6.5 Creedmoor Load (1st time reloading)

[A-Brakke]

Hi All,

Wanted to get some assistance or opinions as I’m at the point where gathering knowledge is everything.

I just started reloading for the purpose of hunting and being able to consistently have the same ammunition on hand and plenty of it and when in a pinch can make more the night before hunts.

My process has been full length re-size & de-prime, clean cases, clean primer pockets, uniform flash holes, trim to length, chamfer neck, re-prime, charge, and seat bullet and measure using comparator the CBTO. I do all prep by hand until I upgrade tools but my first rounds all turned out identical and was very pleased at the uniformity. Oh also I started by pressing all these to magazine maximum length.

Looking at the 3 groups of 3 of done so far…..(not much to work with yet) what would more experienced loaders look at next. My thought was to do 4 shot groups of 40.3, 40.5, and 40.7 to see if I can close up at all. Would be very happy with 3/4” for hunting.

Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor
Primers: federal 210
Powder: h4350
Bullet: Hornady 143g ELDX
Brass: Hornady

 

[ResearchinStuff]

This thread is a great resource:

Painless load development (mine)

I have had multiple people ask me to lay out how I do load development being that what I do is different. Since Shaen @Shooter71 just rebarreled a Tikka 595 in 6XC I thought it would be easy to show how I do it. It’s a Master Sporter with a T3 lite profiled 20” barrel- keep in mind it is a T3...

rokslide.com

As are these podcasts:

Put the knowledge in those to work and you'll be way ahead.

 

[A-Brakke]

This thread is a great resource:

Painless load development (mine)

I have had multiple people ask me to lay out how I do load development being that what I do is different. Since Shaen @Shooter71 just rebarreled a Tikka 595 in 6XC I thought it would be easy to show how I do it. It’s a Master Sporter with a T3 lite profiled 20” barrel- keep in mind it is a T3...

rokslide.com

As are these podcasts:

Put the knowledge in those to work and you'll be way ahead.

Appreciate! Thanks!

 

[JMundy84]

I would make 10 of either the 40.5 or the 41 and shoot a 10 round group.

 

[A-Brakke]

I would make 10 of either the 40.5 or the 41 and shoot a 10 round group.

Larger sample size. Roger that. Thank you! Gonna press some tonight and take em out back tomorrow morning when the wind is more predictable.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I'd probably go 41.5. That was the load hornady used to print on the 140 eldm ammo boxes.

 

[OMF]

Hi @A-Brakke, there's such a small difference between each one of those powder changes/increases along with your groups. I don't believe most of us can shoot well enough where we would see enough of a difference between them to make a difference. When I look at where they are located on the target posted along with each group size, they're all close enough where I don't see much of a difference. If you shot all 9 at the same X at a 100 yards you wouldn't be able to tell which is which. Pick one and move forward.

Attached is some load data for 6.5 creedmore from the 2024 Hodgdon annual manual. With that bullet for H4350 they show a minimum of 35.9 grains and a max of 41.8 grains. There are some videos and podcasts out there that can help guide you on easier, more effective and efficient load development vs some of the tedious ladder tests and other "old school" load development processes. I'll take a look to see what I have bookmarked and post them up for you. I'm sure others will too.

I also think there's a forum member who has a pretty straight forward process that's documented somewhere on here.

 

[A-Brakke]

Hi @A-Brakke, there's such a small difference between each one of those powder changes/increases along with your groups. I don't believe most of us can shoot well enough where we would see enough of a difference between them to make a difference. When I look at where they are located on the target posted along with each group size, they're all close enough where I don't see much of a difference. If you shot all 9 at the same X at a 100 yards you wouldn't be able to tell which is which. Pick one and move forward.

Attached is some load data for 6.5 creedmore from the 2024 Hodgdon annual manual. With that bullet for H4350 they show a minimum of 35.9 grains and a max of 41.8 grains. There are some videos and podcasts out there that can help guide you on easier, more effective and efficient load development vs some of the tedious ladder tests and other "old school" load development processes. I'll take a look to see what I have bookmarked and post them up for you. I'm sure others will too.

I also think there's a forum member who has a pretty straight forward process that's documented somewhere on here.

Thanks for the reply! I agree, I’m by no means a great shooter. This is simply off bags, prone, with moderate wind in my face. Guarantee my errors are in those groups. Definitely walked away feeling inconclusive. Appreciate your feedback and push to move on. I’ll press some larger batches and get back.

Good news is critters don’t mind a half inch or so.

 

[OMF]

Check this thread out. The OP has a pretty straight forward efficient process he uses.

Painless load development (mine)

I have had multiple people ask me to lay out how I do load development being that what I do is different. Since Shaen @Shooter71 just rebarreled a Tikka 595 in 6XC I thought it would be easy to show how I do it. It’s a Master Sporter with a T3 lite profiled 20” barrel- keep in mind it is a T3...

rokslide.com

Some interesting info in this one too:

“The 22 Creedmoor Project”

What I’m calling the 22 creedmoor project, has started. The gun was built by @barehandlineman at High Voltage Armory. 1-8 twist 24” Heavy Palma Muller Works Defiance SA HVA Exodus Action MDT XRS Chassis Bix N Andy tac sport pro trigger Area 419 Hunt Rings. .94” Trijicon Tenmile HX 5-25X50 MOA...

rokslide.com

 

[TaperPin]

Good job getting off to a great start.

 

[BKM]

Loading for a 6.5cm is almost boring. Mine shoots every bullet I’ve tried between 3/4 and 1” with any mid to upper end charge of h4350.

 

[A-Brakke]

Check this thread out. The OP has a pretty straight forward efficient process he uses.

Painless load development (mine)

I have had multiple people ask me to lay out how I do load development being that what I do is different. Since Shaen @Shooter71 just rebarreled a Tikka 595 in 6XC I thought it would be easy to show how I do it. It’s a Master Sporter with a T3 lite profiled 20” barrel- keep in mind it is a T3...

rokslide.com

Some interesting info in this one too:

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/the-22-creedmoor-project.386105/[/URL

http://

Loading for a 6.5cm is almost boring. Mine shoots every bullet I’ve tried between 3/4 and 1” with any mid to upper end charge of h4350.

Good to know. Once I get this dialed in I’m gonna get going on my 7mm Rem Mag.