Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Interesting R-17 Read

Yep, I began with 4350 charges, backed off by a few grains. I was running two different brands of brass, so the capacities and charge weights were not exactly the same, but 4350 is a good starting point.

Jpro,

My 284 is an old tang safety M77. It was originally a 6mm Rem. When the barrel got tired I consulted with the late Harry Lawson and he suggested I have them install a rem takeoff originally in 7 Rem Mag. They cut off approx 3/4" off the shank and rechambered for the 284. The barrels I have used to date started at 24" so the final product is approx 23".

The box magazine was lengthened to 3.1" so bullets can be seated out to touch the rifling. I get better results with the rem barrels by moly treating them.

I also found that RL-17 doesn't give its best accuracy at the uppermost loading. I got a 150 to go 3200 but accuracy was better at 3100 fps.


Hope this answers your questions.

Good info. Thanks!

JPro,
My 284 is a late NH Model 70 in 7mm-08 that was a 24" SS "Ultimate Shadow". All I had done was to have the action trued and the barrel reamed to 284 win. I picked up a McMillan Edge here (altho the duratouch stock wasn't that bad), and she's about 6-6 without scope. I like the cartridge a lot - it is one of those that will really sing with RL-17. I picked the Win SA because of the COL allowed - this allows taking full advangtage of the case capacity. The Hodgdon website has some updated data for this gun, if you're interested. It took a little work on the magazine feed lips, but now it feeds and cycles very nicely, very reliably. I've taken three deer with it in the last couple of years, shooting the 140 TTSX. It's one I won't be getting rid of.
bludog

Thanks JPro!

I'm going to start working some up as soon as I have appropriate primers and I'll use H-4350 start loads.

Run it hotter--my guess is your groups will tighten up as the pressures head toward maximum.

The Reloder 17 has pushed 150's from my 300 WSM at 3400 fps. Pretty significant in my opinion.

Shows promise in my 30-06. No pressure signs so I'm gonna keep going up to see if I can hit 2700 fps

Wow, is your rifle still in one piece.

I did some shooting yesterday with moly 100gr SSII's in my 25-284. W-W cases and a 2.81" OAL. It was about 55 degrees out.

H4350 maxed out at 52gr with a 3200+/- FPS muzzle velocity. Any hotter, and I got light ejector marks.

Running a grain-for-grain workup with RL17 gave me 3320fps with 52.5gr and no pressure signs at all. That velocity is fine by me but I may bump it up to 53 as a test to make sure I'm not on the ragged edge come warm weather.

Trying a new and slower lot of RL22 gave me 3175fps at 55.5gr with no pressure signs. There may be some room to move up there, but I don't think it will be able to run with the RL17.