30-284 Anyone have the low down?

[jasmay]

Anyone using this chambering care to give a bit of a spiel?

Looking at options for a F-Open rifle and this cal has perked my interest but I cant find much reading on it.

Anyone in QLD have a reamer for this Cal?

[bruce moulds]

jasmay,
paul janzso aka pestbird has used one.
hopefully he will chime in.
keep safe,
bruce.

[johnk]

John Giles is chambering one for me at the moment.

[jasmay]

Thansk for the replies guys, anyone care to comment on performance, barrel life etc?

[aaronraad]

Thansk for the replies guys, anyone care to comment on performance, barrel life etc?

About the same as a 30-06? Less than a 300 Winchester Magnum and more than a 308 Winchester.

[bruce moulds]

without having used one, I would suggest barrel life to be on a par with a 30/06.
if I had one I would experiment with bullets up to 210/215 gn wt.
recoil should be manageable.
violence in a cartridge makes shooting more difficult with precision, and this round is at the less violent end.
ian p has a 30/06 Ackley going which would be quite similar, and if he cared to comment it would be interesting.
keils's mileage will be interesting.
match rifle shooters often consider the 308 to be not quite enough of a good thing, and the 284/30/06 capacity would be about ideal.
if I were doing it, I think I would go for the 30/06 Ackley due to no necking up and the longer neck.
there is good 30/06 brass to be had and it is at realistic prices.
keep safe,
bruce.

[johnk]

Bruce,

The MR .308 isn't all that bad after all. With my F class action away with Gilsie, I dropped the MR in the F stock last Saturday & shot 800 with it. Turned out only Mark Fairbairn beat me, 123 to 121 in interesting times.

John

[IanP]

Jason, having a lot of 185 and 200gr Berger hybrids left over from an overseas trip I had to cancel, like you I was looking for something in 30 cal to launch them.

Dont like the 284W brass as my Shehane had no difficulty in expanding the case heads. I researched a little and decided to use a 30-06AI with Lapua brass. One of my Krieger barrels that I had planned to take to the USA in 11 twist and 32", heavy palma profile, I ended up chambering in 30-06AI.

I fire formed 100 cases and later the same week shot it in a 3 range club comp at 700m, 800m and 1000 yards. I was up against 2 members who also had recently re-barreled to 280AI and 300WSM. I was lucky enough to have a win and was surprised by the accuracy with very little load development. This was in a light Manners stock with a Barnard SM action and weighs in approx 8kg, shooting Berger 200gr hybrids.

In a very short space of time I have been impressed with the 30-06AI and am launching the 200gr hybrids at 2890fps. The brass is fantastic and case life should be excellent, as I have zero expansion of the case head and tight primer pockets with no other pressure signs. I have loaded higher and experimented with jamming and jumping and have settled on this moderate load and expect long barrel life.

I now plan on chambering a heavy 1.25", 32", 10T, TruFlight parallel barrel I had put aside as a spare in 30-06AI. My experiment with the lighter barrel and rifle was so successful I plan on taking this heavy barrel rifle along with me to the Vic Queens and shoot out to midrange with it and then swap over to my 300WM for the long ranges.

I have become a fan of the retro 30cals from yesteryear, but I actually think its more a case of back to the future now with the new Berger hybrids that have breathed new life into the aging 30cals.

Ian

[jasmay]

Good for thought Ian. Thanks for te extensive run down.

I am still keen on the 284 and also wonder if the larger tube size will relieve some of the head expansion issues.

Given that with my, some may call, method of madness setting up a barrel I was able to get my 308 pushing those hybrids over 2800fps, with the sweet spot been right of 2800.

I am wondering with the 284 and the same methods if can't get them up over 3000fps...

Now given the different cartridge characteristics between te 30-06 and the. 284 I am wondering if the 284 won't be a slight better case to launch them from.

I am not overly convinced the 300WSM is the best base to work from either, and its way up on the overbore chart, barrel life is something I want to consider.

Hmmm, very confused boy, why the heck I thought building an f-open gun would be good I don't know, I may give up on it yet!!

[AlanF]

Good for thought Ian. Thanks for te extensive run down.

I am still keen on the 284 and also wonder if the larger tube size will relieve some of the head expansion issues.

Given that with my, some may call, method of madness setting up a barrel I was able to get my 308 pushing those hybrids over 2800fps, with the sweet spot been right of 2800.

I am wondering with the 284 and the same methods if can't get them up over 3000fps...

Now given the different cartridge characteristics between te 30-06 and the. 284 I am wondering if the 284 won't be a slight better case to launch them from.

I am not overly convinced the 300WSM is the best base to work from either, and its way up on the overbore chart, barrel life is something I want to consider.

Hmmm, very confused boy, why the heck I thought building an f-open gun would be good I don't know, I may give up on it yet!!

Jason,

If I was going for a step up from 308 in 30cal, the 300 WSM would be my choice. The 7 WSM is a barrel burner, but I've read several times that the 300 is quite easy on the throat, and has already been very successful in 1000yd BR and F-Class. The 300 WSM is a standard cartridge so dies etc. are easy to obtain. But the 30/06 A/I does have some advantages - standard bolt face, and Lapua brass available. I agree with Ian that the 284 case would be a bit sus because of the primer pocket expansion issue, probably even more so than 7mm.

Good luck.

Alan

[jasmay]

Thanks Alan, I suppose you are right, the 300 being standard makes sense. I was hoping to base it off my current action been the model P Barnard, I dont want to invest in another action and stock at this stage.


Lots to think about, thanks for the info guys!!

[aaronraad]

Thanks Alan, I suppose you are right, the 300 being standard makes sense. I was hoping to base it off my current action been the model P Barnard, I dont want to invest in another action and stock at this stage.


Lots to think about, thanks for the info guys!!

Grab a magnum bolt for the Model P. I recall about $650 and you can still keep the 308 sized bolt.

[IanP]

Thanks Alan, I suppose you are right, the 300 being standard makes sense. I was hoping to base it off my current action been the model P Barnard, I dont want to invest in another action and stock at this stage.


Lots to think about, thanks for the info guys!!

Jason, dont be swayed by others opinions! If you think or have a hunch that a 284-30 is a good idea then i encourage you to do it. I'm of the opinion that the old saying "I'll never die wondering!" is based on fact. If you dont try it out you will never know just how good it might be!!!!!

Ian

PS the 280AI uses a 308W bolt head, just to add to your choices.

[bsouthernau]

I'm of the opinion that the old saying "I'll never die wondering!" is based on fact.

But Ian, there's always something ELSE to wonder about. I reckon you SHOULD die wondering. Either that or trying to prioritise the things you're going to do tomorrow.

Barry

[IanP]

I'm of the opinion that the old saying "I'll never die wondering!" is based on fact.

But Ian, there's always something ELSE to wonder about. I reckon you SHOULD die wondering. Either that or trying to prioritise the things you're going to do tomorrow.

Barry

Barry, I agree with you on the deeper level of thought that you have taken the meaning of my words!

As far as prioritising things you are going to do tomorrow, I tend to think that all we have is the moment we are experiencing now. Dont put off things that you want to do because we just dont know what tomorrow holds in store for us. My recent health scare brought this home to me in abundance!

For some people indecision is a way of life and a way out of making a breakthrough or making a mistake. "Its better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all". Interested to see where you take this cliche to in the context of 284-30cal cartridges

Ian