6.5x284 Update

[308Nut]

After having a lot of copper fouling issues, I switched from the 140 AMAX to the 140 Berger 'Hunting VLD'. Copper fouling is now very very minor. For some reason the jacket of the AMAX just does not get along with my bore. I dont know if the copper is too hard, too soft, not the right alloy. Who knows.

 

That being the case, I don't think I am going to send it back to Lilja for re-lapping even though Dan offered to look it over and re-lap it if it did not stop copper fouling. This barrel when shooting the Bergers actually cleans as easy or easier than any barrel I have ever owned. A wet patch (powder solvent), a dry patch, wet, dry, wet brush 10-15 strokes, dry, dry, 3 wet patches (copper solvent) 15-20 strokes each, dry and then oil.

 

After seeing fairly high extreme velocity spreads with H4831SC and Federal 210 Match primers, I tried a few different primers. Remington 9-1/2, CCI BR2, CCI 250 mag and Federal 215 Match. Using the same charge weight, bullet and seating depth, The 2 magnum primers did not fare to well. Accuracy was not good and the ES was high. The BR2 was a hair more accurate and the ES was a little better. The Remington 9-1/2 though were awesome. Good accuracy and very low extreme speads.

 

I still have not seen super accuracy potential yet but very good accuray potential. At 300 yards groups are between 0.5 and 0.6 MOA and most of the being 0.55-0.58 MOA which is not bad but not great. With this in mind, it is very consistent. With a couple of powders, it never seems to throw fliers. They always group. Just not with the 0.35 MOA (+/-) accuracy I would like. There have been times it has shot 0.1-0.35 MOA but not with repeatability. Now that I am using a bullet that lends itself to more consistent fouling, consistent small groups most likely will result. I have not yet adjusted seating depth for either the AMAX or the VLD. I have one more ladder test to do with the VLD and H4831SC, then I will take the best load and adjust the seating depth. Between more consistent fouling and seating depth I am confident that I will have a load or loads that will be in the .3-.4 range consistently.

 

Recoil is still much more manageable than my 308 even with top end loads. Not that my 308 is bad but less is always appreciated. More exterior ballistic performance and less recoil is what makes this cartridge so popular.

 

I have really baby'd this barrel. I have not ran more than 1 round per minute and 3 per session max before letting it cool nor do I run very hot loads. So far after 120 rounds, the throat area and first few inches don't feel rough or sticky when cleaning it. That's always a good sign. Hopefully the throat will last longer than average. Time will tell.

 

Will keep you posted.

 

M