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Reduced Load for .284 Winchester

Snellstrom
Looking for a reduced load for a .284 Winchester. My son is not quite ready to step up from the .243 but I'd like to start working on a load that he could start to prictice with in the .284 that would be a reduction in recoil. Rifle is a Ruger M77 flatbolt. I'd like something in 120,130, or 140 grain weight and prefer something that is a proven load, not something that someone thinks might work. For some reason reduced loads make me nervous and I've never experimented with them before, all my loads have been looking to squeeze out max velocity and max accuracy for hunting loads.
Thanks.
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • Ronald J. Snow
    The Speer Manual has reduced loads for their 130 and 145 grain bullets using SR4759 powder.
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  • ATF
    Did you try the suggested loads instead of the max? Should be pertty mild,I'm only 5'6" and weigh about 160 and they seem a bit milder to me. Good Luck. [:)]

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    When a worm wants to relax,does he go fishing? "And remember a wet dog doesn't fly at night" "My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be." ATF,Eagle Guns
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  • JustC
    120gr NBT and pick a powder.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • Snellstrom
    Thanks ATF, I already loaded a batch of 120 grain bullets at the minimum load posted and was surprised at the amount of recoil, it was still substantial, my boy is 11 years old still under 5' and weighs 100 pounds so I don't want to pound him and start some bad habits. This cartridge is surprisingly powerful, factory loads from the bench are hard to take for very many rounds.
    And Thanks Ronald I'll take a look at the Speer manual, I think the only Speer manual I have is nearly 20 years old.
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  • JustC
    go over to accuratereloading and ask a guy by the name of "seafire/b17"?? he has been working with blue dot pistol powder in a LOT of rifle calibers for reduced loads. he has gotten some great results as far as accuracy.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • nononsense
    Dave,

    There are a couple of things to consider here and I don't think that one is reduced loads. It is usually the first thing considered but it isn't necessarily the correct path.

    Another way to think about this would be to give thought to changing the cartridge. Now, before you get upset with me, DON'T get rid of the Ruger .284 Win., I think that it's a great cartridge. But consider this, the .284 Win. is the equivalent of the .280 Rem. (7mm/06) so there is bound to be lots of energy and therefore recoil especially with the heavier bullets. You could go with something along the lines of the 7mm-08 which is a milder yet very effective and popular hunting cartridge. Another would be the 7mm Mauser or the 7x57 as it can be referred to. Both cartridges can be had in reasonably priced rifles AND will last your son through his adult life as well.

    The other thing to consider is this; Bill Ruger may have had his moment when he designed his .22 pistol and the 10/22 but after that it was all down hill. The man had NO concept of stock design. I know that there are a bunch of folks that can't shoot Rugers because of this. I've worked with them to correct their problems. But there is a solution. Change out the stock for something that is designed correctly and has a better than decent recoil pad. There are used stocks for sale all over the internet that can had for less than retail. Buy one and put a SIV Limbsaver recoil pad on it and put the Ruger in it or a 7mm-08 or the 7x57. The rifle will be infinitely more shooter friendly than in its original configuration. But you will still have to download the .284 Win. somewhat.

    I think that the better solution is another cartridge in a reasonbly priced rifle. Switch rifles for the time being.

    Best.
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  • Snellstrom
    Thanks Nononsense I appreciate the feedback. No I'm not upset you suggest I get him something else, but the gun has some history. Please bear with me and I'll explain. My father bought this gun new in the box at Bi-Mart in Eugene Oregon when I was just a kid, he also bought a 2x7 Leupold and mounted that up and used it for many years for Deer and Elk. Each of us ( me and my 2 brothers ) used the rifle on occasion to take a few Deer ( Blacktails ), when us boys grew up and left home my dad switched to blackpowder and gave the gun to my youngest brother who used it for many more years, last year he passed it along to my son to grow into. So consequently there is not only some sentimental value to the .284 but a little family pressure as well for my son to take some Deer and Elk with it. Everybody keeps asking me and my son "have you shot the .284 yet?"
    I've got him signed up for a Cow Elk tag this fall and I'm pretty sure he'll shoot his first Cow with a .243 and Barnes X bullets and we'll just wait until he is a little more man sized to start using the .284. I may take some of the advise I've been given and work on a reduced load for him to target shoot with for awhile while growing into it.
    Thanks again Nononsense and everyone else for the great opinions and information, I'm lucky to have people like you all to throw these questions at.
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  • JustC
    I don't know if nononsense will agree with me here but I will lend some experience i had with my M77. I bought mine at an NRA dinner (stainless 30-06 with 22" tube) and I made it a safe queen as I worked with other fifles for a few years. I wanted a laminated stock with the stainless and not the walnut, so I swapped the factory handle for the Boyds JRS laminated and torqued it properly. This rifle has been an absolute joy to shoot with very little perceived recoil. I have trouble beleiving it when I shoot it. I even have a 44mm scope on it and I have no cheek weld issues. I don't know if it's because of that stock or not,..but it sure made me like the rifle. anytime a 30-06 has very little perceived recoil in a 22" tube, I have to give credit to the stock.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • nononsense
    Justin,

    Whether I agree or not doesn't matter. What matters is that we all get to participate in gentlemanly discussions and expound on our own opinions. This is what brings out the best and most information for these questions. All sides should get some representation and the original poster gets to make an informed decision.

    I've expressed my opinion on 'laminated' stocks before. They are plywood no matter how you try to differentiate it, color it or let the copy writers write about it, it's still plywood. I like real wood in all of the varieties available. Simple as that.

    But with regard to the topic, the Ruger stocks are not shooter friendly and are a poor design for recoil control. Any stock other than the original factory Ruger, that fits the shooter and helps to control the recoil is a better investment for that shooter. This opens the market up for other manufacturers to create stocks for the replacement of the original Ruger. It's good for everyone. Whether your choice is a Boyd's, Richard's or Elk Ridge (also Richard's) for laminates or McMillan, B&C, Borden or Rimrock, etc. for fiberglass, makes no difference. The goal is to get a stock that fits and helps to control the recoil and to be an asset for accurate shooting.

    Jon Sundra designed that stock for Boyd's for those very reasons and it sounds like he succeeded for your situation. That's what counts.

    Best.
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