Help with 6.5-284

[MAGNETISCH]

It appears that the 6.5-284 has lost quite a bit of appeal due to barrel life. Since it is such a proven 1000 yard cartridge I still would like to build one. Anybody have the latest, greatest reamer specs or loads? I would like to shoot 140 hybrids and 142 SMK's. With help I will have already significantly enhanced my barrels life!

 

[ShootDots]

It STILL is a GREAT cartridge, even with the attached adjective of being a "barrel burner"! If I were to build a NEW 6.5 X 284, I would go with a .295 neck>>>which is a slight "must turn" neck, about 1.5 to 2.0K of turning depending on brass. I would also go with a .170 freebore. That will give you the necessary room to seat the 140 class bullets L-O-N-G and keep the bearing surface out of the shoulder area.

AND I would use H1000 powder. It is perfect for that cartridge. It will NOT burn up a barrel quite as fast, and you will save your primer pockets, if you don't STUFF IT TO THE BRIM with powder. Stay under 56.0grs and you will be fine! It has been mine and others experience that if you run 54.5 to 55.5 somewhere in there you will find a GREAT accuracy node. You will get about 3000 f.p.s. in that range and very low pressures..

I hope this helps..

 

[wedgy]

Retumbo and IMR 7828 are having good results and are slow like H1000

 

[ShootDots]

Retumbo and IMR 7828 are having good results and are slow like H1000

I have not tried IMR 7828 in the 6.5 X 284, however, it should work just fine. It has been my experience, at least in my rifles, that Retumbo gave INCREDIBLE velocities, however, the E.S.'s were not good>>>in the 25-30f.p.s. range. I tried to get the E.S.'s down to no avail. In my barrels it was a might too slow and would not burn efficiently enough, or I would have been able to get the E.S. down. In another rifle, it might be just the ticket.

NOTE: Bob Cauterucio has, on a different thread, stated he makes a .264 / 155gr bullet. There is little doubt of it's quality and in the 6.5 X 284, it should be awesome>>>That is where Retumbo would shine like the noon-day sun!
I think it would be advisable to give Bob a tap on the shoulder. He is BCB on this Forum.

 

[Rtheurer]

I like a .297 No turn neck with Lapua Brass. Or Norma have shot both. My freebore is .165 just tad shorter than Shootdots at .170. Some where right in there will work great with the 140 class bullets.
N165,H1000, and also h4831SC have all worked for me with either a 210Match Federal primer, Tula Russian, or CCI BR2.

Good Luck.
Russ T

 

[FatBoy]

All mine currently have PTG Lapua match no turn chambers. Here is how it goes:

1) have barrel threaded and chambered
2) buy Lapua brass
3) buy h4350 and sierra 142s (or 140 hybrids if that's your bullet)
4) seat fed210m primer (you should already have some ;}. )
5) put 48gr h4350 in
6) seat bullet .0015" off lands
7) Go shoot numerous .5moa or less groups, with low~ish MW
8) tweak load go get the desired MV and acceptable groups
9) shoot a summers of matches, smiling as it's awesome
9.5) order new barrel when you have 600-700 rounds down the pipe
9.8) watch for flyers around 900-1000 round count
10) replace barrel and start over

 

[ShootDots]

All mine currently have PTG Lapua match no turn chambers. Here is how it goes:

1) have barrel threaded and chambered
2) buy Lapua brass
3) buy h4350 and sierra 142s (or 140 hybrids if that's your bullet)
4) seat fed210m primer (you should already have some ;}. )
5) put 48gr h4350 in
6) seat bullet .0015" off lands
7) Go shoot numerous .5moa or less groups, with low~ish MW
8) tweak load go get the desired MV and acceptable groups
9) shoot a summers of matches, smiling as it's awesome
9.5) order new barrel when you have 600-700 rounds down the pipe
9.8) watch for flyers around 900-1000 round count
10) replace barrel and start over

Chris, I want to ask a question. It is not to be critical or to be a wise a$$, just would like your reasoning. Using H4350, you will most certainly burn a barrel out at or before you reach 1000 rounds, just as you stated. You will have good accuracy, however, no better accuracy than with slower powders, and maybe not quite as good as some slower powders. Using H1000 I got 1600 accurate rounds with my 6.5 X 284 and I have a friend I shoot with, right now, who is at 1800+ rounds and STILL going good using H1000. So here is the question: Why tell someone to use H4350 knowing it will burn out a barrel quick, when other options will give you longer barrel life, possibly 50+ percent more?

 

[FatBoy]

All mine currently have PTG Lapua match no turn chambers. Here is how it goes:

1) have barrel threaded and chambered
2) buy Lapua brass
3) buy h4350 and sierra 142s (or 140 hybrids if that's your bullet)
4) seat fed210m primer (you should already have some ;}. )
5) put 48gr h4350 in
6) seat bullet .0015" off lands
7) Go shoot numerous .5moa or less groups, with low~ish MW
8) tweak load go get the desired MV and acceptable groups
9) shoot a summers of matches, smiling as it's awesome
9.5) order new barrel when you have 600-700 rounds down the pipe
9.8) watch for flyers around 900-1000 round count
10) replace barrel and start over

Chris, I want to ask a question. It is not to be critical or to be a wise a$$, just would like your reasoning. Using H4350, you will most certainly burn a barrel out at or before you reach 1000 rounds, just as you stated. You will have good accuracy, however, no better accuracy than with slower powders, and maybe not quite as good as some slower powders. Using H1000 I got 1600 accurate rounds with my 6.5 X 284 and I have a friend I shoot with, right now, who is at 1800+ rounds and STILL going good using H1000. So here is the question: Why tell someone to use H4350 knowing it will burn out a barrel quick, when other options will give you longer barrel life, possibly 50+ percent more?

