Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane #8

[ShootDots]

Well as some may know, my 6.5 x 284 barrel went south with 1400 rounds on it>>>it was time. So I changed out my barrel to a .284 Shehane 1-9 twist 31" long. This past Sunday we had our 1st FULL 1000 yard match (the others were rained out) of the year and I took the Shehane out to fireform brass. I was using a VERY mild load of H4831 with 180VLD's seated 15K into the lands.. I had the dual chore of not only fireforming but breaking in the barrel too.. We had winds that would make a .375 Chey-Tak flinch, so I expected to do poorly, which I did. BUT at least I got the barrel broke in and the cases fireformed.

Today (Wed) I took the Shehane out to my normal 300 yards with some loads using H1000 and 180 Hybrids. It was a great day for load development>>>cool, overcast a very mild (less than 5mph) winds. ALL the loads shot "good" 1.125-1.50 at the worst and 2 were exactly an inch. So I decided to "split the difference betwixt the 2" and now it's time to jack with the seating depth. I will go from 5K off to 25K off to start with and we will see how she goes. The velocities were impressive, running right at 2920-2925 with e.s. @ 14f.p.s. A few of the nice things about H1000 is 1.) cool burning powder; 2.) very clean burning powder and 3.) at my loads there was ZERO primer pocket expansion! They miked either 1/2thousanths on some but most were zero! That's a HUGE factor to me as I want to keep my brass around for quite some time!! LOL!!! If the forecast holds correct, I will be out THIS Friday with the seating depth changes and I will give an update.. So far, it is doing better, from the get-go, than I expected!!

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE

Well I went out to the range today to see what I could do with the load I was shooting and start a seating depth ladder test. I was changing NOTHING but the seating depth. Well my load with 58.7 a few days ago was right at 2920/2925.. It was "misty" outside with probably 100pct humidity. Today was BRIGHT sunshine and low humidity from a cool front that passed thru.. I think that may have had a small part to play>>>I think the largest part was my barrel still speeding up. I now have 150 rounds thru it.. I was generating velocities of 2950 / 2955 and I was in what I call a "scatter node".. The previous session had ZERO flyers, this one had flyers on every load except the one with 10K off the lands.. (I went from 5K off / 10K off / 15K off / 20K off and finally 25K off. ).... This tells me that I need to back off to around say 2885 to about 2910 to get back into a node that shoots and is not at the top of it's velocity... I like having a very W-I-D-E window in an accuracy node.. I will seat the Hybrids at 10K off and back the charge down to 57.5 and go to 58.5 and see what transpires... I R-E-A-L-L-Y hope H1000 works... It shows "promise" but promise and tested reality may be 2 entirely different things.... We shall see...

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE

Thanks for the follow up. I will be watching your progress. I will be tuning a Shehane in this summer. If it was me I would go .003 at a time for the seating depth, I have found some bullets have very small windo and .005 may jump right over it. Why not go in the lands with those vlds? You wont pull a bullet until you get really deep. Start at touch and go in .003 at a time and see what she does.
Thanks,
Alex

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE

Hey Alex... I am at the very beginning of loading... Once I get a "good" load that is consistent, I will begin to fine tune it with small incremental steps of seating depth changes and very possibly small increases / decreases in powder charges based on the readings from the seating depth changes.. The last thing I always do is try several different primers to see if I can further reduce both groups and E.S.'s.. Thanks Alex for your input, I appreciate it... When you get started with your Shehane, give us updates on how you progress thru development..

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #2

Well, today was another excellent day for load development.. Overcast (no heat waves) cool and very little (3mph) wind...
I started out with 57.5, then 57.8 / 58.0 / 58.3 and 58.5>>> still with the H1000.. The barrel has finally settled down and is no longer increasing in speed>>>it's about time!! ALL the groups went back to 0.75 to 1.125 inches @ 300 yards for 5 shot groups each.. The 57.8 and 58.0 were the best, turning in 0.75" and 1.125" respectively with nice "round" groups. I will stick with 57.8 and work with that. Now it is time to go back to "re-visit" the seating depths. However, I was speaking with a few people at the Texas State (Long-Range) Championship this weekend, who told me to go up to 30K off.. So I will now be doing it this way: Shot string #1: 10K off / #2: 15K off / #3: 20K off / #4: 25K off and finally #5: 30K off. My e.s.'s are still not what I want, averaging between 14 and 17f.p.s...... I will work to get them 12 and under..

Of note that I thought was very interesting was at BOTH 57.8 and 58.0grs there was ZERO difference in velocity. All 10 shots hovered between 2890 and 2907f.p.s. AND the same thing happened at 58.3 and 58.5 albeit at 2930f.p.s.>>> the groups "UP-there" were not nice looking at all>>>stringing or 2 different groups from the same load.. That's why I am staying with the 57.8gr. load for further development..

I will continue to keep you guys abreast of what is going on in load development with my fist Shehane..

