Reloading 6.5 Creedmoor

[Roach]

I've Been reloading for a few years now - primarily single stage .308 match ammo (1/2 MOA) and .223 / 9mm on the Dillon 650. A new to me cartridge is the 6.5CM. Like every other Tom, Dick & Harry I picked up a Ruger RPR.

With the .308 I simply knocked the shoulder back 2 thousandths and seated to bullets touching the lands. It was easy to get the ammo to shoot significantly better than anything I could buy using 175g SMKs, 210Ms, Varget, and LC LR brass. I think I have my work cut out for me to get my hand loads to performs as well, if not better, then factory match ammo which is sub 1/2 MOA out of the box on the 6.5.

So, for the first time ever I'm actually measuring the CBTO for the Nosler 140 and Sierra 140 bullets I picked up (no 140 ELD-M anywhere).

Sierra 2.256 CBTO 2.769 COL
Nosler 2.240 CBTO 2.880 COL

The sierra is below SAAMI spec and the Nosler is longer than mag length. I don't have any Hornady bullets but putting a loaded round into the comparator gives me a 2.195 CBTO

Do these number seem right to you guys? The Sierra and Nosler numbers are to the lands so I'll start by seating them .020 off the lands. Am I going in the right direction?

 

[shoot4fun]

I've been loading 6.5 Creedmoor since 2009. Never once loaded anything with bullets at or in the lands and both my guns can shoot under 1/2 MOA out to 700 yards (farthest I normally shoot at my range). Best groups hold 1 3/4" at 500 yards and a friend did the same with the original 140 Ama factory loads at 700 yards once. I've taken one of them to 1250 yards a couple times and been pleased with the results too. You should be happy with results from H4350 but don't overlook RL17 (best velocity/accuracy for me) and maybe even the new RL16. Mine has always shot the 142SMK best but close with the 140 Berger Hybrid. I stay about .020 off the lands.

 

[Roach]

I have no intention of jamming the bullet into the lands I'm starting with .020 off. I haven't been able to find H4350 I have IMR4451 which has a similar burn rate and people are finding success with it. I'm on the hunt for the Hornady 140 ELDMs

 

[Kurz]

I'm on the hunt for the Hornady 140 ELDMs

This seems to be the bullets of choice so Hornady is eating up their own supply for ammunition production which shorts the rest of the reloaders pipeline.

There are two good alternatives though:

- Hornady 6.5mm, 147 grain, ELD-M (superior in drop and drift)

- Hornady 6.5mm, 130 grain, ELD-M (slight more drop and drift)

Either of these is an excellent substitution for the 140-grain version until Hornady gets caught up in productions. They are both available through a selection of suppliers.

Another variation is the Nosler 6.5mm, 140 grain RDF bullet. It doesn't have quite the BC but it is a well made, accurate bullet.

Enjoy!

 

[Roach]

So I loaded up some sierras startibg towards the higher/middle of the range. Seated .020 off the lands. All brass was hornady fired formed 1x. Standard chamfer/debur/uniform primer pocket, etc.

IMR4451
Hornady brass
Sierra 140 bthp
Fed 210m

First three shots on 41.4 looked good as far as vertical, 41.6 outside of the cold bore looks like it's worth further exploring. It was at 2666 FPS. 41.8/42.0 opened up and were terrible and 42.2 started to look promising again. I didn't want to do too much with the sierras as I have 500 ELDMs en route. Middle target was hornady match ammo to verify zero.

 

[Rob01]

With the 140 ELDs I load them .020" off the lands and they work great. I load the 147 ELDs at .030" off. .020" off worked equally as well but being a long bullet I moved to .030" to give a little more room in the mag.

If you can't find them look at the Hornady 140 BTHP. It has a better BC than the Sierra 140.

 

[shoot4fun]

So I loaded up some sierras startibg towards the higher/middle of the range. Seated .020 off the lands. All brass was hornady fired formed 1x. Standard chamfer/debur/uniform primer pocket, etc.

