6.5x284 powder choices, loading soon.

[Derek M.]

Referencing this site: 6.5-284 Cartridge Guide it appears that H4831SC and H4350 are the 2 top powder choices for bench shooters. So why did a few of the well known video guys get on the Retumbo and H1000 wagon with this caliber?

I have all 4 powders on hand and I have 300 JLK 140 VLDs and about the same number of Berger 140 VLDs. I drew late season mule deer for CO which I've never done. I have 4 new rifles, 2 in the safe, 2 on the way, that have not been fired. 2 are going with me but I haven't decided which 2 yet.

So, somewhere along the line the guys at BOTW and Gunwerks decided to shoot Retumbo, then I think I heard they moved to H1000. A trusted, very experienced shooter I talk with advised that he noticed excellent temp stability with Ramshot Magnum and it was on par or better than the Hodgdon powders, but I cannot remember his statements with regards to accuracy but it was not bad.

My 6.5x284 has a Bartlein 24" barrel and I have limited time to get this rifle ready. It is unfired.

So, question 1 is would you use a regular rifle primer or a magnum if choosing H1000 or Retumbo, and question 2 is which powder would you opt to use first if you had the following on hand and plenty of it: H4350, H4831SC, H1000, Retumbo, Ramshot Magnum?

Thanks for your time.

 

[dragman]

For me it's a magnum primer. I accually use them in a lot of guns that (you don't have too)
I have had a few 6.5X284's and I have a LOT of powder and this is what I have got every time

RL 17 - hasn't worked for me yet with any bullet

RL 22 - hasn't worked for me yet with any bullet

N165 - have got it to work with 140's but seemed to be picky didn't work for me with 123 Amax's

IMR 4831 - Great powder but very temp sensitive

H4350 - has worked well with a lot of different bullets for me, but isn't my go to powder

H4831SC - is my go to powder for this caliber. 140VLD this powder anywhere from 49-51.5 has worked in a few guns for me even one time I put magnum primers in by mistake and accually got my best groups out of one of my guns with them.

 

[Derek M.]

ok thanks. what barrels are you using? after I started this thread I noticed another that was titled 6.5x284 shooters or something.

 

[Derek M.]

I noticed one of my 270s had it's best and most impressive loads once I started using the 215M primer by Federal.

 

[dragman]

ok thanks. what barrels are you using? after I started this thread I noticed another that was titled 6.5x284 shooters or something.

I have had them in Krieger, Douglas, and a couple savage's current savage I have out shoots all the previous 6.5X284's even the custom barrelled ones It is shooting 51 grains of H4831SC with winchester brass necks turned inside and out with a CCI 250 primer. I have shot 3 groups of 5 and not one is over .3 at 100 yards. I took it out to 1000 not for group but on steel targets and it seemed to perform really well! Haven't shot it in a while though.

 

[Derek M.]

I think what I'm going to do is try H4831SC first, then Retumbo. I recall 59.0 grains was the charge those BOTW guys were using.

 

[firefighter1990]

I also have a 6.5-284 but i have a 31" tube. Now keep in mind that h1000 and retumbo are very slow burning compared to 4350 and such. In my case the slower propellants are very benneficial because they have plenty of room to burn and not be waisted on muzzle flash. Adding to that- a magnum primer only differs from a regular primer in that in has a heavier charge so initiating a bigger spark will up your volume of pressure too so maybe try multiple combinations of components (if time allows) and see what benefits your barrel, altitude, ect. I have grown to like 58.7 of retumbo with a f215. A 6.5-284 is a jem to a handloader in that its not finiky. hope that helps a bit.

 

[BlackKnight755]

I think what I'm going to do is try H4831SC first, then Retumbo. I recall 59.0 grains was the charge those BOTW guys were using.

Derek M,

I hope that you are going to start out way under the 59 grains of H4831SC that you "recall" as being the BOTW charge... I am not saying that you are wrong on their powder charge, but I have shot many thousands of rounds of 6.5x284 and none of my charges have ever been close to that. I currently shoot VV N160 at a charge weight of 49.5-51 (depending on weather) over a CCI BR2 primer and under Bergers 140 VLD's. This is pretty close to max in my chamber, however the case has the capacity for alot more. This is just an observation and my opinion...

Good luck with your new rifle, I know you'll love it when you get it tuned to your needs, BK

 

[Derek M.]

Derek M,

I hope that you are going to start out way under the 59 grains of H4831SC that you "recall" as being the BOTW charge... I am not saying that you are wrong on their powder charge, but I have shot many thousands of rounds of 6.5x284 and none of my charges have ever been close to that. I currently shoot VV N160 at a charge weight of 49.5-51 (depending on weather) over a CCI BR2 primer and under Bergers 140 VLD's. This is pretty close to max in my chamber, however the case has the capacity for alot more. This is just an observation and my opinion...

Good luck with your new rifle, I know you'll love it when you get it tuned to your needs, BK

they use 59.0 of Retumbo. I can see where you would read that I may have inferred 59.0 of H4831SC. That's not how I meant it however. I have a lot of VV160 and 165 on hand. I've not dismissed those either.

 

[BML]

My buddy has had very good results (.1's-.2's) with RL 17 and the 140 JLK's. I could not get them to shoot at all in my rifle though. I'm getting pretty good results with H4831SC and the 140 AMAX

 

[Derek M.]

There's a video on youtube where a guy is shooting his 6.5 out to around 800 yards with the 140 VLD Berger I think and he's using Hodgdon Hybrid 100V and said it was the best powder choice he found. I have lots of options but would like to begin with what I have.

Ultimately if I need to try Re17 and the Hybrid powder I will certainly do so.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[Greyfox]

I have found the tightest velocity spreads using Federal 215's with 59gr ofRetumbo and 210M's with 53 gr. H4831sc.

 

[rscott5028]

With the 142 SMKs and 140 Bergers, H4831sc just works for me in a couple of 6.5x284's that I've built.

With barrel life at a premium, I never considered experimenting with a bunch of powders. I tried RL22 once in my Savage f-class. It did ok. But, not so much as to tempt me to change.

I have had great success with both 210m and br2 primers. I doubt magnum primers would make any improvement unless it's REALLY cold.

-- richard

 

[Derek M.]

I'm guessing a 215M primer might give that ultra slow powder a bit more ummph to jump start it and I've never hunted CO this late before, so I don't know how cold it's going to be. I drew the tag where I'll be there around Nov 13-ish through the 18th I think.

I was thinking the 215M with the Retumbo and the 210M with 4831SC. Keep in mind my bbl is only 24" long. I didn't want a 27-28" bbl on this rifle because I wanted to have a light wt carry rifle that is very accurate inherently, which is what I keep reading about this little caliber.

My 7mag has a 26" tube on it. But I want to concentrate on the 6.5 first.

I will have time to load some test rounds Wed next week. I have MORE than plenty of Norma and Lapua brass, and enough Federal primers to last a lifetime for anyone. (I'm a hoarder).

I still think I'm going to do some with VVN160 too.