 

[normmatzen]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #2

Ben,

I am watching your progress with great interest. I just took delivery on my new 284 WIN barrel for a 1000 yd gun. I was planning to use H3841sc and 180 hybrids or 175 SMK.
I started in long range BR with a 243 WIN that I used Moly then changed to hBN. I also used H100 as I read it is easier on barrels. Sure enough, my barrel lasted way longer than every one claimed it would.

I could just get enough H1000 in the case to get to 2990 or so, but that was a good node.

I am now going to also do some simulation with H1000 on QuickLoad!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #2

Thanks for the update.

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Well we had a very nice day for load development today>>>BUT with B-R-I-G-H-T sunshine... At my range, PSC in Friendswood, the sun comes up right in your eyes! The glare is terrible. Additionally, my JUNK PACT Prof chrono does very weird things in the bright sunshine.. However, having said that, I am now of the opinion that H1000, although GREAT in my 6.5 X 284, is just a bit too slow for the 7mmBore Shehane.. I can NOT get my E.S.'s down and my groups, although not bad, are not able to get where I want them to be.. SOOOOO I WAS going to try IMR 7828 next, however, methinks that I am going to go to the H4831 loads that are PROVEN performers and get a "competition ready" load>>>THEN visit with 7828 a bit later on.. I hope I did not dash anyone's hopes on the H1000>>>It might work in your rifle, however, YOU CAN generate the velocities >>> just not the accuracy nor the proper e.s.'s... At least not in my rifle>>>I have given it a good run and now it's time to refocus on some proven powder(s).. So, I will update later, next week sometime, on how the H4831 goes.. Thanks for "visiting" this thread... Keep your eyes here for next weeks update(s).. We'll get this thing hammered down.. I promise!

Hey Norm / Alex: Please keep us posted on your results.. I love to watch the progression of load development! Thanks in advance for that consideration..

 

[mdavis78102]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

H4350... Say it with me, Ben... H4350. I know you can do it....

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Matt, how many grains (H4350) do you run in the 7Walker>>> Just wondering...

 

[Erik Cortina]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Ben, if only I had told you H1000 would not work. Oh wait, I did tell you!
I think I said something along the lines "Don't waste your time with H1000, try H4350 or H4831"

You can lead a horse to water...

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Ben, if only I had told you H1000 would not work. Oh wait, I did tell you!
I think I said something along the lines "Don't waste your time with H1000, try H4350 or H4831"

You can lead a horse to water...

You KNOW how much of a hard-head I am! I was R-E-A-L-L-Y hoping it would work because it would have saved on barrel life and primer pockets in my brass... So, I just loaded up 5 loads of 5 shots each, from 56.0 to 57.0 of H4831... Next time out, I will give my UPDATE on exactly what took place with those loads>>> I am being VERY cautious with H4831 so as not to loosen up the primer pockets... I am looking for somewhere between 2870 and 2900 TOPS with the H4831... Additionally, I am hoping to find a node that gives me a 0.2-3tenths of a grain up AND down so I have a fairly wide window... Let's see what happens... Now see Erik, I may be a S-L-O-W learner, however, once I got it>>I GOT IT!!! LOL!!!

 

[Erik Cortina]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

LOL

 

[Hoier]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Keep the updates coming Ben. I really enjoy reading them. I think I am gonna do the same kind of thing with my new 6br.

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Yes Sir... It gives an "up to the minute" portrayal of what is going on with my rifle.. Hopefully, this thread will help cut thru the mustard of someone else who is also considering the use of a very slow burning powder in order to save brass and barrel life. I knew it (H1000) would be "on the edge" of too slow, however I believed I could make it work.. But it really is just a shade too slow. I simply can't get my e.s.'s down and my accuracy, although not bad, is inconsistent.. It is simply not burning the powder efficiently enough to gain the results I had hoped for.. So my thread will save time and $$$'s for the betterment of someone else.. So, I know I would appreciate it, should you do that with your 6mmBR..

 

[Judd]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Just out of curiosity...why not RL17? I have been researching a 284S and seems people talked about how great it was when it first came out but I haven't read anything about anyone shooting it recently.

I have watched these posts with great interest, thanks for sharing.

 

[ShootDots]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

It is MY (emphasis) MY opinion that H4350 and powder in that burn rate range, like RL-17, can easily work and work well, BUT at the expense of brass and barrel life. Just as H1000 is a shade too slow, I feel that those powders are just a shade too fast. If you run H4350 so it pushes 180gr bullets to 2875-2900, you will significantly lower brass and barrel life.. It is MY OPINION, once again, that H4831 and IMR 7828 are the BEST powders for the application(s) I was gunning for in the 7Shehane.. BUT like I said, those are my opinions>>>others will vehemently disagree and maybe rightfully so. But we act on what we believe..

 

[Judd]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

No doubt...that makes sense I just wondered. Again, thanks for sharing!

 

[Bowhunter4]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #3

Erik and ShootDots , I really like reading your post. your content and honesty is second to none . keep up the good work.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Re: Preliminary results on my .284 Shehane UPDATE #4

Ben, load all the way up to 57.5 H4831. If you see pressure signs stop, but I think you should go that high just in case.