Performance difference between SA and LA chambered in 284 Winchester?

Potshot21

Potshot21

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Well, I'm still planning out my 284 Winchester build. I have a couple that were passed down through the family and has endeared the cartridge to me enough that I want to build a more modern bolt gun to take on rougher trips. I don't like the idea of taking a prized family heirloom on a hard hunt when it could get beat up when I can use it instead when I'm hunting from a stand.

I've heard all about the 284 Win being an interesting case because it is slightly too big to reach its full potential in a short action rifle due to magazine length limiting seating depth in turn powder capacity. The long action allows the bullets to seat out a bit further and not eat into the powder capacity as much, but at the cost of increased weight and length.

The thing that has got me thinking is my attempt to build this into as lightweight of a rifle as possible/practical. Shaving some weight off by going short action is my initial instinct, but I started wondering how much potential performance I'd lose by going short instead of long. Curious if some of the knowledgeable folks here can enlighten me on the difference in performance between the two.

I'm planning on using it as a hunting rifle, hoping to shoot primarily 150 & 160 grain bullets. Not trying to make a super long range rig out of it, just a practical lightweight hunting rifle.
 
The 284 was DESIGNED fror a short action , that's why it came out inn rifles like the 88 Winchester and 99 Savage.
I wouldn't worry about it as far as hunting performance goes.
Cat
 
IMO, for a hunting rifle I would have one built on a short action. I prefer light weight compact rifles, although you can still build a light rifle with a long action. I would use 140 -150 gr bullets. The issue isn't powder capacity as it is more to do with seating the bullet passed its ogive. If I was building a target rifle I would definitely go with a long action. The newer streamlined bullets of today are so much longer. For a hunting rig, if your gonna go with a long action then you might as well go with a 280 rem. Just remember, in a short action, your bullet choice is limited. In the end it all depends on what it's going to be used for, sheep etc. Another thing, use at least a 22" barrel, I prefer24" to get the full potential out of the 284 case, it's not a 7-08. :) Good luck with your build.
 
Thanks for the response Pete. You make a couple of very good points. The 150 grainers are what I'll most likely end up shooting the most, and if they fit well in a SA and not chew up case capacity too bad then I think I'll be happy.

As for the barrel length, I had originally planned on a 20" barrel to keep the weight down and keep the rifle more compact. Does the extra couple inches of barrel degraded the velocity that bad?
 
The reason I mentioned barrel length is that's what I have, you will notice muzzle flash at that length. I have used as much as 60 grains of powder with 120 grain bullets and feel 22 -24" barrel would be better choice. I would go with a longer barrel, you can always cut it back. I had two Brownings, one has a 20" barrel the other had a 22" barrel velocity was 2800+ fps vs 2900+ fps with 140 grain bullets. My barrels were slow. You should easily get 3100 fps with a 24" barrel. I haven't shot my 284 rifle much since getting my kimber mountain ascent.
 
The 140 and 150 grain Sierra GameKing bullets are a good choice for a short action 284win, they are the right shape and length. 120 grain ttsx would be another great bullet.
 
I don't have any issue with a bolt action wearing a 22-24" barrel in thick cover, and I'm using long action cartridges for the most part. Not many would object to pursuing woodcock or ruffed grouse with a 20 or 28 gauge pump or semi with a 24-26" barrel aprox 46-48"OAL vs most long action bolt guns sporting a 22" barrel with an approx OAL of 42-44", and the birds may require shooting in thicker cover.

Myself I'd load up a 140 or 150 Accubond or partition for most things moose and smaller, and an NBT or Etip if I felt the need.
 
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Wanted a lightweight hunting rifle I could use on anything in AB, so years back I built a 284 on a Rem 600. Extended the mag box (now you can buy them that way) so I could extend my col to 3.1". Light profile 23" bbl. Weaver mounts and a lighter Leupold. Put the whole think in a wildcat stock. Made a ggreat mountain gun. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
Wanted a lightweight hunting rifle I could use on anything in AB, so years back I built a 284 on a Rem 600. Extended the mag box (now you can buy them that way) so I could extend my col to 3.1". Light profile 23" bbl. Weaver mounts and a lighter Leupold. Put the whole think in a wildcat stock. Made a ggreat mountain gun. - dan
Click to expand...

