Here is something to think about. I have seen that a figure of 3.3grs increase in case capacity from a "straight" .284 to the Shehane version. However, I have had 3 Shehanes and 2 "straight" .284's. It may very well be you get an increase of 3.3grs of water! However, in reality you get "about" 1.0-1.5 grains of increase. A "good NON-primer loosening" load for a "straight" .284 hovers close to 54.0grs of H4831 / RL-23. This is with the 180 Hybrids with a .220 freebore. If you went to 57.3grs of H4831 / RL-23 in the Shehane (the 3.3grs increase) you will loosen primer pockets in very short order. A better load would be close to 55.0-55.5 of those powders in the Shehane. So now ask yourself this question: "Do I really want to fireform brass to gain approximately a 2 percent increase in capacity"? Let's say you are running 2900 or so on the Shehane. You have a wind deflection of 4.9 m.o.a. of drift at 1000 yards. Now a "straight" .284 at 2825 or so, you have a deflection of 5.0m.o.a. Do you honestly believe you can ACCURATELY hold a 0.1m.o.a. at 1000 yards? Because if you do, you need to be shooting 1000 yard Benchrest and shoot 5 shot groups hovering at 1"! Now for question to yourself #2: "where is the benefit of the Shehane"? Just my 2 cents...
+1. ^^^^^^^^^One other factor between the 2 is the "node" where the bullets perform the best. I have talked to most of the great shooters at the SWN's and found that most of them are running at about 2820 fps or less.
Therefore, the added capacity of the Shehane is not an issue because you don't need it to run at 2820 fps! That said, I run a Shehane because I started with it and stayed. I don't find the brass prep to be an issue at all and can win local matches fireforming new brass! I do recommend new shooters to stay with the straight 284.
There is only a gain of 0.2grs over the Shehane with the Walker. Mark designed the case to take care of a couple of problems. 1.) Stop the neck growth so trimming is not always a "problem" and to get "Shehane Performance" with the benefit of the 40 degree shoulder. There may be other reasons too (Mark can chime in anytime) for the design. But the performance, velocity wise, is the same..Ok what about the 7mm Walker?
Correct, he probably meant for zero return and lots of cost.I don't think you meant to say that.![]()
My Bartlein 284 shoots consistently small at a very modest 2740, I wanted it to shoot at a higher node but couldn’t ignore the groups at the lower node. 180s perform well at the slower speeds no doubt.One other factor between the 2 is the "node" where the bullets perform the best. I have talked to most of the great shooters at the SWN's and found that most of them are running at about 2820 fps or less.
Therefore, the added capacity of the Shehane is not an issue because you don't need it to run at 2820 fps! That said, I run a Shehane because I started with it and stayed. I don't find the brass prep to be an issue at all and can win local matches fireforming new brass! I do recommend new shooters to stay with the straight 284.