RL16 loads in the 6.5 Creedmoor with 140s???

[Raptor]

I've found the 140 RDF's like a good jump, at least out of my rifle.

I may have to reshoot them. I was about .020 to .030 off. They shot horrible compared to the 139s...

 

[BP1]

I may have to reshoot them. I was about .020 to .030 off. They shot horrible compared to the 139s...

They shoot good out of my 26” bartlein with .035 jump and 42.5gr of h4350 out of the 6.5 creedmoor.

 

[Raptor]

Just got back from the range. 43.2grs is my go to load with RL-16. It shoots about 1.2" groups at 300yds with 3 in .7 or less. I cronographed this load and out of my 22" barrel I am getting 2784fps. That is nearly identical as the H4350 load I was shooting at 42.7 so not sure I gained anything. It may be a touch more accurate. But will need to stretch it out further to be sure which way I will go......

 

[Daerider]

I worked up a load with RL-16 and Berger 140 Hybrids (p/n 26414). I did 10 3-shot groups at 100yds starting at 41.40gn in .3gn increments up to 44.14gn. The top three charge weights ended up being compressed and the groups opened up quite a bit. 42.30 and 42.60 shot almost identical velocities with a group size of .1-.2". I am going to load up 50 more at 42.45gn and play with seating depth shooting 5-shot groups at 300yds tomorrow.

• 27" shilen barrel 430 rounds through the tube - Boron Nitride coated after initial break-in of 25 shots.
• Lapua Brass 6.5 Creedmoor - annealed after every firing
• Berger 140 Hybrids - Boron Nitride coated
• RL-16 - 2.750g (42.45gn)
• CCI BR4 primers
• Seating Depth: .010" from the lands
• COAL: 2.925"
• Velocity: 2850 fps
• ES: 4
• SD: 2.1

 

[Daerider]

Was able to verify the load today for accuracy without the magnetospeed attached to the barrel. Shot two 5-shot groups at 100yds to verify my scope was dialed in and then moved on to 300 yds. The groups shot well @ 100 yds with .131 and .185. However, the nut behind the trigger was only able to shoot a 1.085" and 1.875" group at 300 yds. Not my best showing, but I am still going to blame it on mirage and that ass kicking 1-2mph wind that was blowing left to right!

Group1 - .131" 5-shot 100yds
Group2 - .185" 5-shot 100 yds
Group3 - 1.085" 5-shot 300 yds
Group4 - 1.875" 10-shot 300 yds

 

[Raptor]

I shot this group at 600yds this morning with 43grs of RL-16. When I started loading last night I realized that I had used the wrong seating depth when I had shot them earlier. So I set them at what I thought was the correct depth that this rifle had been shooting well with my 4350 load and when I shot the RL-16 loads they shot like crap!!!! I could not figure out why they shot so well at 300 and sucked at 600yds. Then I realized that I had shot the original groups with a "Deep" seating depth. I actually had 5 left over and was just going to shoot them instead of pulling them. Well when I shot them, I was shocked!! The shot right at 2"s. Now I need to re-shoot them to see if it was a fluke group or not......

 

[Daerider]

I shot this group at 600yds this morning with 43grs of RL-16. When I started loading last night I realized that I had used the wrong seating depth when I had shot them earlier. So I set them at what I thought was the correct depth that this rifle had been shooting well with my 4350 load and when I shot the RL-16 loads they shot like crap!!!! I could not figure out why they shot so well at 300 and sucked at 600yds. Then I realized that I had shot the original groups with a "Deep" seating depth. I actually had 5 left over and was just going to shoot them instead of pulling them. Well when I shot them, I was shocked!! The shot right at 2"s. Now I need to re-shoot them to see if it was a fluke group or not......

I did something very similar. I loaded up another block of 140 RDFs with H4350 .010" off the lands and was shocked how horrible they shot. I think .030" - .060" off should be the minimum starting point with these bullets. Nice group at 600 yds!

 

[Raptor]

I did something very similar. I loaded up another block of 140 RDFs with H4350 .010" off the lands and was shocked how horrible they shot. I think .030" - .060" off should be the minimum starting point with these bullets. Nice group at 600 yds!

Thanks!!! Not bad for shooting off the hood of my PU!! I actually shot a group with my 6-SLR that was even a little better!! It was a beautiful morning, hardly any wind!! That just never happens out here in S. Dak. Thanks for the tip on the RDFs. I bought a box to try and shot a couple of groups at around .020 or .030 off and they SUCKED!!!

