6.5-284 loads-help wanted!!

[Ben C]

Hi All,

I've received my new barrel chambered in 6.5-284 and am yet to run it in and start load development. I was going to do that today but the weather is crap

Anyway, this 28" 1 1/4 straight taper barrel screws straight into my Nesika RBLP action glued into a Kelbly 1m fibreglass stock with Jewel trigger (or some might know it as my F-Class standard clunker )

I have chosen the following components, at least to begin with anyway:
~SMK 142 moly coated projies;
~2213sc powder;
~CC1 250 primers;
~Lapua brass (neck-turned);

I would like some suggestions on what loads to try with this combination - as I'll be using the rifle primarily for F-Class......maybe some 1000y Bench Rest or 500m fly shoots in the future? So I want to achieve maximum accuracy - especially at the longs.

I'm particularly interested in what jump (or jam) you have found the best - as well as the powder charge, etc

So please....suggest away

Thanks in advance

Ben...

[Matt P]

Ben
Most have better luck with 2209, start at about 46 gr and work up, in my 6.5 X 57 AI I had good results with moly 142's soft seated starting about 50 thou into the lands.
Goodluck.
Matt P

[Cameron Mc]

Ben, when I had a 6.5-284 I found 2209 the most accurate.

The load I used was 47.5 - 2209 with naked 139 Lapua's and BR2 primers. I used jump to tune rifle, around 20thou from memory. I tried 142 sierra's also but my barrel shot better with Lapua's.

This was about 4 years ago.

Cameron

[AlanF]

Ben,

With 2213SC, start at 51gn. I've had better results in most barrels with the SMK 142, but the 139 Scenars suited a couple better. There is also Berger and A-max 140s to try.

Alan

[Cameron Mc]

What did you use in Brisbane, Alan?

[AlanF]

Cameron,

SMK142 molyed is what I settled on - I did use Bergers for a couple of ranges in the leadup.

Alan

[Ben C]

Matt, Cameron and Alan,

Thanks for your replies - much appreciated.

Not sure when I'll get the chance but I'll try and get some load development happening soon.

The amount of jump/ jam for bullets is of particular interest for me - with my .308 using Sierra 155's, I always had better results with around 25 - 50 thou jumps - and wondering what others have found using 142 SMKs in 6.5mm.

I'm interested to see how this works.

Cheers
Ben...

[AlanF]

Ben,

SMK 142s are tolerant of different seating. Best to test both jamming and jumping with each new barrel. A few groups at short range will tell the story.

Alan

[hfmjarc]

Please Supply Your post box # and area code if you want those Burris
30mm Rings.
My E-Mail: hfmjarc@gmail.com
regards Harry

[AlanF]

Please Supply Your post box # and area code if you want those Burris
30mm Rings.
My E-Mail: hfmjarc@gmail.com
regards Harry

E-mail has been sent. Thanks Harry.

[alocky]

Hi guys - just to prolong this thread a bit.
I've got a 30" Krieger 6.5-284 barrel on my Barnard P and have not had anything like as much luck as I had getting the 6.5x47 to work. Best to date was 51gn 4831SC pushing a 139 scenar seated just onto the lands, but I only saw 2850 fps and not the 3050 I was hoping for. Although there's no excess pressure signs on the cases at this level, it's already past the ADI listed max load of 49.5 (their max for 150gn is 50.3 - go figure).
Questions - my reloading bible says to avoid magnum primers as they rarely improve accuracy, and can cause significant pressure uplift, but I was going to give them a try starting at 47gn and working back up. Has anybody got any idea how much extra pressure the magnum primers are likely to generate?
I'm also assuming ignition is the problem, but in a 30" barrel there's plenty of time to burn it all up, and there's no obvious signs of incomplete burning.
Also - any idea what a safe working max load for 4831SC in the 6.5-284 would be? I've seen loads up to 53gn quoted on some forums, but no pressure data.
cheers,
Andrew.

[AlanF]

Andrew,

I have never used loads of less than 51.2 of 2213SC. I have loaded as high as 53.3 from memory. Just work up gradually until you see pressure signs (flattened then cratered primers usually first, then difficult extraction). Then back off a grain or so. Depending on your individual barrel, 3050 may or may not be achievable without being too hard on the brass. Most of my 30" barrels have worked best at around 2950.

Hope this helps.

Alan

[bruce moulds]

ben,
when i shot a 6.5x284, 48.5 of 2209 was almost a go to load with either a 142 sierra or 139 lapua, using a fed gold medal primer.
don't "go to" without working up, especially when jamming.
seating depth & neck tension are worth experimenting with.
berger thin jackets would take up to 50 gn 2209 for similar pressures.
these loads were pretty near a practical max, as 200 cases would about last a barrel
most of my chambers were giles neckturn.
bruce moulds.