284 Win with Hodgdon Superformance

Hi all,

Just picked up a bottle of Hodgdon Superformance from trademe for my 284 Win built (t3). The load info is bit hard to find, but someone here has mentioned that it has similar performance as RL17. Any chance to share load data? I have few projectiles ranging from 140gr-180gr, also got bit N550 and N165 left so will be appreciated if anyone has load info. I feel sorry for young people just getting into reloading or hunting now days. I have just paid 450.00 for a set of redding die. They all worth of gold now days, if you can find them... take care

Yep, Superformance is a great choice for 284. I use it running 160TMKs @ 2830fps out of 20in bbl. Sweet spot for me was in the 56-56.5 gn range, but work up carefully from lower in your rifle

thanks a lot Chainsaw, will give it a go

there is NO data on hodgdon site for it......

SPF works great in some calibres and not so much in others. Bloody amazing in a 270. When you find a good load, just be a little careful using it in summer, I have found it is somewhat more temp sensitive than others.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

there is NO data on hodgdon site for it......

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Not much info around. on the bottle it gives: 22-250 with 60gr projectile and 43.0 gr charge, v=3738; 243 Win with 75gr projectile 49gr charge, v=3510; 300wsm 155gr a-max with 73.5 charge, v=3405fps. Speed looks quite potent. With Chainsaw's load it looks have similar burning rate as RL17, although it is ball powder so might not as stable

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Originally Posted by hey

Not much info around. on the bottle it gives: 22-250 with 60gr projectile and 43.0 gr charge, v=3738; 243 Win with 75gr projectile 49gr charge, v=3510; 300wsm 155gr a-max with 73.5 charge, v=3405fps. Speed looks quite potent. With Chainsaw's load it looks have similar burning rate as RL17, although it is ball powder so might not as stable

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That 60g projectile is fair moving :o

@hey I’m using R17 in my 18 Tikka action Hardy barrel rifle. I found the best group at 51.5g but it’s not fast at 2726ft/sec with 150 ELDX. I’m very happy with the three shot groups (1/2) inch and it regularly shoots two shots though one hole when I’m checking the zero.
I’ve got two pounds of R26 and if I can be bothered wasting projectiles, I might try that too.
Good luck, I’m keen to hear how you get in. :-)

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Originally Posted by Husky1600

SPF works great in some calibres and not so much in others. Bloody amazing in a 270. When you find a good load, just be a little careful using it in summer, I have found it is somewhat more temp sensitive than others.

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Yea I think thats right. Tried some in my 6.5 06 and accuracy was fine, velocity ok, but unexpected pressure signs - this was mid January and 30 - 32 deg

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Originally Posted by craigc

@hey I’m using R17 in my 18 Tikka action Hardy barrel rifle. I found the best group at 51.5g but it’s not fast at 2726ft/sec with 150 ELDX. I’m very happy with the three shot groups (1/2) inch and it regularly shoots two shots though one hole when I’m checking the zero.
I’ve got two pounds of R26 and if I can be bothered wasting projectiles, I might try that too.
Good luck, I’m keen to hear how you get in. :-)

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Thanks Craig, will do. nice setup you got there. take care

Hi there, I am using 51 gns of N550 with Hornady 154 SPs at about 2940 fps from a Brno 601 and 20" barrel. Shoots them well and they secure game very well - no degrees of dead! This load seems more accurate than R17 in my rifle, no pressure signs (ie I miked all the case webs and no excessive expansion noted), the R17 was up around 3000 fps though, but very happy with the N550 load.

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Originally Posted by Ruger7mm

Hi there, I am using 51 gns of N550 with Hornady 154 SPs at about 2940 fps from a Brno 601 and 20" barrel. Shoots them well and they secure game very well - no degrees of dead! This load seems more accurate than R17 in my rifle, no pressure signs (ie I miked all the case webs and no excessive expansion noted), the R17 was up around 3000 fps though, but very happy with the N550 load.

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Thanks Ruger7mm, appreciated for that. yes I have found VV serious powder is one of most accurate powders.

