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Range Report Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

Crazy Dog ll

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
My Hornday Reloading Book says with six different brand names of powder it will only get 2700 FPS. This is with a 140 grain bullet. Are their other sources of info,i.e. powder,bullet weight,primers,etc. to get this bullet weight to run fast enough to get out to 1k yards? Am I right thinking the bullet needs about 3100 to3200 fps to get to 1K?
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

You are mistaken, 2650 fps will get you to 1K easy enough with a 140gr bullet.

2950 fps is easily done with H4350, N160, H4831sc, or similar burn rate powder.

2950 fps or 3030 fps accuracy node is where many of the top F-class shooters are running the 140s for 1K use.
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

Depending on how much lead you have in your chamber, 46 - 49 gr of H4350, 47 - 51gr of N-160, or 51 - 53gr of H4831sc.

Punching paper I like the Berger or JLK VLDs.

Custom stick or factory?
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

Twist rate?
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

My max was 47.5 gr of H4350 out of a 26" tube. 2850fps. Dangerous pressure with hotter loads than that. thats w/ a 142 SMK.

Usually took it easy w/ 47.0gr of H4350 at 2750-2775. Great 1k accuracy with a 142 SMK.

1/8 twist btw.
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

9 twist I'd be looking really hard at 130 Bergers. 140 Berger should work if a true 9 twist (cut rifled). If actual twist is slower than 9, might not stabilize the 140 VLDs, 142 SMK.

130 Berger & H4350 would be killer combination.
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

my 1-9" Sendero barrel wouldn't shoot 142 SMKs, but would shoot 140 SMKs nicely. this in .264 Win, tho
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

I was reading that 8.5 twist would be ideal for a 140 bullet weight range. Boy, you wouldn,t think that 2 grains of bullet weight would make that much different. Bearing surface, difference design,extra 2 grains aft or to the rear,that's touchy!Is that the .264 win. MAGUMN? Do you buy buy bulk batches? Idea is to get a lot of bullets from the same lot.
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

Big difference between a 140 SMK and a 142 SMK besides 2 gr.

Throw a 140 Berger VLD into the mix for good measure and an 8.5 twist is pretty hard to beat as best all around twist for a 6.5-284.

9 twist would stabilize a 140 SMK just fine.
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

Know what you mean,a little difference equals big performance. What kind of groups are you getting? Do a lot of case/bullet prep work? I've got Hornday 140 graniers right now but my NF scope has not come in yet. Got Lapud Norma cases,think I'll ordered some of them Bergers,do they offer a reloading manuel?I go back to work full time pretty quick here and one weekend gonna be tie up,so it might be 2 weeks before I can reload and put the scope on it to shoot.
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FCS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Depending on how much lead you have in your chamber, 46 - 49 gr of H4350, 47 - 51gr of N-160, or 51 - 53gr of H4831sc.

Punching paper I like the Berger or JLK VLDs.</div></div>

Good info FCS

2950 to 3000 fps 'should' stabilize a 140 in a 9 twist

group size will be affected by more than the load, think Barrel, Bedding, Bullet

Suggestion, start with 4350, usually produces <span style="text-decoration: underline">very</span> good results, BR2 primers, Lapua Brass, and put the bullet into the lands a bit
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

123 Lapua Scenars at 3100 with 52gr H1000.Shorter baring surface and slower powder might give you extra throat life.

True story!
I got my 6.5-284 in Feb 06 and had bought an 8lb keg of H4350 to use as I had read that it was a favored powder on 6mmBR.com.So I worked up a load with 140 bergers.Next time I went out in March(warmer temps)the loads were giving a sticky bolt lift.Pissed,I worked up new load with less powder.Next time I went out in April(even warmer)same damn thing!Home I went to pull bullets!Long story short I had to come down from 49gr to 48something to shoot the gun in the summer.I tried H-1000,H4831.Settled on the H-1000 but my barrel was up to 1 MOA at 1200 rounds.I contribute this to the 4350.Just my opinion.I picked 6x47L for my next barrel.

Steve
 
Re: Data for 6.5 mm x .284 cal.

You don't own a 6.5x284 or 7WSM for barrel life, 700-800 is normally the top competitive life, some will give more. I've seen matches won with barrels that have 1500 on them but thats rare.
It's like running a hot rod against a stocker, you give up longevity for performance. Replacing barrels is part of the game.
Work up a load for the batch of powder that you have that gives you 2950 fps, and don't waste your barrel on 'load development'
Scrub the carbon out from in front of the chamber every couple of hundred rounds and keep a spare barrel (if you shoot that much).
Hint, most US shooters use H4350 the Europeans use VV 165 (in the 6.5)
Keep your ammo out of the sun and hot car trunk