SA284
- Thread starter Fuj
- Start date
Well Ethan, I hit 2767 with the 180's and bug holed them
with the BR2's and 51.4 grains of Hunter. I then went up
2/10th's at a time and they opened back up. At 2810 It looked
like another node was coming in but too much pressure to
safely continue. I am going to load 10 at the 2767 mark and
head to ECSL Monday morning. I'll do 5 at 100 then take the
other 5 out to 300. If all goes well, I'll do a batch and head
to Sparta's 500 yard range. Weather may be an issue though.
I was going to post a pic, but I need to find another SD card
for the camera.
Get that Brux Chambered yet ??
Inquiring minds want to know!!!
I'm going to need another barrel done and keep this original
for case forming and general work up. I'm nearing 500 rounds
and still not even close to being done with screwing around.
Good thing for my large stock of WLR's for initial work. I'm down
to 550 BR2's
That's a good velocity for 180s.
Get some group pictures after you shoot the 100 and 300 yard groups.
Let me know if you need a hand getting another barrel chambered!
I am finishing up my flushing system (through the bore) for chambering this week.
And that 7.5 twist brux I will be chambering next week.
My NX8 is in just have to pick it up!
Get some group pictures after you shoot the 100 and 300 yard groups.
Let me know if you need a hand getting another barrel chambered!
I am finishing up my flushing system (through the bore) for chambering this week.
And that 7.5 twist brux I will be chambering next week.
My NX8 is in just have to pick it up!
And now for that "Senior moment !!
....I took the ten I mentioned previously and made it to the range
this morning. I gave the barrel a need scrubbin' last
night. Ramshot is a little on the dirty side. Well I set
the Lab up an used the first five for foulers, checking
initial speed and group size. Well crap !! At least I hit
the barn door, and the speed was 25 fps slower then
expected !! Really scratching my head on this one. I
took the last five out to 300 And felt a little better.
I hit about 1/2 MOA, and near my scope correction.
Well I packed up. and headed home still trying to figure
out where I screwed up at 100 yards. It hit me when I
was putting my empty cases in the second fired pile.
Those bug hole groups were shot during the initial case
forming. I just simply pulled the wrong cases and charged
them.
I have ten bullets left but I ordered more of the 180's, so
I'll wait untill they get here, do another batch and head to
Sparta. I did order 100 of the 183 Sierras, to give a look
Barrel round count is now at 590.
Here's what 300 yards looks like for a screw up !!
Attachments
Sandstorm
Gold $$ Contributor
Yea...can relate to that Sir...Have written myself notes at the range and gone back home and
totally spaced those notes altogether. Loaded up some more to test and gone back to the range and wondered why the hell
my loads wer'nt performing like they were supposed to and then findin my notes in the reloading/ammo bag while at the range...
just killing barrel life here..lol
totally spaced those notes altogether. Loaded up some more to test and gone back to the range and wondered why the hell
my loads wer'nt performing like they were supposed to and then findin my notes in the reloading/ammo bag while at the range...
just killing barrel life here..lol
I was looking over some basic numbers, and noticed that
with the round count going up, this Bartlein test barrel
never sped up, and never has caught any copper. The last
cleaning, I ran a patch of Sweets thru it and let it sit for
ten minutes. Following patch's showed no hint of blue.
And Ethan.....I don't have all the milling done but far enough
along to use it yesterday. My new 4" wide spigot. My old one
simply bolted to my Bipod spigot. Now I just throw both in
the bag for switching needs like Assassinating chucks.....
And my rest is getting a make over. Butch Lambert sent me
one of his joy stick tops.....Always something.
with the round count going up, this Bartlein test barrel
never sped up, and never has caught any copper. The last
cleaning, I ran a patch of Sweets thru it and let it sit for
ten minutes. Following patch's showed no hint of blue.
And Ethan.....I don't have all the milling done but far enough
along to use it yesterday. My new 4" wide spigot. My old one
simply bolted to my Bipod spigot. Now I just throw both in
the bag for switching needs like Assassinating chucks.....
And my rest is getting a make over. Butch Lambert sent me
one of his joy stick tops.....Always something.
Attachments
If I tighten them side screws in hard, I can almost stop the
recoil.
Good thing I'm at 32 lbs on my rest. I have a planto use Butch's rest in the non traditional sense. I do like the
BE top, so it's my intent to head to Lowes and get some
screws I don't have in stock, put all the parts in a blender and
see what happens. You know me !! I can't leave sh_t alone.
This is what it looked like just after I put the 4" Protektor bag
on.
Too windy and rainy' for the range today, so I'll clear the work
bench and start the modded build.
Attachments
Well this cat shot it's first single digit ES. 183 SMK, Ramshot
Hunter and WLR primers. Went out to the range this morning
to do a repeat, and sure enough, popped another one in a very
narrow node. Is it me or do these SMK's shoot better the the
180 Bergers ?? I have more ladder work to do but Hunter seems
to be working quite well and near the same charges for both
bullets.....I will note that these pointed SMK's are a good 1/8"
longer then the 180 Bergers. Maybe on my next order I'll snag
the Berger 184's and play those against the 183's. My only
concern is twist rate. The 4DOF program has me on the edge
for stability in the 2750 FPS range. Since this Bartlien 8.7 is just
being used for testing, I may order up an 8.5 for the next one.
Pic has the 3 shot first test. This morning I shot 4 for an ES of 6
and SD of 2.5 at 2745 fps.
