6.5-284

William Suter

Well-known member
I've been shooting the loaded ammo that came with my rifle and the previous owner was using H4831SC. It seems to work but was curious what others might be using. Bullet he used were 140 grain. I was thinking of a little lighter weight bullet, maybe 130's.
 
When I first started shooting 1000 yard Benchrest, the 6.5-284 was king of the hill. I wasted a good third of my 1st barrel chasing ES with every suitable powder, & finally gave up and bought six 8 pounders of H-4831-SC with 140 Berger VLD's, which was prior to the Target versions coming out. Every gun & barrel after that I always used that powder.

I did have a couple I shot 130 Bergers in, but for best all around performance, it's tough to beat the 140 class. Inside 400, I wouldn't fret any of them.
 
I have of box of 130 VLD-H. Thought I would give them a try. Its shooting the 140 Nosler Custom Comp really good. It isn't broken, maybe I shouldn't try to fix it.
 
Ive got a club of a 30" 260AI barrel right now trying to match the 6.5-284. I have been wanting to try some 130gr bullets for awhile with H4350, if i remember correct, crunching the numbers for the 260AI a 130gr VLD should shoot flatter and a bit less wind drift from the increased velocity than 140gr VLD until around 600 or 700 yards. I shot the Nosler CCs, theyre fine but the VLDs are a sleeker tangent design and you will see flatter shots at range.

284 is a good bump up in case capacity, I dont know exactly what powders to suggest but H4831sc should have a safe load for 130s, H4350 burns a bit faster maybe thats good for the 130s, maybe thats bad for the big case. There should be load data out there, like alf said, those were common until 6.5 creed started.
 
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My buddy's recipe
 

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I have of box of 130 VLD-H. Thought I would give them a try. Its shooting the 140 Nosler Custom Comp really good. It isn't broken, maybe I shouldn't try to fix it.
My Montana long range deer rifle shot the 130 VLD's better than the 140's, cooking at 3150 with the H-4831-SC.

H-1000 is worth a look if you have any, a hair cooler for a bit more barrel life.
 
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