Tuning my first .284 Win, with photos

[johnk]

ever since rod had one drink too many, and divulged how to index primers, i have never looked back.

Open end in?

[bartman007]

As far as I'm concerned if Lapua or RWS don't make cases I'm not interested in the caliber. Laughing

That might be an easy position to take Matt, however it'll be interesting if you change your mind in the future, as a new variation arrives that kicks butt in a big way.

Don't limit your options

[plumbs7]

Just got my BAT Model M back from my gunsmith , now with a heavy Maddco barrel chambered in 284 Win, so thought it might be interesting to document my load development. With no 180 gr Berger VLD's or Hybrids available in the country at present, I decided to start with the 168 gr VLD's, which I had managed to get 3 packets of .
Barrel was broken in carefully using (freely available) Nosler 150 gr and then time to get serious with the Berger 168 gr.
Plenty of 2209 in the cupboard and plenty of internet mention of its suitability, so decided to run with it first up.
Seating depth was set to a light jam of approx 0.005"
Loaded up 3 rounds ea of 51.5 gr, 51.8 gr, 52.1 gr, 52.4 gr & 52.7 gr. and fired at separate targets at 100 yds looking for an indication of a node.
All shots were chronographed on a Shooting Chrony Beta Master, and speeds of each batch of 3 shots are written below each target.
As per the photos below, it seemed that 52.4 gr was a nice rounded, tight group and hopefully was close to the node I was hoping to find.
I then loaded up 5 shots each at 52.2 gr, 52.4 gr and 52.6 gr and these were shot at 300 yards to hopefully give me some sort of meaningful F Class result. The wind was pretty bloody terrible, running 10+ mph and gusting from 9:00 to 11 oclock, so the hold-off was approx 8".
The 52.2 gr came in best, with a 5 shot group of 1.1", or 0.37moa. Average velocity was 2825 fps, with an ES of 29
Then the 52.4 gr next , with a 5 shot group of 1.4", or 0.46 moa. Notably the velocities this time averaged 2844, with an ES of 31, so some 25 fps slower than the 3 rounds fired an hour earlier at 100 yds.
Finally the 52.6 gr load, with a 5 shot group of 1.7", or 0.57 moa. Velocity averaged 2868, and the lowest ES at 9
Sorry about the large photos........i have no idea how to get them to view smaller using this Imageshack thing !!


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Then the 52.4 gr load


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Now we are cooking !!
On to the 52.7 gr load


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Spread vertically, so getting outside the node ??

So then it was on to the 5 shot groups at 300 yds, looking either side of the 52.4 gr which was the best at 100 yds.

The first load trialled, at 52.2 gr would be the best.


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0.37 moa and 2825 fps avg

Then the 52.4 gr load at 300 yds


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1.4" group, or 0.46 moa, and average velocity of 2844 fps.
Finally the 52.6 gr load, with group starting to open up now, at 1.7", or 0.57 moa


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Ran out of time for now, so in the next few days I will try fine tuning with 0.1 gr increments, either side of the 52.2 gr load.
Hopefully next time the wind might leave me alone, but for now it seems that 52.2 gr of 2209 with the 168 gr Berger VLD's just might be competetive if i can do my bit properly.
And ahhhh....yes.....I forgot to mention.........to take out the operator error as much as possible so we could focus on the loads, I got the Hall of Fame Benchrester who is also my Gunsmith, to do all of the trigger pulling this time round. I reckon he should try some F Class.
Rgds
Tony

Yep I'm going through old post again and thought there was some good info here.
Especially from Rod !

[plumbs7]

For starters, I,m on my 6th 284 barrel shooting slightly jammed 168s with 2209 powder and 5 of these have won at least one Queens prize, while the other couldnt hit the side of a barn if I was standing inside it.
Every barrel of mine around 28-30" and straight taper (no tuner weights or flutes) come into tune around 120-130 fps gaps.

