win 284 brass & other issues.

[bruce moulds]

the unbatched win brand 284 brass experiment continues.
this experiment began when a good friend gave me 200+ cases.
for some time i have been asking myself what is the minimum you can do and get results, as the whole thing was becoming a bore.
brass was not batched for weight.
150 shots later, i have to report that the average vert is if anything better than with lapua brass.
the best vert of the lot came using winchester primers in place of cci br or fed gm.
this seems to be one area where because you can do it or buy it, you don't necessarily get a gain from it, despite urban myth.
my biggest problem, not including what sometimes appears like a total lack of windreading ability, is getting barrels to settle after 2 or less shots. this is causing a delay in getting a perfect elevation zero soon enough to be competitive.
next step is to clean the barrel with acetone prior to shooting.
keep safe,
bruce.

[DaveMc]

What range are you judging this at Bruce?

[AlanF]

My understanding is that Winchester 284 brass hasn't been made for years and is virtually unavailable?

[bruce moulds]

dave,
300 to 800.
one thing i have noticed is the consistency of seating pressure with the win brass.
i still have 200 brass unfired, and when neckturned will batch that into 4 lots for a new barrel one day.
funny we used to buy this brass & neck it down to 6.5.
i wonder if laoua ever makes 284 brass whether it will be better than the 6.5 stuff necked up.
alan,
i think winchester still makes this brass but in occasional runs as required.
keep safe,
bruce.

[AlanF]

...alan,
i think winchester still makes this brass but in occasional runs as required.
keep safe,
bruce.

I'm not so sure Bruce. I spoke to a prominent BR shooter a short while back and he's been "requiring" it for some years, but says none is being made.

[bruce moulds]

alan,
fisher firearms said they could get some a little while ago.
things could well have changed.
anyway, at least i will be able to get win brand 243 brass for the 6.5 super lr project when it happens. it comes in bags, so you don't have to get rid of all the cardbourd boxes.
keep safe,
bruce.

[AlanF]

Bruce,

The 6.5-284 was pretty good to me, but I'm now convinced that the 284 is a better prospect for F-Class, particularly since the 180 hybrid came on the scene. I think the 284 case is a little over-bore for 6.5, but what you're doing should be more balanced. BTW if you use 308 brass you've got the option of small primers. Surely that's worth considering?

Alan

[bruce moulds]

alan,
that case has many brass options, including win & the one you mention.
also lapua & rem 260 brass, 7/08 brass, etc.
apparrently the win & rem 243 brass has neck thickness similar to shoulder thickness, a handy thing for the case forming process.
this case necked down to 224 would make a great fox gun with 55 gn bullets.
actually old allan peake's 6.5 x 55 improved wreaked a bit of hovak around the traps, and that brass is reasonably priced.
keep safe,
bruce.