Loading 6.5 Creedmoor in a pistol barrel

[Bill616]

Has anyone loaded this cartridge in a pistol length barrel? I have a 15" barrel and will use the 120gr. & 140gr. bullets for target, silhouette and hunting. I have loaded the 6.5 Creedmoor in a rifle with a 26" barrel and wonder if the same powders in the Hornady manual, or others would be better suited to get about 2,200-2,300 fps with those bullet weights. I don't need maximum speed for target and silhouette work. Thank you.

 

[TC260]

I can't help you with the powder selection but the same powders that work in your rifle will work in your pistol. Load data is based on what happens inside the case not on the barrel length.

 

[Outrider27]

I can't help you with the powder selection but the same powders that work in your rifle will work in your pistol. Load data is based on what happens inside the case not on the barrel length.

+1 on the above. Experiments done probably 30 years ago and published in the American Rifleman using several rifle cartridges also available in Contenders, custom XP100s and Wichitas (so you're up in the 30-30 Win and .308 Win class) proved that the powders that gave the highest velocities in rifles also gave the highest velocities in handgun length barrels.

I can add that in at least one caliber, some of those powders do give just a tad more noise and muzzle blast in a short barrel than a long one, and that change can take place with as small a change as going from a 14" barrel on a Contender (IHMSA unlimited iron sight class) to a 10" barrel (IHMSA production class). The cure for my particular case was to do my 30-30 10" barrel loads with 3031 rather than 748 in deference to my line mates at matches. The difference in noise and muzzle blast with my proven 748 load in a 14" barrel and the same qualities in a 10" Contender barrel had to be seen to be believed!

 

[Bill616]

Thank you for the replys. That is exactly what I wanted to know. H-4350 is the powder that Hornady loads with their factory 140gr. A-Max bullet. They even give the grains of powder used on their ammo boxes. That powder and bullet have given excellent results in my rifle. I especially appreciate the comments with regard to muzzle blast by Outrider27, as I hope to shoot IHMSA with my 6.5 Creedmoor.