Sierra 183 Matchking in straight 284

[JPB4BAMA]

I just saw that these seem to be back on the market. Anyone have any experience using them in a straight 284 recently as the last post dates back to about 2016. I'm shooting a 8.75 twist Bartlien at 30.5" and so far only use H4350. Prices seem pretty good and had good experiences with Sierra's in my 223 Ackley so I assume that they are rather decent.

Currently shooting Berger 180 Hybrids and they are OK, but frankly my gun likes the Lapua 180 Scenars best so far, so I was thinking of giving these a try for fun, but since there seems to be very little information out there that is readily available for the 284, thought I would ask this community before springing for 500 or 1000. (I hate buying small lots, as every time I do this and they actually do shoot good, they seem to disappear from the market)

Thanks in advance
JPB

 

[Fuj]

I shot 3/4" groups at 500 yards with the 183's using a 30" Brux.
8.5 twist using Enduron 4451. I did not have H4350 to test, but did
test R-16 with negative results, and the test's with Ramshot Hunter
ball powder shot real good for what that's worth with sorted BR2's
and Norma brass......It's my main bullet in my shortened SA284 for
shooting long.

 

[Sandstorm]

Im betting N555 would push them 183s well in a 30 inch barrel...
Sure like the way it works with the 180 HYB in my Shehane......Id give it a shot,
except dont think it would work in my 9 twist as they are much longer than the Berger Hyb.

 

[Dan-Schenk]

I used a 1:8 McGowan barrel with h4350, I loved it for 1k and 600 fclass. Got highmaster with them, but supply ran out so I switched to sorted 180hyb and they seem to agg better. When the 183s shoot, they’re lights out, but can be temperamental with h4350 in my experience.

 

[jamesl]

In my experience if you keep them under 2800fps they can shoot good.

 

[Rank Amateur]

Tried them in 284 Shehane. Same point of impact at 500 yds compared to 184 Bergers. 32” Kreiger 9 twist, Peterson brass, H4831sc. Running at straight 284 speeds (2750). Periodic flyer that I don’t see with Bergers, but can’t exclude possibility of shooter error. I like them for practice, but will stay with Bergers for matches.

 

[Fuj]

In my experience if you keep them under 2800fps they can shoot good.

I had two nodes. One at 2835 and one at 2875.

 

[JPB4BAMA]

Thanks to all of you. After reading Sandstorm's comment my brain turned on and I pulled out Applied Ballistics bullet library and did the stability calculation. At the speeds that I am willing to run with H4350 which is all I have and a lot of it. I will be very unstable due to the very long length and don't even have near the freebore to seat long enough to not over pressure to go stable. Unfortunately I'm gonna pass on them although I hate missing what looks like a good deal.

Thanks again all

 

[CamoWhamo]

Tried some last weekend with 55gr of H4831sc and got an average of 2777fps out of a 30" barrel.
Rifle is a new to me built on a Tikka action and I shot 60/60 with 6X at 800m (Australian F class rules, 2 sighters and 10 for record) with my very first string ever from the rifle.

 

[Rainbow1]

Tried some last weekend with 55gr of H4831sc and got an average of 2777fps out of a 30" barrel.
Rifle is a new to me built on a Tikka action and I shot 60/60 with 6X at 800m (Australian F class rules, 2 sighters and 10 for record) with my very first string ever from the rifle.

Curious, what was the twist and freebore?

 

[SKWERLZ]

Not sure in 284 but they shoot nicely in my 7 saum at 2905.

 

[davidjoe]

I’m not sure what brought you to the Lapua 180 Scenars as they are not talked about as much nor used often in LR, but yesterday reaffirmed my view of them.

A friend wasn’t planning to shoot this year’s 600 club championship due to round count on his saum and lack of bullets. I told him these extend barrel life with their long bearing surface, they actually do shoot the smallest groups (although none of the makers claim anything about this subject), and their middling BC suits our range perfectly because the low value holds are not huge, - magic beans in other words, and a few weeks ago I sold him 3 boxes.

He tested two charge weights in one session of 5 shots each, picked one, loaded and won Open yesterday. His barrel had been in decline, I saw that earlier.

I suspect that your only issue with 180 Scenars, besides them not being currently available, is that they are hard to steer at 1,000. That was my only problem with them, Bob Mead could tell me where to aim my saum with them, but otherwise if it was tricky, I needed an oval shaped 10 ring.

Use them for midrange and calmer long range. I will say I prefer them in a saum to a .284, but good bullets are still good whatever cartridge you load them in.

 

[JPB4BAMA]

I picked them because at the time the bergers were not available, and it was hard to pass up 1k for $280 including shipping at the time (Last November), and my original barrel was on the decline with age, so I figgered what the hell I'll use these while I wait patiently for new tubes and save the Bergers I had for them. Right now I only shoot 600 as I work on skills and develop the testicular fortitude to play with the big dogs at 1K. We are limited to only 4 targets at 1K, but 15 at 600, so I'm not going to nose my way in and crowd the real shooters till I can at least make a decent showing. I'm shooting mid 590's at 600 but 1000 is a whole nuther ball of wax, Especially here on the Gulf coast with the weird wind and facing east into the sun in the morning.