Elk Gun (almost) done

[260 Rem]

Here it is...I wanted a little more oomph than 308 for when I get an elk draw so I borrowed a buddies reamer, had KSA make a 24” / 12 twist barrel to chamber in 30-284 and fit in my BAT repeater short action using KSA bottom metal with a HS Precision detachable magazine in a KSA designed Wildcat stock.
I decided against trying to build a lighter weight rig (this rifle weighs 7.6 lbs without scope) to tame some recoil.


The brass is made by necking 6.5-284 Lapua up to 30 cal and then turning necks to fit a tight neck chamber. For comparison, the case on the right is 308 Win. I had Karl open the neck on a 6.5-284 Redding S die to 30 cal for resizing. And “chamber” a Wilson 30 cal in-line seater with the reamer used to cut the chamber.


Only had the rifle for a week and have tried only two bullets, both pushed by H4350. I have buggered some brass but am now starting to get it figured out ... ran out to the Range a second time today and shot these groups... and am confident the barrel is going to be a solid 1/2MOA shooter.


All that is left to do other than load development, is to paint the barrel black with Endura epoxy paint. Will get that done next week. Getting cataract surgery Fri, so no load development for at least two weeks. Going to drive me crazy.
And yes, recoil is “lively”

[Pathfinder76]

Looks good!

[sns2]

Looks great my friend.

Wouldn't it have been easier to go 30-06? Just sayin

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by sns2

Looks great my friend.
Wouldn't it have been easier to go 30-06? Just sayin

The only short action 30-06’s are 30-284’s

[Redneck 7]

Nice rig and I like the uncommon chambering.

Hope you have a good and fast recovery by the way. Post more info on reloading and pictures of future group sizes.

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

Nice rig and I like the uncommon chambering.
Hope you have a good and fast recovery by the way. Post more info on reloading and pictures of future group sizes.

I must admit that part of the appeal was the “different” factor. And, I was looking for something that would fit a short action (SA’s are all I have). My friend that does builds on BR rifles ... built one on the reamer he designed years ago ... said it was one of the most consistent cartridges (low 3’s) in his inventory. Another friend that shoots F/Open Class had also used one and offered his reamer but it’s freebore was too long for my purposes. So, I figured that I couldn’t go wrong with a cartridge with both short and long range cred.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

I must admit that part of the appeal was the “different” factor. And, I was looking for something that would fit a short action (SA’s are all I have). My friend that does builds on BR rifles ... built one on the reamer he designed years ago ... said it was one of the most consistent cartridges (low 3’s) in his inventory. Another friend that shoots F/Open Class had also used one and offered his reamer but it’s freebore was too long for my purposes. So, I figured that I couldn’t go wrong with a cartridge with both short and long range cred.

I like your thoughts. I noticed myself the last year and half getting rifles in odd ball chambering. Really enjoying the reloading process too

[260 Rem]

The barrel was showing promise from the get-go when I shot these 100M groups, but had the barreled action in a HS Precision stock that weighed 8 oz more than the Wildcat, with that weight being in the forestock. Initially, I did not have an OAL gauge so I was just guessing at seating depth...and messed that up royally ... seated the 168’s too deep (0.110 jump) and with my guessed starting charge weight of 55.0 gr, was crunching powder. But, they shot reasonably well. On the second reload of the 15 pcs of brass I made up, I turned too much off the necks and without a bushing that was small enough ...lost almost all the neck tension.

[warriorboy10]

I have a 6.5 x 284 and shoots like a dream. 700 action, KSA barrel, custom stock and T trigger. With the powder and grains 143 eldx runs at 2975fps. 30 x 284 sounds interesting, have you had a chance to get fps?

[260 Rem]

168’s seated deep and compressing 55 gr H4350) powder were 2850 with no sign of pressure. When seated out further... about .015 off the lands with the same volume of powder (not compressing) ...velocity dropped about 15 FPS. I expect if I change to a faster burning powder (Varget) to get away from compressing...2900 FPS will be quite doable with the 168’s. This also suggests that if I were to shoot 150’s, 3000 FPS would be realistic. Necking the 284 up to 30 cal could double or possibly even triple the barrel life over that one might expect from necking it down to .264?

[ram crazy]

I'd cerakote the barrel black, it very durable.

[Cheyenne 1]

I shoot the 178 gr Hornady with R-26 in my 30-284
Velocity is just under a 30-06 AI.
Mine would not shoot the 168 at all. I had tried every powder and seating depth, just didn’t like those bullets.

As with anything built on the 284 case. It’s very efficient and works well.

[260 Rem]

RC...if this action was going to wear only one barrel, I’d likely go with cerakote but I have several other barrels chambered to 30BR, 6.5 X 47L, and 308 that fit the BAT action, so I will do them all. Using the Endura epoxy rattle can paint, I can do all of them for less tha $50.00.
Cheyenne ... I may try some 178 ELDX but would need to single feed them into this short action. When I use the HS Precision magazines, I am limited to a COAL of about 2.83” which would seat any of the long bullets pretty deep in the case. When I use standard Rem 700 hinged floorplate bottom metal I can go a bit longer, but still uses more case capacity than I want. I originally planned to use a Wyatt extended box but when I went to fit it, discovered I would not gain much.