Hunting Trip + 6.5-284

[sawacs]

I am departing for a week long hunting trip out in west Texas next Sunday and have a 6.5-284 I built in need of test firing.

All of the hunting will be for Varmints/Hogs

Here are the specs:

24" 1/8 twist CBI in 6.5-284 Norma
Lapua Brass

Bullets:
-Lapua 120 Scenar L's, 123's, 136's and 139's
-Berger 140 VLD Hunting
-Hornady 140 Vmax

Powder:
H4831SC, RL19, H4350, AA4350, 4064, Varget, IMR 4350

With zero chances of getting out to the range before leaving, I was wondering if you guys have any recommendations on a bullet/powder combo that might do the trick until I have a chance to actually work up a load.

Advice would be most appreciated!

 

[FatBoy]

Though I'd be a little uneasy in a hunting situation...

No question, 48.5gr of H4350 with a 140 or 142 .020" off the lands. 11 barrels in a row shot this load sub-half MOA. Maybe drop it down to 48.0 or even 47.5 to be safe.

50.5 gr of H4831SC, all else same is also a good bet.

The 140 VLD may like more jump, I have never used these.

 

[sawacs]

Thanks for the information..

I took a look at Noslers site and using a 140 grainer, they have 49.0gr as a max charge in the 6.5-284 Norma using 4831sc. I am not overly concerned about velocity and would be happy just to get a few rounds down the new barrel. This will not be my primary hunting rifle for the trip so there is no pressure there.

I could start with 47.0gr of 4831sc with a 140 Amax on top which puts me right in the middle of the listed charge range: should be safe.

47.5gr of H4350 with a 140 might also be a good route to take.

Thanks again!

 

[STOMP442]

I'll second the 48.0gr of H4350 with a 140 as being a solid half moa or better load. It's a little on the slow end at 2800-2840fps roughly. Maximum velocity will be achieved with H-1000 or Retumbo. 55-56gr has also given me half moa accuracy with velocities pushing 2950 give or take a little with the 140s.

 

[sawacs]

Stomp, is 48.0gr of H4350 over a 140 Amax considered to be a upper end/max load? How much wiggle room would I have going above or below that charge?

I'll give Hornady a call tomorrow and see if they have any updated data for H4350 which they do not list in their 9th edition.

 

[FatBoy]

The 24" barrel hurts for sure. Most 6.5x284 Norma match loads are for 28-32" barrels. Not sure a slower powder will get you better than 260Rem MV, which is still very good but uses a faster powder.

 

[sawacs]

I hear you on the 24" barrel. I also have a 26" barreled 260 Remington which has never been test fired. Maybe I should have reversed the barrel length and went with a 26" on the 6.5-284

Cheers!

 

[Ringostar]

You haven’t mentioned if you built this on a long or short action. If your trying to mag feed on a short action, that can reduce your capacity.

 

[Sniper338]

Though I'd be a little uneasy in a hunting situation...

No question, 48.5gr of H4350 with a berger 140 VLD .015" off the lands. Maybe drop it down to 48.0 or even 47.5 to be safe.


The 140 VLD likes .015 off the lands IMO, i shoot abunch of em.

 

[sawacs]

You haven’t mentioned if you built this on a long or short action. If your trying to mag feed on a short action, that can reduce your capacity.

It is built on a long action

I just measured a 140 Amax and from cartridge base to bullet tip and came up with 3.085" touching the lands. The final seating will be based on ogive.

Regarding mag feeding, there is a blind mag but I'll be loading single rounds only.

 

[sawacs]

Here is what I have decided on: please check my math

Berger 140 VLD: 47.5gr H4350 .015 off the lands
Lapua 136 Scenar-L: 47.5gr H4350 .020 off the lands
Hornady 140 Amax: 47.5gr H4350 .020 off the lands

I figured I'll load 5 each and give them a whirl.

After checking my stash, I realized I already have 5 rounds of 120 Scenar-L's over 50.5gr of RL19 seated at .020 off the lands so I'll use those for sight in.

Cheers!

