I have a new Savage long range hunter chambered in 6.5 x 284 and I was wondering if anyone has one of these that has found an accurate load. I have been loading 140grn Sierra Game Kings with 46.7 grns of IMR4831 at around 2800fps. My GOOD groups are right around 1 1/2" @ 100 yrds. I was sitting on a bench next to a guy today that was shooting a Savage Predator Hunter .243 and he was shooting 1/4" or less groups with factory Hornady ammo!!!!!
I have tried 5 different loads, all with IMR4831 from the lightest load all the way up to the maximum load and the groups are still not good. Do any of you guys have load data that you'd be willing to share?

My shooting has all been with match bullets, not hunting bullets. My best loads have been with the Lapua Scenar 139 gr match bullets. A very close second has been the Berger match 140 VLD's. The Sierra Matchkings consistently gave me fliers in my groups, so I gave up on them.

My best loads have all been H4831sc and either 50.0 or 50.5 grs, Federal match primers, and bullets either seated "on" the lands, or 10 thousanths off the lands. I'm using Lapua brass, neck sized with Redding bushing die.

The Lapua Scenars give me consistent groups in the .3's and .4's.

My Savage likes 51 grains of H4831 with the 140 grain Berger hunting bullets. CCI mag primer loaded to 3.18 COAL. I'm reliably getting 100 yard .5 groups.

My Krieger barrel winchester action likes H4350 with a Federal match magnum primer. It will shoot .25 MOA all day long with a molly coated 142 grain SMK. It hammers the X and 10 ring at 1000 yds at ~2880 fps from a 30 inch barrel. I've wanted to try H4831 SC but so far, have not got around to it.

Are you having any problems getting the copper out?

Does anybody know who has 140grn berger hunting vld's?

quote:

Originally posted by Cary Howard:
I have a new Savage long range hunter chambered in 6.5 x 284 and I was wondering if anyone has one of these that has found an accurate load. I have been loading 140grn Sierra Game Kings with 46.7 grns of IMR4831 at around 2800fps. My GOOD groups are right around 1 1/2" @ 100 yrds. I was sitting on a bench next to a guy today that was shooting a Savage Predator Hunter .243 and he was shooting 1/4" or less groups with factory Hornady ammo!!!!!
I have tried 5 different loads, all with IMR4831 from the lightest load all the way up to the maximum load and the groups are still not good. Do any of you guys have load data that you'd be willing to share?

You found a good load! Here's some suggestions.

If you are looking for the ultimate in your accuracy and don't mind spending a few bucks and a lot more time, you can refine your 1 1/2 group to about half or 3/4".

1. Weight sort your bullets. Sierra bullets are in the top 5 most accurate bullets among match shooters but tend to have the biggest consistancy problem.

2. Align your bullets to .1000 concentricity and load to the land so your bolt has just a slight bit of resistance.

3. Always use fire-formed brass, neck size only and bump the shoulders about every 3rd time shot. Keep your neck tension low & consistant.

4. Good case prep. Clean with tumbler and ultra sonic. Clean primer pocket and ream when necessary (about every 3Rd time, do it when you bump the shoulders. Clean the throat real well to keep consistent neck tension.

Many folks spend a lot of time trying to tighten their groups with different powders, bullets, primers etc,. More than not, refining a decent group is all you need to deliver match like groups. Take your time in your loading room, use the components you used when shooting that 1 1/2" group, do the above and I can guarantee you better results! As a match shooter, here is what I go through:

1. My fired brass goes into tumbler # 1 for 4 hours for "pre-cleaning"

2. I neck or bump size my brass at the same time de-capping.

3. Check each cases measurements against my chamber specs. Trim if necessary and discard out of aligned brass.

4. Clean and/or ream the primer pocket.

5. Into a small bucket of Birchwood-Cassey brass cleaner in hot water to "pre-soak" for 2 hours.

6. Remove pre-soaked brass rinse in a large colander and into the ultra sonic cleaner.Heated cycle at 60% pure white vineagar to 40% filtered and softened water for 45 minutes.

7. Remove brass from cleaner and spin dry in my home-made spin dryer and lay out on a clean towel.

8. Rub dry the outside of the cases and blow-out through the primer pocket with a filtered air compressor.

9. Into the oven at 200 degrees (about 20 minutes) to be sure the cases are all dry.

10. Now the brass goes into tumbler # 2 with fresh clean very fine walnut shells and 1/4 cup of bright-boy brass polish for 3 hours.

11. Remove the brass from tumbler sift and blow away any media left inside the cases.

12. Attach my throat brush to my drill press and clean the throats. I now have brass that's cleaner that new, if that's possible.

13. Final step for the cases is to weigh them and sort. I have around 350 cases and usually wind up up with 3 groups.

14. Priming the cases. Each case should have about the same resistance.

15. Charging the cases. I use a Harrel powder drop that is very accurate even with stick powders. I drop the charge onto my RPY pharmaceutical scale at 1/2 grain below and trickle the charge to "perfect".

16. First bullet is seated to .1000th above my spec OAL using a precision Forster seating dye. I check for seating resistance using a tug gauge then mark the entire bullet with a black sharpie felt marker. When the ink is dry I chamber this round into my action checking the bolt resistance when closing then remove looking for the land marks. I want to just "kiss the lands so the marks are slight. I make any adjustments and prepare the run out.

Note: The bullets have already been weight & ogive sorted.

17. Now I measure, guage and repair concentricity to .1000.

18. Now I chamber 5 loads and use my tug gauge to measure the bolt closing resistance and note the average (should be within .75 grams) on my load data. During a match, should I find a difference in bolt resistance I won't use that round. (maybe 1 out 25).

All done. Depending in how many cases need to be re-worked and what time you start, this generally takes me all day! 8 to 5 and that's no bull!

I use a Savage dual port # 12 target action with a custom Shilen barrel with my 6.5X284 and I have scored several upper 90's and (2) 100's @ 1.75" at 600 yards (F) class. And there are guys that kick my butt. It is certainly not a loading room issue but rather the spaz (me) behind the trigger. You don't have to go through the above ritual to get a good accurate hunting load, but you should refine your loads as a mechanical process and not simply try other components when you have already established a good starting point.

Good luck

Cary, Berger should start shipping 140's in the next few weeks.

Cary,
I'm a meat hunter rather than a paper puncher, but I do get to the range quite often. My preferred bullet in the 6.5 x 284 is the Nosler Accubond at 130 gr.

I have had excellent results with H4831 accuracy wise, but I get almost 100+ fps more velocity with excellent accuracy with RL-17.

I am loading 130 gr. accubond, 49 gr. RL-17, Fed 210M primer, 2.965 OAL.

Don't know about all the parameters of your rifle, but it works in My Cooper.

Best
GWB

100 yds.


200 yds.


yum-yum, pork chops.

quote:

Geedubya

Geedubya, Ya like teasin' us with those tender critters don't ya?

Nice rig too. Mod 22? I am hankerin' for the M52 repeater in the same chambering.

Clem,
would I do that?

Never...............




Cooper Model 52 repeater, Jackson Game Rifle.
Shoots as good as it looks.

Best
GWB

You may be missing out if you havn't tried N160 and N165 with the 140's and 155 Mega. very easy to tune in. it's our favorite.