New Life for 3000+ round 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle

[hambone1971]

I have a Savage 12FV 6.5 CM with over 3200 rounds of 147 ELDs now. Still shoots very good groups but velocity is down 80 - 90 fps since new. Loves 41.9 g RL 16 since new for those small groups. Last week Sportsman Warehouse finally got in RL 26 powder I bought a pound. I've been waiting 6 months for this powder to show up somewhere. Loaded some up and made a few trips to the range. I've been working charges up slowly and today I'm back to my old 2740 fps with no pressure indications. AND very small groups at 45 grains with no powder crunch either. I took it up to 45.6 but see no need to go higher as 45 grains works out to be a good node it seems. This is in a WORN out barrel ! Lots of racing clearence here.
Note this may be too much charge for a new gun as I also have a NEW 12 FV and it tested showing presure at lower grians with much HIGHER speeds. A new barrel will make a difference..
I'm liking RL-26 for my old gun...HB

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have a Savage 12FV 6.5 CM with over 3200 rounds of 147 ELDs now. Still shoots very good groups but velocity is down 80 - 90 fps since new. Loves 41.9 g RL 16 since new for those small groups. Last week Sportsman Warehouse finally got in RL 26 powder I bought a pound. I've been waiting 6 months for this powder to show up somewhere. Loaded some up and made a few trips to the range. I've been working charges up slowly and today I'm back to my old 2740 fps with no pressure indications. AND very small groups at 45 grains with no powder crunch either. I took it up to 45.6 but see no need to go higher as 45 grains works out to be a good node it seems. This is in a WORN out barrel ! Lots of racing clearence here.
Note this may be too much charge for a new gun as I also have a NEW 12 FV and it tested showing presure at lower grians with much HIGHER speeds. A new barrel will make a difference..
I'm liking RL-26 for my old gun...HB

I figured this same thing out a couple of years ago. Until it starts throwing fliers go with it, especially if it's for shooting steel.

 

[sbhooper]

Mine only has several hundred rounds, but I use 46 grains with Re 26, without issue. I pushed it higher, but really saw no reason. 147s are great bullets in the Creed and boy they hit steel hard!