This keeps the center of gravity low and helps the rifle recoil smoothly with less hop in the bags. Q: How much of your success do you credit to really accurate rifles, versus superior shooting skills? I screw on the new barrel, fire 25 rounds of whatever I have left over and then clean it. That all paid off when Henry won the 2013 IBS 1000-yard Nationals this summer, finishing as the Two-Gun Overall National Champion. Henry also runs a combo tuner/muzzle-brake. The 6.5X47 Lapua was designed for 300-meter competition, but as soon as it was released, it was adopted by F-Class, benchrest, and tactical shooters. After researching the winning competitors, rifles, and rounds I ordered a Panda action with Krieger barrel in 6mm Dasher from Kelbys. Ray keeps Jewell triggers in stock so the only piece left to acquire was the scope. Thanks Cody! ALL Bulletin content is copyrighted, 2023 AccurateShooter.com. This barrel has 2200 rounds through it. 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. The .284 Light Gun needed a muzzle brake and tuner. The extra boiler room is enough to drive the 180s at 2900-2950 fps with H4831sc, with long barrels. Best powders for the .284 Win are H4350 and H4831SC. Henry worked hard, learned fast, and pursued accuracy with a vengence. This was the first five rounds through it after I cleaned it after the last match. I encountered vertical, vertical, and more vertical. In fact, this impressive sub-quarter MOA group was shot while fire-forming with a very well-worn barrel! Custom-made dies should size the case just right, but sometimes the dies internal dimensions are slightly off, and this leads to problem number two: dies sizing too much (or even worse) too little. Lapua makes great brass for it (no surprise there) and Berger makes great bullets: 130gr VLD, 140gr VLD, 140gr Hybrids. The weather was variable, with wet but very calm conditions to start the 1000-yard match, resulting in new F-TR and F-Open National Records being set for 20-shot strings. The .284 is my hands-down choice for shooting F-Class. Free Shipping On Orders Over $99! I think thats due to having more meat in the receiver area. Ian used a Vortex 15-60X52mm Golden Eagle scope (as did runner-up Ted Plunkett). You Better Believe It, .284 Shehane Winning Wildcat for F-Open Competition, Sunday GunDay: .284 Shehanes for F-Open Competition. The 2018 F-Class Nationals recently concluded at Raton, NM. Well done father and son! ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? Its similar to a Tooley MBR with a few modifications. Hydro-forming by Darrell costs $0.60 per case with 100-ct minimum. Cody- do You also use the Atlas for competition? I use Lapua brass (6.5-284 necked-up), CCI BR-2 primers, Hodgdon H4350 powder, and Berger 184gr bullets. Duane decided to have the barrel chambered for my 284 KMR IMP (Improved) wildcat. The rear bag is a Edgewood EDGEbag Gator. If it makes sense, try it. It had 2000 as a straight .284 Win and then I set it back to .284 Shehane to form brass with. Let DJ do the work for you! Mike Wilson (3 Time IBS Record Holder; 2013 and 2014 1000-yard IBS Shooter of the Year. If I feel there is a constant condition, I will click for the wind. [Editor: The equipment lists at major F-TR matches will confirm Kovans conclusion here. This design versatility is one reason I recommend Master Class stocks. It also has become one of the best for varmint and long range big game shooting too. I push out to 600 yards and do a ladder test in round-robin format. He formed the brass and had it in the mail the next day[.] var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); The "old" 284 Winchester on the right is loaded to COAL of 2.8 inches. There are many improved variants of the original .284 Winchester: 7mm Walker, .284 Shehane, .284 Ackley and so on. Ballards huge success with the .284 Winchester cartridge helped make the .284 Win (and .284 Win Improveds) the dominant cartridge in F-Open competition worldwide. To quote Danny Biggs (a two times FTR National Champion) The 185 BTLR is the best bullet for .308 Win ever made. The most common problem is wait-time custom die orders can take months to be completed. On top is a Nightforce 12-42x52mm Benchrest scope with CH-3 reticle. Andy was spot on. .284 Shehane Load Development Heres a tip for guys who shoot the 6 PPC, 6 Dasher, 6 BRA, .284 Shehane, or other wildcat cartridges that require fire-forming. I found this very important in holding good elevation (minimal vertical dispersion). After I am happy with my set-up, I take a position similar to that of a conventional prone shooter. IMPORTANT TIP: After 3 firings I will uniform the primer pockets and anneal the case necks. This insures the gun returns to the same spot after recoil. The Dasher had actually been giving tighter groups under perfect conditions, but seeing the impact is important. These are all very well-made and suitable for F-Class. I use Erics tuner/brakes on all my new barrels.) 