This link will take you to a research project a 284 fan (Frailley) in US did a while ago, it is very interesting and a good guide for 120, 140, and 150 grain loads. Also an interesting test on primers. The VV website now has 284 loads as well.

https://www.ammoguide.com/myag/artic...84loaddata.pdf

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Originally Posted by Ruger7mm

This link will take you to a research project a 284 fan (Frailley) in US did a while ago, it is very interesting and a good guide for 120, 140, and 150 grain loads. Also an interesting test on primers. The VV website now has 284 loads as well.

https://www.ammoguide.com/myag/artic...84loaddata.pdf

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Thanks Ruger7mm, that's an excellent article to read. For such a superlight hunting rifle that 10 shots group is more than impressive.

Update on the 284 project. Got some 6.5-284 brasses and loaded few rounds for ladder testing. I haven't fireformed them as now powder and brasses are very limited. Both loads are close to the land (haven't measured it yet). Below is the result:
2208 with 139 SST: 1,2 not measured. 3: 47 gr=2858; 47.5=2883; 48.0=2889
Hodgdon Superformance with 162 ELD-M: 53.0 gr=2696; 53.5=2686; 54=2763; 54.5=2767; 55=2817; 55.5=2868
Left is 139 SST, right is ELD-M
Attachment 190641

forgot to say the barrel is t3x factory, about 21 inches. In its previous life (7mm08) it loves 162 ELD-M and 150 ELD-X. I have loaded few 55gr H-SP and 160 ELD-M for a trip last weekend, and alas, gale force wind! Didn't get the chance to pull the trigger

I've ben following these threads on the 284 for while now and eventually got one myself. I've been playing around with superformance and this thread has been interesting. Im not loading myself for the rifle. I leave that to somebody with a lot more experience and expensive equipment.
The rifle is a T3 with a factory 7mm 08 barrel reamed out by gunworks. 18 inch with DPT suppressor and VX5 3 to 15.
using Norma factory 284 brass. 150 grn Nosler accubonds. Fed 210 primer and superformance we settled on 59.6 grms of powder. No pressure signs and shoots into .35 moa at a hundy. ran it over the Labradar this morning for an average of 2875 fps with an Es of 35. Conditions perfect at the range. Have shot gongs consistently out to 610 yrds with this load using applied ballistics.
Did have some trouble at first as the first chrono tried reckoned the load was doing 2840 and we kept shooting over top of the gong. We had to fudge to speed upwards to not shoot straight over the top of the gong. Two shooters and a change to a different scope to eliminate any random errors and variables kept coming up with the same result.
Have not had chance to go back out with today labradar data and shoot out again to see what happens.
Also worked up a load with win760 and 139 ssts. they shot very well but havent had a chance to shoot an animal with them and figured to accubond would be the load to play with for now.
Also had some old brass that came with the rifle of unknown history do have Mark Bridgeman have a look over it and clean it up and trim and resize. We tossed away some that looked tired or with split necks and did a experiment to see if we could find a load that shot the same POI at 50 mtrs for in the bush and that if i lost the brass in the heat of battle its not three dollar a pop brand new brass.
with zero load devolpment we loaded up three 139 grn Hornady interlocks (cos i had heaps lying around that came with the rifle) and went to the range. Norma brass 56 grns of 2209 and CCI primers shot at 50 mtrs on a wobbly rest on a windy day all shot within a 1 inch orange dot. I also ran these over the labradar today and these averaged 2912FPS but with a ES of 81 FPS.
I was happy with that so i have two loads that can be used interchangeably with no change to zero. The accubonds for the open long range stuff ( once i iron out the gremlins with the trajectory ) and a cheap and cheer full load to use in the bush and save the expensive brass and projectiles.
I've shot 4 deer with the new rifle and it has worked as it should, so much so that i sold the 308 and will try having one rifle to rule them all instead of the 7mm rem mag and a 308.
I also had a play at the range the other day with a mild load of 56.5 RL26 and 162 Eldx and 168 Berger's to see if they has potential. Both load shot into a ragged clover leaf with no fuss, so that might be the next development project over the winter when I have some time.
Cheers Lads

Thanks Blackfern, that's awesome load you got there. Hopefully I can go to the range to test/verify my loads this week.

