And why don't they chamber the .284 Winchester anymore?

[rem338win]

So I bought this rifle off of Mur, who bought this rifle off of Rackmastr, who bought it off of RickF. As far as I have heard RickF had this rifle built by Bill Leeper a while back, and man am I glad he did. The low down is it is a Winchester Model 70 SS short action, the barrel is a 23" Pac-nor Super match stainless. The stock is a Bansner at 13 3/3". It's topped with a VX II Ultralight in 2-7x33 with LR reticle. I have tried 150gr Ballistic Tips, 150gr Scirroco's, and 140gr TTSX's. All of these rifles have produced sub 1" groups but the B-Tips, and TTSX's performed, well, awesome. The .284 Winchester is an incredible little deal, and I do believe that the industry and gun buyers are retarded for letting this fantastic cartridge nearly die. Of course Winchester was smoking exhaust for introducing it in a Semi.
I digress. Here are some of the groups from today, and a picture of the rifle.
The velocity of the 150gr B-tips with H4831sc is 2900fps with a deviation of 11fps. The 140gr TTSX's and H4350 are flying at 3050fps. These are all at a COAL of 3.030"-3.075", as the Winchester actions have a little larger well.
So let us discuss the benefits of the cartridge and such..............(and thanks Mur, this gun makes me so happy )
The winner is the 140gr TTSX, 54.5grs of H4350, CCI BR LR primers, and WW Brass. The average of three, three shot groups in 0.401"
(this first one is at 300yds)

 

[Rembo]

that's a rediculously nice rifle....I haven't seen a pic of it in a while.....still quite accurate too I see....the 284 is a winner but I fear the 7mm short mags are going to kill it.....eventually....too bad....but it is making a comeback with the long range crowd.....some say it's better than the 6.5-284,..except for the increase in recoil.
I chambered one for cccan about 4 years ago...and, he still has it...can't be that bad....once had one on a Sako myself.

 

[guntech]

I have a nice .284 Winchester reamer if anyone wants one built. They used to be very popular and I would much prefer one over any of the short mags. Used to chamber the 6mm - 284 a lot at one time too... they work better on a long action than on a short 700.

 

[kimberman]

My first purchase on the EE was a yugo mauser with a richards microfit stock, chambered in .284. I shoot some of my best groups with that rifle, there is really nothing special about it, it's just plain good. I just use plain old 139 gr hornady interlocks and imr 4350, hmmm, I have another project gun sitting here, maybe another .284 will be born.

 

[99trix]

I'm itching to get my 99C in 284 dialed in for this fall. It is going to be my go to rifle this year! The game is a little larger here in Alberta than what was on Van Isle! The 243 will have to wait this year!

 

[Kevan]

I have a nice .284 Winchester reamer if anyone wants one built. They used to be very popular and I would much prefer one over any of the short mags. Used to chamber the 6mm - 284 a lot at one time too... they work better on a long action than on a short 700.

Hmmm....got me thinking because I've got a pile of 284 brass and a nice '03 Springfield in the safe. Would that work for a 284 or 6-284 ?

 

[jiminthecorner]

Years ago I built a 284 on a 1909 action. 20" Douglas Barrel and had the chamber set to take a 3.1" OAL cartridge,Bell&carlson stock ,Black T coated and topped with a 5000X2 Aimpoint sight. This is my favourite rifle next to my 7x57 oberndorf.
With the longer chamber I can seat bullets out further and get 7mmMag velocities. Its not for sale! JITC

 

[rem338win]

I did the research and this is what I came up with. The .270 Winchester and .284 Winchester are nearly identical in case capacity (like Olson twins close). So given increase in bore size and the ability of my rifle to seat bullets out properly, I believe that all velocities with the same size bullets in the .270, are attainable in the .284.
The results at the range proved this true, and I easlity reached 2900fps with the 150gr ballistic tips and 58grs of H4831sc. No pressure signs, the bolt opens easy, it shoots into 1.3" groups at 300yds, and that is the exact speed I used to get out of my .270 with the same load and 150gr Hornady Interlocks, with the same powder. Now by no means is that Rem Mag velocity, but I would be leary of pushing the .284 past .270/280 velocities. Again, all thign being relative, I would likely turn the dose down if I was restricted to 2.85" for a mag well.
Did I mention this hunting rifle averages under 1/2 MOA with hunting bullets with a 2-7x?
Too bad it'll just bounce of elk and moose past 200yds....

