6.5 Creedmoor load advice

[stan5677]

Plan on picking up a 6.5 Creedmoor in the near future. I don't want to tinker so I'm leaning X-Bolt 2 Speed but the Tikka t3x is still being considered. I'll be hunting in NC so shots can be anywhere from 50 - 500 yards. My personal limit will be 300 yards. I prefer to stay to 130gr weight range for the extra speed. Looking for general load advice.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

If you want 130's take a look at the 130 TMK and 130 ELD-M, or the 129 SST maybe. I can't offer load advice because I'm too new but I seem to be having decent luck with N555 and H4350 with heavier projectiles, as well as Superformance I just tried on a whim because I had a jug from Covid era purchases but I don't think that's a terribly common powder for the CMs.

 

[azqcman]

Plan on picking up a 6.5 Creedmoor in the near future. I don't want to tinker so I'm leaning X-Bolt 2 Speed but the Tikka t3x is still being considered. I'll be hunting in NC so shots can be anywhere from 50 - 500 yards. My personal limit will be 300 yards. I prefer to stay to 130gr weight range for the extra speed. Looking for general load advice.

I found my Weatherby 6.5 Creedmoor shot better groups with a little heavier bullet. I shoot the 140gr AB, also the 143gr ELD-X shot well too. Both did better than the 129gr

 

[fishdart]

Probably won't help unless you are sitting on some RL16, but I found it was accurate and good velocity in my 6.5cm.

22" barrel + nomad-ti avg 2855. Switched to a cci200 primer and it picked up another 20fps according to the garmin xero.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I've had good luck with 130 tmk, 130 eld, 140 eld, 143 eld, all with h4350

 

[DonE911]

My creedmoors shoot 140s better than 130s. H4350 for powder as it works well and is somewhat available.

 

[Sponge]

X-Bolt 2 Speed SPR in 6.5 Creedmoor - 130 TMKs with H4350 have not been great, however it is looking like they will do well with Varget.
With 140 Barnes Match Burners and 140 ELDMs, the classic load of 41.5 of H4350 does well.
Staball 6.5 with 130 TMKs and 140 BMBs had vertical stringing, however those were 10 shot groups loaded 1-2 grains under max - that may tighten up if worked up to pressure.
Norma brass, CCI 200s, loaded book length

no tikka 6.5 cm experience
I have since gotten a Tikka in 223, as a T3x / X-Bolt comparison - i bought the X-bolt for the true short action action length, bolt unlock button, threaded 18in barrel, and true flush magazine. And i got it for about the price of a Tikka

If i were to do it again, I may not choose the Browning over the Tikka, even at the same purchase price, definitely not at MSRP. The browning action being a true short action is an overblown thing IMO, the bolt unlock is neat, but not nearly as ergonomic with a scope mounted as it is in the store. The browning stock is nice, but im really not liking the vertical grip module, it just feels wrong.

With tikka shipping rifles with threaded barrels, and the ability to get flush tikka mags, and the benefit of hindsight I don't see those other Browning features being worth the premium.

Sauer 100 is 6.5 is one to look at too. i got one in 308, i like it alot. Several threads here on it, the 6.5 twist rate is a little slow but sounds like a non issue.

 

[skipper907]

I would go with the 143 eldx and 40 to 41 of h4350 or just shoot factory precision hunter. the extra speed is very marginal gain is not going to gain you anything under 500 yards but you loss out on wind with lighter bullets

 

[streamerfish]

I consider the holy trinity of 6.5 creed to be RL16, H4350 and N555. With staball 6.5 right behind.

If I was looking for speed...then i would be looking at RL16, Staball 6.5, and potentially Superformance.

 

[SDHNTR]

What works for someone else is largely irrelevant to you. All you need is a reloading manual of your choice. There are no shortcuts to this. You are going to have to tinker. Reloading, by definition, is tinkering.

 

[Long84]

143 Eld-x and H4350 have made it hard for me to try another load.

 

[wpeach1912]

H4350 is THE powder for 6.5 creed. Load close to book max and start killing stuff

 

[Hondo64d]

Plan on picking up a 6.5 Creedmoor in the near future. I don't want to tinker so I'm leaning X-Bolt 2 Speed but the Tikka t3x is still being considered. I'll be hunting in NC so shots can be anywhere from 50 - 500 yards. My personal limit will be 300 yards. I prefer to stay to 130gr weight range for the extra speed. Looking for general load advice.

I’ve had better luck with Varget than H4350 for bullets up to 130gr. Work up to 2850-2900fps. That should be 38-39gr depending on case capacity.

John

 

[SippyCup]

H4350 has worked great for the 130-147s I’ve loaded in 6.5.

 

[JDMBEND]

41 gr 4350, 147 eldm, Peterson lrp, cci 200’s. Absolutely hammers with both of my 6.5 creeds.

 

[WestMOhunter]

Good advice from top to bottom. I’ll add this:

H4350 and N555 are the easy button for a wide range of bullets/weights in Creedmoor. Nothing wrong with deciding on 130s, but you may decide you want to bump up to 140s later. Varget is a great powder and some like it in Creedmoor, but I’ve found it to be less than ideal unless you go with fairly light bullets. Reloder 16 is a great powder too, and you might find it. But Alliant powders have been somewhat unavailable since COVID. A couple decades into my reloading education, consistent availability is another factor I consider when starting load dev.

 

[stan5677]

Good advice from top to bottom. I’ll add this:

H4350 and N555 are the easy button for a wide range of bullets/weights in Creedmoor. Nothing wrong with deciding on 130s, but you may decide you want to bump up to 140s later. Varget is a great powder and some like it in Creedmoor, but I’ve found it to be less than ideal unless you go with fairly light bullets. Reloder 16 is a great powder too, and you might find it. But Alliant powders have been somewhat unavailable since COVID. A couple decades into my reloading education, consistent availability is another factor I consider when starting load dev.

Looks like Midway has some 16 in stock. Also the 142 Matchking X looks good too. I really want a 7mm-08 but there are no rifles I like in that cartridge. Between the Matchking X and 140 Eldm which would you choose as where I hunt bc won't matter.

 

[WestMOhunter]

Looks like Midway has some 16 in stock. Also the 142 Matchking X looks good too. I really want a 7mm-08 but there are no rifles I like in that cartridge. Between the Matchking X and 140 Eldm which would you choose as where I hunt bc won't matter.

I don’t have experience with the Matchking X. I believe it’s new-ish. I’ve mostly used Nosler, Hornady and Barnes for med/big game over the years. Sierras (SMKs and TMKs) are outstanding bullets, so I’d bet the MK-X bullets are too. That said, I like to squeeze the trigger a lot and I can get a small discount on Hornady which is already cheaper. I would shoot Sierra more if not for that. Bottom line, 140 ELDMs seem to shoot well in many 6.5CMs, mine included. I’d bet you won’t go wrong with either.

 

[uabeng]

I worked a load up on my 6.5 using Imr4350 and 130gr TGKs. 2750fps out of a 20" tikka.