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. He is also doing a ton of fire-forming for the 100/200 benchrest crowd, hydro-forming 220 Russian into 6 PPC. The only goal I have is to obtain the lowest ES and SD I possibly can. . That 22 BR cartridge is a very effective choice for varmint work, as the ground hog in the photo proves. It is a no-brainer for long range F-Class or Prone or 1000-yard Benchrest., If you look at that 5-round group you might think it was shot with a 6 PPC or maybe a 6mmBR. (function() { Does this really help reduce extreme spread? ), Norm Harrold Won 2018 F-Class Open Division Nationals with .284 Shehane Rifle. I use a bore guide when anything goes down the barrel. To travel down to New Mexico and win at Raton was very satisfying as I had to come from behind. Ian told us: This Championship was especially difficult as a particularly strong challenger [and new 1000-yard record-holder] Mike Plunkett had earned an early lead and I would have to make up 6 points in the final day to win. Using these figures, the barrel cost of a .284 Win is $.17 per round vs. $.42 per round for the 6.5-284. I prefer these because because of their size (large bedding footprint) smoothness, timing, options available, and last but not least visual appearance. There are hundreds of cartridge types capable of winning in F-Open. In F-TR competition, the choice is clear a .308 Win throated for Berger 185gr BTLRs and 200gr Hybrids will win in mid-range AND long-range comps. Ya, I figured why not I had some old barrels laying around so I just chopped 2 off the back and 1 off the front and chambered it up as a Shehane. This stunning .284 Shehane rifle was constructed as a raffle prize to benefit Team USA members preparing for the F-Class World Championship. New .300 WSM F-Class rifle, with stock finished by Forum member Cigar Cop. Now that Lapua and Peterson has released 284 Winchester brass, this could alleviate the need to neck up 6.5 brass. The stainless Blake barrel is chambered for the .284 Shehane wildcat, and sports an F-Class Products tuner on the end. The rifle began its life as a Will McClosky Cerus stock. Henry: I apply Imperial dry neck lube to the inside of my case-necks with a bore mop. })(); To comment on a post, click Post Title or "Comment" Link. I was thinking of ribbons on the front in red and blue but we could not get the layout right. The rifle is a dream to shoot now with a big reduction in felt recoil.. Henry: I try to keep my charge weights consistent to one kernel of powder. This prize rifle features all top-of-the-line components: Borden BRMXD Action, Cerus multi-laminate stock with forearm extension, R.A.D. I only test, keeping a notebook with all the info. F-Class Mid-Range matches usually are usually shot at 300, 500, or 600 yards or all three. Mike Plunkett finished second, while also setting a new F-TR record, 200-16X, also matched by Ray Gross. The 284 Shehane is a moderately blown out 284, with 3% extra capacity over the parent case. Crossed the scale at 11.7lbs. This barrel has 2200 rounds through it. The first order of business was to get the action ordered, knowing how long it would take to get a BAT left bolt, right port action, plus scope rail, and trigger guard. Do not go for the hottest loads, which just reduces brass life. I chose this action based on BAT Machines impeccable reputation. Report by Emil Kovan Reloading Depot . That enhancement makes a BIG difference. I had committed a big reloading No-No. According to the official C.I.P. This is the .284 Winchester rig that Charles Ballard used to win back-to-back F-Open titles in 2008 and 2009. The update also features a lot of new lines for existing calibers. I usually anneal the brass each winter. Best powders are: Varget, H4895, and Reloder 15. I remember that only few years ago, an F-Open rifle that could shoot sub-one-inch of vertical at 300 yards was considered competitive. Jays metal-work is so precise that I can screw any barrel hes chambered to any BAT action I own. Charles Ballard always used eye and ear protection. Round. Gun builder Ryan Pierce of Piercision Rifles explains: Heres a 5-shot 0.191 group at 100 yards with my .284 Shehane fire-forming loads. Without AccurateShooter.com, I would probably still be shooting double-digit (10+) groups at 1000 yards, and I sure wouldnt have my name on a National Championship trophy. Henry: I had 20/10 vision when I was young, but am down to only 20/20. DJs Brass Offers Specialized Custom Services Low Center of Gravity Tames Torque So I only have to apologize about some red flakes in our bathroom., We like this handsome quilted Maple-stocked Mauser belonging to Forum member Steel Mover. [This] caliber has awesome accuracy. