help with working up 6.5x284 hunting load

[djsmithcjmeli]

can anyone out there help me with some starting loads for my 6.5x284 Savage 116 with 24" barrel 1-8" twist.
I'd like to use 130-140 Accubonds and will primarily use it on Mulies and Elk here in MT.
Seem to be quite a bit of variance as to the COL that people are using. Any comment on that?
Also, my 6.5x55 swede likes Rel 15 has anyone tried that powder in a 6.5x284?
Thanks for the thoughts and/or help..

 

[257 Ackley]

First, welcome to the forum. I like your choice of caliber and like knowing that there is another that knows the "magic" of the 6.5 calibers! R15 will be too fast of a powder for the caliber if you want to reach the velocities it is capable of with the 130-140 weight bullets. H414/W760 or slower burning powders will be necessary. In regards to COL, most 6.5X284 rifles are still custom built and are throated according to customer requirements. I am not familiar with your rifle, but the magazine may be your limiting factor as far as what COL will be. Find where the bullet touches the lands, back off 10-15 thousandths and see if your magazine can handle that length. If not, seat it deeper until it will. Your targets will tell you what is the best seating depth for your rifle. Good luck

 

[DrMike]

Welcome, indeed, to what must assuredly be the finest shooting/hand loading forum on the net. Joel has given you solid advice on your OAL and on your choice of powder. For the weight bullet you envision using, I'd focus at first on powders with a burn rate matching IMR4831, IMR4350 and/or RL19. This is a great cartridge that will perform very well for you.

 

[Guy Miner]

Excellent article on handloading the 6.5-284, although it's primarily written for the long-range target shooter crowd.

http://www.6mmbr.com/SixFive284.html

 

[JD338]

djsmithcjmeli

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you here.

As already mentioned, a slower powder will get you the desired results.
IMR 4831 should be a good one to try.

JD338

 

[onesonek]

I agree with all that has been said. I would like to reiterate on the slowers listed powders however. I can't say why exactly, but believe it has alot to do with pressure curves and harmonics. But slower powders and higher load densities, most times give me the best over all results. With that said, I too would start with either IMR or H 4831. And depending on the chamber, I wouldn't rule out slower yet. I do like RL-15 a lot, more so than Varget. But only when the either of the 2 are listed in the slowest for chamberings, or in the slower 2 powders. Seldom do I even bother with middle burn rates powder for a given cartridge any more.

 

[SJB358]

can anyone out there help me with some starting loads for my 6.5x284 Savage 116 with 24" barrel 1-8" twist.
I'd like to use 130-140 Accubonds and will primarily use it on Mulies and Elk here in MT.
Seem to be quite a bit of variance as to the COL that people are using. Any comment on that?
Also, my 6.5x55 swede likes Rel 15 has anyone tried that powder in a 6.5x284?
Thanks for the thoughts and/or help..

Welcome to the 264/6.5 club and the best loading forum around. I was hoping DF would chime in, but I believe he is getting excellent results with 140's and IMR4831.. Good luck and don't forget to post up some of your targets! Scotty

 

[Desert Fox]

I was hoping DF would chime in, but I believe he is getting excellent results with 140's and IMR4831..

Thanks Scotty. Indeed I have good result with IMR4831 and Berger 140. Hodgdon now has more data for different powder in their line-up. One in particular I would like to try is either Hybrid 100 or the Superperformance. It seems like you can get a few more extra ft/sec using these powder.

 

[JohnB]

djsmithcjmeli

If your rifle is a factory savage 116 it should be chambered for the 6.5-284 Norma. This variation allows for seating bullets out longer than would be possible for a short action gun. I am currently using RL 17 with a 140 SST and getting good results. I have just bought some 140 Accubonds to try and I can't wait to try them. There is a good article on RL 17 at the link below. There is a section on the 6.5-284 with 140 Bergers. Work up slowly, I hit maximum earlier than they did in the article. My gun has a 26 in barrel and my velocities were 80- 100 ft/sec less than those quoted with a 31 in.

http://www.6mmbr.com/reloder17.html

JohnB

 

[djsmithcjmeli]

thank you everyone for your responses...am loading up some accubonds (130 and 140) with Rel 17...so far, Rel 22 with 140 AB's gives me about 0.6" group at 100 yds and 2870ft/s. H4350 makes the 130 AB shoot 2950ft/s with about a 0.7" group at 100yds...Hoping to do better but so far so good...
If anyone has any additional thoughts, I'd appreciate them.
Thanks again..

 

[billy]

re 22 has been the best pdr so far. 140 to 150 gr bullets best for down range 300 to 500 yrds. seating depth should be to fit you gun. vld bullets may be to long for your mag. 24 to 26 inch barrel. 1 in 8 twist. light trigger because of long barrel. good luck. fireball

 

[onesonek]

thank you everyone for your responses...am loading up some accubonds (130 and 140) with Rel 17...so far, Rel 22 with 140 AB's gives me about 0.6" group at 100 yds and 2870ft/s. H4350 makes the 130 AB shoot 2950ft/s with about a 0.7" group at 100yds...Hoping to do better but so far so good...
If anyone has any additional thoughts, I'd appreciate them.
Thanks again..

No harm in trying the RL-17. But I also would play around a bit with seating depth and the RL-22. The velocity you are getting sounds about right, and the current groups a pretty respectable as well. If you want tighter groups, it looks like just some tweaking is in order. Not saying it would do much, but seating adjustments would be first on my list.