Bolt-action .284 Winchester

Q: I remember that you had a .284 Winchester built on a BSA Royal action with 24-inch barrel that was long-throated. You used it to shoot a mule deer in Wyoming, among other game. 

I am having a .284 built on an Interarms Mauser 98 action with a Tobler barrel and synthetic stock. I’ll use Leupold quick-release mounts and a 2-10×42 Meopta scope. I have a Redding die set and 100 new cases. 

What is the best powder to use? I have AR2209 and AR2213sc. Could you suggest a couple of good loads with 140gn and 160gn bullets?

Theo Taylor

A: Rifles with short bolt-actions and autos and pumps never did justice to the .284 cartridge. Deep seating of the bullets for these rifle meant it couldn’t realise its full potential.

In short actions, the .284 Win’s performance in not much better than a 7mm-08.

My Beezer had a long throat with free travel which allowed bullets to be seated out level with the base of the case neck. 

The best powder for the .284 is AR2209. A charge of 57gn behind the 140gn Barnes TSX bullet was near maximum, giving 3055fps.

Using the 160gn Nosler bullet and 54gn of AR2209 gave 2853fps. Both loads grouped under one MOA.

As well as a mule deer, I took a record-class tahr in New Zealand with my .284, using the 130gn Speer driven at over 3100fps with 58gn of AR2209.