6.5-284 With Scenar 136-L's

[sawacs]

I am trying to figure out a safe starting load for my 6.5-284 Norma 24" CBI 1/8 twist barrel using the Lapua 136-L Scenar bullets and am having a hard time.

Here is the situation..

My particular chamber will allow me to seat the 136's to 3.068 COAL which is touching the lands.

Lapua's data shows a COAL with the 136's of 3.110"

Berger sent me data for the 136's with a COAL of 3.180" which I cannot achieve due to a shorter throat.

Here is the data from Berger for the Lapua 136-L's using H4831sc which is also the powder I am using.

Bullet: Scenar 136-L
Powder: H4831sc
COAL:3.180"
Start charge: 49.0gr 2657fps
Max Charge:54.2gr 2936fps

Just for reference, Nosler shows the following data for a 140 grain bullet

Powder: H4831sc
COAL: 2.980"
Start charge: 45.0gr 2601fps
Max charge:49.0gr 2769fps

My delima is where to start with the charges if my seating depth is 3.058" COAL or .010 off the lands?

To summarize, would I be on the safe side starting with 48.0gr of 4831sc based on a seating COAL of 3.058" or .010 off the lands using a Lapua 136-L Scenar bullet?

Btw, Hornady lists a max load of 4831 with their 140 Amax seated to a COAL of 2.880" as 45.9gr.

I am thinking now might be a good time to invest in Quickload

Advice would be appreciated!

[deerhunter99]

I have a 6.5x284 Norma weather warrior I load 0.10 off the lands, I uses the Hornady load works great for me !!!

[Evlshnngns]

That is some wide variation. With all the standard cautions, I think your plan sounds good. I have a swede improved, which has a similar case capacity. I have loaded 51gr of h4831 and a 140gr without incident.

[sawacs]

That is some wide variation. With all the standard cautions, I think your plan sounds good. I have a swede improved, which has a similar case capacity. I have loaded 51gr of h4831 and a 140gr without incident.

Thanks for the feedback.

What I should have done when I talked with Berger was let them know how far out I could seat the 136 before touching the lands. The data they sent me would probably have changed some for sure. Knowing how much of a pressure difference between seating to 3.180" vs 3.058" would also help


In fact, the more I think about it, the more comfortable I am becoming about starting off with Berger's 49.0gr charge considering Nosler's max is 49.0gr of H4831sc over a 140 grain bullet seated @ 2.980". I could always tie a string to the trigger and hide behind a car or just let a friend fire the first roundj/k

Cheers!

[Evlshnngns]

My OAL with a nosler CC 140 is 2.91", its a short throat reamer. The Nosler 140 rdf shows 3.05" for comparison. I have no real interest in pushing it past 51, I like my brass.

Have you seen this?

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/65x284/

[sawacs]

My OAL with a nosler CC 140 is 2.91", its a short throat reamer. The Nosler 140 rdf shows 3.05" for comparison. I have no real interest in pushing it past 51, I like my brass.

Have you seen this?

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/65x284/

Thanks for the reply and I have indeed read that article. I would consider myself to be overly conservative when it comes to reloading hence the three days of research without a single 6.5-284 with a 136-L loaded up

In fact, if I could find a good accuracy node between 2700 and 2800fps, I would be very content.

Cheers and happy holidays!