Savage M111 Long Range Hunter in 6.5 x.284 Norma

[kendoka66]

These LRH rifles have long throats and can be finicky about C.O.A.L.. I have been up and down.
Most shoot .020" off the lands but the Bergers jump about .010". I noticed you are using Mag. primers any reason for this?. F210 and R91/2 seem to work real good.
Lapua seat the 139 to an O.A.L 3.110" and Blach Hills seats the SMK.to 2.980". I have tried these lengths and the accuracy of both is good. I have about 120 rounds through it,and clean every 20 or so shots. Just have to do it. I will start my long range shooting next week all the way to 810 yards.

 

[cfvickers]

I noticed that while trying different primers my ES and SD cut in half or better in most cases with the Fed 215, accuracy isn't a lot different, but that is why. For example with Fed GM210M in one load I get 13 FPS ES and with 215s it is literally 1 fps. 9 with Win WLR, 6 with CCI250. I went with what worked best for me.

 

[kendoka66]

I will try some F215,WLRM,R9 1/2M also ,Next time I load up which will be Friday. My S.D. and E.S. have been good but not the 1,s!. What hunting bullet do like best?I need to find one.

 

[cfvickers]

Dude, I was reluctant to even say that I got 1fps ES for fear you or others would think I was a damn fool, and you still may, but I know what it read and that is through three 5 round strings across the chrono over 2 days. I have never even heard of an ES being that low over more than three shots.

Last year in my other 6.5-284 I used a 140gr. VLD hunting. I am trying the 130 this year. the load I get that with, which should be worked up to it is absolute max but good, is 52 gr RL17 and the 130 VLD hunting, at 3203 FPS. It is not the best at 200 yards but still under an inch at 200 and VERY flat shooting.

 

[kendoka66]

When you said that you were getting in the one,s I also have seen on several occasions in other rifles so I was not surprised. I like the Berger Vld,s too and have shot a couple of Mule Deer Bucks with them and a few coyotes over the years with my 6mmx284.I used the 105 gr. I have not seen the 130 VLD,s,where did you get them?.

 

[cfvickers]

I got mine at Macks Prairie Wings. they are online at mackspw.com. They didn't have any in stock last week, and as is the way it goes with berger, it may be a while. Not sure who has them right now but any berger retailer can get them and usually carries them. Most go with the 140 due to the BC but the 130 still has a G1 BC of .552 and G7 of .287. If you plan to shoot an animal like a deer over 8-900 yards the 140 is likely the best. This load will carry about 1000 Lbs-ft energy to 900 yards. I have not yet tried one on a deer given the devastation of the 140 I am sure it will be completely sufficient on a deer at the ranges I shoot. My maximum range is seldomly 400 yards but usually 200 or less. Besides my rifle seems to like it better. If I back my velocity down around 2900FPS using 4831SC it will shoot one ragged hole groups at 200. For hunting I will take the flatter trajectory and 3/4-1"at 200 yards. I am experimenting with some 140 target BT long range and it took me 3 groups to get under a half inch at 100 but that load didn't get where I needed to be at 200 so I am still working, and haven't been able to experiment with it any more this week.

 

[kendoka66]

I just received a shipment of Berger 140 Vld,s, My accuracy load is 51.3 H4831sc ,F210 primer,Nosler Custom Brass. On a good day it will put them into one hole. I like the new Nosler 140 competition bullet, It shoots as good as the Bergers with the right load. This next week I will try long range shooting with the above loads. If the wind cooperates we should have some good groups. I bought the Hornady 129SST bullet for hunting, I will work up a fast load for it.

 

[cfvickers]

I got good accuracy with the 129 SST but couldn't get it any faster than the 140 VLD. Some reason I have serious pressure issues when the load starts getting close to max. I can't even get Close to my max load with the 130 VLD. If you try it with RL17 don't go over 50.5 or you will be at risk of blowing a primer. I got no pressure signs at all with 50.5 but went to 51 and blew a primer/ruined the Lapua case I was using. I was angry to say the least. I have not yet found the ideal COAL with the 129SST yet but it isn't as sensitive as the VLD. Should be easy to find an accurate load with, but not so much to find a fast one. About 3075 was the best I could do. Read in a Mag where a guy put up that 62 gr of 7828 was good for 3200, I might try to work toward that and see how close I get.

 

[kendoka66]

That,s good information, I shot 5 rounds today with a light load of H4831sc. 52.0. Wind was blowing real nasty so I will try again. The 62.0 charge seems to be on the hot side but 7828 is very slow burning. It worked well in my 6x284.The c.o.a.l.was 3.162" for the 129 SST. That gave it .010" jump.

 

[cfvickers]

Yeah, I was just repeating something I read in a mag. I have gotten to 58 but just stopped because it wasn't working well as far as groups.

 

[kendoka66]

I have been using the Quick Load Program and came up with a couple of loads you might want to try,Retumbo 56.0grs. 140 NCC, Winchester 780 54.0grs. same bullet, and Reloader19 same bullet. All are fast and accurate and according to QL,they all are under 50K psi. Really shot well under .560" for all loads. Coal with that bullet is 3.058".

 

[cfvickers]

I'll try them. Thanks!