Shehane .284

[Henryp]

I am considering a Shehane .284 to get extra velocity with a standard bolt. I am shooting a standard .284 now getting 2820 on a 180 bullet. I think 2950 is possible. Is it a better accuracy node and how is barrel life?

 

[Terry]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/08/284-shehane-284-improved-for-long-range/

2,000 rounds

 

[geordiesniper]

I am using the 284 Shehane with 56.5gr H4831SC with a Berger 180gr vld and am getting 2900-2915 fps with elevation spread of 1/3 moa at 1000yds. I did use 57 grains (2920-2935 fps) as my load but was just starting to get ejector marks on the headstamp, so backed off. Did try to get the magic 3000 fps but using 57.8 grains on initial tests it had very hard bolt lift and serious ejector marks with an Mv of 2985 fps approx.
For fireforming am using 56 grains seated well into the lands and again excellent vertical spreads of 1/3 moa so very pleased with it.
Not sure how many rounds the barrel will take before any change in current accuracy but heard that it will be 2000 or so, maybe more!

 

[johara1]

What kind of accuracy do you get out of the .284 imp. @ 100 .2 or better?......jim

 

[Henryp]

I am using 56 gr of 4831sc and getting single diget ES. I was hoping to go to 58-59 gr.

 

[TonyR]

Henry.
You might want to try IMR7828SSC. You can load more to higher MV than H4821SC without pressure signs. I have heard tales of accurate loads with N560 at 2975 fps but neither of my rifle ever tuned there but I could get there.

 

[Henryp]

I want temperature stable powers. R-17 gives high velocity, but on one can get it to shoot well. A mag bolt costs $600.

 

[Steve Blair]

My Shehane is running around 2940 with H4831 SC and Berger Hybrids from 32". It is an ejectorless BAT 3LL and Krieger barrel. It has been shooting well but now has 1658 on the barrel. The throat has advanced .020" and is looking a little sorry through the borescope. I can only hope that the next Krieger will be as good. The last 20 rounds fired in it were in the last relay at Berger. It held better than X-ring elevation. [br]
I ran it a little hotter, around 2960, in the 29 Palms Regional and AZ State Palma Championship. It shot well in both but had some occasional hard bolt lift, particularly at 29 Palms where the temps were ~75° and we ran back-to-back relays all day. The more recent load at 2940 shot with no problem at Berger, even when it was 80°.

 

[Steve Blair]

Tony's suggestion about 7828 SSC was a good one. It is a single base powder and should be pretty temp stable. I only tried one series with it and obtained velocities that I will not print here. It just did not group as well for me as H4831 SC or give as low SD/ES. I should revisit it at lower charges and see what it will do. I know Tony had good results with it.

 

[Henryp]

How many grains of 4831sc?

 

[Steve Blair]

How many grains of 4831sc?

[br]
The usual disclaimers apply: This load is safe in my rifle, maybe not in yours. This Krieger is a fast barrel and has been since new. The next one, or any given barrel, may not be as fast. It is a 32" barrel. The same results probably cannot be obtained from a shorter barrel. [br]
My current load is 58.2 grains H4831 SC, lot 81012114935. Lapua 6.5-284 expanded and fireformed, Berger 180 Hybrids seated 3.250", -.020" with Wolf KVB-7 LR primers. It gives an instrumental velocity of 2934 at 15 feet. Corrected to muzzle velocity, it is 2940.

 

[Henryp]

That is what I was looking for. Now I need to find some sizing dies.

 

[Steve Blair]

I would go right to custom dies and skip the learning steps with commercial dies. Custom dies are available from: [br]
Warner Tool - http://www.warner-tool.com/
Spencer Tool - http://spencertoolandgrind.com/
Neil Jones - http://neiljones.com/ [br]
I'm sure there are others but any of these can supply a quality unit.

 

[Henryp]

I would like to find some used dies and save some money. Does Redding make them in a bushing die?

 

[Steve Blair]

Yes, but only available through Bill Shehane. http://scopeusout.com/[br]
I bought one but it did not fit my chamber well. Bill and the guys at Redding went above and beyond to try to fix the die but it was just too far off from my chamber. Warner Tool supplied one, based on my fired brass, that sizes the shoulder and base diameters exactly .001". It is a great die but they are not cheap. [br]
Try putting up a "WTB" post like this one. http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,3782243.msg36039166/boardseen.html#new [br]
A lot of F-Open shooters have switched from Shehanes to some magnum and may have dies they want to sell.

 

[Henryp]

I will call Warner. Thanks.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I will call Warner. Thanks.

I went with Mark Spencer from www.spencertoolandgrind.com, great guy to deal with and his die does not require a dedicated press like the Warner.

 

[Steve Blair]

Good advice from Erik. I am also buying two dies from Mark. The two from Mark are about the same as one from Warner. The Warner die is threaded 1-12 and requires a large, single-stage press with a removable bushing. Mark's dies are standard 7/8-14.