My New 284 Build and Chrono results

[Apache]

53.0 seems a bit stout to me.

175 grn bullet max load in a 280 Remington is 50.5 according to what I have been able to find, and the 280 has more capacity than the 284.

Please verify that load before you try it.

Post how it goes.......been thinking of a 284 myself.

[jsimonh]

I ran 52.5gr of reloader17 in mine. Velocity was roughly 100fps faster and accuracy was there, but I couldn't get the temp stability issues out of my head so I stuck with 4831sc.

[madison]

Another 284 shooter here so I'm curious: what is your bbl length? Cartridge Overall Length?

I agree with Apache that you should give RL-17 a try and also that you should start lower than 53 gr. w 180s. Rl-17 will get you to the same velocity with lower pressures or give you a bit more room to push the max if you're so inclined. I built a 284 with a 9 twist 24" Pac Nor pre fit on a Savage 10PC. This isn't a dedicated target gun, so I stuck with factory components otherwise so am limited to mag length (3") for COAL. Using RL-17 with 160 AccuBonds I started seeing mild pressure signs (no flattened, cratered or blown primers, just light ejector marks on the case head) at 51.5gr which gave me 2890fps. This was during warm weather, which is what I expected during season so I backed it off to 50.8 gr for 2830fps. I could probably run the 51.5 this time of year w RL-17. I have some load tests made up right now starting at 47 grains RL-17 and going up to 49 with 168 VLDs. I would expect to be able to go several grains higher as the bearing surface difference between the 160 accubond and the 168 VLD is pretty dramatic (the accubond having much more) but the wind has kept me from testing. I may max out on case capacity before I reach pressure max with the VLDs(as you might w your 180s depending on your setup).

I've really enjoyed my 284. I used to shoot a 308win and wanted to move to something that had a bit better ballistics and that would function in my rifle with only a barrel swap. In my opinion, if you want to push a 180 7mm bullet over 2900 a 7wsm or 280AI might be more practical if you're not set on a 284. Obviously a 284 can do it as Dennis has demonstrated, but you've gotta have it set up just right. (I'm guessing that Dennis has at least a 28" barrel? or is loading to around 3.2" COAL?)

I think it's funny that the 284 isn't more popular. It has better ballistics than a 7mm-08 or 308 and will function in a rifle with exactly the same components and I've found that the recoil is just as tame as a 308.

Anyways, sorry for the rambling :) Good luck with your load development! Things are looking great so far!