Thank you Blackfern! I have managed get some 150 nosler accubond LR projects from here, and it is the ticket! my ladder testing shows 55.0 gr=2825 (cold/clean bore); 55.5=2831; 56.0=2905; 56.5=2930. 2&3&4 are about 0.6" at 100M. Very happy. Now I just need find more projectiles and the powder! :XD:

Attachment 193213

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Originally Posted by Blackfern

I've ben following these threads on the 284 for while now and eventually got one myself. I've been playing around with superformance and this thread has been interesting. Im not loading myself for the rifle. I leave that to somebody with a lot more experience and expensive equipment.
The rifle is a T3 with a factory 7mm 08 barrel reamed out by gunworks. 18 inch with DPT suppressor and VX5 3 to 15.
using Norma factory 284 brass. 150 grn Nosler accubonds. Fed 210 primer and superformance we settled on 59.6 grms of powder. No pressure signs and shoots into .35 moa at a hundy. ran it over the Labradar this morning for an average of 2875 fps with an Es of 35. Conditions perfect at the range. Have shot gongs consistently out to 610 yrds with this load using applied ballistics.
Did have some trouble at first as the first chrono tried reckoned the load was doing 2840 and we kept shooting over top of the gong. We had to fudge to speed upwards to not shoot straight over the top of the gong. Two shooters and a change to a different scope to eliminate any random errors and variables kept coming up with the same result.
Have not had chance to go back out with today labradar data and shoot out again to see what happens.
Also worked up a load with win760 and 139 ssts. they shot very well but havent had a chance to shoot an animal with them and figured to accubond would be the load to play with for now.
Also had some old brass that came with the rifle of unknown history do have Mark Bridgeman have a look over it and clean it up and trim and resize. We tossed away some that looked tired or with split necks and did a experiment to see if we could find a load that shot the same POI at 50 mtrs for in the bush and that if i lost the brass in the heat of battle its not three dollar a pop brand new brass.
with zero load devolpment we loaded up three 139 grn Hornady interlocks (cos i had heaps lying around that came with the rifle) and went to the range. Norma brass 56 grns of 2209 and CCI primers shot at 50 mtrs on a wobbly rest on a windy day all shot within a 1 inch orange dot. I also ran these over the labradar today and these averaged 2912FPS but with a ES of 81 FPS.
I was happy with that so i have two loads that can be used interchangeably with no change to zero. The accubonds for the open long range stuff ( once i iron out the gremlins with the trajectory ) and a cheap and cheer full load to use in the bush and save the expensive brass and projectiles.
I've shot 4 deer with the new rifle and it has worked as it should, so much so that i sold the 308 and will try having one rifle to rule them all instead of the 7mm rem mag and a 308.
I also had a play at the range the other day with a mild load of 56.5 RL26 and 162 Eldx and 168 Berger's to see if they has potential. Both load shot into a ragged clover leaf with no fuss, so that might be the next development project over the winter when I have some time.
Cheers Lads

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Originally Posted by hey

Thank you Blackfern! I have managed get some 150 nosler accubond LR projects from here, and it is the ticket! my ladder testing shows 55.0 gr=2825 (cold/clean bore); 55.5=2831; 56.0=2905; 56.5=2930. 2&3&4 are about 0.6" at 100M. Very happy. Now I just need find more projectiles and the powder! :XD:

Attachment 193213

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Good velocity for quite a bit less powder than I'm having to use. What barrel length and set up are you using?

Mine is the factory barrel length, around 21-22 inches.

I've just done a test run with RL16 pushing the 150gr eldx,
Started at 52.5gr and worked up in 0.5gr increments, the majic started at 53.5gr of powder at an avg of 2940fps, still have 54 an 54.5gr to try as I stopped at 53.5, not seeing pressure signs. 22 inch barrel. Happy as so far 0.465MOA
Attachment 193252

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Originally Posted by Husky1600

SPF works great in some calibres and not so much in others. Bloody amazing in a 270. When you find a good load, just be a little careful using it in summer, I have found it is somewhat more temp sensitive than others.

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Hi Husky1600,
could you share your 270 Superformance load and velocity? I'm keen to give it a try.
Thanks!

