F class savage
- Thread starter Buzzardab
- Start date
If you are still utilizing the factory barrel it's quite possible what you are experiencing is a situation where the bore is very rough and susceptible to heavy fouling.
Meaning , when it is squeaky clean it takes a good number of shots to get it fouled to a point where it will shoot... And then you see a window where after it is fouled it will only shoot maybe 20 some shots before it becomes fouled to the point where accuracy then falls off and it needs cleaning again thus starting a vicious circle.
Are you seeing a repeatable pattern with the groups that are disappointing? Are they stringing horizontally or vertically or both?
Some people play a risky game by seating their bullets too close to the rifling using so so quality bullets that have not been sorted.. Find a measurement that keeps you either .020" off or else jam them and lower powder charge untill you see repeatable results then tune from there.
The throats in those rifles are generally quite long so if you are not using a 130-140 class bullet you may run into trouble.
Meaning , when it is squeaky clean it takes a good number of shots to get it fouled to a point where it will shoot... And then you see a window where after it is fouled it will only shoot maybe 20 some shots before it becomes fouled to the point where accuracy then falls off and it needs cleaning again thus starting a vicious circle.
Are you seeing a repeatable pattern with the groups that are disappointing? Are they stringing horizontally or vertically or both?
Some people play a risky game by seating their bullets too close to the rifling using so so quality bullets that have not been sorted.. Find a measurement that keeps you either .020" off or else jam them and lower powder charge untill you see repeatable results then tune from there.
The throats in those rifles are generally quite long so if you are not using a 130-140 class bullet you may run into trouble.
skiutah02
Silver $$ Contributor
I might be of some help, but no promises and please work up your own load, as these might not work in your barrel vs. my barrel.
I picked up a slightly used fac Savage 6.5x284 barrel on this site and thought it would be fun to play with and learn some new techniques in reloading.
I converted 284 Win brass to 6.5 284. My cringeworthy adventures doing so are documented in a thread here on AS. So be advised that the following are with 284 Win brass that have been necked down.
Was advised to use H4350, 142 SMK jammed 0.010" in the 45-48 gr range. Should give 3000ish fps. The throat on mine barrel was super long. In order to do that the bullet was barely in the case something like 2.666 CBTO. Also, accidentally ordered IMR4350. Long story short, I had trouble finding a consistent load sub 1.0 MOA. Tried 140 SMKs also. No luck. Perhaps a similar situation as yours. Pulled barrel thinking it was shot out but eventually had a friend borescope it and it looked OK.
Was holding out until I found more time and H4350 or H4831sc as these are known good powders. Happened to see a few threads about using H1000 instead. A few weeks ago tried the H1000. With the exception of a very small window of charge and an unusual jump shot better than IMR 4350, but the following load seems to be "good". Not sure what "good" is in your book, but this is "good" considering the other groups and a factory barrel.
Win 284 brass necked down and turned to give 6.5-284, F210 primer, H1000 53.8-54.0 gr. Jumped 0.042", 142 SMK.
Below are some targets obtained during load development with H1000. At 600 the 10-shot group (only did one), measured 3.511 in vertical. I did shoot a three shot group at a slightly (0.039") different seating depth and that appears on the same target and those are labelled 2.610" if you were curious.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Drew
I picked up a slightly used fac Savage 6.5x284 barrel on this site and thought it would be fun to play with and learn some new techniques in reloading.
I converted 284 Win brass to 6.5 284. My cringeworthy adventures doing so are documented in a thread here on AS. So be advised that the following are with 284 Win brass that have been necked down.
Was advised to use H4350, 142 SMK jammed 0.010" in the 45-48 gr range. Should give 3000ish fps. The throat on mine barrel was super long. In order to do that the bullet was barely in the case something like 2.666 CBTO. Also, accidentally ordered IMR4350. Long story short, I had trouble finding a consistent load sub 1.0 MOA. Tried 140 SMKs also. No luck. Perhaps a similar situation as yours. Pulled barrel thinking it was shot out but eventually had a friend borescope it and it looked OK.
Was holding out until I found more time and H4350 or H4831sc as these are known good powders. Happened to see a few threads about using H1000 instead. A few weeks ago tried the H1000. With the exception of a very small window of charge and an unusual jump shot better than IMR 4350, but the following load seems to be "good". Not sure what "good" is in your book, but this is "good" considering the other groups and a factory barrel.
Win 284 brass necked down and turned to give 6.5-284, F210 primer, H1000 53.8-54.0 gr. Jumped 0.042", 142 SMK.
Below are some targets obtained during load development with H1000. At 600 the 10-shot group (only did one), measured 3.511 in vertical. I did shoot a three shot group at a slightly (0.039") different seating depth and that appears on the same target and those are labelled 2.610" if you were curious.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Drew
Attachments
Just came from range after the fed x man showed up with my 140 grain Berger hybrids.what a difference ,threw together 4 test loads quick after measuring for ogive to lands and they were at 2 different ends of the scales and they all shot better than the 142 smk's the best of the four was 50 grs h4831sc with a 5 ths jump . The 4 I made up were that one and 49 grs at25 ths jump 51grs at 25 jump and 49 at 5ths jump
Buzzardab,
Great! Now take that load out to 300 and 600 and test it to see if it stands up.If it does take it the rest of the way out to 8,9 and 1000 yards. Please let us know what you find and if you need anything else. Thanks for using our bullets!!
Great! Now take that load out to 300 and 600 and test it to see if it stands up.If it does take it the rest of the way out to 8,9 and 1000 yards. Please let us know what you find and if you need anything else. Thanks for using our bullets!!
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