RL-16 in the 6.5 Creedmoor VELOCITY QUESTION

[20VarTarg]

I have a Cooper Model 22 in 6.5 Creedmoor. Sports a 26" Barrel. I have around 70 rounds on this rifle from my first 2 trips to the range. I was working on developing a load with H4350 and a 140 Grain Berger Hybrid Target and just wasn't happy with it. Sub MOA but I expect better. So today I loaded up several different loads using RL-16 and the same bullet. I started at 41 grains and went up to 43 grains. Alliant has max load at 43.6 grains. I went up in .5 increments just to get a general idea if it would shoot or not. And holy moses does it shoot. Roughly 1/2" Groups at 200 yards. My best two groups were at 41 and 41 grains. It completely fell apart above 41 grains. My questions is roughly what is velocity??? Anyone shooting this load in a comparable rifle. Most data is with 24" barrels. I have access to a chronograph but I'm more just curious at this point. I may not make it to the range for another week. I don't want to hot rod the rifle but also don't want to be below 2725 FPS.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Shot out of a 30" Bartlein. I'm using Alpha brass, which usually tunes in about 1gr lower than most other brands of brass.

All those rounds were shot over a LabRadar; usually in 5rd groups, but ran a few 20rd strings over it. Mine tunes in around ~2860FPS.

You can see on the bottom two lines, I shot them back to back for 20rd strings this weekend. The accuracy difference was negligible, but my gut tells me RL16 will be slightly better longer term; H4350 did shoot a .619 at 300 yards, which was crazy good.

I am getting slightly lower SDs out of RL16 too; not sure how temp stable it is though.


Click on the image to make it full size.

If I had to guess, 41gr would put you right around 2780-2810 in a 26" barrel. I've never shot a 6.5CM with less than a 30" barrel though.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

4831sc

 

[20VarTarg]

Thank You Mike, that information really helps. The only reason I asked the question is I shot this group yesterday at 41.0 Grains and was concerned maybe it would be too slow. I'm shooting a Varmint Competition this weekend that goes out to 600. Was gonna try to figure out a dope chart. I'm sure I will at least be on paper out to 600 with a rough velocity.

 

[STOMP442]

Reloader 16 is quickly becoming one of my go to powders in a few calibers but especially in the Creedmoor. For me I bet 95% of the Creedmoors I work up will tune in somewhere around 41-42gr of R16 or H4350. Reloader 16 seems to give me slightly more velocity over 4350 generally right around 20-40fps depending on the barrel. I have found however that it is a little dirty and I usually clean about every 100 rounds or groups will open up some. Not much but some.

 

[ngb1787]

h4350,

 

[quest450]

26" Bartlein, 41.70 gr of RL16 2795fps is my pet load

 

[20VarTarg]

I've tried H4350. And I know it's like the go to powder but my gun simply don't shoot it well. I've had much more luck with RL-16. See Picture Above. I don't know if it can get much better then that.

 

[Kurz]

I don't know if it can get much better then that.

You're at the nice end of the nodes for the Creedmoor, 52,000psi, and 2,775 fps approximately. This is the first node where most folks stop because they see a decent group for the first time and balk at going higher for fear of losing that node. I'm running somewhere around 2,925 fps at the upper end of the nodes for Re-16. Excellent accuracy and better velocity for longer range shooting.

As an alternative, you can try Re-23 which, with a full case to the base of the bullet, you can achieve the same or slightly better velocity.

Exploring the combinations is a great adventure. Don't miss out by stopping too soon!

 

[STOMP442]

You're at the nice end of the nodes for the Creedmoor, 52,000psi, and 2,775 fps approximately. This is the first node where most folks stop because they see a decent group for the first time and balk at going higher for fear of losing that node. I'm running somewhere around 2,925 fps at the upper end of the nodes for Re-16. Excellent accuracy and better velocity for longer range shooting.

As an alternative, you can try Re-23 which, with a full case to the base of the bullet, you can achieve the same or slightly better velocity.

Exploring the combinations is a great adventure. Don't miss out by stopping too soon!

What is your charge weight to get that velocity? Every Creedmoor I have ever done starts showing pressure signs at or around the 42gr mark. Reloader 26 will get you those velocities but not 16.

 

[Kurz]

Every Creedmoor I have ever done starts showing pressure signs at or around the 42gr mark. Reloader 26 will get you those velocities but not 16.

Differences in reamers, the way the chamber gets cut, degree of polishing, seating, powder lot number, barrel maker, chronograph set ups, any number of factors can contribute to velocity differences. Look at the numbers posted above in the very nicely organized spread sheet. He has a couple of loads approaching this at 41.5 gr. of Re-16. I won't even try to guess how many 6.5 Creedmoors I've built in the last 10 or 11 years, more than 50 and fewer than 200. And even in all of those, using mostly one barrel maker, there have been some noticeable differences in velocity and where the pressure curve enters the picture. I know for fact that a few have been disappointingly slower than I would like to make.