 

[Bc'z]

I just ran 41 rounds with Rl16 with new fully prepped new hornady brass. Started @41gr went up in.5 increments to 43gr.
21 lapua 139gr Scenars. Best group 4 shots .5" @ 43gr.
20 rounds 143eldx loaded the same 41-43gr.@ .5 increments. Agian 4 rounds each.
41gr.45"& 42.5 measure .44" largest group was .86"
Normally I shoot cci200 primers, I tried WLRP's today.
I think I might play with the best loads with cci200 and neck sized cases.
I was showing preasure at 43gr charge.

 

[Raptor]

I stopped at 43.2 but had no pressure signs at all. I am crunching powder there and my gain was only like 4 to 6ft more in velocity....

 

[Buzzsaw]

6.5 Creedmoor Berger 140 gr Hybrid Hornady 2.825 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 43.6 2,821 -
6.5 Creedmoor Speer 140 gr SP Hornady 2.76 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 42.4 2,766 -
6.5 Creedmoor Hornady 140 gr SST Hornady 2.825 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 42.6 2,794 -
6.5 Creedmoor Sierra 142 gr MK Hornady 2.8 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 43.9 2,823 -
6.5 Creedmoor Sierra 140 gr SBT Hornady 2.64 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 43.8 2,813 -

 

[Bc'z]

6.5 Creedmoor Berger 140 gr Hybrid Hornady 2.825 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 43.6 2,821 -
6.5 Creedmoor Speer 140 gr SP Hornady 2.76 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 42.4 2,766 -
6.5 Creedmoor Hornady 140 gr SST Hornady 2.825 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 42.6 2,794 -
6.5 Creedmoor Sierra 142 gr MK Hornady 2.8 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 43.9 2,823 -
6.5 Creedmoor Sierra 140 gr SBT Hornady 2.64 24 CCI 200 Reloder 16 43.8 2,813 -

What barrel length?

 

[Buzzsaw]

24" these were on Alliants website. Seems "hotter" than most? I loaded up some test loads with 43.0gr, 140 Berger VLDH and 143ELDX. Headed to the range this morning. Will chronograph. .02 off.

 

[krummarine]

Tag for future reference

 

[hambone1971]

I'm using 42.5g. of Reloader 16 behind a 140g. VLD target and Hornady brass. It's a warm load but shot well. 42.8g. shot well also but was starting to show signs of pressure. 41.8g. is my load for 147g. ELD match bullets. I've had really good luck with Reloader 16 in my creedmoor. Wanted an alternative powder to H4350 due to it being a little scarce lately. Trying it in my 6.5x47 at the moment.

Rodney for your 41.8g load 147g ELD-M what gun are you loading for and barrel length? Thanks HB

 

[Rodney]

That load I’m shooting in my savage axis that has a 26” Varmint weight barrel that I put on myself. The barrel is a new take-off that I got from northland shooters supply.

 

[Steve morgan]

My

Does anyone have any good data on shooting RL16 in the 6.5 Creedmoor??? Looking to shoot the 140s. Any thoughts and data would be appreciated. Thanks guys!!!

My Bergera.b,14 hmr likes rl 16.
43.5 gr Berger 140 elite Hunter ,gold medal match primer,hornaday brass.
5 shots .860 at 100 yds. Alliant says
43.6 is max. Start low & work up in your rifle.

 

[hambone1971]

That load I’m shooting in my savage axis that has a 26” Varmint weight barrel that I put on myself. The barrel is a new take-off that I got from northland shooters supply.

Ok, Thanks. I use the exact same load for my Savage 12 FV 6.5 CM 26 inch barrel. I use it for long range plinking and it shoots mostly 1/2 MOA when I do my part. I like it so much I was hoping Cabelas has it on sale again this Thanksgiving or Christmas and I'm going to buy another. It's $420.00 when not on sale so after the holidays if no sale I may get another anyway. This one has over 2600 rounds now and is still going great. Not sure how long that barrel will last. Thanks HB

 

[hambone1971]

That load I’m shooting in my savage axis that has a 26” Varmint weight barrel that I put on myself. The barrel is a new take-off that I got from northland shooters supply.

Rodney, was the old barrel shot out, or just upgrading to target/Varmint shooting gun? My forward stock was a little flexible in hot temps, took it off, put in alum bar stock 3/8 x 1/4 x 10 inches. Auto epoxied it in, added some flox (chopped fiberglass) and more epoxy in surrounding cavities and its stiff as hell now. Many don't like the stock Savage stock but stiffened up it seems great to me. Do you need any special tools to change out the barrel? Thanks HB

 

[Rodney]

The old barrel was not shot out. You guessed right, wanted a heavier barrel for longer range shooting. My barrel is off of a model 12 according to the markings. Very accurate for a factory barrel. Probably identical to yours hambone. Got it in the clearance section at NSS.