IMR4451
Hornady brass
Sierra 140 bthp
Fed 210m

First three shots on 41.4 looked good as far as vertical, 41.6 outside of the cold bore looks like it's worth further exploring. It was at 2666 FPS. 41.8/42.0 opened up and were terrible and 42.2 started to look promising again. I didn't want to do too much with the sierras as I have 500 ELDMs en route. Middle target was hornady match ammo to verify zero.

I have shot a lot of SMK bullets with good results but NEVER had any from the 6.5 cal 140SMK. I've tried it in 260, 6.5x284, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5-47 with no success. Any other 140 grain bullet but that one. Finally just gave up on them.

 

[ngb1787]

Been shooting creedmoor since the day it came out just about. H4350 and 142 smk works great. Distance off lands have not made any difference, i have done a lot of testing, shoot regularly 1000yd, any where from in the lands out to .025, i usually just stick with .015 but again makes no difference. Btw i have shot between 6000-7000 rounds with 6.5.

 

[jpmimproved]

I have had great luck loading the creedmoor with Varget. It will give you temperature stability close to that of H4350, but can actually be found without having to sell your soul.

 

[Rob01]

Only problem with Varget and the 140s is you can give up some velocity versus the powders in the H4350 burn rate. You can find accurate loads with it though.

Like Nick I have been shooting the Creedmoor since early 2008 in matches and I am on my 3rd and 4th barrels now with it. It's a pretty easy round to load and I have shot a lot of factory ammo at farther off the lands and my loaded ammo at .020" off with the AMAX and ELDs and both have worked well.

 

[Shane Roya]

I have found the 143 ELD-X works good for me, I am able to get good velocity and so far with preliminary loads has shown promise.
I am able to get 2900 to 3000 fps out of them and low ES and SD, Groups are good as well,
here is a few examples.
RL26 Nosler case 52.7 gr h2o out of a 26" x-caliber barrel:

48 grains 143 ELD-x seated COAL of 2.890" 3 shot group.


47.5 had a .332" CTC group 2954 fps ES 11 SD 5.85

I have been trying out the HBN coating and figured I would try it on the 143 ELD-X it has taken about .5 grains more powder to equal velocity using it so I knew it would take around 48.5 gr of RL26 to get close to 2999 fps here is the results.

Using HBN the results were, 48.4 gr Coal of 2.890" 5 shots @ 100 yards .490" ctc including the shot I pulled, av vel 2986 fps ES of 10 SD of 4.5
48.5 gr Coal of 2.885" 5 shots @ 100 yards ..376" ctc av vel 2990 fps ES of 10 SD of 5



I had good results with 130 ELD-M as well with RL26
same cases COAL of 2.850" 5 shot groups
47.5 gr. 2980 av ES16 SD6.9 100 yard group .300" ctc
48 gr. 3006 av ES 8 SD 3.11 100 yard group .431 ctc horizontal spread.


I will be playing with COAL and trying GM215M primers to see if I can close up group and reduce SD.

I also have some 130 JLK VLDs coming in.

 

[jpmimproved]

Only problem with Varget and the 140s is you can give up some velocity versus the powders in the H4350 burn rate. You can find accurate loads with it though.

Like Nick I have been shooting the Creedmoor since early 2008 in matches and I am on my 3rd and 4th barrels now with it. It's a pretty easy round to load and I have shot a lot of factory ammo at farther off the lands and my loaded ammo at .020" off with the AMAX and ELDs and both have worked well.

H4350 is certainly the better choice between it and Varget, but I believe that both are superior to the IMR4451 since more often that not we load at the highest velocity node, so on a hot day or with long firing strings there is a fair chance of seeing excess pressure or at least some loss of accuracy as you go. Again, personal opinion.

 

[Rob01]

I would go H4831SC before I went with Varget. Get good temp stability and still get a little more velocity.

 

[rardoin]

Still not final opinion but Rl-16 is looking very good with 140 class projectiles, small primer cases, 26" barrel. Although I have plenty of H4350, if testing at 600yds holds true to what I am seeing at 300yds then I will likely switch to Rl-16 as I can get to 2825fps at a great 300yd node without compressing the load (H4350 required a compressed load and still was not near 2800fps in my gun). It certainly is a good powder to investigate.

 

[Roach]

Good stuff and good shooting