Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles couple questions on a zastava 6.5-284

This rifle is a mark x rebarreled 6.5-284. 27 3/4 in tube, VX III 6.5-20 AO on top, shooting 140 Berger Hunting bullets over H4831 SC. I initially loaded my ladder, from 42 grains up through 47. I shot this ladder at 350 yards, and was noting very low velocities, and zero signs of pressure even right at 47 grains. so I started there, and loaded all the way up through 55 grains of the same powder, and again zero signs of pressure, nice round edges on the primer dimple, no CHE easy bolt lift, fired case chambers easily, and velocity is a nifty ~2915~ or so. My questions are, is it normal to be so heavy on the charge in this caliber (55 grains is what I shoot in my 6.5-06). also, in the initial working up, I was shooting off of bags, and later shot a group of all one charge (55 grains) off of a bipod, which was larger than the group made up by the last 4 rungs of my initial ladder. have you folks experienced a bipod affecting accuracy on such a low recoil affair as a 10 1/2 pound 6.5-284 rig? I am a little stumped about all of this, and I dont have a lot of experience in this caliber.

Thanks

The 284 case and the 30-06 case are of nearly identical capacity. It is not surprising that a 6.5-06 would take similar charge rates to a 6.5-284 with the same bullet.

Though the charges you have listed are quite a bit higher than any shown in my manuals for the 6.5-284 with 140 gr bullets.

I have a 24 inch Rem 700 in 6-284. I also have to load quite a bit in excess of the manuals to make expected velocity. The brass shows no signs of excess pressure and the primers are still tight after several firings.

I have experienced effects on accuracy from the bipod, when the stock was making contact with the barrel. When the barrel is fully floated, I have not seen that happen.

What reamer and case was your rifle built for? I am on my second barrel Douglas, 6.5 X 284 Lapua, curently reamed for the Lapua case, and throated for mag length 3.1" OAL 24" barrel. Around 52.5 gr of H 4831 for std. 140 gr Hornady Interlock or 140 gr Nosler BT for around 2870 FPS. 49.5 Gr of H4350 with the 140 gr Nosler BT for around 2920 FPS.

When it was chambered for the Wincheter 284 case about 1.5 grains less and around 2800 FPS max before I saw excessive pressure different 24" MRC barrel.