6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Issues

[Hohn]

Not to mention that you’ll get excellent barrel life running n165 most of the time.

 

[ebb]

Yea all the barrel life guys are claiming H1000 is the way to make a barrel livelong and prosper. N165 is right next to H1000 on the burn temp chart.

 

[ta6ppc]

I couldn’t get H4350 to shoot in my 6.5cm, H4831 with 140 class bullets shoots the best.
Varget with the 120 class bullets shoots well.
I use hornady brass, neck turned, flash hole reamed, seated at 2.80” shoots 1:4” if you can hold the gun still enough I’ve even had a few groups in the .1 range.
Berger 140 vld
Smk 142gr
Hornady 140 hpbt match
Hornady 140 eldx
All shoot 1/4” or less h4831 might fix it.

 

[Rob01]

I couldn’t get H4350 to shoot in my 6.5cm, H4831 with 140 class bullets shoots the best.
Varget with the 120 class bullets shoots well.
I use hornady brass, neck turned, flash hole reamed, seated at 2.80” shoots 1:4” if you can hold the gun still enough I’ve even had a few groups in the .1 range.
Berger 140 vld
Smk 142gr
Hornady 140 hpbt match
Hornady 140 eldx
All shoot 1/4” or less h4831 might fix it.

What powder charges you use with H4350?

 

[ta6ppc]

What powder charges you use with H4350?

I started around 40 gr went up to 42, seems I got pressure around 41 and I stopped because the brass was literally flowing into the ejector hole. I was getting groups in the .6-.8 range it just wasn’t good enough for me I gave up on it and started testing 4831 and just stuck with it.

 

[Rob01]

Just asking as a lot of people go by book and stop at 40 and never find a good load.

 

[daniel brothers]

you need to start out with the Carolina Load and go from there... then your troubles will be over.

 

[wbm]

Ya know H4350 is supposed to be the "go to" powder for the 6.5CM and for some it may be but in all three of mine it has never been the best powder. RL-16 and H4831 did better with 140gr bullets and nothing was better than Winchester 6.5 StaBall with Nosler 140gr RDF bullets.

 

[Rob01]

Ya know H4350 is supposed to be the "go to" powder for the 6.5CM and for some it may be but in all three of mine it has never been the best powder. RL-16 and H4831 did better with 140gr bullets and nothing was better than Winchester 6.5 StaBall with Nosler 140gr RDF bullets.

H4350 was the powder the round was developed around and what was loaded by Hornady for the first few years so that’s the main reason it’s the go to powder but as with any loading it might not work best in every rifle.

 

[wbm]

Probably does. When you look at the "what the pros use" powders, H4350 is still very popular.

 

[ta6ppc]

Just asking as a lot of people go by book and stop at 40 and never find a good load.

Yeah I thought I was going to do well with it because it was like a .6 moa 5 shot group but I hit pressure and was raising a nice burr on the case head that was standing up .050-.070 tall and I was like nope I’m done.. I also wasn’t anywhere near the speeds people discuss..
I hear RL 16 is really nice, also RL 26 but I haven’t found any to try

 

[ta6ppc]

you need to start out with the Carolina Load and go from there... then your troubles will be over.

thats why I ended up on H4831 honestly I shot from 42- 44.8 grains I didn’t hit pressure until 44.8 with it and I know that’s way over book

 

[Bc'z]

thats why I ended up on H4831 honestly I shot from 42- 44.8 grains I didn’t hit pressure until 44.8 with it and I know that’s way over book

My best with h4831sc is 45gr 136scenar L's

 

[Rob01]

Yeah I thought I was going to do well with it because it was like a .6 moa 5 shot group but I hit pressure and was raising a nice burr on the case head that was standing up .050-.070 tall and I was like nope I’m done.. I also wasn’t anywhere near the speeds people discuss..
I hear RL 16 is really nice, also RL 26 but I haven’t found any to try

Yup every rifle is different so you have to use what works. I have used H4350 in multiple barrels since 2008 and never an issue so I plan to keep using it. I have some IMR4451 also which I want to give a try.

 

[Bluenose]

I commented earlier but have since done a lot more testing. I've gone up to 43.3 with H4350 in my 20" Tikka CTR and 143 ELD-X and haven't hit any significant pressure signs though velocities are all over the place up there. I've been getting single digit SD with 41.6 gr in one lot and 41.9 gr in another, both around 2600 FPS. I also found another node at around 2500 FPS and 40.5 gr. I haven't played around with any other powders yet, but so far I'm getting really good results with H4350 so I probably won't bother.

 

[Hohn]

I know we’ve been recommending some slower powders to try here, but the single best 6.5 group I’ve ever fired was with RL15 and 140 ELDs. Experimenting with light loads, I put 36.5gr behind a 140 ELD at 2.800”. Bug hole. Imagine the Audi logo with the rings a bit less widely dispersed. I was gobsmacked.

No idea what the SD was with such poor case fill. But at shorter range, I’d say the target>the chrono.

 

[Rob01]

The problem with the faster powders is that they usually produce lower velocities. Sometimes with shorter barrels they can have higher and even in certain barrel that are longer but the majority see better velocities with the slower powders.

 

[Bc'z]

My buddy just came by yesterday and showed me a 3 shot 1 hole group using 140 hybrid, and superformance, respectable groups with h4831sc, ramshot hunter also on target.

 

[spudgun]

I have read this entire post and have thought to my self, I have been there too. It has been a long time to get my 6.5 to shoot with several ladder tests using bullet, powder, powder charges etc..

One thing that I have not read in this post is barrel temps.

I'm not saying that this is the magic variable but I have found that my barrel will give me the best groups at temps 130 to 145 deg.

i have tested loads and have noticed that every load I test when my barrel reaches the 130 deg mark the groups tighten up.

BTY, I use Hornady 140 Vmax, 40.5g H4350, Starline SPB, .05 off the lands and avg 2700 FPS.

Good luck on you quest.

 

[Texas10]

I worked up an inexpensive load for my 6.5 CM using once fired Hornaday brass I got for free, 140 SMKs I bought from a fellow shooter, H4350, 210M primers. It shot very well at 700 yds consistently hitting a 4 inch target, so I took it to my first club match for score and shot a 242-6X. Then shot paper at 300 yds yesterday and shot two 3 shot groups measuring .19 and .21 moa while using up the last of my match ammo.

While not even in the same league as many on this site, it was my personal best with this inexpensive build using a Savage 12FV action, Savage laminate stock, X-caliber 24 inch 8 twist heavy varmint SS barrel, Target Accutrigger, inexpensive Swift scope.

I want to add that when I ordered this barrel during last falls 25% off sale at X-caliber, it was delivered early Feb and I immediately scoped it with my Teslong. I have to say it was flawless in the machine work and finish, with perfectly centered throat, defect free lands and grooves with nicely lapped finish.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/swift-8-32x50mm-premier-waterproof-matte-rifle-scope-678m.html
http://www.x-caliber.net/