Field Report on New 6.5 - 284 Savage F class

[billmo]

Finally got around to shooting this thing today. Of course, going thru the barrel break-in procedure and only shooting 3 shot groups. I am very content with the way it shot. I loaded Lapua new brass with 49.0 of H-4831 under SMK 142s, Fed. Match primer,not gold medal) at OAL of 2.557 to ogive and was able to get a .322 group while blowing out brass and breaking in the barrel. My bullets were just touching the lands but I'll change that once I get all my brass blown out and I think it would stand at least one more grain of flight fuel too. As far as rifle performance and handling goes, I could not ask for any better. No hitches, no clitches, just good solid performance. Barrel was copper fouling but new barrels often will foul a lot just getting started. That Nightforce 12-42 NXS with DD reticle is sweet too. Makes shooting even more fun no matter what it is mounted on.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Glad to hear that everything's going well. You're right, that rifle can handle at least couple of grains more of H4831sc, and will result in higher velocity along with smaller ES and SD. At least my 30" Bartlein did!

Keep us posted

 

[billmo]

Thanks for the comments man. I'll keep you abreast of my next outing with the 6.5. Still got to finish the barrel break-in and blow out my brass, but I'm almost to a point that I can shoot some five shot groups. Plan on stretching the "ol boy" out to five hundred once I load my brass the second time. Wanting to take out some 20 oz. pop bottles full of water with it on the long end in a week or so. I think I'm gonna like this caliber.
Bill

 

[rhino]

Once you toast the barrel throw on a Pac-nor 3 groove 6.5x55 with .294 neck and set for 140 bergers from Pacific.

YOu'll love the SWEDE!

RHINOUT!

 

[billmo]

O K Man, I'll have to remember that. Sounds like a winner. Bill

 

[Raptor]

Rhino,
I just backed down my load for my 6.5x55. It was shooting nearly the same comeups as my 6.5x284 was. I had trouble finding a load that it liked with the 139s and finally settled on 45grs of H4350 which shot well but I didn't want to shoot the barrel out to soon since I built it to last longer than either the 260 or the 6.5x284.

I just now have found that a load of 42grs is shooting nearly as well and it seems to match the data for my 260s so I may stay with that load and hope for better barrel life. Thanks for your help with load suggestions, you were right the 6.5x55 is a sweet shooting rifle!!!!

 

[mysticplayer]

Raptor, have you tried H4831SC in your Swede?

As other shooters are finding, using a slower powder to reach max velocity can increase throat life. I guess the pressure curve is wider so extreme temps are spread out over a longer distance in the bore ????????

In the 6.5, many are reporting short life when using H4350 especially in the 6.5 -284. I found it very peaky in my rifles. Am using H4831SC and enjoying full cases, low vertical stringing if at all, seems like very long throat life. I am shooting a 6.5 Mystic which is my version of the 260AI.

Shooters are using H1000 in their 6.5-284's and reporting much better wear and tear.

Hope this helps.

Jerry

 

[Raptor]

Jerry,
I tried H4831SC and it just did not give me the accuracy that H4350 did. I tired a lot of different powders but H4350 was the best. I am like you, I wanted to go with a slower burning powder for just that reason and that is why I built the sweede then the damn thing only likes H4350!!! Thanks!!!!

 

[mysticplayer]

Ultimately, we feed it what it likes.

Tight groups and good scores...

Cheers.

Jerry

 

[HawkeyeJoe]

Sounds like it's time to streeeetch her out a bit. Keep us posted!

 

[billmo]

Got a chance to finish breaking in my barrel on the 6.5-284 Savage F-class target rifle yesterday. Best group while getting this done was .319 at 100 yds. Not much better than the .322 on my first outing but now I can load everything back up and start some serious bullet seating depth changes to see where this rig is going to like the bullet to start. Everything so far was just touching the lands and I think I need to go into the lands .010 .015 and then maybe away from them the same. Had someone reccomend that for my 6 X 47 and it paid off really well. Next time out I think I'm going to stretch her out to 500 yds. and see what the groups look like out there. Maybe even take out a few 20 oz. pop bottles filled with water. Sure wish we had some live critters to practice on round here in this old coastal area but no such luck. No chucks, dogs, or nothing. Oh well, watching the water spray at 500 yds. ain't too awfully boring anyway. I'll keep you posted.

 

[rhino]

I jam the bullets regardless and it seems to work well for me. What bullets are you using?

What neck tension are you using?

I generally like .002 tension.

H4350 seems to be the powder, but it spikes aweful early.

Bergers are very finicky. I think Lapua's shoot best overall.

RHINOUT!}

 

[billmo]

Hey Man,
How much are you jamming.005 .010 .015 etc? My die bushing is .293 and my loaded round with SMK 142 is measuring @ .2945. I have a .292 bushing also but have not tried it yet. I was shooting 49.0 gr. of H4831sc and tried 12 at 50.0 gr. Those 12 had been previously fired in my gun and only neck sized. I plan to try some H4350 and I have some Berger 140 VLDs. I will try the Lapua too once I get all my brass blown out. I really want to stretch it on out here in a week or so to at least the 500 mark. Thanks for the info man. Bill

 

[memilanuk]

Any more results? Have you had a chance to shoot it beyond 100yds yet?

 

[billmo]

Milanuk, I was hoping to shoot it today but my friend that has the key to the gate over in the woods where we shoot 500 and 600 yds. went to the mountains this week end and he is not allowed to let anyone have the key. So, I shot it at 100 yds. today and it done really good with that same load. Sub 1/2" group 3 times back to back. Maybe next week end I will get to try it at the long end and will sure put the results on here asap. Thanks for your interest. Bill

By the way, the 6 X 47 Shehane was shooting tight today too. My son shot a 3 shot group with it that measured .415 from outside to outside of the burnish ring and I shot a 5 shot group with it that measured .472 from outside to outside of the burnish ring.

 

[memilanuk]

Guess I'm spoilt... got a 300yd range < 5 minutes from my house and a 600yd range < 20 minutes. Takes a little longer than that to get all set up and whatnot, but ya get the idea

What are you running for seating depth? Specifically OAL if you have it. I'm trying to run some data thru QuickLoad to get a feel for things... never played w/ a 6.5-284 before.

Thanks,

Monte

 

[billmo]

The COL case head to bullet tip is 3.135. I normally don't use that measurement because case head to bullet ogive is more accurate for me. That measures 2.540 and puts my bullet at .010 off the lands according to the stoney point,hornady) tool. Thanks, Bill

 

[warthog97]

Billmo, keep us posted on your results. I've got a Savage F-Class waiting for me to pickup when I get home. I've been reading your postings with interest as you're several months ahead of me in assembling and testing the rifle system,sounded better than 'accessorizing the rifle'). What brass are you using? I'm wondering if I bought the wrong size bushings to experiement with with the lapua brass since I'm buying from a far right now. Thanks for the posts! -bnw

 

[billmo]

I am using the Lapua brass. My loaded neck diameter seems to be a little smaller than some of the other guys loads. The .293 bushing seems to be working fine as my loaded round neck dia. is .2945. I need to get back with it and shoot some of the Berger 140 gr. BT bullets that Berger sent to me to try out. I have been trying to divide my time between that rifle and a couple more new rifles but seems like I don't get to do much with either one anymore. Will keep you posted as I progress. Bill

 

[billmo]

milanuk, I apologize for seemingly laying down on my testing with this rifle and reporting to you my findings. I have some rds. loaded with the new 140 gr. BT Bergers and will get back with it as soon as I can shoot that thing. Bill