25-284 Powder Ideas

[Corvalliscory]

I just had a 25-284 built on a long
Action using Lapua 6.5-284 brass, shooting 134 eldm out of a 22in 1in7 barrel. H1000 and Rl23 has been tried and only in the low 2900’s before slight pressure starts. I know speed isn’t everything but any other powders that are temp stable and not RL26 that might give me another 100fps or so over what I’ve tried so I’m not at creedmoor speeds? I’ve been reading previous posts and have heard try H4831 or maybe N555 or 560 or 565 but most just use Rl26 which I don’t have any of.
Thanks!

 

[willfrye027]

I was only at about 3030fps from a 26” barrel in mine with h1000. I tried a few other powders in that burn rate; RL26 was good for another 120fps or so. You may not be able to squeeze a whole lot more from that barrel length unless using RL26.

But 2900fps with the 134eld has terminal velocity out to 1000 yards or so at hunting elevation…personally I’d just run with it if it’s shooting well.

 

[wasskeet]

How accurate/consistent is it? IMHO, that trumps 100-200fps every time.

 

[FEENIX]

I just had a 25-284 built on a long
Action using Lapua 6.5-284 brass, shooting 134 eldm out of a 22in 1in7 barrel. H1000 and Rl23 has been tried and only in the low 2900’s before slight pressure starts. I know speed isn’t everything but any other powders that are temp stable and not RL26 that might give me another 100fps or so over what I’ve tried so I’m not at creedmoor speeds? I’ve been reading previous posts and have heard try H4831 or maybe N555 or 560 or 565 but most just use Rl26 which I don’t have any of.
Thanks!

As with anything else, YMMV. Don't be afraid to experiment with the powders you have or can acquire. As always, work up to it slowly; you need to find the best compromise between the accuracy and velocity out of your rifle, not what works for others. Good luck!

ADDED:

BTW, there’s nothing wrong with your bullet choice.

 

[Eric H]

You may want to try the lighter hammer bullets, maybe 115HHT.

 

[Quintus]

Low 2900s with not RL26 seems like it meets realistic expectation without adding extractor dots to your headstamps. Don't worry about trying to beat internet velocity claims for the creed case. N560 or 565 is probably your best bet to get that RL26 juice if you feel it's really worth the squeeze. That bullet at 2900FPS from a case full of H1000 sounds like the bees' knees if it meets your accuracy goals.

 

[Eric H]

Only data I'm seeing is H4831on Hodgdon website. Max speed 3025 with a 117gr bullet. That's on a slow twist 26 inch barrel.

 

[Dmagna]

2900ish out a 22” is pretty good. I am sure you will speed up a little bit. My 1-7 twist 257 bee with a 26” barrel shoots the 134 eldm at 3150. So you are doing just fine.

I would bet money that there are not many 25 creeds with 22” barrels that shoot that bullet 2900-3000 fps.

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

I just had a 25-284 built on a long
Action using Lapua 6.5-284 brass, shooting 134 eldm out of a 22in 1in7 barrel. H1000 and Rl23 has been tried and only in the low 2900’s before slight pressure starts. I know speed isn’t everything but any other powders that are temp stable and not RL26 that might give me another 100fps or so over what I’ve tried so I’m not at creedmoor speeds? I’ve been reading previous posts and have heard try H4831 or maybe N555 or 560 or 565 but most just use Rl26 which I don’t have any of.
Thanks!

I run N550 in mine. However, I'm shooting 85gr Ballistic Tip Nosler @ 3585fps.
Kills everything it touches. And I've been using the same 100 pieces of brass I bought when I built the Rifle in 1994.
If you are getting 3k FPS w/ 134gr pills, you're doing great.

 

[Corvalliscory]

Thanks so far guys! More powders all the time getting used and popular and not everyone posts their results. I was really curious about N560 and 565 but figured I’d pick your guys’s brain. The rl23 actually is more accurate so far than the h1000. Was really hoping to hit that 3k number but I’ll take accuracy and a little slower if it’s just not there.

 

[65x55Shooter]

I built a 25-284 Win on a 722 action so I was limited to OAL. It was my go to deer rifle in Montana and i used H-4831SC with 100 gr Barnes TTSX. A 26” Douglas barrel with 1-10”. I could push the 100 gr bullet to about 3500 fps and @Ryewsky2528 said nothing walked away.. Your 1-7” barrel should be great with 134 gr bullets and make you proud. Good Luck Accuracy over Speed every time.

 

[Eric H]

I built a 25-284 Win on a 722 action so I was limited to OAL. It was my go to deer rifle in Montana and i used H-4831SC with 100 gr Barnes TTSX. A 26” Douglas barrel with 1-10”. I could push the 100 gr bullet to about 3500 fps and @Ryewsky2528 said nothing walked away.. Your 1-7” barrel should be great with 134 gr bullets and make you proud. Good Luck Accuracy over Speed every time.

WOW. What was your COAL?

 

[budlight]

I'm a long time 26 inch 25-06 and 257 rob AI. Of course longer barrels are free velocity and you can down load on powder to bring in accuracy. Back in the day 117 and 120's were the heaviest. But what I experienced mule deer hunting is the number of tiny exit holes and the deer run off and the search is on because they might run a 1/4 mile or require multiple shots. So I went down to 100's and it became DRT. Barnes ttsx 100 gr.

As to your question RL 26 and IMR 8133 are great powders for heavies, but your barrel length is a limiting factor on how slow of powder you can use.

Quick load shows a big % of waste of unburned powder coming out of a 22 inch

 

[FEENIX]

As to your question RL 26 and IMR 8133 are great powders for heavies, but your barrel length is a limiting factor on how slow of powder you can use.

Quick load shows a big % of waste of unburned powder coming out of a 22 inch

@Corvalliscory, I have a 22” 1:7” barrel on my .257 WBY and propelling the 163 Chinchaga at 2915 FPS with H1000 during my pressure testing. I have Retumbo loaded for my next range opportunity.