Barrel life on a .284 Win

stiletto raggio

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Apr 14, 2010
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I recently read a write-up at 6mmBR.com (that the author reposted here) about a .284 F Class/hunting rifle. I then read about the cartridge itself, and the author there said the .284 would give barrel life of about 3000 rounds and that with RL17, it was producing velocities in line with 7SAUM and very close to 7WSM. With the 160-180 grain high-BC bullets, this seems to give the .284 a slight advantage over a .260 without any of the drawbacks of the 7mm magnums, but cost/shot changes dramatically if the barrel life is in the range of the 7 mags.

So, 284 shooters, what kind of barrle life are you seeing? I know there are variables that can't be easily quantified, but I am interested to hear from anyone with first-hand experience.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

i shot my last match with after my last match i had 2700 rounds through the barrel. the rifle shot amazingly well. i shoot 175 smks at about 2825 fps and use 4831sc though. the load i shoot is the same as a couple other guys i shoot with use. they said they started seeing accuracy fall off around 2600 rounds and replaced the barrel at 3k.

i'm not too sure about a 3k round barrel life when pushing it at magnum velocities. i haven't tried it so i won't say it wont make it though.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

Seems like people are moving toward 7mm in F-class, but I don’t know if it was me that I would want to own a .284. What about the 7mm SAUM, it should outperform the .284 and will fit in a short action and feed from AW mags. Seems to me it would be nice to be able to use the same round in either a magazine feed tactical rifle or a single shot match rifle.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical_Tom</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Seems like people are moving toward 7mm in F-class, but I don’t know if it was me that I would want to own a .284. What about the 7mm SAUM, it should outperform the .284 and will fit in a short action and feed from AW mags. Seems to me it would be nice to be able to use the same round in either a magazine feed tactical rifle or a single shot match rifle. </div></div>

a .284 feeds just fine from aics 300wm magazines. personally, i wouldn't even consider a .284 if you were limited to a short action for some reason.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

I would like to build a 284 Winchester on a Remington 700 LA. But what brass do you use the 284 Winchester brass is always out of stock. Do you use 6.5-284 brass and neck up.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cpapa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to build a 284 Winchester on a Remington 700 LA. But what brass do you use the 284 Winchester brass is always out of stock. Do you use 6.5-284 brass and neck up.
</div></div>
I used Lapua 6.5-284 necked up and neck turned. I don't know anything about the .284 until I'd talk with Jared at APA. After about 1 hr of talking, I'm sold.
I only shot about 178 rounds on my,but Jared said the barrel may last up to 2500 +/-. I load my with 162 A-Max,H4350 at 42.5 gr and pushing almost 2900 fps.
Tactical-tom,I use AI 300WM and it work just fine. Yes, If you're gonna do the 284 in SA, don't waste your money, just get the 7-08 instead.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1MoreAR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cpapa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to build a 284 Winchester on a Remington 700 LA. But what brass do you use the 284 Winchester brass is always out of stock. Do you use 6.5-284 brass and neck up.
</div></div>
I used Lapua 6.5-284 necked up and neck turned. I don't know anything about the .284 until I'd talk with Jared at APA. After about 1 hr of talking, I'm sold.
I only shot about 178 rounds on my,but Jared said the barrel may last up to 2500 +/-. I load my with 162 A-Max,H4350 at 42.5 gr and pushing almost 2900 fps.
Tactical-tom,I use AI 300WM and it work just fine. Yes, If you're gonna do the 284 in SA, don't waste your money, just get the 7-08 instead. </div></div>

Is that correct......42.5 grains of H4350 is getting you 2900???? Man that seems like a light charge

How long is your barrel?

Very intrested in a 284. I burn 47.0 grains of H4350 in my 7/08 AI with 162s I have a 24 inch barrel and get 2816fps.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: .257</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1MoreAR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cpapa</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to build a 284 Winchester on a Remington 700 LA. But what brass do you use the 284 Winchester brass is always out of stock. Do you use 6.5-284 brass and neck up.
</div></div>
I used Lapua 6.5-284 necked up and neck turned. I don't know anything about the .284 until I'd talk with Jared at APA. After about 1 hr of talking, I'm sold.
I only shot about 178 rounds on my,but Jared said the barrel may last up to 2500 +/-. I load my with 162 A-Max,H4350 at 42.5 gr and pushing almost 2900 fps.
Tactical-tom,I use AI 300WM and it work just fine. Yes, If you're gonna do the 284 in SA, don't waste your money, just get the 7-08 instead. </div></div>

Is that correct......42.5 grains of H4350 is getting you 2900???? Man that seems like a light charge

How long is your barrel?

Very intrested in a 284. I burn 47.0 grains of H4350 in my 7/08 AI with 162s I have a 24 inch barrel and get 2816fps. </div></div>

I'm sorry about the typo,not 42.5, it's 52.5 gr..my bad. The barrel length is 25" with 1:9 twist and special throat for 162 a-max.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

I am using a Remington short action with a PTG bolt. It is in a Eliseo stock. Rock Creek 8.5 twist bbl 32" long. Load is 50.3 grs of H4350 and the SIE 175 SMK. Vol is 2830. I am currently using Winchester brass. Last year I shot both the Berger 180's and the Hornady 162's. The bbl has about 950 rounds on it and the last time I have shot this rifle, my scores were 200-12X and 199-10X. This rifle really shoots well. After I have shot the current supply of 1200 175's that I have on hand, I will pull the bbl and put a new one on. I guess I will stay with the Rock Creek bbl and the 8.5 twist.. seems to be working.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

The 284 is a playa - accuracy, efficiency, velocity with heavies, good barrel life.

Now let's transition to another point - mag feeding.