6BR 2830 fps
6Dasher 2950 fps
6x47 3080 fps (108gn) 3200fps (95gn)
6.5 WSSM 2820 fps
284 180gn VLD 2700 and 2820 fps
284 168 gn 2820 and 2950 fps
7mm/300 wsm 2950 and 3070 fps
308 2800 fps (27" barrel) 2960 and 3080 fps 31" barrel
All these had their bullets jammed. If the bullets were jumped, the node was around 20-30 fps higher due to the higher bullet exit speed needed to keep the same barrel time with the slower starting pressure curve. If I used moly or HBN, the node went slightly higher as well for the same reason. If I use a slower powder such as 2213sc, with a slower build up, the node was slightly higher again.If the barrel is shorter, the node is slightly lower. If I use a Maddco or True-flight 7mm, the node will be slightly lower than with a looser Broughton for example. My fluted barrels came into tune slightly lower. Using my friends crony, the nodes are 40 fps higher.The barrels vibrate at the same speed, with barrel times being what determines the node. Using a tuner, especialy if it hangs out in front, you can move the node around.
I have been able to get most barrels very close to tune over a crony with only slight tweeks on paper, today being a good example with 2 different bullets in my F/TR gun. A few weeks ago I had a new 7mm barrel go way out of tune once it picked up velocity as it ran in. Due to the 50kph switchy winds on the practice day, I wasnt able to tune it on paper, but got it very close using a crony with the tripod held down with rocks and logs. A week later due to ruined cases, I had to drop it down to the next node and got it very close again over a crony.Of course on rare occaisions, things dont go to plan and they have come into tune around 40-50 fps different to expected, whether this was due to a very tight or loose barrel or whatever, I dont know, could have been the crony???

[John T]

Hello Rod,

loved your get-out clause, "things don't go to plan and they have come into tune around 40-50 fps different to expected."

John T.
19.12.16

[copper]

Hi all
I need some guidance here.A few months ago, I shot at a PM,900yrds.1st detail,60 with8.I was happy as Larry.2nd detail 51 with 2!!!!!!!The weather was more or less the same, and up to this day, I cannot figure out why that bad score.I had a 7Win x 284,168 gnVLD, which I used before, at the range, 1000yrds and they were terrific.The only thought I have so far,is to clean the barrel between details.I was told by an" expert" that is typical of 7mm,which I dismissed.Any ideas guys?
Thanks

[plumbs7]

Hi Copper , the variables are many it may have temp or atmospheric changes . 168's at 900 hasn't always been popular. I have only used 168's out to 600 yds .

Do you have a plot sheet for the shoot eg were you using et's so people can analyse the groups. What speed are you 168's doing? How do you reload , eg anal in weighing primers and charge or just of the charge master. Jammed or jump what Sd did you have ?
Regards Graham.

Ps I wouldn't clean in between ranges . Maybe at the end of the day have stretched it out a whole Queens . But the barrel went off like a bag of prawns after that !

[copper]

Thanks Graham
I'll give you whatever I got.The weather was a couple degrees hotter between 1st and 2nd detail.I didn't keep the plot sheet.
168gn vlds velocity 2940-2950fps.Spread 19.I use a beam scale(RCBS).I didn't weigh primers.I reload 53gn of 2209.I tried 55-56gn of2213sc but the group was very big.I jammed 0.005".My barrel is 31" and Barnard action.What puzzles me is that I used that load before,not at a PM,12 shots at the time,I never had any issues.I understand 168gn are not for long ranges.I couldn't find any 180gn,now I've got them and I have to figure out how to go about it.
Thanks
Copper

[plumbs7]

Your in the zone for optimum barrel timing . 19 fps is a little on the large side but your barrel must be compensating to get 60.8 . I know Dave Mac will be reading this and will be thinking about random fall of Shot ! That is it's just a small sample of shooting and needs further investigation!

If everything else was ok eg scope was tight , barrel torqued up , action bolts at correct tension etc.
With the extra temp th group started to open upas the barrel fell out tune.

This is were vibration modifiers eg tuners , mass dampeners and in my case ( as I'm the only one the uses pinks pits and rubber lol!) acts as an insurance policy to keep the barrel in tune at various conditions! Tuners are good as one can lengthen the barrel an fly speck in cold weather and shorten the barrel on hotter weather to keep OBT correct .

Recently with that new Bart barrel of 25 rounds and heading off to Brisbane with no load development ( no time to do so) the barrel held its tune as it sped up over the whole weekend at 1000 yds . To me that sort tells me I'm on the right track ! Tuning in harmonics is a black art !


It was such a shame the conditions were so crap at Belmont that weekend as I believe in perfect conditions it would have been quite impressive! But have to learn to shoot through the soup as well!
Ps if you use rubber to dampen mode 2 harmonics, be prepared to cop a ribbing on the mound , comes with the territory!

[copper]

Thanks Graham
I have to work on it a bit, and I'll sort it out.I like your photo though and the rubber rings.For 180 vlds,what data can you give me.I managed to get a few for the longer ranges.
Cheers
Copper

[plumbs7]

Hi Copper , Pm sent yesterday! Regards Graham