Hi 243wssm, have a look of those links. Keep us posted.
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....n-loads-37401/
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....86/index2.html
https://www.coueswhitetail.com/forum...r-for-270-win/

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Originally Posted by 243wssm

Hi Husky1600,
could you share your 270 Superformance load and velocity? I'm keen to give it a try.
Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Magnus

I've just done a test run with RL16 pushing the 150gr eldx,
Started at 52.5gr and worked up in 0.5gr increments, the majic started at 53.5gr of powder at an avg of 2940fps, still have 54 an 54.5gr to try as I stopped at 53.5, not seeing pressure signs. 22 inch barrel. Happy as so far 0.465MOA
Attachment 193252

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RE26 goes super well too, ive only tried it with 162's and 180's thou from my 22" 284 barrel

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Originally Posted by GWH

RE26 goes super well too, ive only tried it with 162's and 180's thou from my 22" 284 barrel

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So I hear, been keeping an eye out for RL26 but it seems to as rare as unobtainium for the time being........ Sigh.

hi guys, im looking pretty hard at a 284 win tikka t3, is the 284 as good in the field as it looks on paper? i like the idea of sending a 139~154gn projectile with enough punch to anchor a reasonable sized red deer at 400 maybe 500 yards. a spot i shoot a bit often has animals around that distance across gullies

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Originally Posted by Shano

hi guys, im looking pretty hard at a 284 win tikka t3, is the 284 as good in the field as it looks on paper? i like the idea of sending a 139~154gn projectile with enough punch to anchor a reasonable sized red deer at 400 maybe 500 yards. a spot i shoot a bit often has animals around that distance across gullies

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284Win will shoot that distance with enough energy to do what you need quite comfortably. The question is can you?

Absolutely. Choose the appropriate pill for the range & game you are intending to shoot & place the shot accurately = job done. I run a bush load (140gn Accubond or 145gn Speer HC) and 162 AMAX or ELDMS for 300+. In my 22in bbl 284 I get north of 3000fps running 162s with RL26. Who needs a REM mag?! Get 2950 fps with RL17.

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Originally Posted by Shano

hi guys, im looking pretty hard at a 284 win tikka t3, is the 284 as good in the field as it looks on paper? i like the idea of sending a 139~154gn projectile with enough punch to anchor a reasonable sized red deer at 400 maybe 500 yards. a spot i shoot a bit often has animals around that distance across gullies

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sure will. having said that a 7mm rem mag with a 20 inch barrel will do it with factory ammo. you will need to reload if your using the 284.

thanks kiwijames & chainsaw, ive managed a couple of reds @ 316 & 383 yards with my 260 rem & 130gn gamechangers, recovered projectiles from both animals both high shoulder shots. my local farm property/ rifle range has enough flat area with a good backstop to shoot a 6in gong just on 4oo yards reasonably consistantly, ive just rejoined the deer stalkers after nearly 30 years so i now need to find out our local range days to see how i go from the 500 yard mound. i like my 260 for everything from magpies to deer but i thought a 284 might be a better longer range deer calibre, obviuosly a heavier projectile travelling a little faster has a knockdown advantage.

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Originally Posted by chainsaw

Absolutely. Choose the appropriate pill for the range & game you are intending to shoot & place the shot accurately = job done. I run a bush load (140gn Accubond or 145gn Speer HC) and 162 AMAX or ELDMS for 300+. In my 22in bbl 284 I get north of 3000fps running 162s with RL26. Who needs a REM mag?! Get 2950 fps with RL17.

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Hey Chainsaw, just about to start a load test in my 284, I’ll be running 162 eldm and RE26, curious what’s your load, obviously always work up etc. finding data is hard for 284 and re26, cheers

Right around 60gn on my scales and batch of RL26, Lapua brass, seated at 3.170 COL. Pressure signs (bolt lift) started at 60.5gn and 61.0 was getting “warm” for sure. Start a few grains lower & work up.

Agreed at around 60gr is the top end. mine are seated long though it will be over pressure at short action mag length

I'm running 59gr rl26 with 162gr ELD-M with a long OAL for 2830fps in 20inchbarrel. Seems low pressure load but seems to have plenty of knock down!

Cheers lads I’ll prob start around 56gr or so. I have a 26” bbl and my chambers been throated long which will help so should be good speeds