Shehane start loads 2209

Get or give advice on equipment, reloading and other technical issues.

Moderator: Mod

Brad Y
Posts: 2181
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:21 pm
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 142 times

Shehane start loads 2209

Post by Brad Y »

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.
AlanF
Posts: 7532
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:22 pm
Location: Maffra, Vic
Has thanked: 229 times
Been thanked: 936 times

Post by AlanF »

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 :cry: . 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
RDavies
Posts: 2336
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Singleton NSW
Has thanked: 715 times
Been thanked: 760 times

Post by RDavies »

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.
AlanF
Posts: 7532
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:22 pm
Location: Maffra, Vic
Has thanked: 229 times
Been thanked: 936 times

Post by AlanF »

My barrel was a Krieger 8.5 twist.
Brad Y
Posts: 2181
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:21 pm
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 142 times

Post by Brad Y »

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!
IanP
Posts: 1193
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:30 am
Location: Adelaide
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by IanP »

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
__________________________________________
A small ES is good. A small SD is better. A small group is best!
Brad Y
Posts: 2181
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:21 pm
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 142 times

Post by Brad Y »

I do have some 2213sc but I have more 2209 from the 260 improved I have. Seemed logical to try it first.
RAVEN
Posts: 1979
Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:37 pm
Location: Adelaide South Australia (CTV)
Has thanked: 97 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Post by RAVEN »

Anyone tried 2217??
Norm
Posts: 837
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:21 pm
Location: Gippsland, Victoria
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Post by Norm »

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.
Last edited by Norm on Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Matt P
Posts: 1538
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:22 pm
Has thanked: 105 times
Been thanked: 617 times

Post by Matt P »

RAVEN wrote:Anyone tried 2217??

Yeah in a 280 AI works great :lol: :lol:
DaveMc
Posts: 1454
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:33 pm
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Post by DaveMc »

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.
Brad Y
Posts: 2181
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:21 pm
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 142 times

Post by Brad Y »

Thank you everybody as usual- what a fantastic forum!
lewis reynolds
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:37 pm
Location: sawyers gully
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Post by lewis reynolds »

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
IanP
Posts: 1193
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:30 am
Location: Adelaide
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by IanP »

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
__________________________________________
A small ES is good. A small SD is better. A small group is best!
Matt P
Posts: 1538
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:22 pm
Has thanked: 105 times
Been thanked: 617 times

Post by Matt P »

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
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic