Range test with new 284

[Raptor]

I went out tonight to shoot some loads at 400yds that shot pretty well at 100yds. I couldn't have asked for a nicer night. The wind was full value at around 5 to 7 but dropping when I started.

My first group at 400yds was 52.5grs of H4350 with the 162AMAX. It shot a 5 shot group into 1.410" the second group I tried was a 3 shot group with 51.5 and it was around 3"s so I didn't finish it.

The next group was with 51.5grs of H4350 and the 168 Bergers. This load shot a 5 shot into 1.292" at 400yds. I then tried another 3 shot group with 52grs and AMAXs but it was also close to 3" but I had two within an inch of each other so decided to shoot a group at 600yds to check my dials. I was shocked when I went down and checked out the group and found a nice cluster in a 1.345" group at 600yds!!!

Trust me, when I tell you I am not a BR shooter. I used to shoot tactical matches and was shooting off of a bipod and the hood of my pickup using a rear bag. I have come to the conclusion that I will be the limiting factor of this rifle. I belive it will be even better than any of the 6.5x284s I loved so.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Perfect is all I can say, that rifle will be very very competitive indeed.

 

[Preacher]

Whats not to love about a .284--- seems like they all will shoot in the awesome area.......

 

[BBTC48]

Just an observation...looks like you are commiting my famous (infamous) trick...trying too many things at once rather than giving each set of components it's own good dial-in process. Most probably every one of those combos will perform quite well for you but with different specs for each one, once found. Again as stated, I'm totally guilty of wanting to try waaay too many things right off the bat and end up being disappointed by things that I thought would be dynomite but would end up being very good when worked up in the proper manner on their own. Good luck...284s Rock !

 

[Raptor]

BBTC48,
I guess I don't understand what your saying??? This is a new gun and I was trying several different loads to see what the gun would like then go from there.

I guess I agree somewhat with what I think your saying. I basically have settled on H4350 and the 162AMAX. I will try to fine tune it the best I can. I live in South Dakota and having a night like I had last week is just unheard of around here. I usually have to shoot in wind most of the time and usually not a steady wind.

I went out again last night and tried to shoot two of the above loads to once again see which load shoots the best of the two and to get some "Hard" data at 500, 600 and 700yds, before it got dark, for working up a range card.


The damn wind was at full value 7mph to 10mph out of the south then went to a tail wind then out of the north dropping to zero and gusting up to 10mph. SO its kind of hard to really get a chance to see how well a load or the gun shoots with out any outside factors to know if the rounds are out of a group because of me, or the load, or the wind.

Most of the time I just have to assume that if my vertical is good the load is good and the ones left or right are wind!! And that is my story and as they say, I am sticking to it!!!HA

 

[FroggyOne2]

What was your vertical.. about 8"?

 

[Raptor]

froggyone2,
My verticals with the H4350 and the 162AMAXs has been really tight with the loads I am testing.

My vertical spread has been around 1.75"s at 400yds I was at round 2"s for a couple of groups I shot at 600yds but they were in three shot strings at 600 not 5 shots. However other than an impact change due to wind if I would have transposed the groups on top of each other I would have had 6 shots with a vertical of around 2"s + o -

I did try two groups at 400yds with two loads I had not tested, after the wind had started to drop, but was getting a little dark.

One was with the old 168gr MK and the other was a load with 168 Berger hunting bullets. They both were 2.25" and 2."s for 5 shots at 400 with the verticals in the 1.7 to 1.8"s both had 4 shot groups in around 1.5"s with one out left or right.

So far I have been very happy with how the rifle is shooting. From the data I got shooting at 400 to 600yds I ran a JBM program and I had to use 2860fps to put me on my actual dials.

 

[1000yardstare]

Raptor.......you were enjoying yourself on a perfect night for shooting and fired some incredible groups. The name of the game is to have some fun. More power to you.

The Grand Agg at the 2010 Canadian F Class Championships was won with a .284 Shehane. A straight .284 took second in the Governor General`s Match which is part of the Grand Agg.

Our first serious F Class practise takes place this Saturday on a local Army range, 600 yds in the morning, 1000 in the afternoon. I will have my new 6.5AI with me. It will be interesting to see how many new 7mms are on the firing line after that caliber`s success last Summer.

Good luck with your new rifle.

Bill

 

[Raptor]

Thanks Bill, it was and incredibale night and I was lucky to be out shooting. Like I said we don't get many of those. When I drove back down my road from the targets I had to wait for the dust to settle!! Out here thats usaually never a problem!!HA

Good luck with your new rifle too. I am a big fan of the 6.5s and loved the 6.5x284s but hated putting a new barrel on every winter. I still shoot the 260s and 6.5x55. Most of my shooting is done with my 260.

I think I am really going to like the 284 but after shooting the 260 all these years I really do notice the recoil difference.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Sounds like your good to go on the rifle. Here where I shoot at, the verticle is wind induced. But when the conditions are good. The .284 is holding about 4" with the Sierra 175's. But I have to do just about everything that you can think of to the brass to get it shooting too.