My next rifle will be a 6.5 Creed with a 1.8 twist barrel. I'll only be shooting out to 300yrds. (paper). Would I get better accuracy from a lighter bullet 90gr-100gr, than from a 140gr, or should I go heavier?
Bullet Weight for 6.5 Creedmoor
- Thread starter papajoe222
- Start date
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
I shoot target to make my hunting shots more accurate. I favor the 130/140 gr bullets in the 6.5CM. 90-100 gr are very light for the 6.5 and with your twist, I think the tune will be easier. But as I said, I'm always looking at shots on game as my end goal.
130-143g is perfect for that twist in a 6.5CM.
It was indeed developed around 140s.It's my understanding that the 6.5 CM platform was created around the 140 gr bullet weight? Maybe, but regardless, I have gotten good results out to 1000 (.5 MOA) using 140 gr Hornady ELD-Ms. Not match winning accuracy certainly, but I'm happy with the results.
For hunting you might find better results in the 129-130 range with some bullets, others, you’ll want 140s. Save the super light bullets for the really small game, coyotes on down.
I bought a bunch of 140 Fusions, which I believe are the same bullet as the 140 Gold Dot. Haven’t tested accuracy yet but videos online suggest excellent accuracy as well as exceptional terminal performance.
Prose
Silver $$ Contributor
There are good match bullets in the 107-120 gr range that will work great inside 300 yards. Save on powder and recoil. 140+ is not necessary for short range. Going down to 90 is probably a bit too low for that case but I don't personally have experience with bullets that light.
The smallest groups I have ever shot with a 6.5 Creedmoor and I have had five of them is
with Lapua 120gr bullets.
with Lapua 120gr bullets.
I fell into the heavy bullet craze for a long time. There's no denying that a 140gr Berger hybrid target is an exceptional bullet and performs very well in this cartridge. I even shot the 147 ELD-M for a season. Now i find myself shooting the 135 A-tip and the 130gr Berger OTM. In my experience, in my rifles(sample of 2), the 130 class bullet allows for a higher powder charge and my tune window seems to be more forgiving. I am shooting PRS, not bench or F-class, so my requirements for accuracy may not be as strict, But im still looking for SD's under 7-8 and consistent 1/2" groups. frequently, these bullet combos are exceeding that.
The added velocity I get from the 130 class bullet wipes out any B.C. differences, especially with the A-tip going ~ 2870. and the advertised G7 at .321. (thats a spicy load however)
Dont be scared to try some lighter bullets is all im saying. If you do your part behind the rifle, they will do their part down range. Component supplies for 6.5 are still scarce for the heavy stuff. Berger.....Grrrrr
The added velocity I get from the 130 class bullet wipes out any B.C. differences, especially with the A-tip going ~ 2870. and the advertised G7 at .321. (thats a spicy load however)
Dont be scared to try some lighter bullets is all im saying. If you do your part behind the rifle, they will do their part down range. Component supplies for 6.5 are still scarce for the heavy stuff. Berger.....Grrrrr
Is the Berger 130 your referring to the AR hybrid? I see them in stock at a couple of places now.
At such a short range I would go something in a flat base around 120 grains and push it quick
Yes. I had a few hundred sitting in my shop for a few years that i never tried because of the loads i had going with the 140's. Now that ive run out of 140's, im glad i did. I was pretty spiteful towards the creedmoor after loading it for several years. In my cases, i found that my optimal load windows were very narrow and could be down right picky. However, i was comparing myself to my fellow match shooters running BR's and Dashers that made my loadings look like trash, and for a while it got in my head that i was not placing well in matches due to my ammunition. Im also not saying that loading a 130 class bullet made my rifle shoot like a BR, but I wish I would have tried these bullets sooner.
Long, high bc bullets may not be the best choice here. A lighter bullet at higher speed can reduce the time to the target. This is good, but many people push this too far. Barrel length and type of shooting are important. My preference is the 120 to 130 grain area. In my long Barrels that gives 3050+ fps. I try to balance speed with wear and cleaning tolerance. If I can't shoot 100 shots without cleaning the load is wrong for my style of shooting. Your mileage may vary.
For 300 yds you don't need high BC but you need quality bullet construction. If it were me based on my experience with 223 and 308 with a 300 yd limit I would try any of the 120-130 gr target bullets like the Sierra Match Kings but I would also try the Sierra 120 Pro Hunter spire point as it is a flat based bullet. Try and stay away from the long range bullets as they are harder to develop loads for.
I’d try the 130 class bullets. They work good I’m mine.
... until the wind kicks up, of course.
My own nearby range is ugly with the wind, many days. Swirls hard, and is often in opposite directions once or twice, even at only 200yds. I've found that a heavier bullet with far better BC ends up driving through the wind with less uncertainty. Still is a pain, but it stings less.
Thanks all. I love load development, which is one reason I'm looking to go 6.5. Looks like I'll have plenty of options.
Kurz
Silver $$ Contributor
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