New 284 build

[Rogmay]

New to this forum so I thought I would ask for some help! Looking to build a new 1000yd F-open gun on a budget, shot one match, now I'm hooked, starting with a Savage target action, Savage f-class stock, 30" Krieger barrel with 1-8 twist #17 heavy varmit, scope to come later. Looking at a PT&G 284 win/norma/lupua reamer with a freebore of .231, want to use Lupua 6.5x284 norma brass necked up to .284 and shoot the berger 180hybrd if the gun likes them. Now the questions I have are the followng, any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated!

1. If I go this route what dies are people using for this set-up?

2. Can I use a hornady 6.5x284 bullet comparator, neck up case and use for finding OAL for the base to ogive, or is it pretty easy to drill tap and thread a fired pcs of brass?

3. Would the 1:8 twist be too much or will it be just fine?

4. Finally, let me know of anything else I might need to think of that I might have forgot to mention! Thanks in adavnce for your help.

 

[ShootDots]

The freebore on the reamer is very good. I happen to like thinner necks, so my reamer is a .313 neck. A 1-8 will most certainly work, however, your torque will be substantial compared to a 9 or even an 8.5 twist. You don't want to use a 6.5 comparator, use a .284. Personally, I like Whidden dies. Maybe the best scope for the $$$ spent and for what you are looking for is a Sightron 10-50 with your choice of crosshair. OR you could wait til a nice used Nightforce 12-42 BR model comes up for sale at about the same price.

 

[284winner]

Shootdots gave great advice on everything. Seems most 284 chamber necks for competition are a bit tighter than i like but if you turn necks .313-.315 is perfect. As he said maybe a bit fast on the barrel. Can't go wrong in a 9. Whidden or Wilson make good dies for your purpose. Buy good glass. By the way, your at the right place for advice. Tons of good knowledgeable guys here and you'll learn alot.

 

[nosualc]

Replies in order asked:

1. You can't go wrong with Redding or Whidden .284 FL bushing dies.

2. You can neck up the 6.5 comparator to 7. It's easy enough to make your own from your own fired brass, although the tap is a little hard to find (you'll have to order one online, your local hardware store will not carry it).

3. 1:8 is what Berger is recommending these days for the 180s.

4a. The Nightforce 12-42x56 BR is IMO the gold standard for f-class scopes. Great bang for your buck.

4b. If you want to use Norma brass, get some of the 284 Norma brass that bullets.com sells. It'll save you a step.

-nosualc

 

[Rogmay]

The freebore on the reamer is very good. I happen to like thinner necks, so my reamer is a .313 neck. A 1-8 will most certainly work, however, your torque will be substantial compared to a 9 or even an 8.5 twist. You don't want to use a 6.5 comparator, use a .284. Personally, I like Whidden dies. Maybe the best scope for the $$$ spent and for what you are looking for is a Sightron 10-50 with your choice of crosshair. OR you could wait til a nice used Nightforce 12-42 BR model comes up for sale at about the same price.

Sounds good, those were the exact 2 scopes I was thinkng about, I've just never had the chance to look through a Sightron and I have a hard time buying what I've never seen! Reason I was thinking 8.5-8 twist was 9 seemed close to the edge on stability on the berger twist rate calc. Several people have recomended the Whidden dies, I do have a sizing one coming for my 6.5 creedmoor, I'll probably go that route! Thanks again for the advise, keep it coming! I'm a firm believer, the day I can't use good advise will be the day I get out of shooting, which will never happen!

 

[normmatzen]

I just finished characterizing my second barrel in my 284 WIN F open/long range BR gun. It is a Savage PTA with a Riflebasix SAV-2 trigger ( but the accutrigger worked just fine also). The stock is a Sharp Shooters Supply tracker.

The first barrel shot O.K. I used 6.5-284 Lapua cases but bought some W-W when I started having do-nut problems with the Lapua. Jerry Tierney told me that W-W cases work just as good as Lapua, but will not last as long. He also said he never had luck with thinned necks/ tight necks. He said ordinary necks with clearance seems to be more accurate than tight necks in a 284 WIN.

I also found A-MAX 162 gr shot better in that rifle than 180 Hybrids. I won some money and ribbons with the first barrel.

I characterized the new barrel (chambered by Fred Moreno at SSS) by doing 5 shot groups of ladder powder charges in round robin style. I did this with tuner set at zero to the rear. I plotted ES for each group and selected the highest speed low ES charge and got second place in a F Class practice match with 85 shots down the tube. Had pressure signs so for practice last Monday I loaded the lower node and shot my second best 5 shot group at 600 yds while tuning the tuner. 1 5/8" isn't any record, but it is the best this gun ever shot!

I am using RL-17 at 2900 fps and will develop a load for 180 Hybrids as I am running low on A-MAXes. I haven't heard any input praising the 162 ELD-M bullets yet!


By the way, if you don't use a Magnetospeed and measure groups in addition to ES, if your best group is the same load as lowest ES you are GOLD! If not you will need to adjust your tuner (as I did), if not you may be able to shorten the barrel a bit.