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Stability issue 153.5 berger hybrids?

1 in 8 twist. Anyone else feel like its not enough? I have taken them out to 1000+ 3 times now and they are just all over the map and watching them through the spotter, the wind is really having its way with them. Trading off in same conditions with other rifles/bullets and rocking my steel all day. I can eliminate a few speculations...the SD's are under 10 and they shoot lights out 600 and in. 1/4 inch at 100. Calculator says the are 1.5 on stability factor...so on that edge of optimal. All my other combos are well over the 1.5 so no experience in that zone. i have also seen berger change twist rate recommendations a few times over the years in both directions. Oh and those other combos called for almost the same corrections on wind and were shooting great. Not like I was shooting 375 EnABELR next to the 153.5's. Its a 6.5x284 with 2730 muzzle velocity. Thought??
 
1 in 8 twist. Anyone else feel like its not enough? I have taken them out to 1000+ 3 times now and they are just all over the map and watching them through the spotter, the wind is really having its way with them. Trading off in same conditions with other rifles/bullets and rocking my steel all day. I can eliminate a few speculations...the SD's are under 10 and they shoot lights out 600 and in. 1/4 inch at 100. Calculator says the are 1.5 on stability factor...so on that edge of optimal. All my other combos are well over the 1.5 so no experience in that zone. i have also seen berger change twist rate recommendations a few times over the years in both directions. Oh and those other combos called for almost the same corrections on wind and were shooting great. Not like I was shooting 375 EnABELR next to the 153.5's. Its a 6.5x284 with 2730 muzzle velocity. Thought??
That's going really slow. My 6.5x47 shoots the 153.5 at 2820 with RL16. 8 twist and no issues at 1000, but I'm also a mile high. Shoots less than 4 inches with me steering it.
 
Yeah definitely a slower node. Thought I might save some barrel life running low and slow. Plus the recoil is just beautiful. Not sure that will work...
 
Yeah definitely a slower node. Thought I might save some barrel life running low and slow. Plus the recoil is just beautiful. Not sure that will work...
If you just need a little more stability, the extra 100fps might do it. I have a hard time believing that will solve your problem though. Have you tried re-tuning the load at 1000? Also how big are we talking on those groups at 1000? My bench gun shoots about 1/4" at 100, 0.75" at 300, but at 1000 it shoots 4" or so. I've also shot plenty of 10 inch groups on days where I was just not shooting very good.
 
Read Evan's post again to be sure it sticks.

You're definitely on that slow node. It's a fine ideal to attempt to save barrel life by shooting a slower powder or reducing velocity but in the world of 1,000 yards you may need to forgo this a little bit. Barrels start deteriorating from the first shot and there is nothing you can do to save them except to stop shooting. It's fait accompli, a given conclusion. Barrels are an expendable commodity, perishable tooling from my perspective. Shoot for your enjoyment then replace them.

I'm running Re-23 at 2900 fps. with excellent results. You might also consider Ramshot Magnum which is a very cool burning powder but will yield excellent results when you get the load balanced.

Enjoy!:)

 
See if you can work your load up to a higher velocity accuracy node like has been stated previously. At 1000 yards its not about barrel life ( unless you really want to work on your condition reading skills by using the velocity accuracy node you have now) At 1.5 your are getting the full BC of the bullet . So stability is not a factor. Your velocity and condition reading skills , trigger control and position behind the rifle are what you need to look at here.
 
Well I dont think the speed itself is an issue. .356 bc @ 2730 is flatter then the more common ft/r loads with 200.20x, they run those in the 2600's. And I've seen those guys shoot pretty darn good at a 1000. I could but me but I thought I was shooting pretty good that last day. Went 12 for 12 on a 10" gong in 8-12 winds in the desert as sun was going down. Wind gets evil when the temp starts dropping. But that was a different rifle. If no one else is having issues with the 153.5's at a long range and 8 twist ill go back to loading bench
 
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The Berger twist calculator has it under 1.5 but not much (1.4s depends on temp, 80 degrees and up okay)
 
Well I dont think the speed itself is an issue. .356 bc @ 2730 is flatter then the more common ft/r loads with 200.20x, they run those in the 2600's. And I've seen those guys shoot pretty darn good at a 1000. I could but me but I thought I was shooting pretty good that last day. Went 12 for 12 on a 10" gong in 8-12 winds in the desert as sun was going down. Wind gets evil when the temp starts dropping. But that was a different rifle. If no one else is having issues with the 153.5's at a long range and 8 twist ill go back to loading bench
Between a 2700fps and 2900fps there is hardly a difference in barrel life. I've been shooting 6.5/284 Shehane since 1990 and I have seen little difference in barrel life between 2800 and 3000fps. I'm on my sixth barrel and every single barrel shoots better at the higher node. I would say if you're getting good groups at 600 but blowing it at a grand you may be missing a condition or technique that blowing them at a grand. Set up a video of yourself shooting and look for proper follow through, grip placement, etc. to be the same on each and every shot. What kind of rest and rear bag are you shooting?
 
