Support Our SPONSORS Competitive Edge 5 x 2.5 'Big Bottom' In this section, Charles Ballard explains the basics of shooting an F-Class match, from the initial prep period to end of match. Round. [Editor: The equipment lists at major F-TR matches will confirm Kovans conclusion here. Let DJ do the work for you! Mike Wilson (3 Time IBS Record Holder; 2013 and 2014 1000-yard IBS Shooter of the Year. I remembered this as I was preparing to shoot the first relay Sunday morning. In the rear I use a special-order Protekor rear Doctor bag with ears spaced 3 inches apart. .223 Rem Not A Competitive Option The 6.5X47 Lapua necked down to 6mm is also a great option for mid range matches. He has learned a few special techniques along the way to ensure uniform case-forming. ], Conclusion (and Other Options) What are the attractions of this sport? But no, this was done with heavy 180gr Berger Hybrid bullets and the .284 Shehane, an improved version of the .284 Winchester. I copied and analyzed many articles, especially on the .284 and the Dashers. The "old" 284 Winchester on the right is loaded to COAL of 2.8 inches. Lower center of gravity equals less torque, and that is very important when shooting heavy bullets in fast twist barrels. Not enough gain to be worth the trouble, IMO. He was 66 at the time. Over the span of 3,000 rounds, thats a $540.00 savings. This not only saves barrel wear, but it saves you trips to the range for the purpose of fire-forming. Thanks for reading and good luck Emil Kovan, Share the post "Best F-Class Cartridge Choices For Mid-Range and Long-Range". With a 5-wide hammerhead front and a special 3-wide bag-rider plate in the rear, this 17-lb rig is ultra-stable in the bags, and tracks like a dream. BTW, I stuck with the original. For cost comparisons sake, lets use 1,200 rounds for the 6.5-284 and 3,000 rounds for the .284 Win. Given a 26-inch tube, this number easily launches moly-plated 142-grain Sierra MatchKings at 3,150 fps. Ian, who won his first title last year in Lodi, Wisconsin, said this year was tougher. I only test, keeping a notebook with all the info. I considered getting a RAD Pad but that would have required expensive machine work. These are all very well-made and suitable for F-Class. Do you trickle to the kernel? who used the .284 Shehane to finish third at the 2009 F-Class Worlds in England says the .284 Shehane is very accurate with superb vertical spreads at 1000 yards. (function() { I was thinking of ribbons on the front in red and blue but we could not get the layout right. I loaned my Dasher to another shooter two years ago and he got second at the 600-yard Nationals. That would most definitely take a very stout charge in a magnum. (For short-range benchrest, I was shooting a Bob Scoville carbon stock and Terry Leonard laminate). Processing Fired Cases: My fired cases are tumbled in walnut shell media, then cleaned off. First thing I thought was, That would make a nice stock., Heres a modern, low-profile, short-range Benchrest rifle, finished proudly in bright red. I shot the .284 Win in heavy gun. All of the above information is based on my personal experience and it is meant to help new shooters choose the right cartridges for F-Class matches. Henry told us: I want to share every lesson Ive learned, so that other guys can improve their game and enjoy the sport more. Henry also wants to encourage other senior shooters: If you pay attention to details (when reloading), and get a good rifle with a good barrel, age is not a handicap. recoil reduction system (hydraulic-damped buttpad), Bix N Andy trigger, and Nightforce Competition scope. Henry: Youre never too old. The paper tells the rest of the story. It was fitted to my action by Dale Woolum of Woolum Accuracy. Typical load for a Shehane is around 57.0 grains of Hodgdon H4831 SC. By blowing the sidewalls out 0.010, the .284 Shehane picks up about 3.3 grains of extra case capacity. Turns out this was my fault. In second place was Team McMillan with 1553-53X: Paul Phillips, Derek Rodgers, Jeff Rorer, Brad Sauve, John Droelle (Captain), Ray Gross (Coach). This barrel has 2200 rounds through it. About the Patriotic Paint Job It was fitted to my action by Dale Woolum of Woolum Accuracy. Smooth entry gives the bullets a smooth release. With only 11 rounds through the new tube, I shot a 600-yard match on June 22, 2008. This article will focus on proven choices, currently used by the