TackDriver284 wrote:
Deciding to see if the IMR 4451 will work for the 6.5 x 284...
The IMR 4831 is the same burn rate as H4831SC, I could try that in the 6.5 x 284 as well. IMR 4831 is the longer grain version, hopefully have room in the 284 case using bullets from 140 to 156 grains since its a 7.5 twist.
Both powders should work well in the 6.5 x 284 - Hodgdon lists a good number of loads with both -
https://shop.hodgdon.com/reloading-data ... 1612808627.
I do see reduced copper fouling with IMR 4451 and some bullets but not others. I'm using somewhere around 42-43 grains in the 6.5 Creed using 130 grain Game Changer bullets and copper fouling is very mild. It does seem to burn a little dirty though, might be the copper being encapsulated by the carbon / tin mix.
I find IMR 4831 to be a bit faster in burn rate and speed than H4831 or H4831sc. I've been moving away from it and towards H4831sc when shooting heavier bullets and IMR 4451 for the lighter and midweight bullets. In the 280 Rem / AI it does very well with 140-154 grain bullets and I've loaded 175 grain NP which is a good combo. I've used it in the 30-06, but it has been replaced by IMR 4451.
Hodgdon likewise lists 6.5 x 284 loads with IMR 4831 and they show it as a faster burning powder. With a 142 grain they show 46.2 grains of IMR 4831 at 2,692 fps and 50.3 grains of H4831 at 2714 fps. With a 140 grain bullet they show 1.7 grains less IMR 4831 for about 40 fps gain over H4831sc.