Savage 6.5x 284 not grouping well

[Obtunded]

Althjough I get best results with the 140 Bergers, they are definitely more seating depth sensitive. Like every Berger VLD I have played with, they are happiest 15 thou into the lands.

The problem comes in the fact that my 6.5-284 wears its throat about 3-5 thou every hundred rounds or so. I must load accordingly for a long match.

The Lapua Scenar and 142 SMK are far less seating depth sensitive, but you don't enjoy the superlaitive BC like in the 140 VLD

I have tried RL17, H and IMR 4350, N165, N560 and H4831SC, and the 4831 was the hands down best. It gets frustrating spending 250 rounds trying to find a good powder in a barrel with a 1000 round life.

 

[camac]

We have two factory savages here in this caliber. Both barrels were quite rough and needed lots of cleaning. Both barrels didn't shoot the heavier projectiles (esp the bergers even with exploring large range of seating depths) as well as 123gr bullets (sierra and Lapua). We got both rifles down to .3 and 0.4 MOA (5 shot aggs) respectively with 123 class bullet. Berger 140 best were .65, Sierra MK 142's about 0.5.
The 123 Lapua Scenars, pushed out at 3150 fps are as good as the 142's at 2950 all the way out to 1000 yards for wind drift but have less drop anyway.
We burnt both barrels out basically testing and only got a few matches in with them. The replacements (Kreiger and Maddco) shoot longer projectiles much better - can't explain why??? Roughness???