top F-Class shooters in the world. We knew we wanted a Broughton 5C, but what twist rate? This would also severely limit barrel life in a F-Class rifle. Dont want to invest in your own annealer? Other good options are: Kelbly, CG Jackson (good 2-Stage) Anschutz (best 2-Stage for Bat and Kelbly actions), BixN Andy, and David Tubb. Uniform velocity gives me more consistent vertical point of impact. The Berger 215gr Hybrids have been used to win many competitions including recently the 2015 F-Class Nationals. I will run it through its paces shortly and see how well it does. I considered the Leupold competition scopes but ultimately decided on the Nightforce BR. This gray and blue beauty belongs to Forum member Farmer Dave. I start 0.6 grains lower than my last charge that worked. Another great service DJs Brass provides is precision neck-turning. If I had to pick one cartridge for F-Class (both mid- and long-range) I would pick the .284 Winchester or one of its variants. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; I contacted Darrell to hydraulically form 6mm Dasher from Lapua 6mm BR brass. To read the accompanying article click here. Team Grizzly: Shiraz Balolia, Emil Kovan, David Mann, John Myers, Trudie Fay (Coach). 1; 2; Next. I initially had the standard rear stock until Tommy Shurley and Mike Hearn came out with an adjustable rear plate. But the majority of Aggregates are probably still being won with 30-caliber bullets shot from some kind of magnum case. It had 2000 as a straight .284 Win and then I set it back to .284 Shehane to form brass with. Sort By: Items Per Page: Item Total: (21) 0 - 21 7mm (.284) Neck Sizer Die With Zip Spindle 005-046044 | Hornady $33.45 In Stock 284 Winchester (.284) Match Grade Die Set 005-544303 | Hornady $104.99 In Stock If you look at a .300 WSM and a 6mm Dasher side by side, they appear almost identical in geometry the .300 WSM looks like an super-sized Dasher. Powder charges are dispensed and weighed with an RCBS ChargeMaster Electronic Dispenser, which is regularly calibrated with check-weights to assure accuracy. These loads were shot by Brian Pearce of Wolfe Publishing Co.; Gun: Match Grade Machine Barrel; Barrel Length: 26 inches; Case: Winchester; Primer: Remington 9 1/2; Bullet Diameter: .284 inch; COAL: 2.800 inches; Maximum COAL: 2.800 inches; Maximum Case Length: 2.170 inches; Trim to Length: 2.160 inches. The .284 is the parent cartridge for the 6.5-284 Norma as well as the .450 Bushmaster and .475 Wildey Magnum. From ultrasonic cleaning to custom annealing for specific wildcat cartridges. The rifle began its life as a Will McClosky Cerus stock. On Saturday my .284 was absolutely hammering, but Sunday I started noticing a hard bolt lift. Its amazing what you can learn from a rifle that is as sensitive as this one., This impressive rifle features an antique 1917 Enfield action chambered for the .338 Win Magnum cartridge. I have a few barrels chambered in 284 Shehane. Not shooting free recoil, I needed a stock that would fit me like a prone stock but track like a benchrest stock. A dummy round was sent to Pacific Tool and Gauge to have a reamer ground to our specs. For most jobs, Darrell tells us, he gets the processed brass to the Post Office within three business days. Sent the pad to Gary Eliseo and he sent it back with the butt plate machined to fit. The standard way to fireform for the 284 Shehane is to load ammo with 54gr H4831SC (a standard load for the parent cartridge) and a 180gr Berger Hybrid seated into the lands and go shoot a match or at the range. This is my second season shooting F-Open. The .284 Shehane shoots inside the 6.5 AND the straight .284, the .300 WSM, and the .300 Win Mag with less recoil. My bullets were so consistent that I did not sort by bearing surface. JavaScript is disabled. I have a 29 barrel also though since its a setback. Henry: The reason I rechambered my 7mm barrels to .284 Shehane was not velocity, pressure, or brass life. Forum member Jim Hardy has shot the .284 with great success. At least with regard to brass the situation should improve this year: https://www.lapua.com/new-lapua-brass-cartridge-cases-for-2021/. The 2018 F-Class Nationals recently concluded at Raton, NM. This is one sport where you can be a champion in later life., Click on Rifle Photos to View Full-screen Versions. That enhancement makes a BIG difference. The 284 Shehane is amazing, very forgiving and not temperamental. Duane decided to use a BAT M action for this rifle, and I think that he could not have made a better choice. