OzFclass

Been sorting through the many posts but struggling to find a start load for 2209 with 180 bergers in the shehane. Im thinking of starting around 51.5gr and working up slowly with the magnetospeed, but would appreciate some ball park figures to work from and to if possible. Barrel is a 32" krieger and have lapua cases and BR2 primers to work with.

Brad,

I've been trying 2209 for the first time recently. 284 Shehane with 51.5gn 2209, Berger 180 Hyb Molyed, BR-2s, 32" bbl, gave around 2820 fps with my F1 Chrony. I didn't go higher than that - it burns a bit hotter and higher pressure than my trusty N165. Just to be safe, in case of different powder batches, chrony error etc, I'd start at 50gn and go up a grain at a time until you're in the ball park of your preferred velocity. In my experience with the 284 case, you can load quite hot with none of the normal signs e.g. primer cratering, sticky bolt lift etc. Its only after a couple of firings that you know whether a particular charge is too high, when your primer pockets loosen . Welcome to the 284 Shehane fan club. Rod Davies and I were chatting to Bill Shehane in Raton, and he said his favourite calibre currently is one of the big Cheytacs. I chipped in that mine was the Shehane, which pleased him.

Alan

I usually start around 52gns and go up to 53gns. My current barrel is 30" long and runs best at 52.3gns. This is with bullets jammed and gives around 2830 fps. Above 53gns, you will likely start getting loose primers regularly. A few others I know have tighter/faster barrels than mine and are down below 52gns.

My barrel was a Krieger 8.5 twist.

Yes mine is a 5R 32 inch 8.5 twist. Seems like my idea to run around 51.5 was about right. Will start there and work up looking for the velocity node then have a look at the accuracy. At least with the slightly longer barrel I can hope it might need slightly less than a shorter barrel to get to that velocity node. I also have a batch of cases that are a long long way previous in numbers to the soft batches that have been reported on here. Fingers crossed they are good!

Why limit yourself to one powder choice? I have found 2213SC to be very accurate and can get 2900 to 2940 fps, (32" 5R barrel) with 10 firings of lapua brass cases.

If you want extreme case life then you could load lighter for the 2850 fps lower node. Its a slower burning powder and requires a few grains more but I really like it. The 284 Shehane, (or plain 284W) reaches a point where cases survive with minimal head expansion, but when you cross the pressure threshold the case heads expand after a single firing and the primers become loose in the pockets.

If I knew back then when I started looking at the Shehane what I know now, I think I would go for the 280AI and the Nosler brass. I dont think the 280AI offers better accuracy just offers more robust case life for the same velocities and accuracy.

Give the 2213SC a try and I think you can then make a judgement call yourself as to which powder suits your loads and rifle.

Ian

I do have some 2213sc but I have more 2209 from the 260 improved I have. Seemed logical to try it first.

Anyone tried 2217??

RAVEN wrote:Anyone tried 2217??

I use it in the straight .284. I'm very happy with it.
Pour in 57gn of powder, crunch down a 180 grainer on top and away you go.

RAVEN wrote:Anyone tried 2217??

Yeah in a 280 AI works great

Yes tried 2217, 2213 and 2209. Every barrel is different although nearly all work very well with 2209. But some of my best loads (and scores) have been with 2213SC. Most top shooters use 2209 for consistent velocity spreads and less carbon buildup in the throat than 2213SC.

I actually have one of my current barrels down to 50.5 gr 2209 for 2820 fps but have been as high as 52.5 in different barrels and batches of powder for same node (and up to 54.5 and killed cases). So I would go with Alans suggestion and start off around 50 and work up from there to around Rods loads of 53 grains. Be wary of going high early in the barrels life though. It seems a bit harder on the cases. I normally like to fireform all the cases and put a couple of hundred down barrel at the light area (around 51-51.5 normally) before trying anything else and testing what the barrel is capable of.

2213SC around 54.5 to 55 grains will give similar velocity. Both these loads should give you long case life in the Shehane and can be competitive at the highest levels.

Thank you everybody as usual- what a fantastic forum!

beware the tight barrel im currently running 50.2g 2209 with 180 vld for 2840. started at 51.5 and lost primers. This is a grain below my other 2 shehane barrels so start low and work your way up. regard lewis

lewis reynolds wrote:beware the tight barrel im currently running 50.2g 2209 with 180 vld for 2840. started at 51.5 and lost primers. This is a grain below my other 2 shehane barrels so start low and work your way up. regard lewis

Lewis it might be more about your chamber than a tight barrel. Do you know what length throat your chamber has?

Ian

IanP wrote:

lewis reynolds wrote:beware the tight barrel im currently running 50.2g 2209 with 180 vld for 2840. started at 51.5 and lost primers. This is a grain below my other 2 shehane barrels so start low and work your way up. regard lewis

Lewis it might be more about your chamber than a tight barrel. Do you know what length throat your chamber has?

Ian

Well all the barrels were done with the same reamer, so it's more likely to be the barrel than the chamber.
Matt P