what velocity should I be getting?

Hildy99

Hildy99

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I'm getting a new barrel in 284 Win. and trying to figure out how fast it will be shooting. The barrel is 29 inches long 9 twist, will start by shooting 168 gr Berger VLDs using H4350. I'm thinking i should be able to reach 2900 fps (kinda what im hoping) Is this realistic or am i way out to lunch here? Is there maybe a different or better powder choice that would give me better velocity? Any input is appreciated.

Thanks
 
I'm pretty confident this setup will be plenty accurate. But plenty velocity and accuracy would be the best I think. I dont think i have to wonder about it being accurate.
 
Hildy99 said:
I'm pretty confident this setup will be plenty accurate. But plenty velocity and accuracy would be the best I think. I dont think i have to wonder about it being accurate.
Click to expand...

Huh? Velocity is quite easy to predict fairly closely; accuracy is a very elusive quantity. Why are you so certain about the accuracy.

Look up the likely velocity in a book.
 
Get yourself a Shooting Chrony, and find out exactly what your velocities are. They cost not much over $100.
 
Ok I will do that. The books I've seen don't have data for a barrel 29 inches long. Just wanted maybe 1 or 2 educated guesses maybe from someone with a similar setup. I don't have this barrel on my rifle yet just figured I would ask out of pure curiosity. I am certain about the accuracy because I had a factory barrel on this rifle before (just decided to try something new and bought a new barrel) and I was happy with the accuracy. Don't think it will get any worse with custom barrel.
 
All barrels are different, but you may gain 20 or 25 fps per inch over your shorter barrel. But with different powder, and load development, you might better this.
 
All of what has been said above applies, but I would think if you have a smooth bore from a qualified barrel maker, you should be able to reach 3000 fps with this combo. You'll likely have to use RL 17 to achieve this but it should be doable. The Berger VLD has a very low frictional coefficient and should reach velocities comparable with 150-160 gn bullets in this barrel.
I highly recommend you get an Oehler Mod 35P, yes it is a lot of money but it also doesn't lie like the chronys do.
I know if I had a 29" 284 with 168 Bergers I would expect 3000 or I'd be looking for a new barrel!!
 
Each rifle/chamber is different. You will get what ever that rifle does.

I would not expect much over 2800fps, but get a Chrony and find out. The longer barrel will get about 100 fps more than a 24" brl.
 
Your fasted load may not be your most accurate.

Do yourself a favor, record the velocities for record but focus on the accuracy of your load development.

I have had 2" groups come out of a custom barrel until it settled on a load.
 
Accuracy Load: IMR-4350/ 50.7grs. 2700fps/ 2720ft. lbs.

From the Sierra manual. at 52.5 grains you might get 2800 fps. They were using a 26" barrel. They do not have H4350 listed. They list nothing past 2800 fps.
What are your intended uses? Target? LR Hunting?
Why H4350? Why .284?

You could do a lot of research and still never get the answer you want.
If you want 2900 fps you may consider the WSM's. Using a 24" barrel in the 7mm WSM this is from the Sierra manual:
Accuracy Load: RE-22/ 62.2grs. 2850fps/ 3030ft. lbs., and they do list H4350.

Or I could lie and tell you your combination will be good to 3000 fps but then I might be reinventing the wheel too.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Your fasted load may not be your most accurate.

Do yourself a favor, record the velocities for record but focus on the accuracy of your load development.

I have had 2" groups come out of a custom barrel until it settled on a load.
Click to expand...

You were posting while I was typing.
He is getting a new barrel in .284 Winchester. There is a lot of surmise required to answer the question short of telling lies . . .
 
Most guys with custom barrels and MATCH chambers are getting between 2800 and 2900 fps with 180 bergers VLD's in 28-30" tubes. The powder of choice seems to be H4831SC Assuming you have a good quality barrel with a proper chamber, there is no reason you should not be able to get in excess of 2900 accurately with 168's and I would personally expect closer to 3000. All guns are different. Chronies are good instruments to let you know your velocity, but if working close to a known load and you are getting the accuracy, the velocity will merely help you calculate drops.

good luck.
 
Great thanks. Yes RL-17 is my second choice if h4350 doesn't work out. And a chrono is next on my list to buy. My ultimate goal is to hard accuracy with good velocity. But if I can't get both I would much rather go with a accurate load than a fast one. I want this gun for shooting longer range (600 yards or more) targets and/or steel.
 
RL 17 was heralded as a wonder drug for the 284. I could never get it to work and several othrs I know have expressed the same concerns. Lots of velocity but no accuracy, and in the few cartridges in which it did work, I found it temperature sensitive.
 
First off thank you paperslayer, you obviously have played with long barrels and strong cases!
We all know there are fast barrels and slow barrels out there, but working in the normal quality 29" barrel and especially using the 284 case 3000 fps with a 168 Berger should be easily attainable. I have played with several wildcats on the 284 case and currently own 3, if you have never played with the 284 family of cartridges you cannot know what a strong, efficient little case it is. It will SAFELY do things the loading manuals will never print, because of the 88 and 100 wins out there that it is most commonly found in.
In a good bolt action long enough to seat bullets out properly, with a good barrel, it will outdo the 280 Rem by nearly 100 fps SAFELY.
My estimation was not based on loading manuals or internet forums or interpolation, but on real world experience of more than 25 years of playing with this particular family based on the very unique 284 Winchester case. Also the powders suitable for this combination are in the burn rate that will make use of that extra barrel length significantly, not marginally.

I have owned and played with and loaded for over the years.......22-284 (current) 4 different 6mm-284 (current) 25-284, 6.5-284, 284, and breifly with a 35-284......in barrel lengths from 21"-31"

Douglas
 
One of the most accurate guns I ever saw in 1000yard fun competition was a 30-284. I agree, this is almost the perfect case for so many applications and it is ironic that so many long distamce F-class guys that felt a WSM or SAUM was the answer are flocking back to the 284 because it works very well...

Douglas, you might be interested to know that Matrix bullets makes a couple of extremely good heavy match bullets in 6.8mm. I figure those bullets in a 284 case would be something to chuff about... 270-284 with 175 grain match bullets!
 
Paperslayer, I appreciate the info on Matrix and I have a good friend here who uses them.......However as far as the caliber goes .277 I personally have absolutely no use for it what-so-ever. My own little personal prejudice, nothing serious. I have yet to find anything that a .277 bullet would do that a .264 or .284 wouldn't do better. Like I said, just my own little pet peeve. Now 6.5-284 is a superb cartridge!!!

Love your sign line by the way!!
 
I also heard RL-17 was temp sensitive witch is kinda why I steered away from it. Wondering how much better H4831SC would be the H4350 for temp sensitivity
 
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