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-6323545-2']); Best bullets for it are Berger 180gr Hybrids, 195gr EOLs, and Sierras 183gr MatchKing. WHIDSIZSN284SHE Product Manufacturer: Whidden Gunworks Whidden Gunworks Product Description: For precise, consistent OAL handloads, the internals of Whidden's sizing die are designed to keep your rounds . All Kriegers. The reason is that if you have your barrel throated out for the 215s or the 230s, you could have a slow barrel and max out on pressure before the desired velocity is reached. Thats way too hot. This handsome rifle, which belongs to Forum member J.J.Coe, represents the state-of-the-art for 100/200-yard benchrest rifles. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-6323545-2']); Q: You go 60-80 rounds between cleaning and the results speak for themselves. After trying other solvents, I have gone back to Wipe-outs Carb-Out and Patch-Out products. In moderate conditions, the 6mm Dasher is unbeatable. The "new" 284 Winchester on left is handloaded to exceed its SAAMI overall length for a custom fit in a long-throat barrel. This allows the stock to accommodate either a hard hold style or a more free-recoil style of shooting whatever the rifles owner prefers. Here is member Quest45s handsome lever-action Henry .45-70 Gov and Glock 40 10mm. However, in most barrels, it cant push the 180s at 2900-2950 fps velocity levels*. Free Shipping On Orders Over $99! Owner Aeon tells us: The 7 SAUM was as easy a gun as I have ever shot to find a good load for H1000 gave great consistency and tuning was not hard. If I have switching conditions, I will remove all wind from the scope, slow down, use the flags and mirage, still holding off. The rifle is a dream to shoot now with a big reduction in felt recoil.. This was the first five rounds through it after I cleaned it after the last match. The 284 Shehane is a moderately blown out 284, with 3% extra capacity over the parent case. Dale also threaded the barrel for a Woolum Accuracy tuner. To dispense powder, I use a RCBS ChargeMaster set 0.1 grain below my desired load and then weigh them on a Sartorius GD-503 magnetic force restoration scale to get identical charges. For starters, a .300 WSM is certainly capable of winning mid-range matches but it is not ideal. Low Center of Gravity Tames Torque Crossed the scale at 11.7lbs. In this 15-55X NF model, I like the DDR-2 reticle best, because fine cross hairs (FCH) are hard to see in heavy mirage. That enhancement makes a BIG difference. Tom was shooting a .284 Shehane cartrdige in the new McMillan Kestros stock. But, the added recoil of the .284, even with front and rear rests aligned, took me off target. Its proven track record helped as well. Primer pockets start to get a little looser and the brass seems to need more sizing than the newer brass with less firings.. guidelines the .284 Winchester case can handle up to 440 MPa (63,816 psi) piezo pressure. The 6mmBR pilots could run off five shots before I could shoot two. This scope is a Vortex 15-60x52mm Golden Eagle riding in Burris Signature Zee rings. I use Hodgdon H4831sc powder, CCI BR2 primers, and pointed 180gr Bergers., Share the post "Accurate Cartridges The .284 Shehane, an Improved .284 Win", Tags: .284 Shehane, .284 Winchester, Erik Cortina, F-Class, F-Open, Improved, Ryan Pierce. Im getting 2930-2950 fps with spreads in the 3-5 fps range. The extra boiler room is enough to drive the 180s at 2900-2950 fps with H4831sc, with long barrels. I figured if I get it up to 2935-2950 fps that will be a point or two saved in a several day match. Best bullets for the 6mm Dasher are: Vapor Trail 103gr, Berger 105 Hybrid, 108 BT, and 105 VLD (hunting). I bolted the barreled action in, and squeezed the end of the forearm and barrel together, the stock flexed a little bit, but not as much as other designs that I have tested. Share the post "Accurate Cartridges The .284 Shehane, an Improved .284 Win". Henrys Championship-winning rig is shown below. I think this dog will hunt!, Share the post "Sunday Gunday: December Pride & Joy Rifles". Typical load for a Shehane is around 57.0 grains of Hodgdon H4831 SC. By blowing the sidewalls out 0.010, the .284 Shehane picks up about 3.3 grains of extra case capacity. The 6.5-284 Norma originated as a