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H4831SC in 6.5 x 284, what's too much?

Hodgdon lists 50.3 Gr. of H4831 as the max load in 6.4 x 284 with a 142 Gr. bullet at 2700fps.
I'd like to get to 3000 fps, does anybody run hotter than that?
How much is safe?
THANKS!!!
 
I regularly load the 142 SMK,.020" into lands) over 51.6gr. of H4831sc,Lapua brass, BR-2 primers). MV avg. is just a hair over 2900 fps with an ES of 3 and a SD of 1! This is from a 30" Bartlein 5R barrel, 1/8.5" twist.

I haven't tried any more powder in view of the superb results, but there's room for more, and I haven't had any high pressure warning signs at all. No measured case head expansion, the primer pockets feel as tight as new brass after five reloads at this point, no ejector marks, and no hard bolt lift on extraction. You can probably get to 3000+ without trying very hard using a little more powder. The usual 'work up slowly' safety warnings certainly apply.

Full disclosure necessary - I copied this load from Jason ;)

It might be hard to believe, but this isn't my competition load with this rifle. 139 Scenars over H4350 seem to perform better for me at the longer distances. Maybe just this particular barrel? I don't know for certain!
 
Is Hodgdon loading it as a true short-action round or loading it to a much greater OAL as is common among LR competitors? I think that, and barrel length, could easily explain some of the discrepancy between 2700 fps and 2950 - 3000 fps, which is a substantial difference.

Guy
 
I just shot my first loads today. I screwed up and never ran anything through the chronogragh. OOOOPS!!!
I'm shooting the new Savage 6.5 x 284 with the 30'' barrel.
I'll do as suggested, take the load up just a bit at a time.
I've got a buddy that says he's loading 55 grains of H4831SC in his 6.5 x 284, that sounds mighty hot.
Thanks Gentlemen!!!
 
M700 said:
Is Hodgdon loading it as a true short-action round or loading it to a much greater OAL as is common among LR competitors? I think that, and barrel length, could easily explain some of the discrepancy between 2700 fps and 2950 - 3000 fps, which is a substantial difference.

Guy

It looks like Hodgdon is straddling the fence on this one! According to my Hodgdon manual,2003) their COAL is 2.900" for this load, which IMO will neither feed through a regular SA magazine,about 2.800") nor is it near the "optimum" 3.100" COAL that many shooters are using.

FYI, I'm loading the 142 SMK .020" into the lands for a COAL of 3.071" in my chamber,PT&G no turn) but I requested that the 'smith leave a little room so I could have the throat recut as it advanced due to erosion.
 
I think that getting 3000+ fps with 4831SC might be a bit ambitious.
I stepped away from that powder with the 142's and 4831SC in a cartridge with similar, but more capacity and a 30" tube.
I think RE22 might give you what you want.
 
Just to clarify:
I do not have experience with the -284 case but,with my wildcat I got up to 2950 with 4831 SC and the bolt got sticky.
I'm now getting 3242 with RE22.
 
What is RE22?
Who makes it?

Glennster, Alliant's Reloader 22 is like a gift from the gods of reloading if you shoot something like a 7mm Rem mag, a .300 Win mag or even the little 6mm Remington. Heck, it's even worthwhile in my good old .30-06 rifle. ;) I shoot all of those cartridges, so it's been very, very useful for me.

A quick glance through the reloading manuals will show RE-22,abbreviated several different ways in different manuals) to produce top velocity in a number of different cartridges, particularly if heavy bullets are being used. There are reports of it having some troubles with pressure spikes in warm weather, but I haven't seen that myself, even with max loads. On the other hand, I use it primarily in hunting rifles, which I mostly shoot during the cooler months.

Yeah - it's good stuff for a wide range of high velocity cartridges.

Regards, Guy
 
Glennstr,
I shot a lot of H4831SC in my 6.5x284s using 53 to 54grs. I was getting right at 3000fps out of a 26" Pac Nor. I built the rifle for tactical shooting. I had two different lots of Norma brass and one had more case cap. than the other so thats why the different loads.

With RL-22 I was at over 3000fps but decided to stay with H4831SC because of the temp stability issue.
 
First - THANK YOU gentlemen, I really appreciate the helpful information.
I just got the numbers back from the hotter loads.
Using Lapua brass with both calibers, I took the 308,168 gr, Berger VLD) to 45.5 gr. of BL-C2 @ 2740fps. I was using 43.5 gr. @ 2600 fps.
The 6.5 x 284 with a 142 gr. SMK and 54 gr. of H4831SC flew at 2970 fps. I both cases the brass looked pretty good from what my rookie eyes are seeing.
I both cases, I now have velocity that should be better to work with at 1,000 yards.
 
Glennstar,

You haven't said what length barrel your using or what twist.

I am using a 1-8" twist Krieger 30" on a Barnard action. The load is Lapua brass neck turned for a .294 neck with .003 neck tension, H4831SC 53 gns. / Fed. 210 primer / 140 gn. Berger with moly for an average velocity of 3025fps.
 
The barrel is 30'' with a 1:8 twist, it's a box stock brand new Savage.
I just shot some good groups with 54 gr. of H4831SC @ 2970 FPS.
The brass showed some slight signs that make me think I should back of one grain.
 
Glennster- I have gotten over 3000fps out of h4831sc and a 28" barrel in a 6.5-284 shehane. With that said I use reloder 22 in my 6.5s now. It likes to shoot around 3070fps with what I load. My 6.5wssm rifles like re22 and also shoot best at around 3070fps.
 

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