a tent stake. Good luck, keep in touch.
Paul Larson

 

[CJ6]

Yup a 6-284 is a waste in shorter bbls. 29" or longer will see the benifits of the cartridge. I had a 24" walking rifle built Waste of money,also had bbls setback to 26" MORE wasted money.

 

[Nomad47]

Paul, I've got a pair of 6XCs and that is part of the problem - wanting my 6-284 to shoot as well. I got my hands on a little RL-25 so I will be giving it a try. I'm not competing with it except for a couple informal long range steel comps. I want it to shoot groundhogs out to 1000 yds and beyond. I've got a 243 AI barrel on order. After I shoot it I will make a decision on whether to pursue another 6-284 barrel. And if I do, it will be 28" and not a Shilen. Shilen may be OK but I won't get burned twice.

CJ6, depends on the application. For 1000 yard groundhogs, it is too short. But as it is, it is a helluva 600 yard antelope barrel.

 

[CJ6]

The walking rifle was 300+ fps slower than the 29.5",both 12 twists.

 

[Nomad47]

That is very interesting, Roger. 300 fps with 5.5 less inches. Works out to 54.5 fps per inch. Berger's manual claims 36 fps per inch for the 6-284.
What bullet weight were you shooting for that difference?

I subscribe to Chris Long's OBT (Optimum Barrel Time) theory. Using it along with QuickLoad, one accuracy node out of my 26" barrel is at max pressure shooting 105s. And sure enough, when my groups started to tighten up with the 105s I was getting pressure signs. With the 95 VLDs, that node falls a couple thousand PSI under max. But so far RL22, H4831, & RL-17 have not showed a lot of promise. Next up is 7828 and RL25.

 

[PALarson]

Bill, your not going to believe this one, I am a gunsmith and do my own rifle smithing, after 30 years of fitting barrels and shooting them and having my customers shoot them the only barrel that I have fitted that absolutely would not shot was a Shilen that I bought from Brownells. I didn't complain to them, I did call Shilen and talked to them but never sent it back, I was told that Shilen shipped their good barrels to the benchrest boys, don't know if anything to it, but mine was real bad.
Paul Larson

 

[CJ6]

That is very interesting, Roger. 300 fps with 5.5 less inches. Works out to 54.5 fps per inch. Berger's manual claims 36 fps per inch for the 6-284.
What bullet weight were you shooting for that difference?

I subscribe to Chris Long's OBT (Optimum Barrel Time) theory. Using it along with QuickLoad, one accuracy node out of my 26" barrel is at max pressure shooting 105s. And sure enough, when my groups started to tighten up with the 105s I was getting pressure signs. With the 95 VLDs, that node falls a couple thousand PSI under max. But so far RL22, H4831, & RL-17 have not showed a lot of promise. Next up is 7828 and RL25.

87 gr Hornady V-Maxes w H-1000

 

[Nomad47]

That's very interesting, Paul.

IMR7828ssc didn't look good at all today. I shot 5 shots with one load of RL-25 today. Now that I have a velocity, I will try a five shot group on an accuracy node to see if it shows any promise.

 

[PALarson]

Ok Bill here is my recommendation, Take off the tent stake and install a Bartlein or Kreiger 5r finish at 30 inches and you are good to go for a national record at 1,000 yd. I'm done.
Paul L

 

[stacy]

Paul
Getting back to the shilen barrel thats all I use in my gunsmith shop but I've heard off a match grade having issues but I've never had a problem with a select match but I buy direct also. On the other hand I have a 3 groove LILJA now that has 0................ accuracy sent it back to LILJA they re lapped it told me to re crown it after they lapped it but just want shoot NO more lilja for me.

 

[PALarson]

Hi Stacy, always good to hear from another smith. I have been fitting barrels since early 80's. When I started most Douglas air gauge barrels would shoot 1 minute, and most of us were happy with that. Benchrest was gaining at the time and Hart and Shillen were preferred barrels for that discipline. Most high power and Fclass shooters appear to be leaning towards the cut rifling rather than button. Personally I don't care as long as it shoots 1/4 or better. I have recently had the very best results with the Bartlein 5R barrels, as you know Boots Obermeyer is the Creator of that style, John Kreiger is also offering them. The ones that I put on my gun shoot less than 1/4 and have reduced the copper by 80 to 90 Percent. I love them.

 

[stacy]

I'M going to build a 6dasher using a KREIGER BARREL just finished a 243ack w/ a shilen select match 8 twist

 

[PALarson]

Keep me posted Stacy, I am interested in how the Shillen works out, I know the Kreiger will be great.
Paul Larson