6.5 Creedmoor load advice

[HairyScandinavian]

With 2695 and 2700 advertised for the 147 ELD-M and 143 ELD-X…that’s annoying.

H4350 seems to be a damned reliable powder choice across multiple calibers. If I’m spooling up to reload for my 6.5 I’ll probably use it for my .30-06, too.

I figure it's about right. With a 20" barrel and roughly 25 fps speed change per inch I figure that 2695 box is tested with a 24" barrel so would expect roughly 2595 for a 20" barrel. Then from what I've observed from other people's posts Tikka seem to shoot a little slow for most people so subtract a wee bit more and it doesn't seem too far out of line.

 

[Schmoops]

I figure it's about right. With a 20" barrel and roughly 25 fps speed change per inch I figure that 2695 box is tested with a 24" barrel so would expect roughly 2595 for a 20" barrel. Then from what I've observed from other people's posts Tikka seem to shoot a little slow for most people so subtract a wee bit more and it doesn't seem too far out of line.

I’m not shooting a Tikka (yet) so who knows what mine is at. It makes me want a chrono real bad haha

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I’m not shooting a Tikka (yet) so who knows what mine is at. It makes me want a chrono real bad haha

Might call around and see if a local range has a loaner. Sure is useful to have for calculators and such or just general info, or pickup a cheap magnetospeed here in the classifieds... which reminds me I need to list one because I bought the Athlon a while back.

 

[Schmoops]

Might call around and see if a local range has a loaner. Sure is useful to have for calculators and such or just general info, or pickup a cheap magnetospeed here in the classifieds... which reminds me I need to list one because I bought the Athlon a while back.

I know a guy with one that will likely loan it to me. And far easier to have my own! More gear, yay

 

[jjordan355]

Just finished up dialing in a load for a Christensen ridgeline I picked up for cheap. Settled with 41.0 grains of H4350 , 143 ELDX, 2.800” COAL, 2.176” CBTO, 2735 FPS, .48-.50” 3 shot group, and .75” 5 shot group.

Shot it out to 432 on steel and nails it everytime. Couldn’t be more happy with it given the price I paid and how well it shoots.

 

[uabeng]

For 140 class bullets what FPS out of a 20" barrel should I be shooting for? I've got a very promising load with h4350 and i am sitting at 2650fps 3.x sd with low ES.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

For 140 class bullets what FPS out of a 20" barrel should I be shooting for? I've got a very promising load with h4350 and i am sitting at 2650fps 3.x sd with low ES.

That sounds like a good load to me. I’m getting 2627 from my 22” Sauer 100 with 142-grain MatchkingX. I tried squeezing more out of it, but accuracy went down.

 

[uabeng]

That sounds like a good load to me. I’m getting 2627 from my 22” Sauer 100 with 142-grain MatchkingX. I tried squeezing more out of it, but accuracy went down.

Cool good deal. Thanks for the sanity check

 

[Andouille]

Sounds about right, I'm also right around 2640-2660 fps with H4350 or Staball 6.5 and 243 eldx, 143 bondstrike, and 147 ELDM out of 20" Tikka running about 0.5gr below visible pressure signs with Lapua or Starline brass.

 

[jjordan355]

Sounds about right, I'm also right around 2640-2660 fps with H4350 or Staball 6.5 and 243 eldx, 143 bondstrike, and 147 ELDM out of 20" Tikka running about 0.5gr below visible pressure signs with Lapua or Starline brass.

How do you like starline?

Just bought some to try for cheap and have them loaded up to test but haven’t had the chance to test them.

 

[Andouille]

How do you like starline?

Just bought some to try for cheap and have them loaded up to test but haven’t had the chance to test them.

Its great brass for the price amd is readily available. Perhaps a little softer than Lapua and needs a little more work out of the box (mandrel necks, chamfer, deburr), but i seem to get SDs in the 8-15 fps range and it does a little better with higher pressures than does Hornady brass. Looks good after 3x firings, including some pretty hot powder ladder tests. I also run starline for my 30-06.

 

[Schmoops]

Hopping back into this discussion with another question, as I’ve hit the gas and am almost set up for reloading.

What are folks using for large rifle primers for 6.5? I can wrap my head around brass, powder, and bullet selection, and primers are still a bit mystical to me. Is there an ‘easy button’ choice? I’ve got a fair bit of meh brass saved up, so I’m gonna burn that first and then spring for the nice stuff, and I know there’s a chance I’ll have to change my primer selection when I change brass down the line. If anyone has found a rock solid primer choice I’d just as soon start with that.

Thank you!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Hopping back into this discussion with another question, as I’ve hit the gas and am almost set up for reloading.

What are folks using for large rifle primers for 6.5? I can wrap my head around brass, powder, and bullet selection, and primers are still a bit mystical to me. Is there an ‘easy button’ choice? I’ve got a fair bit of meh brass saved up, so I’m gonna burn that first and then spring for the nice stuff, and I know there’s a chance I’ll have to change my primer selection when I change brass down the line. If anyone has found a rock solid primer choice I’d just as soon start with that.

Thank you!

CCI large rifle primers are all you need. And my recent experience has been that the brand doesn’t matter at all for 99.99% of shooters.

Last month, I loaded up ammo that shot great groups without a misfire [yet] from brass I primed in 2004, which sat in a ziplock bag in the barn for at least 20 years.

Unless you are switching from LR to magnums or vice versa, I would not worry about it too much. Sure, it’s something of which you should be cognizant, but I doubt you see meaningful change with otherwise sane loads if you switch from Winchester to Federal to CCI, etc.

I have observed far more variability in one can of powder to the next.

 

[Schmoops]

CCI large rifle primers are all you need. And my recent experience has been that the brand doesn’t matter at all for 99.99% of shooters.

Last month, I loaded up ammo that shot great groups without a misfire [yet] from brass I primed in 2004, which sat in a ziplock bag in the barn for at least 20 years.

Unless you are switching from LR to magnums or vice versa, I would not worry about it too much. Sure, it’s something of which you should be cognizant, but I doubt you see meaningful change with otherwise sane loads if you switch from Winchester to Federal to CCI, etc.

I have observed far more variability in one can of powder to the next.

Thanks Q. I’ll just do that, then!

 

[Pistolpete28]

Hopping back into this discussion with another question, as I’ve hit the gas and am almost set up for reloading.

What are folks using for large rifle primers for 6.5? I can wrap my head around brass, powder, and bullet selection, and primers are still a bit mystical to me. Is there an ‘easy button’ choice? I’ve got a fair bit of meh brass saved up, so I’m gonna burn that first and then spring for the nice stuff, and I know there’s a chance I’ll have to change my primer selection when I change brass down the line. If anyone has found a rock solid primer choice I’d just as soon start with that.

Thank you!

“quality” components is what I always hear.
CCI 200
CCI BR2
210m
Are all good choices in my opinion

 

[Schmoops]

“quality” components is what I always hear.
CCI 200
CCI BR2
210m
Are all good choices in my opinion

Much appreciated!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

^I'm using BR-2 primers because one of the vendors had a sale on them, think it was $58/1000. I don't have anything to compare them to but they seem to be doing just fine in the 6.5 CM.

 

[Andouille]

^I'm using BR-2 primers because one of the vendors had a sale on them, think it was $58/1000. I don't have anything to compare them to but they seem to be doing just fine in the 6.5 CM.

BR2 and my tikka 6.5cm get along well with a variety of bullets and powders, as i get SDs typically under 12 fps and tight groups. Perhaps they are a little less apt to flatten than Fed 210s. I thought I just got a deal at $91/1000!