No problem. It has ways had the best SD/ES and group sized in all but one of my eight of so barrels. I run three 6.5x284s at any given time. (Trying 6.5x47L in one next month) It works in all off them, right out of the box, in every weather condition I have every shot in. It's rock solid from 15°f to 105°f.

Honestly, I have not tried a powder slower than H4831SC. Well, N160/170 and RL22. None would continue to shoot with the. H4350 over the course of 75 shots (day 1 of a regional, etc if rule 9.1 isn't excluded)

I have been interested in trying a slower powder but with limited time, access to a range and powder availability, I figured I'll stick what I know works, even if I only get 900-1100 out of a barrel.

Not saying it's the only way to skin a cat, but it does a damn good job once you hit the 2900-2980fps range.

 

[ShootDots]

Chris, I am glad you did not take my question wrong. I was worried that you might, even though it was not meant with any acrimony. If you get the opportunity, you really should try H1000. It is VERY clean burning, E.S.'s under 12f.p.s. with Fed 210 GM's and accuracy is awesome. It would be well worth your time.

I agree with you with the 6.5 X 47 that H4350 is a phenomenal powder for that application.

 

[FatBoy]

Chris, I am glad you did not take my question wrong. I was worried that you might, even though it was not meant with any acrimony. If you get the opportunity, you really should try H1000. It is VERY clean burning, E.S.'s under 12f.p.s. with Fed 210 GM's and accuracy is awesome. It would be well worth your time.

I agree with you with the 6.5 X 47 that H4350 is a phenomenal powder for that application.

If I can find find some H1000 I'll give it a shot. I would LOVE to get the same performance and an extra 500+ rounds of barrel life. Do you have a start load for 142s in a 30" barrel, no turn chamber set up for Lapua? No tight bore, gain twist or anything like that.

 

[ShootDots]

Chris, I am glad you did not take my question wrong. I was worried that you might, even though it was not meant with any acrimony. If you get the opportunity, you really should try H1000. It is VERY clean burning, E.S.'s under 12f.p.s. with Fed 210 GM's and accuracy is awesome. It would be well worth your time.

I agree with you with the 6.5 X 47 that H4350 is a phenomenal powder for that application.

If I can find find some H1000 I'll give it a shot. I would LOVE to get the same performance and an extra 500+ rounds of barrel life. Do you have a start load for 142s in a 30" barrel, no turn chamber set up for Lapua? No tight bore, gain twist or anything like that.

Yes Sir I do. My last two 6.5 X 284's were "no turn" necks and all I did was turn to clean them up. I shot 140 Hybrids set OFF the lands (I would have to go look to see where) and MY load was 54.7grs Of H1000. My friend, who is still shooting his barrel after 1800+ rounds, uses 55.5grs. of H1000. It is funny because BOTH he and I get right at 3030f.p.s.. E.S.'s run under 12f.p.s. and vertical at 1000 yards on an overcast, low / no wind morning is about 5". I am NOT the best L/R shooter in the world and a really good Br shooter could do considerably better! Of that I have no doubt. The reason I stated I would do a .295 neck is I have come to appreciate the consistency of a "completely turned" neck. My barrel was a Krieger 1-8 that finished at 30"..

 

[FatBoy]

I have a fresh 8.5 twist kreiger barrel on one of my rifles. I think I'll give it a try if I can find any.

 

[MAGNETISCH]

Thanks for the help. Where to find H1000?

 

[dragman]

Great cartridge and lots of great info here. I have seen with the H1000 people getting 1800+ rounds on a gun. I have run a lot of 6.5X284's but when running them at 2850-2900 I just felt like I was giving too much up to people shooting .284's at 2950-3000 and they have the advantage on B.C. too.
End of the day my last one didn't make it over 700 rounds. so I will stick too the .284 for my small 1000 yard guns since it's same brass, almost the same amount of powder and gives me better ballistics and longer barrel life.

 

[ShootDots]

Thanks for the help. Where to find H1000?

If H1000 is unavailable to you, a viable alternative powder would be VV N165. It is only a shade faster than H1000. You might have to drop the charges about 1/2 to 3/4 grain max and you would obtain the same performance. The ONLY real drawback, if you want to call it a drawback, to N165 is it is not an "extreme" powder. However, neither is it very temp sensitive to begin with.

 

[chuckbuster243]

How much does the barrel length hurt the slower burners? I have 2 6.5-284"s both at 26" for hunting and I shot 54.6 of H1k and never got over 2750 but had good es, brass life and accuracy. But with H4350 I can get over 2800 with 49.0 Grains with low es and accuracy. The jury is still out on the brass life though. I thought I just had a slow barrel until I got the second. Matt

 

[ShootDots]

I don't know ChuckBuster. However, I can guarantee you that if your went with VV N560, you would get ALL the velocity you want. However, it is at or very near the same burn rate as H4831SC so you would have to keep an eye for primer pockets loosening up. But it may be the ticket for your 26" tube!

 

[Rtheurer]

And all the throat erosion you want too..

 

[ShootDots]

And all the throat erosion you want too..

For a hunting rifle for Elk, it should last him 3 lifetimes! Methinks that he might need a barrel after that!

 

[FatBoy]

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