 

[Ringostar]

I I have shot a lot of the 136 L in a 6.5x47L. For myself and another F class shooter, they do best for us at .030 jump. I would suggest a seating depth test with them also.

 

[STOMP442]

Stomp, is 48.0gr of H4350 over a 140 Amax considered to be a upper end/max load? How much wiggle room would I have going above or below that charge?

I'll give Hornady a call tomorrow and see if they have any updated data for H4350 which they do not list in their 9th edition.

Seems like 48 was pretty mild in my particular rifle. It was a CBI prefit at 26" I was running the 140 Amax .025" off the lands at 2840fps with that load. It accounted for my longest range kill on a small Coues deer four or five years ago. I won't mention how far but that load would print groups consistently in the .2s for me.

 

[sawacs]

Stomp, I am running the exact same barrel in a 24" CBI tapered light varmint contour that I purchased through Northland back in 2010 I built the rifle from scratch myself which is one reason I am a little jittery about the test fire I suppose I could always tie a string to the trigger and hide behind something.. LOL

I spoke with the guys at Berger this morning and they e-mailed me some of their latest data for use with the 140's.

According to Berger's data, the starting for their 140's with H4350 is 44.5gr and their max load is 46.8gr. How are you guys able to run 48.5gr of H4350 over a 140 grainer?

 

[Olspark]

The above is sound advice but you’ve peeked my interest by your comments about going hunting without a sound load, not being zeroed on any given load mentioned and not having time to go the range. You mentioned zeroing with 120 Scenar then what? Switching to one of the others to hunt with? Are you planning on zeroing whatever you load at your place of hunting? Or? Just curious because it doesn’t sound like a good plan to me but what do I know.

 

[284winner]

Currently using H4831sc with 51.5 grains under a Berger 140 HVLD. Accuracy is outstanding. Risky taking only one gun that's not been shot or zeroed. Hope your taking a backup. The 6.5-284 will be just fine PBR to around 300 yards zeroed at 100 about a 1.5 high.

 

[sawacs]

I have plenty of backups for hunting. The only reason I am taking this one is it was built back in 2010 and has yet to be test fired. I am trying to find a reasonably accurate load in case I decide to use it on hogs or other critters

 

[STOMP442]

Stomp, I am running the exact same barrel in a 24" CBI tapered light varmint contour that I purchased through Northland back in 2010 I built the rifle from scratch myself which is one reason I am a little jittery about the test fire I suppose I could always tie a string to the trigger and hide behind something.. LOL

I spoke with the guys at Berger this morning and they e-mailed me some of their latest data for use with the 140's.

According to Berger's data, the starting for their 140's with H4350 is 44.5gr and their max load is 46.8gr. How are you guys able to run 48.5gr of H4350 over a 140 grainer?

I've found Bergers load data to be a bit anemic most of the time, especially with the 6.5-284 for some reason. Most of the velocities they list are barely getting 2750fps. Thats Creedmoor territory.

 

[LCazador]

I hear you on the 24" barrel. I also have a 26" barreled 260 Remington which has never been test fired. Maybe I should have reversed the barrel length and went with a 26" on the 6.5-284

Cheers!

I would stay away from any VLD bullet if you don't have much time to test loads. VLD's can be difficult to tune. I'd go with a Berger Classic or Elite hunter with a Hybrid ogive. Check the Berger site for best seating depth on these and also check the notes on VLD seating. 4831SC is a great powder that will give great extreme velocity spreads. I've been shooting 6.5/284 for over 30 years, on paper and in hunting rounds, 26 inch minimum length barrel is best.

 

[josh shrum]

This may be a bit late to help the OP...

My 24" Bartlien 6.5-284:

Lapua Brass, 140 Berger VLD @ 51.5gr 4831sc shot best out of all the 4831sc loads I tried, made about 2750 fps

Lapua Brass, 140 Berger VLD @ 53.0gr Reloder 23 shot just as well as the 4831sc but made 3000 fps

I currently load the 53gr of RL 23 with the Berger 140 VLD for that rifle, have found no reason to change

I am jumping the Bergers .010, if that helps