Breaking down Hornady's ELD Match ammo for 6mm Creedmoor

[Lefty Trigger]

I got my barrel today to build my 6mm Creedmoor and I already have supplies to reload so to get started and save time I bought a box of Hornady's match ammo to open one up. The specs are 108gr ELD match bullets loaded at 2.790 COAL, the powder is a little trickier... they have exactly 40.3 grains of ??? Their data on the box list a muzzle velocity of 2960fps and their closest load data using 40.3 grains of powder is 4831SC. I have some 4831SC and they don't appear to have the same color but the kernel size is right. Anybody know whats in there??

 

[venatic]

Compare to Reloder 16 and see what you get

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I have RL15 but not 16 and its not even close to 15. Could be 16 as that is real close in their data?

 

[fyrewall]

My guess is that Hornady contracts for tons of powder pounds each year for numerous specific uses and pulling a round apart to perform some type of identity analysis would be entirely speculative and fruitless. The powder might have come from any one of numerous sources and possibly might be unique or one of a kind, like specially designed for a specific cartridge.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I think venatic has got it, further searching on the wide world of Google has pointed several times that it is RL-16 powder in their match loads for the 6mm. My scale could be slightly high?

 

[Zero333]

H-4350 ???

 

[ranger3]

Or a blend, was just told today by Hornady that their 6.5 Creedmoor match ammo is always a blend.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

All factory ammo is a blend. Do not try to duplicate any factory load ever!!

 

[PatMiles]

All factory ammo is a blend. Do not try to duplicate any factory load ever!!

Your elevation may vary when it detonates in your face!

 

[watercam]

I broke down a Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge and it had spherical powder. I was not surprised as it would make powder dispensing much faster and more precise but I had assumed that they would have been using a stick powder.

 

[fatelvis]

After trying various powders in my 6 Creed, I found that RL16 seems perfect for this cartridge, with heavier bullets.

 

[Joel Dubose]

After trying various powders in my 6 Creed, I found that RL16 seems perfect for this cartridge, with heavier bullets.

Why ? Not doubting just wondering what about it quantified it as perfect for heavier bullets.

 

[tvaught]

SuperPerformance powder?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

SuperPerformance powder?

If it works here it would be the only case ive ever seen it work in

 

[shoot4fun]

Why ? Not doubting just wondering what about it quantified it as perfect for heavier bullets.

Can't speak for what he meant by "heavier bullets" but, after shooting H4350 for quite some time in 6 Creedmoor, I found the widest accuracy node I've ever seen with RL16 and Berger 105 Hybrids.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Can't speak for what he meant by "heavier bullets" but, after shooting H4350 for quite some time in 6 Creedmoor, I found the widest accuracy node I've ever seen with RL16 and Berger 105 Hybrids.

I need educating. How does it help to have a wider accuracy node? Do you mean you can tolerate more variation in your charge weights?

 

[fatelvis]

Why ? Not doubting just wondering what about it quantified it as perfect for heavier bullets.

Excellent accuracy, 2nd to best velocity with safe pressure, good case fill, excellent temperature stability, and copper fouling retardant thrown in for good measure .

 

[shoot4fun]

I need educating. How does it help to have a wider accuracy node? Do you mean you can tolerate more variation in your charge weights?

With RL16 I can easily adjust charge up or down within .5 grain to handle the AL weather swings. Velocity, ES and SD stay tight in temperature extremes. I've shot the load in hot(high 90's), humid summer and in temps hovering around freezing and my elevation data stays within a .1 mil window. I won't put my actual charge weight out here any longer though. I was long ago told by some all-knowing Quickload user it would blow up my rifle. I have seven reload cycles on some of the Hornady without failed primer pockets and no pressure signs.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Well I tried to duplicate the Hornady "Match" ammo for the 6 Creedmoor and believe I have, or so damn close its not funny! Using Hornady brass, 108gr ELD-match bullets, RL-16 powder and Federal match primers loading 40.2 grains of powder and seating to Hornadys spec of 2.790. Shooting both across my LabRadar I got within 6 fps of the match ammo and actually mine grouped better and had better ES/SD numbers!
Hornady "Match" ammo velocity 2969 ES 32 / SD 11.7 for 10 rounds, group size 1.870 @ 200yds
My "duplicate" ammo velocity 2963 ES 27 / SD 9.8 for 10 rounds, group size 1.455 @ 200yds
My "duplicate" ammo but with a Sierra 107gr match king velocity 2952 ES 26 / SD 9.0 for 10 rounds, group size 1.610 @ 200yds

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

That’s good to know. 7.5 twist barrel?

I am getting great accuracy results at 2880 fps SD 8-9 with my 6 Creed using Peterson SRP brass, Berger 105 bullets, 38.0 gr Hodgdon H4350, and CCI 450 primers. I will keep the RL16 in mind in case I want to dial up the velocity.