That sounds like a nice build. At 3.1" it will allow for bullets like accubonds. My magazine only allows for 2.800", which isn't enough length. I've heard that a model 70 short action will allow for a little more length. Either way, I'm sure others will chime in.
 
dan belisle said:
Wanted a lightweight hunting rifle I could use on anything in AB, so years back I built a 284 on a Rem 600. Extended the mag box (now you can buy them that way) so I could extend my col to 3.1". Light profile 23" bbl. Weaver mounts and a lighter Leupold. Put the whole think in a wildcat stock. Made a ggreat mountain gun. - dan
Click to expand...

Sounds like a nice rifle. I’d be interested to see how you managed the 3.1” coal. I was under the impression the mag box could not be lengthened in a 7/600 due to the location of the trigger.
 
2.8" vs 3.1" OAL , 20" barrel

Loaded to 60,000psi

Code: 
Cartridge          : .284 Win.
Bullet             : .284, 150, Nosler PART SP 16326
Useable Case Capaci: 56.603 grain H2O = 3.675 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6:[B] 2.800 inch[/B] = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 60000 psi, or 413 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 104 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

120 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26                 102.4     57.4     3.72    2892    99.7    60000   13931   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17                  92.3     50.5     3.27    2820   100.0    60000   12349   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                       103.3     55.4     3.59    2815    94.8    60000   13349   1.033  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16                  98.5     50.0     3.24    2789   100.0    60000   12206   1.043  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                 104.0     54.9     3.55    2788    96.2    58222   13285   1.043  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      96.9     52.2     3.38    2774    98.7    60000   12531   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                 101.5     52.9     3.43    2772    96.5    60000   12730   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      91.4     50.4     3.27    2767    98.0    60000   12504   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        91.4     50.4     3.27    2767    98.0    60000   12504   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           100.9     50.4     3.27    2742    99.7    60000   11863   1.055  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   102.7     54.2     3.51    2741    94.0    60000   12392   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                 98.9     49.9     3.23    2732   100.0    60000   11214   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                       98.7     50.4     3.26    2714    97.4    60000   11791   1.045  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            96.9     50.3     3.26    2713    97.5    60000   11775   1.045  ! Near Maximum !

Code: 
Cartridge          : .284 Win.
Bullet             : .284, 150, Nosler PART SP 16326
Useable Case Capaci: 61.377 grain H2O = 3.985 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: [B]3.100 inch[/B] = 78.74 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 60000 psi, or 413 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 104 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

131 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26                  99.2     60.3     3.91    2909    99.9    60000   14822   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                       100.5     58.4     3.79    2847    95.7    60000   14387   1.017  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                 101.9     58.3     3.78    2838    97.1    60000   14367   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17                  89.5     53.1     3.44    2837   100.0    60000   13137   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23                 104.0     57.6     3.73    2824   100.0    59308   13272   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16                  95.5     52.6     3.41    2808   100.0    60000   13000   1.042  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      94.1     55.0     3.56    2797    99.1    60000   13402   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                  98.6     55.8     3.61    2796    97.0    60000   13655   1.033  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      88.9     53.2     3.45    2792    98.5    60000   13402   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        88.9     53.2     3.45    2792    98.5    60000   13402   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   100.0     57.2     3.71    2771    94.8    60000   13358   1.029  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                            98.1     53.1     3.44    2765    99.9    60000   12666   1.052  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                 96.1     52.6     3.41    2753   100.0    60000   11961   1.043  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                       96.1     53.2     3.45    2743    98.0    60000   12675   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                            94.4     53.1     3.44    2742    98.0    60000   12656   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
 
I seem to recall putting a Wyatts box in a model 7 but can't recall the particulars. I don't have a 600 in the shop right now and being retired and all, probably won't!
 
I had two rifles in 284 win, one of my favourite cartridges in fact. Both were built on long action, one a rem 700 and the other was a Stiller Predator action. My primary load was a 180 Lapua Scenar L bullet at approx 2900+fps in the stiller with a 28" tube, and about 2750fps from the Rem with a 23" tube. I still have the reamer if you are interested.
 
Long action will allow a little more performance out of the cartridge, 8oz heavier, not a big difference weight wise.
 
Seeing as you can’t go very far backward, and going forward is chewing into the bottom bolt lug abutment, I wonder if that’s enough to affect the integrity of the action?
 
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