6.5 284 Norma...WTF is going on!

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swissinn

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Just built her and she's a beauty. Worked up a load for the Hornady 147 ELD M and it grouped 1.3 inches at 390m. Velocity was a tad under 3000fps. I've been working on the 140 Nosler RDF now and it looks like a shotgun blast from 40 yards. 10 different powder weights from 48 to 53 grains of H4831SC. Tried a 30 thou jump, then a 10 thou jump. Garbage.
I guess my next step is to jam them. I bought 200 of them and don't really wanna scrap them. They appeared promising on paper( pardon the pun). Anyone else have issues with these things? Barrel is a criterion 28 in bull. 1-8 twist.
 
bobnug said:
When did you clean the barrel last? Might have some copper buildup or stubborn carbon.
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I did a proper break in. And I scrub it every 30 rounds or so. It was cleaned 18 rounds b4 I started today's testing. Rifle now has 120 total rounds thru it.
 
From what I've been hearing, the RDFs are just like Berger VLDs, you have to find the seating depth sweet spot. Pick a mild load and try the Berger seating test.

Also load a few of the proven load to check its not something with the scope or rifle.
 
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I run my RDF at .100 jump and they shoot unreal from my Tikka CTR, like 10 shots under my thumb. Plus it’s a hybrid style ogive not a secant like the VLDs just fyi. I’ve read guys having luck st .06-.120 so the Berger seat test is a good plan but make sure you also include some long jumps.
 
Camoman1 said:
I run my RDF at .100 jump and they shoot unreal from my Tikka CTR, like 10 shots under my thumb. Plus it’s a hybrid style ogive not a secant like the VLDs just fyi. I’ve read guys having luck st .06-.120 so the Berger seat test is a good plan but make sure you also include some long jumps.
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0.120 seriously? That's nuts. But I'll try anything twice.
 
OP you could be skipping right past a seating depth node, unless you tested between those depths. Also don’t be scared to jump them. It does not matter where they are seated as long as they shoot.
 
I don't know much about reloading for the 6.5-284.

Looking at the Nosler data for 140gr rdf, H4831SC 45-49 gr, oacl 2.980" (most accurate load in their setup was at 49gr)
Hodgon for 140gr SPR GS-SP, H4831 45-49.5, ocl 2.91"

Or try another powder?

Nosler data suggests the most accurate powder they tried was W760, with their minimum load of 42.5gr being the most accurate.
 
TrevorJ said:
I don't know much about reloading for the 6.5-284.

Looking at the Nosler data for 140gr rdf, H4831SC 45-49 gr, oacl 2.980" (most accurate load in their setup was at 49gr)
Hodgon for 140gr SPR GS-SP, H4831 45-49.5, ocl 2.91"

Or try another powder?

Nosler data suggests the most accurate powder they tried was W760, with their minimum load of 42.5gr being the most accurate.
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The only problem with that is I built this rifle to drive bullets fast. Not at velocities that I could achieve with 6.5 Creedmoor.
I'm sending 147s at almost 3000fps. I'd like to get the same from these RDFs. But your right...I may need to explore other powder options. Doing the seating test today as per Berger. I'll report back later this afternoon.
 
The RDFs like to jump. Start at 30 thou and keep getting further off the lands. They normally shoot in match barrels, factory barrels, not so much although I know a few guys who couldn't get them to shoot in match barrels either.
 
I'd try a lot of jump too. I've jumped stuff .125" in my 308 and it was still competitive.
139gr scenars are real easy to load when it comes to 6.5mm.
N160 is pretty much between H4350 and H4831, you can usually get more speed out of it with good brass life. Worked excellent in my 260rem.
 
Did you check your velocity again now that you have 120 rounds threw the barrel? Could be that your barrel speed up and jumped you out of your previous nod.
 
So I went out and did the Berger seating length test. With a completely stripped and clean barrel. Fired 4 foulers then started with .010 Jam. It was the best group these 140 RDFs have fired yet. 1.35 inches. All testing was done at 300 meters. The groups were all 5 shots. Then I did the jump groups...complete and udder garbage. .040, .080 and .120 were all equally bad at around 4 inches. Just to make sure this wasn't a fluke I went home and loaded 5 more at .010 Jam and 5 at .020 jam. The .020 was terrible and the .010 was around 3 inches. I don't know if it's because my barrel got dirty and needed to be scrubbed( after 30 rds???) Or because I got tired but I couldn't duplicate that initial 1.3 inch group. I will check velocities tomorrow at the range. Maybe I need to load the first 15 shots at .010 jump and the rest at .005 to compensate for fouling lol. I don't know.
 
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