wildcat cartridge based on the .284 Winchester cartridge necked down to 6.5 mm. That enhancement makes a BIG difference. Both cartridges are currently the darlings of long-range benchrest due to their extraordinary grouping ability and huge node windows. The last segment of prep time is spent trying to dope the wind. Why did you go from a 6mm Dasher to a 7mm Shehane? However, the challenge in shooting this rifle was recoil management. I explained to a friend that not lubing the neck is like overhauling an engine without lubing the cylinders. Ballard won the NRA Long-Range Regional, setting a new National Record in the process 200-23X at 1000 yards. I offer that die-making service in addition to barrel chambering. Gun builder Ryan Pierce of Piercision Rifles explains: Heres a 5-shot 0.191 group at 100 yards with my .284 Shehane fireforming loads. I run a 184gr Berger at about 2850 FPS and get great brass life in my other rifles. I never practice. If you need formed brass for a new build (gun not yet fired), let me know and I will size the brass to fit within .001 of a PT&G GO gauge.. Light Gun competition (16 1/2 & 17lbs.) The same has proven true of my .284 Winchestervertical improves once 50 rounds are through the bore. It had 2000 as a straight .284 Win and then I set it back to .284 Shehane to form brass with. BAT Machine M Action Q: How much of your success do you credit to really accurate rifles, versus superior shooting skills? I use Widden dies. That enhancement makes a BIG difference. I use Bore Tech Eliminator on three patches, then follow with a wet nylon brush. My .284 barrel now has 1,036 rounds, and by all indications it will shoot well to 3,000+ rounds. Share the post "Sunday GunDay: .284 Shehanes for F-Open Competition". Register for the Forum and you can add your favorite gun to the list. Henry: I use a tuner or tuner/brake on every barrel. I bought a BAT three lug from Tom Mousel in Montana. At the request of some of the forum moderators, Id like to start a discussion on the 284 Shehane (improved 284 Winchester). Everything turned out flawless. Eventually, at the end of my last string, the gun blew a few primers. We are blessed with many good match-quality receivers: Barnard, BAT, Borden, Kelbly, Nesika, and Stiller just to mention a few. Annealing plus ultrasonic cleaning starts at $35 per 100 cases ($45 for magnum cases). This step was performed on the cases for the next match and it corrected the problem, as I lost no points to elevation. On top is a March HM 10-60x56mm scope in March Gen 3 rings. Darrell can neck-turn any size case to your specified neck-wall thickness. Thanks for taking the time. My good friend at CRS Custom Rifle Stocks in Aaronsburg, PA made and painted the stock. Ultrasonic Cleaning, Check Necks, and Annealing ($35.00/100 normal or $45.00/100 magnum) Bryan did all the stock work and fitted the action, rails, and RAD recoil pad. Henry: The sport offers good people and a real challenge. Powder Load Development - 284 Win vs Vihtavuori N165 - YouTube 0:00 / 15:59 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. We would compare notes frequently. To quote Danny Biggs (a two times FTR National Champion) The 185 BTLR is the best bullet for .308 Win ever made. Darrell is a hydro-forming wizard who has perfected the process over the last couple of years. On other guns, a 32 tube could cause the rifle to be front-heavy and out-of-balance. We can expand your necks from .22 caliber to .30 caliber and anneal shoulders for consistent bump-back. I spend the first part of my 3-minute prep period making sure my front rest and rear bag are in-line. Since I have only reloaded for hunting or magazine fed rifles I was not familiar with proper seating to allow land engagement of the bullets for 1000-yard accuracy. with holes in the buttstock and forend. I tried some, accepting some and rejecting some. These upgrades make it a thoroughly-modern Henry lever gun for the 21st Century. Loading Procedure: My CCI BR-2 primers are seated with a RCBS hand priming tool. For whatever reason, between 100 to 300 rounds, as the barrel gets broken-in, the velocity climbs significantly.. Andy told me if I loaded back to the previous velocity, in his experience, it would stay there. Now dont get me wrong, at 22 pounds with a decelerator recoil pad, the .284 is comfortable to shoot. With the price of premium brass topping $1.00 per case for popular match