Realistic 284 winchester velocities

[datcajunshooter]

I have been shooting the 284 Win since the mid 80s. Back then the pet load mentioned by the first guy that worked with it in 1963 was Bob Hutton's load: 57 gr of IMR 4350 with a 140 Nosler partition for approximately 3050 fps from a 24" barrel.

I used 57 gr of IMR 4350 with a 140 Sierra Gameking in the beginning to take quite a few coues wt and javelina.

I switched to H4350, which was more temperature stable, and used it with quite a few bullets. When RL-17 showed I switched.


I had my current 284 win rifle altered with bullets seated to fit in a 3.1" SA mag box with OAL of 2.950". Winchester brass, fed 210 match primer, barrel is 23". My reamer is also custom with a short engagement distance to the lands with a 1 1/2 degree throat. I also have to turn the necks to fit the tighter chamber neck.

I used 140, 150 and 160 partitions on elk, 100 gr original X bullet, 140 and 162 bullets for coues wt. over the years.
That 100 gr X bullet using H4350 was close to 3600 but was a poor longer distance bullet. It is out of production now.

Finally settled on the 120 ballistic tip. I could add Steve Timm's comments on this bullet but it is a long one. I could PM it to you if you are interested.


120 gr NBT and RL-17. Please work up carefully to this stopping at 56 or 57.

57 gr is over 3400 fps.




I copied the load data from John Barsness's article on the 284. Unfortunately, he didn't try RL-17:

View attachment 628481

I appreciate the data chart. You can PM the comments on the bullet. Any information I can use will help and I would appreciate. I have been doing some research and that chart kinda goes with what I have been finding. Hunter seems to stand out across the weights I am looking to stick to. Not always the best accuracy wise. Hovering around 1 inch which is plenty good even out to 4-500 yards. Seems to have good velocities and pretty stable temperature wise.

 

[akmtnhnt]

W760 can get what R17 can do and do it cooler.

Not without a lot more pressure it can't. It's not even in the same ballpark as rl17 for outright speed.

 

[Longshotjames]

I don't shoot suppressed, but a good friend only shoots suppressed and tells me the first shot is always a little different due to some dynamic in the expansion chamber of a suppressor.

I shoot suppressors on every thing. I don't buy the 1st shot is different from a suppressor at all! They are the same, the suppressor should not change from shot to shot.

It will change POI if you remove it but that's different

 

[Brathany]

Not without a lot more pressure it can't. It's not even in the same ballpark as rl17 for outright speed.

I can't disagree more with both those statements in reference to my experience loading them both in 708AI. By measuring primer pocket expansion, RL17 starts expansion 1.5gr less than W760 and both giving 2750fps with 162ELDM. 24" barrel.

 

[Brathany]

I shoot suppressors on every thing. I don't buy the 1st shot is different from a suppressor at all! They are the same, the suppressor should not change from shot to shot.

It will change POI if you remove it but that's different

Do you ever hear the first shot a bit less suppressed than the consecutives thereafter? I've heard it.

 

[VarmintBob]

I don't shoot suppressed, but a good friend only shoots suppressed and tells me the first shot is always a little different due to some dynamic in the expansion chamber of a suppressor.

ETA: https://www.silencershop.com/blog/what-is-first-round-pop#:~:text=You might notice that your,-round pop, or FRP.

I don't want to drag this thread off the rails but I have heard others say first round suppressed goes elsewhere. This is not something that happens for me with all my rifles but this 284 does it. I plan to study this more soon.

 

[Roughrice]

Be cautious of some of these performance numbers mentioned.
Some are long actions with long barrels.

You will not achieve some of these velocity claims with heavy bullets in 22" barreled short action.

I'd concentrate on lighter bullets with tangent ogive to get maximum use of powder capacity with your 2.95"COAL.

It's a fantastic deer cartridge.

 

[cajun]

For deer at moderate ranges the 120 ballistic tip is a tough bullet you can push hard.

 

[DHBWA]

For deer hunting at ranges under 400 the 120BT at 3200ish is tough to beat.

 

[datcajunshooter]

For deer at moderate ranges the 120 ballistic tip is a tough bullet you can push

Hey cajun. I'm cajun too! Ha ha.

Appreciate the info.

 

[datcajunshooter]

This is my rig by the way. Vx-5HD 2-10x , carbon stock and the mcgowen barrel ,Douglas featherweight contour. Sits at 7 lbs even, loaded.

 

[Poor_choices]

These are from a 284 Win specialty pistol. None of these loads are top level, they're just the most accurate from the 18" McGowen 1-9" twist barrel.

117gr Apex Afterburner: 3040 FPS
143 Hammer Hunter: 2944 FPS
165 TGK: 2677 FPS
168 Berger VLD: 2690 FPS
180 Sierra SMK: 2640 FPS

H4831 was the go to powder for the 165-168gr bullets and Reloader 15.5 was used for the 117gr Afterburner. I'll see if I can find the info for the other bullets.

 

[BillLarson]

In what length barrel? That's what I get with 168 Bergers in a 22" barrel.

30"

 

[Shankedit]

I just finished assembling my new rifle. As the title says. I was wondering what realistic velocities for the 284 winchester in a 22 inch barrel. The specs on the rifle are a 22 inch stainless mcgowen 1-9 twist 284 win barrel on a savage short action receiver. The mag allows for Coal of 2.990. The powders I have are AA4350 , RE-17, Ramshot Hunter, IMR 4831, and Win 748.

The bullets i have are Speer 130 FB hotcors, Sierra 140 grain HPBT(hunting),Barnes 145 grain LRX, and Nosler 150 grain Ballistic tips. Also thinking about some 120 grainers. I think they would be some fast, super flat shooting rounds.

The velocities in the reloading books seem to be a little low. I'm guessing the data is slower than I expected because of the rifles the round was made for? Modern Bolt action rifles should be able to hold more pressure than the model 88's I'm sure.

My .284 Win setup is quite a bit different but I'm using 55 grains of H4831sc and seeing around 2800fps with the 175 SMK. I imagine you should be able to see 3000+ with your bullet choices but I've never really experimented much with anything lighter than 175 grains since it's a target rifle anyway.