Finally found the combo (.284 Win)

[Newtosavage]

Been pulling my hair out over this .284 Win build for months now, just not getting the velocities I expected from a case that holds 10 grains more powder than my 7mm-08. Finally, while searching for more information about the round I came across a video by Ron Spomer, one of the earliest adopters of the .284 Win for hunting in a lightweight rifle. He mentioned that he "pretty much hit it on his first load" which was 140 grain bullets over 56 grains of IMR 4350. So I found some IMR 4350 and 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips (using them for load workup until I can find some 140 grain Accubonds) and voila!

1/2" group at an impressive 2990 fps. Not too shabby. That's what I had hoped for when I had the .284 Win barrel made for this rifle. Good thing I hung on to it.

The barrel is a stainless 21" X-Caliber featherweight contour and it sits in a Savage LWS stainless action. The rifle is just 6 lbs. 2 oz. bare and exactly 7 lbs. scoped.

I had been trying Hunter and IMR 4955 (couldn't find H4831) without much luck. Ol' Ron was right. IMR 4350 is the ticket for these 140-class bullets in the .284 Win. Fortunately it's been coming back in stock and I have enough now to last me a while.

 

[Edge]

Good info on the IMR4350 with 140’s.

I’ve had good accuracy with RL17 with 145gr Speer Grand Slams but my initial tests with 140gr Partitions isn’t as good. I may try IMR 4350 if I can locate some, only have H4350.

 

[Newtosavage]

Good info on the IMR4350 with 140’s.

I’ve had good accuracy with RL17 with 145gr Speer Grand Slams but my initial tests with 140gr Partitions isn’t as good. I may try IMR 4350 if I can locate some, only have H4350.

I've heard RL 17 and 19 are good too, but of course you'd have to have some.

I'm very happy with this combo. Wish I'd have found Ron's comments sooner. Would have saved me a lot of time and $ too. Oh well.

 

[Newtosavage]

Good info on the IMR4350 with 140’s.

I’ve had good accuracy with RL17 with 145gr Speer Grand Slams but my initial tests with 140gr Partitions isn’t as good. I may try IMR 4350 if I can locate some, only have H4350.

Ron's load for his ULA was 56 grains of IMR 4350 with 140 grain Partitions. Said he got over 3k fps. with it out of a 22" barrel.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Been pulling my hair out over this .284 Win build for months now, just not getting the velocities I expected from a case that holds 10 grains more powder than my 7mm-08. Finally, while searching for more information about the round I came across a video by Ron Spomer, one of the earliest adopters of the .284 Win for hunting in a lightweight rifle. He mentioned that he "pretty much hit it on his first load" which was 140 grain bullets over 56 grains of IMR 4350. So I found some IMR 4350 and 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips (using them for load workup until I can find some 140 grain Accubonds) and voila!

1/2" group at an impressive 2990 fps. Not too shabby. That's what I had hoped for when I had the .284 Win barrel made for this rifle. Good thing I hung on to it.

The barrel is a stainless 21" X-Caliber featherweight contour and it sits in a Savage LWS stainless action. The rifle is just 6 lbs. 2 oz. bare and exactly 7 lbs. scoped.

I had been trying Hunter and IMR 4955 (couldn't find H4831) without much luck. Ol' Ron was right. IMR 4350 is the ticket for these 140-class bullets in the .284 Win. Fortunately it's been coming back in stock and I have enough now to last me a while.

Dang, 10 more grains. I thought it would be alot faster too. Glad you found a load that you like.

 

[Newtosavage]

Dang, 10 more grains. I thought it would be alot faster too. Glad you found a load that you like.

It's ahead of the .280 Remington, which is what I was hoping for.

2990 fps. from a 7 lb. rifle with 57 grains of powder under a 140 grain bullet nets 22.4 ft. lbs. of recoil energy. I've learned that any more than that affects my shooting (like it did with my 7 lb. '06 shooting 180's).

Since I'm not willing to carry a heavier rifle, this is the max downrange performance to recoil ratio I can expect. So that's part of the reason I'm happy with this outcome.