6.5-284 Loading Trouble

[ag shooting]

I am trying to find an accurate load with the 140 gn Berger Hunting VLD. I have a custom built Rem. 700 LA with a 28" Lothar Walther barrel with a 1/8 twist. I have been working loads with moly coated bullets using 55-56 gn of H-4831, in Lapua brass. I'm having a lot more trouble to find a load for this rifle than any other. I rarely ask for help, but this rifle and bullets are kicking my ***. If anyone has some pointers are suggestions please help.

Thanks,
ag shooting

 

[westcliffe01]

How did you arrive at such a high powder charge ?

On 6mmBR, the load listed for H4831 is 51gr and given the velocity of 2885 fps from a 26" barrel is a hot load. Hodgdon website lists 49.5 as a max load.

Perhaps you should look for an accuracy node down near 49gr and see what you get ?

I will be working with H100V powder and it seems to produce about 100fps more speed than any other powder listed. I also have superformance powder that I will be testing.

Might want to try H1000 or H4350 too.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Wow. You are pretty hot at 55-56 grains. My 6.5-284 maxes with H4831SC at 52.7 grains. Some others are pushing to 53 but I have not heard of anyone running 56.grains.

 

[cowboy]

I have a son shooting a 6.5X284. Started out using H4831sc. Found best accuracy and velocity with Retumbo on the 140 berger VLD's.

 

[varmintH8R]

I am trying to find an accurate load with the 140 gn Berger Hunting VLD. I have a custom built Rem. 700 LA with a 28" Lothar Walther barrel with a 1/8 twist. I have been working loads with moly coated bullets using 55-56 gn of H-4831, in Lapua brass. I'm having a lot more trouble to find a load for this rifle than any other. I rarely ask for help, but this rifle and bullets are kicking my ***. If anyone has some pointers are suggestions please help.

Thanks,
ag shooting

Ag,

What kind of groups are you getting, and what is your goal?

Have you tried other bullets and/or powders?

 

[ShootnMathews]

I have a son shooting a 6.5X284. Started out using H4831sc. Found best accuracy and velocity with Retumbo on the 140 berger VLD's.

How many grains of retumbo?

 

[ag shooting]

I got the load from ammo guide. It showed as one of the fastest so I tried it. I found 54 gn to be max with non coated bullets and 56.5 to be max with moly coated bullets. I test my loads at 300 yds. With the bullet jammed the 3 shot groups were 1 1/2" -2",with 2 shots close to each other and one away. I started seating the bullets deeper by .005" at a time. I am trying to shoot 1/2"- 3/4" group at 300 yds., at are above 3,000 fps.

Thanks,
ag shooting

 

[westcliffe01]

You need to do a proper ladder test to determine the powder charge that results in the least vertical dispersion. It has to do with the harmonic vibration of your barrel and will be very specific to your rifle and your barrel. Its not an intuitive subject, but you can see an analysis done on a barrel here Barrel Harmonics Mode Shape Movies that I think will illustrate the point.

Most of the time shooting a max load or close to it is a good way to get some pretty big groups and wear the throat out really quick.

 

[varmintH8R]

I test my loads at 300 yds. With the bullet jammed the 3 shot groups were 1 1/2" -2",with 2 shots close to each other and one away. I started seating the bullets deeper by .005" at a time. I am trying to shoot 1/2"- 3/4" group at 300 yds., at are above 3,000 fps.

Thanks,
ag shooting

Ag,

You are already shooting half to 2/3MOA, and looking to get to 1/6MOA. For me, what you already have would be an acceptable load or one that is pretty **** close to optimal. You could run a ladder test for powder charge and see if you can find a node to improve groups some, but IMO chasing 1/6MOA is asking for a lot.

 

[ag shooting]

This is my first experience with Berger bullets. With other bullets in other calibers the seating area seemed to be larger. When you do find the seating dept with one powder and charge, does it work with a different powder with some minor adjustments, or is it a big change in seating dept?

Thanks,

 

[benchracer]

When you find best seating depth for your bullet, it will not change with powder charge and will remain the same regardless of powder used.

Your test increments for seating depth are way too small. I recommend that you follow the directions here:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...accuracy-berger-vld-bullets-your-rifle-40204/

Back off to a start load and do your seating depth testing. Then work up to find your max and accuracy load.

 

[Wachsmann]

Welcome to the 6.5...Also as other had said and personal experience that much 4831 is way over max...Mine would only take about 51.5 to 51.8 grains and I had stiff bolt and ejector marking......So my rifle did well with .100 jump off the lands. Well this is were I stopped at because it would shoot consistence groups of .5 inch at 100 yrds. Its a factory savage 116. I load 49.5 grains of Hybrid 100. The hybrid gave me more speed....My rifle was only making about 2775 with the 4831. But the hybrid got me to 2845. But it's not a stable powder; but make a good hunting load during the winter...It had opened up (groups) this last summer with stiff bolt lift and ejector marks. So I will be switching over to retumbo as well. But what I really wanted to have you read is this article..........>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/savage-111-lrh-6-5-284-loading-questions-106494/

The above article is an aswome read on the 6.5x284 and will help a lot I hope...Its helped me out with my gun...Love the 6.5x284..sweet rifle to shoot.

 

[wolverine99]

I use 56g retumbo in mine with the Bergers. I am into the lands, can't remember how far off hand.

 

[ag shooting]

Thanks for the feedback. I started reloading ten years ago, when 7mm stw factory ammo became slim pickings. I started off slow with high hopes and little info on how to work up a good load. Long range shooting has always had my interest, so headed in that direction. I was introduced to a local gun smith with long range passion and lots of knowledge. The first thing he told me " I do not know everything, so I ask questions ". He has help me a lot and has told me that my want for perfection will be both good and bad in this game. I listen to others and try to use their information and ideas. I read an article on finding a powder charge. Basically, shooting at 300 yds., one shot mark it, adjust powder .5 gn.,shoot again, and repeat until the hits come together. The loads that hit close to each other is the charge area that works and ready for fine tuning. I tried this method and found it to work well. Then I found that I needed to find the seating dept first and then the powder charge. I tried this method with the seating dept by starting at manufactures coal and going up or with the bullet jammed and going down. I adjust the bullet .005 per shot until they hit close and then start to move apart again. This worked well for my two 7mm, 300 wsm, 300 win, and some others, but none of these were with Berger bullets. This has not worked with my 6.5, but since you'll have replied, I know one problem is my load is too hot. Please keep the info coming.

Thanks,
Scott