cartridges, it makes sense to consider annealing your brass to extend its useful life. _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); This optic is ultra clear, reasonably lightweight (28 oz. Since 2009, Forum members have posted photos and descriptions of their most prized firearms. I selected a Broughton 5C because, as my gunsmith says, They just shoot. The stock in laminate weighs 3lbs. With the .284 Shehane, you have a .308 bolt face, medium action, and Lapua brass. However, by blowing the sidewalls out 0.010, the .284 Shehane picks up about 3.3 grains of extra case capacity. It had 2000 as a straight .284 Win and then I set it back to .284 Shehane to form brass with. The K&M arbor with seating force gauge shows the need to do this. This rifle has a 1.55, round BAT LP/RE action, fitted with a Bartlein barrel chambered for the .284 Shehane (an improved version of the .284 Winchester). Henry also runs a combo tuner/muzzle-brake. Cleaning Procedures The paint is Candy Apple Green, the forearm has a white base-coat, center section is gray base coat and the buttstock is black base coat, all covered with five coats of clear. Some barrels are faster than others. March scopes are also very popular and very well-made. I approached Will at the Berger SW Nationals about a rifle I wanted to build. This sports a suppressed, 26 MTU 1:7.5-twist barrel. In C.I.P. Whats the water volume of the case? It is a no-brainer for long range F-Class or Prone or 1000-yard Benchrest., Scotlands Grant Taylor. Would love to read more about the Shehane, as apparently Sabatti has three factory rifles (Evo, TLD and STR Sport) to offer in this cartridge: https://www.sabatti.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Catalogo2020En.pdf. 7mm (.284) remains the caliber to beat in F-Class Open Division (though some shooters have had success with .30-Cal short magnums.) Using bullets from Sierra HP, Hornady V-Max, Nosler BT, Sierra HPBT, Swift SP, Hornady SP, Nosler AB, Speer GS-SP, Hornady RN. ALL Bulletin content is copyrighted, 2023 AccurateShooter.com. [The load was] 180 Hybrids with 54.0 grains of H4831 SC., Scotlands Grant Taylor. I use Erics tuner/brakes on all my new barrels.) After that I play a little with seating depth and look for a change. Then the idea of We the People popped into the head. What is not to love about the 284 Shehane? We loaded 53.0 grains of Hodgdon H4831sc and shot one round, cleaned, shot three rounds, cleaned, then shot 10 rounds and cleaned. I will occasionally mess with the tuner and tighten things up if possible. Kovan Match Rifles LLC, www.matchrifles.com. Dan says: The Anschutz provides good practice in trigger-pulling. In features a super-low profile carbon composite stock. I stumbled on a recoil pad that is uniquely effective, the Falcon Strike. Share the post "Sunday GunDay: We the People .284 Shehane F-Open Rifle". I use the Omega powder trickler with a Sartorius GD-503 lab-grade balance to achieve that. The extra boiler room is enough to drive the 180s at 2900-2950 fps with H4831sc, with long barrels. Ians father, Ken Klemm, finished third among High Masters, and also nailed the highest score among ALL shooters in the 1000-Yard F-TR team match. For more information, visit DJsBrass.com, or call Darrell at (205) 461-4680. The sport of F-Class is rapidly growing, and the equipment used is improving constantly. You may see 40 units (on the K&M dial) dropping to 20, then slowly increasing pressure. Below is a video by Editor F-Class John, showing the features of the Kestros ZR stock. I damaged an extractor and had to send the bolt back to BAT. Winning F-TR Rifle and Load: I started calling anyone I could thing of to see if they had any idea what could be causing this problem. Optimum freebore for the 230s is too long for the 185/200s, so you would be limited to using only 215/230gr bullets in that barrel.Furthermore, the recoil increase with heavier bullets is substantial, causing the rifle to be more difficult to shoot. A great barrel and great batch of Berger 180gr VLDs all made a difference. [This] caliber has awesome accuracy. Explore. Charles Ballard always used eye and ear protection. You may not reproduce original text or photos without advanced permission in writing.
Stonehill Baseball Schedule 2022, Hartford Public Schools Staff Directory, Two Rooms Kingsbridge, America, Say My Name Analysis, Howard Stern Show Cast Salaries, Articles OTHER