6.5 Creedmoor - Savage Build

[lazyMlazyK]

I got a chance to shoot my first round of load testing today on the rifle I just built. Starting load was 39.7gr H4350 pushing a 140gr ELD-M. I didn't set up the chronograph for the first three groups, but the last three groups of three shots gave me the following velocities:

40.6gr - 2732, 2737, 2744
40.9gr - 2746, 2754, 2771
41.2 - 2764, 2759, 2775

Loads 1-6 were shot on this target with groups 1-3 being shot top to bottom on the left, and groups 4-6 being shot top to bottom on the right. Shot at just 100 yards as today was windy and I didn't want wind to affect what I saw on the target.

I'm thinking of loading five more each of groups 1, 3, 4, and 5 and waiting for a calm day to test them at 300 to verify that one of these loads is good enough for me. What are your thoughts on this target?

*Note - this was all virgin Lapua brass that had been resized with a Redding S Match Full Bushing die. Left the expander mandrel in and used a .289 bushing.

 

[Lkwebb]

What brand of barrel?

 

[lazyMlazyK]

What brand of barrel?

Criterion, 26" Heavy Palma

 

[Bc'z]

I'd load a couple dozen of target #4
7 sets of 3 moving bullet deeper in case in .003 increments to start and nail down your seating depth, then go back to charge weight.

 

[boltfluter]

I would say that you have a "shooter" no matter what you choose!

 

[6.5 forever]

If this will be used for long range, test your top higher loads at the longest distance available. I wouldn't use more components at close ranges. You have a shooter.

 

[Minshooter]

If this will be used for long range, test your top higher loads at the longest distance available. I wouldn't use more components at close ranges. You have a shooter.

This. Exactly.

 

[darkangel_r2]

To be honest I don't really like any of them. I don't like the way the point of impact is moving. The average group size is great but I'm concerned that these won't hold together at range due to unstable POI. The closest you get are groups 3-5 but 4-5 has a 20fps velocity gap and the order is reversed from what you want with the slowest being low and the fastest being high. Without knowing the velocity stats on 3 its hard to recommend anything I see on that sheet.

What chrony are you using? If its touching the barrel (magneto style) you can't use it for load dev.

Did you fire your rifle in the configuration it is intended to be used in? Will you change anything on the gun when you use it for its intended roll? A gun you shoot prone with a loaded bipod is going to act a little different than that same gun shot free recoil br style.

Did you see any pressure? If not check faster. If you did check just below that 39.7 load to see what the it looks like near your best group.

 

[lazyMlazyK]

To be honest I don't really like any of them. I don't like the way the point of impact is moving. The average group size is great but I'm concerned that these won't hold together at range due to unstable POI. The closest you get (closest to what?) are groups 3-5 but 4-5 has a 20fps velocity gap and the order is reversed from what you want with the slowest being low and the fastest being high (what order - order of what? slowest being low...as in, lower on the target? faster being high...as in, higher on the target? Sorry, I'm a bit lost in the weeds here on what you're getting at). Without knowing the velocity stats on 3 its hard to recommend anything I see on that sheet.

What chrony are you using? If its touching the barrel (magneto style) you can't use it for load dev. - used a Caldwell Premium Chono. I'd like to upgrade to a Labradar someday, but this is already paid for.

Did you fire your rifle in the configuration it is intended to be used in? Will you change anything on the gun when you use it for its intended roll? A gun you shoot prone with a loaded bipod is going to act a little different than that same gun shot free recoil br style. - These rounds were shot from prone, with a front bipod and rear bag. I've never done load development this way before, so there could very well be some shooter-induced variances shown on the target. This rifle will be mainly used for long-ish range steel shoots and possibly PRS style shoots, so I thought maybe it's better to develop the loads from a position I might use at a match.

Did you see any pressure? If not check faster. If you did check just below that 39.7 load to see what the it looks like near your best group. - I did not see any signs of pressure, be it low or high. I didn't go all the way up to the book max load of 41.5gr, as I don't want to work my brass TOO much and loosen up the primer pockets sooner.

 

[lazyMlazyK]

I'd load a couple dozen of target #4
7 sets of 3 moving bullet deeper in case in .003 increments to start and nail down your seating depth, then go back to charge weight.

I've got 15 rounds of both 40.6gr and 40.9 gr. loaded up and ready to test seating depth. Will see how things look on Saturday, shooting at 300 yards.

 

[darkangel_r2]

darkangel_r2 said:
"To be honest I don't really like any of them. I don't like the way the point of impact is moving. The average group size is great but I'm concerned that these won't hold together at range due to unstable POI. The closest you get (closest to what?) are groups 3-5 but 4-5 has a 20fps velocity gap and the order is reversed from what you want with the slowest being low and the fastest being high (what order - order of what? slowest being low...as in, lower on the target? faster being high...as in, higher on the target? Sorry, I'm a bit lost in the weeds here on what you're getting at). Without knowing the velocity stats on 3 its hard to recommend anything I see on that sheet."

Closest to a stable point of impact. Order of slowest bullets being lower on the target and fastest being highest on charges 3-5. If your highest impacting bullets at close range are also the fastest it means you will have vertical stringing if your shot is a little faster than the others in the group.

"What chrony are you using? If its touching the barrel (magneto style) you can't use it for load dev. - used a Caldwell Premium Chono. I'd like to upgrade to a Labradar someday, but this is already paid for."

Good, it works fine. Just didn't want anything touching the barrel as that changes harmonics and POI.

"Did you fire your rifle in the configuration it is intended to be used in? Will you change anything on the gun when you use it for its intended roll? A gun you shoot prone with a loaded bipod is going to act a little different than that same gun shot free recoil br style. - These rounds were shot from prone, with a front bipod and rear bag. I've never done load development this way before, so there could very well be some shooter-induced variances shown on the target. This rifle will be mainly used for long-ish range steel shoots and possibly PRS style shoots, so I thought maybe it's better to develop the loads from a position I might use at a match."

Good. Rifle behavior can change based on the position it is fired in. So I think its prudent to do load dev in a similar manner it is to be used in.

"Did you see any pressure? If not check faster. If you did check just below that 39.7 load to see what the it looks like near your best group. - I did not see any signs of pressure, be it low or high. I didn't go all the way up to the book max load of 41.5gr, as I don't want to work my brass TOO much and loosen up the primer pockets sooner."

You may want to keep going up to see if it becomes more stable if you add some powder.