New to Handloading: 6.5 Creedmoor Powder Preferences

[PhilC]

I also prefer RL16 and use it in my 6.5 and 22 Creeds.

There's a member on Savage Shooters (CFJunkie) that did extensive testing with 4451 and provided speadsheet data to back it up. I corresponded with him a bit and trusted his data enough I bought an 8lb jug of 4451 for when I run out of RL16.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Alliant RL 15.5 is a new powder that’s very close to Hodgdon H4350. It’s not easy to find RL 15.5 either. Buy it if you can find it.

 

[Sebrock]

Ive had great success with Staball 6.5 which is usually pretty easy to get.

Lapua LRP brass, Federal 210m (@ .006 seating depth), 140g ELD-M, 43.5g of Staball. 2881 fps out of a 26 inch barrel. 10 shot group SD/ES when verifying the load was 4.9/16. The load has kept a 5/6 SD over time. At this charge weight and my seating depth which is a jump of .065 the fill is 99.7%.

 

[centershot]

I, as a new to me 6.5 shooter, wanted to revive this thread. It sounds as though the go to powders are R-16 and H 4350. Anything else come up? This would be for a bolt action Savage.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I, as a new to me 6.5 shooter, wanted to revive this thread. It sounds as though the go to powders are R-16 and H 4350. Anything else come up? This would be for a bolt action Savage.

Those two are the best but if your more budget minded, there are others out there.

 

[MUP]

I, as a new to me 6.5 shooter, wanted to revive this thread. It sounds as though the go to powders are R-16 and H 4350. Anything else come up? This would be for a bolt action Savage.

I've had good results using Superformance under 140 gr ELD-Ms in my RPR 6.5 CM. Not barn burning velocity but accurate out to 1000, shooting 1/2 MOA.

 

[DumpHollow]

Have you polled the 65CM website? Those shooters are more focused on the Creedmoor.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I was looking at Brownell’s site a little while ago and you can get Accurate 4350 delivered for around $35 a pound now compared to RL 16 which cost probably 30$ more. So there are options.

 

[cb186]

H4350, RL16 and IMR4451. I have some Accu4350 to test out of curiosity, but H4350 is my go to.

 

[centershot]

Have you polled the 65CM website? Those shooters are more focused on the Creedmoor.

Did not know about the site. Thanks!

 

[centershot]

H4350, RL16 and IMR4451. I have some Accu4350 to test out of curiosity, but H4350 is my go to.

I have a bit of the old XMR 4350 that I will try.

 

[markm87]

H4350 is gathering dust on my shelves. IMR 4350 worked much better for me. We have 1 LMT MWS, and Two Bergara Bolt guns. H4350 finally started working good, but IMR 4350 worked great right away.

We shoot 140s for the most part.

 

[okie]

If the two powders you have dont work, you have other issues.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

If the two powders you have dont work, you have other issues.

It's an older thread...I wonder how he got on...sometimes you never hear the end of the story.

 

[okie]

It's an older thread...I wonder how he got on...sometimes you never hear the end of the story.

LOL---i never look...

 

[joshb]

I, as a new to me 6.5 shooter, wanted to revive this thread. It sounds as though the go to powders are R-16 and H 4350. Anything else come up? This would be for a bolt action Savage.

H4831SC and H100V for me.

 

[Ryan66]

I, as a new to me 6.5 shooter, wanted to revive this thread. It sounds as though the go to powders are R-16 and H 4350. Anything else come up? This would be for a bolt action Savage.

As somebody who has been in a similar spot as you sound to be - I recommend taking the easy button and copying everyone else with their H4350/RL16/Staball 6.5 and your favorite 140gr bullet. They are all go to options because they are proven and easy to make work.

41.5 H4350 and a 140 bullet is the gold standard and you won’t have to work to hard to find something to work well around that - a few tenths up or down in powder and a seating depth test is all that stands between you and smiles on target.

 

[Bc'z]

After 6 years of shooting a 6.5cm with various powders I finally tried H4350 in this cartridge.
It's my belief H4831sc shoots smaller, not as fast, but smaller.
Start at 44gr H4831sc and work up to 45 in .2 increments. My money thinks you'll find joy somewhere in the middle.
With a 136L's in Hornady brass I was at 45gr, Peterson brass 44.3 gr with same bullet and primer.

 

[Cecil S.]

Lots of good information here. Following this post.

 

[Precisionhunter417]

Just my two cents. AA4350 is one of my most accurate 6.5cm powders and its afordable at 32-39/lb. I typically shoot 140g BTHP pills from Hornady and Sierra.