I need advise on a new 284 Winchester

[brianc74]

I am new to the 284 Winchester. The barrel is 24" 1-9 twist and throated for the berger180 vld bullets. I have tried the new NOSLER LRAB in 150, barrns 145 LR , and Berger 168vld bullets. All are shooting about 1.5 inches at 200 yards. This is a hunting rifle so want to stay with hunting bullets. I have necked up lapua 6.5-284 brass and the brass has donuts . Want info on primer, powder, and any other suggestions you all may have.

Thanks for the help
Brian

 

[Preacher]

Hunting wise the first thing I would do is buy some Winchester brass, load it with a 140 grain Ballistic Tip, or Accubond, along with some H-4350, and with a Federal 210M primer.
If that don't shoot good enough, you need to look at a different barrel..

 

[JeffG]

++ on Nosler 140g (or other short boat tail) my powder preference is Re-17. I tried Fed, win and CCI primers, all standard LR, with no appreciable diifference

 

[GSPV]

A hunting rifle shooting 1-1/2" at 200 yards is nothing to sneeze at already.

 

[Sandman_284]

My 284 likes 52.0g H4350 with 180 Hybrids and CCI BR-2s. This produces 1/3 MOA groups at 300 yds and 1 MOA at 1,000. I neck up 6.5 Lapua brass with an expander mandrel. I read an article once where the knowledgable shooter highly recommended this method so I use it.

My old barrel also liked 54.0g H4831SC. I got a boost in velocity when I went from a 26" barrel to a 30" barrel. The Bartlein is also much smoother, fouls less and shoots better.

I also get good results and amazing velocity out of VV N560; smokin' hot velocity of 2950 ft/sec with a 30" barrel. You just need to be careful as it is more temperature sensitive that the Hodgdon powders.

 

[brianc74]

Thank you for the info. All is ver appreciated. Please keep the info coming.

 

[expiper]

Brian,,,,,if you want accuracy with hunting bullets ,,you should try Sierra 150-160 grain SBT,,,,use either 4350 or 4831 with .050 jump,,,,let us know what you find,,,Roger

 

[yukonal]

The barrel is 24" 1-9 twist and throated for the berger180 vld bullets.

Want info on primer, powder, and any other suggestions you all may have.

You are already there. Both mine are hunting rifles, both hammer with 168 Hunting VLD's, 180 Hunting VLD's, H4831 SC, and Federal 210M primers. WIN factory brass. One has a 24" bbl, the other is 26".

I have killed a significant number of critters with those components in the last year, with stellar performance. Get shootin' in field conditions...not off a bench, and go get to killin' stuff! Good luck.

 

[brianc74]

Well decided to shoot today at 400 yards. Not good groups at all . The Bergers did 10"+ and the barnns did 10"+ and the NOSLER LRAB 12"+. This rifle is for my son and need it to do better than this. I am going to pick up some Sierra game king in 140 grain. Think maybe the rifle may want the lighter stuff. I had a cooper that was that way in a 308. The 308 loved the 150 pills. Anything above that shot way bad. The 150 ab shot .25 moa out to 500 yards. Thank you guys for the info. Keep it coming.

 

[yukonal]

I have tried the new NOSLER LRAB in 150, barrns 145 LR , and Berger 168vld bullets. All are shooting about 1.5 inches at 200 yards..

You are saying your groups opened up over 500% from 200 to 400 yards. We would have to consult with a ballistician on here, but it seems to me, that with no changes to the loads or rifle, that is physically impossible. If everything about your rifle and shooting technique was solid, your groups should've only doubled...or slightly more. Maybe I'm wrong.


Did you have steady conditions? Were the bullets keyholing at the target? Did you have any indication why the HUGE change? Shooter induced error?

Sorry for the crappy humor, but something just doesn't jive.

 

[effendude]

Brian,
Stop shooting at 200+ yards until you have groups that show promise at shorter distances. If you were consistently shooting less than MOA before and now are shooting 5MOA with the same loads, you have other issues. Scope, rings, bases? Action screws?

Focus on eliminating one thing at a time.

Scott

 

[brianc74]

Called the rifle builder today to ask what the action screws should be set at. The builder stated 35 front and 25 rear. The rifle was at 60 front and 55 rear. Will reset and shoot again . The builder also stated that the accuracy load was with 130 Sierra mk .

 

[Cakes]

Brian-
As Scott stated go back to 100yds with a proven load if you have one. If not start from scratch as the .284 is easy-peezy to load for and IMO not picky at all. Reduce or minimize the variables and you will find your answer. Solid rest on a solid bench, good rear bag, scope, rings and bedding/action/trigger @100% and then you can concentrate on the ammo component of it. I find the "perfect" load development days few & far between, calm with minimal mirage. I also have a .284 hunting rig; 24" Broughton 1-9 and it loves 4831sc & 162 A-Max's...all the way out to 1K, but that load will shoot low teens @100 on a perfect day. Good luck, let us know what you find out. Eric in DL

 

[yukonal]

Your builder throated it for 180 Berger VLD's, but the accuracy load is with 130 Sierra's. Sweet...


There's just a little bit of difference between the ogive to lands relation between those two bullets.


If you're gonna waste your time with 130's, you might as well shoot a 7MM-08. Like the other posters stated, go back to 100, and get the other bullets working. One way or another. Get your rifle squared away, then work on load development.


I'd like to know the exact details of the rifle[build]. Also the rests you are using, and any other pertinent information. It might help with our advice.

 

[brianc74]

The rifle is a Cooper model 52 Jackson hunter with a synthetic stock. Scope is a new NF NXS 3.5-15x56 with lw NF rings and a Ken Farrell one piece base. I am shooting prone using front and rear leather bags.

 

[effendude]

Brian,
I have a Cooper Model 22 SS Phoenix in 6.5-284. Coopers typically all shoot well. What bullet was your test target shot with? That will give a good indication what type of chamber and throat the rifle has. I would assume it has a 1-9" twist. VLD's are notorious to get to shoot well, some rifles won't not matter what.

Again, I would load a few different bullets up with loads from a manual and test at 100 yards. The rifle will tell you what it likes really fast. If the bullets aren't close to touching each other at 100, it doesn't pay to go back any farther. This is before powder charge testing, seating depth tests, etc. I am a firm believer that you should be able to find a great load for a hunting rifle and prove it in 50 rounds or less.

Scott

 

[BA Moyer]

I have a question for any cooper owners out there any help would be appreciated I have an opportunity to get an cooper model 52 Jackson Hunter in 300 Win Mag, can anyone please tell me what they know about this particular rifle please???

 

[KenOath]

I have a question for any cooper owners out there any help would be appreciated I have an opportunity to get an cooper model 52 Jackson Hunter in 300 Win Mag, can anyone please tell me what they know about this particular rifle please???

FYI this thread is 3 years old.. you may be better served asking your question under a new post.

Cheers Rushty