 

[Leeper]

The 284 is a cartridge which was designed for use in short actions but didn't really fit them all that well. It was necessary to seat longer bullets deeply which was perceived to be a real problem. Factory ballistics were exaggerated. In addition, it was initially chambered only in the Model 88 and 100 which gave it a bit of a slow start.
At the time there was no reason for Winchester to chamber it in the M70 because they had no short action M70 and had the 270 already.
I think Ruger produced the first factory bolt action rifles in 284 but it didn't last long (I bought one in 1971 and wish I had kept it). So, the 284 has long been an orphan.
The short action as produced by Winchester is a perfect fit for the 284 and any other 55mm cartridge.
When I lived in Kendrick, Idaho, a co-worker had a 284 in a Model 88 and had shot over 30 elk with it. Later on, Jack Neufeld in Clearwater B.C. told me he had over 25 consecutive one shot kills on everything from mule deer to moose so I guess they work OK on game!
I'm not a real 284 fan myself. I prefer the 7-08 for short actions and the 280 for long ones. I consider the 284 to be a bit of a "tweener" but it does work. Regards, Bill

 

[Camp Cook]

Too bad it'll just bounce of elk and moose past 200yds....

Sad but true...

Actually here in BC it doesn't bounce off but out there in Alberta there is something about the air that sucks the true potential of these rounds down to bounce velocities...

 

[Ronne]

Sad but true...

Actually here in BC it doesn't bounce off but out there in Alberta there is something about the air that sucks the true potential of these rounds down to bounce velocities...

They're called Albertan mosquitos!

 

[RickF]

That is indeed a rifle that Bill built for me, as I recall in 2001. It was the first rifle he built for me, and the first custom I designed. BTW, call me tonight after 7 and I'll spill my guts about it. Bill did his usual phenomenal work on it, including God knows how much sweat and tears to make it feed. It's dead solid reliable, and extremely accurate.

So why did I sell it? Keep in mind that I'm a gun nut. As good as it is, it didn't turn out like I envisioned. I had sheep rifle in mind, and I basically set Bill up with parts incompatible with a light sheep rifle as a result. I was thinking 7 pounds all-up. With the M70 short action, that is doable. But I ordered a PN #1 tube with full shank. In the end, with a 23" barrel, it balanced perfectly but the bare rifle weighs 6# 15oz. Add a pound for rings and scope and it's an ounce under 8 pounds. Not what I had in mind. As a comparison my present 280AI with 24" tube weighs 6# 11oz with scope on board.

It is a beautiful rifle, but I would never build the same again. If I was doing it over, I would go with a full length action for the extra half-inch and 3 oz. I would go 7mm Wby, and with a 24" barrel would gain several hundred fps with all bullet weights and it would only weigh 1/4 pound more than it does now.

Nit picking? You bet. But that's what inspires us to churn rifles, right?

 

[TangoKilo]

Rick,
What are the specs on your current rifle (280AI)?
I'm just in the process of putting together my new sheep rifle and am hoping to carry about 7# all up.
So far I have a rem long action and a Mcm hunters edge.

what are your thoughts on contour to make weight?

 

[RickF]

I'll send you a PM this evening. So far you're in great shape with those components.

 

[Wild_Thing]

I believe that the .284 Win suffered from the 7mm curse, just like the .280 Remington did and the 7mm WSM currently does. If it chambered in 7mm but isn't the Rem Mag, then the average shooter ain't buying it.