30-284?

[Tac-O]

I am wondering what people's thoughts are on this interesting cartridge. From what I understand it's basically a short action .30-06!

I have a little bit of money at the moment and it's burning a hole in my pocket. I've been thinking of either rebarreling my Tikka, getting a dedicated hunting gun (either Barrett fieldcraft or a Sako), or getting a fancy stocked walnut gloss blued rifle.

So, I'm wondering about people's experiences with this wildcat! I know qualcart makes brass, so it's nice I won't have to fireform, etc. The main draw to me is being able to load longer heavies in my Tikka and still fit the mag, while matching the '06 performance and possibly having a touch less recoil. If I went this route, I think I'd be looking at a bartlein, brux, hart, lilja, or benchmark.

How easy it is to load for?

Does it's performance match the .30-06 through the same range of bullet weighs or does it fall short with the heavier bullets (200gr)?

Am I going to have a hard time finding someone that has this reamer or finding a prefit?

 

[GLTaylor]

Wouldn't count on much from Quality Cartridge. My experience with it was very poor. Very inconsistant and varies greatly in weight
Sorry to pop your bubble.

 

[Dmagna]

If you want to shoot anything over 180 grains the 30-284 will lag behind. Why not just shoot a .308 win? Does the same thing pretty much, if you want extended performance I think you should either go 6.5x284 norma or a 300 WSm.

 

[AZShooter]

I would think the 300 WSM would be a better choice. Several brands of quality brass is available and it is shorter by .080" when compared to the 284 win case. No custom dies or reamer required. Load data is published and it will beat the 30-284's performance.

 

[FEENIX]

.284 Win and .300 WSM are not the same bolt face and case capacity.

 

[FEENIX]

Wouldn't count on much from Quality Cartridge. My experience with it was very poor. Very inconsistant and varies greatly in weight
Sorry to pop your bubble.

How long ago was that? I have some inbound for my .30Gibbs and see how the quality it is today.

 

[Jud96]

The .30-284 is equal or slightly faster than a standard .30-06 and is not the same as a .308 Win. The .284 case is a more efficient design than the .30-06 and has the same case capacity. I shoot a straight .284 with the Norma match chamber for 175-180gr bullets and I'm right on the heels of .280 Ackley performance. So a .30-284 should give you the same or +50fps on a .30-06 with the proper chamber design. I wouldn't run it on a short action unless you used a Tikka or an extended mag box on a 700 style action.

 

[GLTaylor]

How long ago was that? I have some inbound for my .30Gibbs and see how the quality it is today.

Early last year. Cases varied a Bunch in wt and neck thicknesses varied .002 or more. Had to turn all of them to get some consistency. Hope they're better for you. Please advise when you get them.

 

[Tac-O]

If you want to shoot anything over 180 grains the 30-284 will lag behind. Why not just shoot a .308 win? Does the same thing pretty much, if you want extended performance I think you should either go 6.5x284 norma or a 300 WSm.

I would think the 300 WSM would be a better choice. Several brands of quality brass is available and it is shorter by .080" when compared to the 284 win case. No custom dies or reamer required. Load data is published and it will beat the 30-284's performance.

.284 Win and .300 WSM are not the same bolt face and case capacity.

The .30-284 is equal or slightly faster than a standard .30-06 and is not the same as a .308 Win. The .284 case is a more efficient design than the .30-06 and has the same case capacity. I shoot a straight .284 with the Norma match chamber for 175-180gr bullets and I'm right on the heels of .280 Ackley performance. So a .30-284 should give you the same or +50fps on a .30-06 with the proper chamber design. I wouldn't run it on a short action unless you used a Tikka or an extended mag box on a 700 style action.

What jud and feenix said. I have a .30-06 Tikka, so I would be able to use the same bolt without modification and load longer bullets using the same mag.

Researching the cartridge, I found that the case capacity is about 66 grains, so right around an '06 but then you have the benefit of it being more efficient.

I don't want to do the 300wsm due to having to use magnum primers, having to go through more powder, having to have a 24" barrel, dealing with magnum velocities and old school cup and core bullets (I like to shoot CCs), and having a shorter barrel life than an '06... I like to shoot at least once a week.

I truly wish this cartridge was saami. It's pretty much everything I could hope for in a "do it all" hunting cartridge.

 

[Tac-O]

Also, if qualcart is sub par, then there's this Lapua 284 win and I'll just expand the neck

 

[FEENIX]

Early last year. Cases varied a Bunch in wt and neck thicknesses varied .002 or more. Had to turn all of them to get some consistency. Hope they're better for you. Please advise when you get them.

Will do, thanks!

 

[FEENIX]

Also, if qualcart is sub par, then there's this Lapua 284 win and I'll just expand the neck

You also have https://www.petersoncartridge.com/match-grade-brass/brass-rifle-casings/284-win/

 

[GLTaylor]

I have used both Lapua and Peterson. Both excellent and highly recommended.

 

[VLD Pilot]

I'm a huge .284 case fan. I'd build on a 284 even if the case was equal to the 06. It needs a LA to use heavier bullets regardless. Too me it's simply a preference option. We all know how that is as shooters and rifle enthusiasts. I considered a 30-284 at one point but just never got around to it. Something about the short fatter case cartridges that squeeze out the best accuracy of a bullet. The .284 being more accurate than the .280. The 6BR variants vs .243s. They have that going for them so it could be considered an attraction as well.