To use the long bullets, you need a long action. What LA BM and mag combos are proven to work with the 284 and the heavies?
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

I know some guys have said they were running .30-06 out of AI mags, and CDI does bottom metal for the long action M70. That might be a good combo, with performance (especially from a long barrel) that is significantly better than a 6.5 cartridge without the barrel-burning of the WSM. Alpha is working on their magnum-length AI mags. Perhaps those would work.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

Just traded for a remington 700 long action, 27" shilen, h&s stock in 284. Going to be my first dedicated long rang rifle. I have a 6x24x50 sfp viper pst, rings and 20moa rail waiting for me to pick up tommorrow at the gun shop. Can't find any 284 brass so I orderd 6.5x284 and will neck up. I have had 284's before and had good luck with them. Wished now I would have kept the brass. Still have to order some surgeon bottom metal. This should get me in the game untill I see what I may want to change, hopefully just a manners stock soon.... Javy.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

Is anyone shooting the 180 VLDs out of a 26'' barrel in a long action? If so what are your velocities? Also what is everyone seeing for barrel life on your .284? I am deciding between building a .284 or a 7mm Rem Mag and I have read the barrel life on the .284 is around double of the 7mm, will I see much of a difference in barrel life between these two given same barrel length and either 168 or 180 VLDs? Looking for pros and cons of either direction?
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brado16</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is anyone shooting the 180 VLDs out of a 26'' barrel in a long action? If so what are your velocities? Also what is everyone seeing for barrel life on your .284? I am deciding between building a .284 or a 7mm Rem Mag and I have read the barrel life on the .284 is around double of the 7mm, will I see much of a difference in barrel life between these two given same barrel length and either 168 or 180 VLDs? Looking for pros and cons of either direction?
</div></div>

I'm shooting a mild load out of a 28" barrel at 2775 with the 180's and 4831sc on a long action.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brado16</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is anyone shooting the 180 VLDs out of a 26'' barrel in a long action? If so what are your velocities? Also what is everyone seeing for barrel life on your .284? I am deciding between building a .284 or a 7mm Rem Mag and I have read the barrel life on the .284 is around double of the 7mm, will I see much of a difference in barrel life between these two given same barrel length and either 168 or 180 VLDs? Looking for pros and cons of either direction?
</div></div>

I shoot SAC-built 284 on a Surgeon 1086 LA. 26.5" Krieger barrel 8.7 twist.

180 VLD's at 2795 fps. Accuracy in the .2's at 100 yds.

Consistent hits to 1500 yds.

I could push it harder/faster but don't see the point

I only have 800 rounds on mine
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">~800 down the pipe of my 28" Krieger.

WW-Super brass, 54.0gr H4831sc, 175smk @ ~2825fps

Still shooting great </div></div>

Turbo,

What kind of brass prep do you do on the WW stuff?
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brado16</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pyplynr- what kind of bottom metal are you running and what is your COAL?</div></div>


Savge action, CDI bottom metal. 3.1"COAL.

92a98a83-1_zps55f33e6d.jpg
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m14er</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">~800 down the pipe of my 28" Krieger.

WW-Super brass, 54.0gr H4831sc, 175smk @ ~2825fps

Still shooting great </div></div>

Turbo,

What kind of brass prep do you do on the WW stuff? </div></div>

Ugh...

Sadly, I spec'd my reamer for ~.005" total diametral clearance (so .0025" per side) between loaded Lapua brass and chamber...

My reamer cuts a .317" neck in the chamber.

A lot of the WW Super brass measures .314", and I've even found a couple at .315", so I neck turned all my WW super so they'd be at .312" when loaded.

That was ~700pcs of brass. I used a cordless drill and a forster neck turning tool.

Besides that, I have a Giraud trimmer that I use nearly every loading, and a giraud annealer that I use every 2 or 3 loadings.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

WOW. And I complain about inside/outside neck turning 50 pcs. of necked-up 6.5x284 Lapua brass.

I have 100 pcs. of WW Super that I hope to do as minimal amount of prep as possible.

My next one is a 6.5 Creedmoor gasser-just load and shoot....
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

I run 52 grains of H4350 and 175 smk at about 2780. Accuracy is good, speed is in the normal range now. After 500 rounds I picked up 15-20 fps. While some post some incredible velocities, it is no magnum. Those high velocities must surely take a toll on barrel life and brass.

I run long action 300 win AI mags with no feeding issues.

The Win brass I got was pretty shitty. Funky neck creases, overly thick rims, oblong/off center flash holes. I am on 5 loadings now and the primer pockets are starting to feel loose. That, and good luck finding any. I have searched high and low and cannot find any other than some sketchy once fired. I may try some Norma 6.5-284 and neck up and hopefully avoid doughnuts and neck turning.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lhouston78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why not a 280 AI 162 amax 168 berger rl-17 over 3000 fps very accurate, no feeding issues and great barrel life. Just a question? </div></div>

I am considering it on my next rebarrel if for nothing else, ease of obtaining brass.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

I find with necking up the lapua 6.5x284 brass you SHOULD neck-turn or you will get doughnuts near the neck/shoulder junction.

It's a pain, but after 4-5 reloadings my velocity spreads went to shit and some cases would not chamber. Spreads went from 30-40 fps to 10-20 fps after tuning the necks up.-That's huge at 1200-1500 yards when it comes to vertical dispersion.

If you want to shoot this caliber at longer ranges and want to use necked-up Lapua brass, do yourself a favor and neck-turn your cases from the start.
 
Re: Barrel life on a .284 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brado16</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is anyone shooting the 180 VLDs out of a 26'' barrel in a long action? If so what are your velocities? . </div></div>


Yep, 2740 fps with 54.0 gr 4831SC. 5mph wind-full value--moves me an inch at 400.
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