Help with 6.5-284

[ShootDots]

Hit four stores today. No H1000. Looks like I'll just be playing with the SPRs tomorrow.

Chris, I neglected to tell you something. My friend "Smoking-Brass" on this Forum had trouble finding H1000 too. He tried VV N165 and got the same performance as H1000.. AND VV N165 is one of the "coolest" burning of any powder there is. That should extend barrel life at least as long as H1000.. Sorry for not mentioning it earlier. It had slipped my mind..

 

[FatBoy]

I may have some on hand. I think it tried an old AMU load but recall it being a little dirty. That said, it was likely a tight bore at that time and all bets are off with a those..

 

[Spin Drift]

This thread has been an interesting read. I had no idea these slow "magnum" powders were working so well in this cartridge. Especially Retumbo. If Retumbo performs in this cartridge anything like it does in my 7RM then super high velocity could be achieved.

For those of you that have used Retumbo in the 6.5-284 did you ever test what speeds you could achieve? In my 7RM I was pushing the 168 Berger VLD to 3150 before I backed out. I saw no pressure signs but figured that I was out of my realm of experience and had no business taking a 7RM to 7RUM velocities. They advertise an extra 40-100 fps over other powders and in my little test I certainly found that to be true.

 

[ShootDots]

This thread has been an interesting read. I had no idea these slow "magnum" powders were working so well in this cartridge. Especially Retumbo. If Retumbo performs in this cartridge anything like it does in my 7RM then super high velocity could be achieved.

For those of you that have used Retumbo in the 6.5-284 did you ever test what speeds you could achieve? In my 7RM I was pushing the 168 Berger VLD to 3150 before I backed out. I saw no pressure signs but figured that I was out of my realm of experience and had no business taking a 7RM to 7RUM velocities. They advertise an extra 40-100 fps over other powders and in my little test I certainly found that to be true.

I tried it in my second 6.5 x 284. I was getting 3120f.p.s. with 140Hybrids. Pretty decent accuracy with it too, BUT and this is a BIG BUT, I had e.s.'s in excess of 35f.p.s that I could NOT get down. It was just slow enough to not burn efficiently enough to get those e.s.'s down. It would have worked at 300 and maybe even 500 yards, however past that, those high e.s.'s would have killed any chance of a good score because of the excessive vertical that would have evolved from that powder. For most HUNTING applications, it would be good. For 1000 yard competition>>not so good..

 

[MAGNETISCH]

I can find Vihtavuori 165. Should I get that as "the" powder?

 

[ShootDots]

I can find Vihtavuori 165. Should I get that as "the" powder?

If you can not find H1000, then that would be MY 2nd top pick.. I live in Houston, Texas and we have a relatively unique weather situation down here. We can be at a competition match here and start at 8a.m. or so and it be 35degrees or thereabouts. By 1pm, on your last match, it could be in the vicinity of 75 degrees! With temp swings that large, having "Extreme" powders like H1000 is almost imperative. If you live in a more stable environment and shoot with a fairly wide, say 0.60gr "load window", N165 would be a GREAT alternative. I would start out at 53.3grs and work towards 55.0grs with 140 class bullets. N165 is a fairly stable powder, maybe not "extreme" but not bad either! If that's what you can get your hands on, get it and don't look back>>> go and enjoy your rifle!

 

[MAGNETISCH]

Sweet!