Hunter and WLR primers. Went out to the range this morning
to do a repeat, and sure enough, popped another one in a very
narrow node. Is it me or do these SMK's shoot better the the
180 Bergers ?? I have more ladder work to do but Hunter seems
to be working quite well and near the same charges for both
bullets.....I will note that these pointed SMK's are a good 1/8"
longer then the 180 Bergers. Maybe on my next order I'll snag
the Berger 184's and play those against the 183's. My only
concern is twist rate. The 4DOF program has me on the edge
for stability in the 2750 FPS range. Since this Bartlien 8.7 is just
being used for testing, I may order up an 8.5 for the next one.
Pic has the 3 shot first test. This morning I shot 4 for an ES of 6
and SD of 2.5 at 2745 fps.
Attachments
I did the test over again but swapped out the WLR's for the
BR2's. Velocity went up 18 fps, and the ES went up to 21.
I loaded up another spread with the BR2's and will test at
300 yards sometime today. The ones that show promise
I'll take down to Sparta and test at 500. I'm thinking there's
a node around the 2765 range with these primers.
Down to 500 BR2's fellas !! Hope something shakes in the
industry ??
Update......
Been going at this slow and steady. Hard to believe I'm pushing
1000 test rounds so far. Weather has not been that good as of
late. So far, and the last month has been a focus on the 183 SMK's
with Staball and revisiting R-16. Ramshot Hunter was the clear
choice for the 180 Bergers although filthy. The 183 SMK's gave
me a whole new start with the faster powders. Not only could I
load them out further, but less pressure ????? Doing a search
and some measurements, I'm finding the SMK's are slightly
smaller in diameter, and a few thou shorter then the Bergers on
bearing surface. The second lot I bought confirmed this......I started
ladders with Staball, and got up to 2800 when things got a bit warm.
Best accuracy was in the 2775 range......Now Reloder 16 got my
attention for accuracy across the board. I switched from the WLR's
to BR2's once I was into the 2700 range. I then went from .015 to
.010 off the lands, and 1/10 of a grain of powder from there, again
slow and steady......The target posted was shot yesterday, and
although warm out for Erie, the winds across the benches were
almost knocking over my Lab Radar. So it was more like a shoot
and skoot.......This is where I currently at with the 183-SMK, BR2
primer and Reloader 16.
Been going at this slow and steady. Hard to believe I'm pushing
1000 test rounds so far. Weather has not been that good as of
late. So far, and the last month has been a focus on the 183 SMK's
with Staball and revisiting R-16. Ramshot Hunter was the clear
choice for the 180 Bergers although filthy. The 183 SMK's gave
me a whole new start with the faster powders. Not only could I
load them out further, but less pressure ????? Doing a search
and some measurements, I'm finding the SMK's are slightly
smaller in diameter, and a few thou shorter then the Bergers on
bearing surface. The second lot I bought confirmed this......I started
ladders with Staball, and got up to 2800 when things got a bit warm.
Best accuracy was in the 2775 range......Now Reloder 16 got my
attention for accuracy across the board. I switched from the WLR's
to BR2's once I was into the 2700 range. I then went from .015 to
.010 off the lands, and 1/10 of a grain of powder from there, again
slow and steady......The target posted was shot yesterday, and
although warm out for Erie, the winds across the benches were
almost knocking over my Lab Radar. So it was more like a shoot
and skoot.......This is where I currently at with the 183-SMK, BR2
primer and Reloader 16.
Attachments
Hey Fuj,
Just found these posts. Very nice write ups & records. Early on you mentioned the "tough" sizing job. Can't remember if you followed my whole process on the .284 "shorty" i was working on, but sizing was also a PITA. It got a lot better when i started using automotive STP oil treatment as a case lube.
Your posts make me want to screw that barrel back on....like you say....fun...no fun with a dwindling primer inventory though.
Carry on.
Just found these posts. Very nice write ups & records. Early on you mentioned the "tough" sizing job. Can't remember if you followed my whole process on the .284 "shorty" i was working on, but sizing was also a PITA. It got a lot better when i started using automotive STP oil treatment as a case lube.
Your posts make me want to screw that barrel back on....like you say....fun...no fun with a dwindling primer inventory though.
Carry on.
Hey Randy !! Good to hear from ya'...... I was just over on the
old digs reading over some of your initial data. I have this cat
that will be a kissing cousin' to your works on the "Shorty". I was
looking over some trashed .284 case's, and did not have the heart
to put them in the scrap bin. I have 100 Hornady cases from my
early works that I just use as sighters/ fowlers. I bought 500 Norma
cases from Rardoin, and have them all converted to the SA284.
I want to take those Hornady's and shorten them about the same
as what you did, and keeping the 35 degree shoulder. With Rardoin
on a roll with the A-Tips, Hornady has a 7mm 166 gr A-tip that would
suit this project well......Just got in another length of 7/8-14 all thread
to make more form dies. Just makes life so much easier doing baby
steps on the brass. Used Hornady Unique case lube for the first time
on some test draws. I like the stuff !!
Fuj
Annealing is your friend for doing forming like this!
I made some 6.5mm Rem Mag cases from 7mm Rem Mag cases. (The cartridge intrigued me when i found out about it & got a set of dies at an auction for $3)
With the shoulder set back as far as it is, was a PITA doing baby steps.
I measured & drew a line with soapstone to where the new shoulder shoud end up on the 7mm cases for the 6.5mm cases.
Broke out the propane torch & water.
Made it much easier!!
Cut the extra neck length off, trimmed & annealed again.
Now if i had something to shoot them in...
I made some 6.5mm Rem Mag cases from 7mm Rem Mag cases. (The cartridge intrigued me when i found out about it & got a set of dies at an auction for $3)
With the shoulder set back as far as it is, was a PITA doing baby steps.
I measured & drew a line with soapstone to where the new shoulder shoud end up on the 7mm cases for the 6.5mm cases.
Broke out the propane torch & water.
Made it much easier!!
Cut the extra neck length off, trimmed & annealed again.
Now if i had something to shoot them in...
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.