Between a 2700fps and 2900fps there is hardly a difference in barrel life. I've been shooting 6.5/284 Shehane since 1990 and I have seen little difference in barrel life between 2800 and 3000fps. I'm on my sixth barrel and every single barrel shoots better at the higher node. I would say if you're getting good groups at 600 but blowing it at a grand you may be missing a condition or technique that blowing them at a grand. Set up a video of yourself shooting and look for proper follow through, grip placement, etc. to be the same on each and every shot. What kind of rest and rear bag are you
30 years, 6 barrels & same caliber...nice! Good info on barrel life observation. Thanks for that! Again I'm going to take myself out of the equation considering the results I achieve at the same ranges and conditions with other setups. The setup in question is actually far superior to the others. Trued action better stock jewell trigger at 12 oz nightforce comp heavier rifle etc. Should be my best shooting rifle. Front set up is a highly sophisticated board with carpet glued on in for a ftr bipod to ride on and rear is a protector tracker with the silver stuff
 
Loading up some berger 140 hybrids and reloader 26 in the 55gn range to eliminate stability and speed as the factors :)
Re-26 good powder. You may want to try a lighter trigger pull. I think that's too heavy for real precision! That heavy a pull can create more tension in the grip, just my opinion.
 
Honestly owning a 6.5x284 and being worried by barrel life is kinda silly.

as other said push more to proper normal operation pressure/speed and your issue will be solved.
 
Honestly owning a 6.5x284 and being worried by barrel life is kinda silly.

as other said push more to proper normal operation pressure/speed and your issue will be solved.
Whats silly about saving money and enjoying lower recoil if it works for my needs. I run other stuff at slower nodes and go through plenty of white spray paint. If I have a cartridge that I can run slow on fun days and then step on the gas if needed for competition/hunting then I'm im. Now if I'm convinced it doesn't increase barrel life or "work" then I can reevaluate. But I'm not. My own testing will be the deciding factor for me. Although LCazador observations seem very credible with 6 barrels under his belt on the same rig.
 
Whats silly about saving money and enjoying lower recoil if it works for my needs. I run other stuff at slower nodes and go through plenty of white spray paint. If I have a cartridge that I can run slow on fun days and then step on the gas if needed for competition/hunting then I'm im. Now if I'm convinced it doesn't increase barrel life or "work" then I can reevaluate. But I'm not. My own testing will be the deciding factor for me. Although LCazador observations seem very credible with 6 barrels under his belt on the same rig.
I am sure he meant both by the comment. But meant it is like buying a Ferrari and running 87 octane fuel.
 
@CrackBoom you may find post #45 through #52 on my thread a little interesting:
You can see that while I shot pretty small in LG (5 shots, 4 inches) at 1000 in the morning when things were calmer, I was not even in the same realm going up to 10 shots for HG a little later in the day with more wind and my groups were 11 and 15 inches. Same me, same gun, and same load just a couple hours apart. I shoot small at 300 and pretty small at 600 with some consistency. 1000 is just a whole different bag of tricks and the bullet deflection gets exponentially worse out there. For example, using JBM:
153.5 @2750fps:
600 yards, 8mph wind, 10.3" of deflection
600 yards, 9mph wind, 11.6" of deflection
That's 1.3" for missing a 1mph change in the wind
1000 yards, 8mph wind, 30.9" of deflection
1000 yards, 9mph wind, 34.7" of deflection
That's 3.8" for missing a 1mph change in the wind

I think your gun and that load may be just fine. Have you had other barrels that have shot significantly better for you at 1000 before to give some basis for comparison?
 
CrackBoom, I haven't shot a 6.5/284 since 2012. Shot a lot of 6.5 Bergers before that, including my first 1st LR prone rifle in 6.5/300 Weatherby. 7 mm all the way since then.
 

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