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-6323545-2']); In February of 2008, NSSC held its annual winter Palma match. Great information and write up Cody. Note how the vertical centerline of the stock is very close to the barrel. I have high hopes of it being an great gun. My load for all barrels is 52g 2209 with 180vlds. is formidable indeed. The final component on this rifle is a 12-4256 Nightforce BR with DD-1 reticle set in Leupold Quick Release rings. I sort my bullets to 0.005 overall length, rejecting about five percent. It shoots better then I do. The rifle features a single-feed Alpin action, with Hart 26 1:8-twist barrel, chambered for the 6BRX (6mmBR wildcat) with .269 neck. Sign In. At the end he holds the Oehler Chrono up to the camera so you can view the readout yourself. Norm revealed his load in an Erik Cortina YouTube Video. I would also encourage other older shooters not to quit. I would not go any hotter in the interest of case life. Lets just say it didnt go as planned. Us old guys need all the help we can get. I agree with your fireforming load. Last year (2017) at the SW Nationals I took a VERY casual survey of all the 284 Winchester (and Shehane) shooters I could find and asked them about the pros and cons of doing a Shehane vs. a straight 284 Winchester as I was about to build a 284 of one variety or the other and wanted to get an idea which way I SHOULD go. Note the block fitted to the tubular fore-end so the rifle rides smooth and steady on the Rodzilla T-Rex joystick front rest. Stick to it. That makes the stock stiffer in the vertical plane, reducing the hinging effect forward of the action. Gun builder Ryan Pierce of Piercision Rifles explains: Heres a 5-shot 0.191 group at 100 yards with my .284 Shehane fire-forming loads. Bryan Litz won both the Mid-Range and Long-Range 2015 Championships using 215s. Share the post "Henrys Hammer State-of-the-Art .284 Shehane for 1K BR". var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); I copied and analyzed many articles, especially on the .284 and the Dashers. Enjoy this trip back in time to when the .284 Win was the new kid on the block. ALL BRASS MUST BE DE-PRIMED before you send it. Q: During the Nationals, at the last minute you switched guns. After that I play a little with seating depth and look for a change. For more info, visit DJsBrass.com or call Darrell Jones at 205-461-4680. Forum member Darrell Jones offers a full range of brass prep, brass forming, and brass restoration (annealing, ultra-sonic cleaning) at very affordable prices. If you get the same push on the same bullet with the same neck tension, good things are going to happen. Up until 2020, this required necking up 6.5-284 to 7mm, then fireforming to a 284 Shehane. Now dont get me wrong, at 22 pounds with a decelerator recoil pad, the .284 is comfortable to shoot. With N560 or Reloder 17 you can go even faster. recoil reduction system (hydraulic-damped buttpad), Bix N Andy trigger, and Nightforce Competition scope. Mark throated it very long so the the 180gr and 184gr Bergers would sit where they belong., Tuning the 7mm SAUM and Recoil Reduction The big bore shooters believe a heavier bullet flies better in unpredictable wind conditions. Its the new pride of the fleet as it shoots as good as it looks. Neck turning a plus to .312 loaded neck - in any event pushed only to 2800 fps. So I did it myself my first Candy Apple red. This allows me to use the center as my primary hold. Cases are full-length resized, but I bump the shoulders only .0005 (one-half thousandth). That enhancement makes a BIG difference. Choices for Mid-Range in Tougher Conditions: 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. Big Mistake! The purple .284 balances very well and tracks great. Team LBB: Jay Christopherson, Erik Cortina, Tom Hendricks, Pat Scully, Coach Bob Sebold. There is no 130-grain bullet listed for the .280 Rem., but maximums for 140-, 150-, and 160-grain bullets are 2,983, 2,822, and 2,773 fps. A dummy round was sent to Pacific Tool and Gauge to have a reamer ground to our specs. However, the challenge in shooting this rifle was recoil management. That is pretty good speed from a 26" with H4350. Big accuracy windows allow loads to perform well in different conditions and geographical locations. Bolt timing, ejection, and feeding is going to be messed up. Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C 17.25" Sight-in Target - 5 Targets If you put a bullet into a clean case, it will be jerky when seating the bullet. I find that funny because if could somehow properly size the cases for three fire-forming cycles, I would not need a sizing die. How does this improve rifle performance and how do you set the tune? I shot the .284 Win in heavy gun. Grimstod currently runs 95gr Berger VLDs in Lapua brass. Henry: I do not consider myself another Carlos Hathcock or some master marksman. All Kriegers. My rifle is chambered in .284 Shehane. Primer pockets start to get a little looser and the brass seems to need more sizing than the newer brass with less firings.. My purpose was to find a cartridge that would launch the high-BC, 180gr 7mm bullets at competitive velocities for F-Class competition. Every long-range shooter can benefit from some of tips revealed here. You are using an out of date browser. But the majority of Aggregates are probably still being won with 30-caliber bullets shot from some kind of magnum case. Once you get it formed I would push it faster than that or I wouldnt even bother with the Shehane. I have had an interest in 1000-yard competition for many years and finally got the opportunity to try it. Four other people have shot their first 1000-yard matches with my rifles, including my wife, and all of them won relays! I would stay away from the .223 Remington. At IBS matches I studied other shooters equipment and techniques.