Best powders for heavier weight (140ish) bullets in the 6.5 Creedmore

[4IDARCHER]

I had just about written off the 6.5 as a choice for my next rifle as I didn’t think it would push the 140 class of bullets anywhere near what the 7-08 does. I have been reading on here though that some of the more knowledgeable guys/gals are getting well north of 2800fps with some handloads. While I know most can’t/won’t publish their specific handloading data can I get some help in selecting the best powders for the 140 class of ammo in the 6.5 Creedmoor. Mostly looking at the 142gr accubond LR and the 143gr ELD-X.

 

[KurtR]

h4350 is my go to

Look luke moffat on here he was using rl26 i think and getting some great numbers

 

[VernAK]

H4350 has been the go-to powder if you can find it.

Long Range target guys here are switching to Reloder 16.

 

[Wapiti1]

This is the data we used and it was solid in the rifle we used. RL17 gave us the best results with a 140 SGK. Best accuracy was at 2750fps. We pushed up to 2825 and groups opened. No pressure issues, even at that velocity, but I'm thinking we were at the line.

Sierra Bullets 6.5 Creedmoor Load Data | Sierra Bullets

Jeremy

 

[snowcamoman]

I've had excellent results with H4350 as well pushing the 147ELDm and 143ELDx's.

 

[TexasOutfitter]

H4350 has worked best for me, as well, with Berger 140 HVLDs.....2800+ at several seating depths but settled on a load at 2750 that had best accuracy, .25" where 2800+ loads were .5-.6"+

 

[JimGa]

4350 was slow for me in a 21" Barrett FC. 43.0 rl16 gives me 2734 and a full case of rl26 gives me 2850.

 

[deadwolf]

4350 was slow for me in a 21" Barrett FC. 43.0 rl16 gives me 2734 and a full case of rl26 gives me 2850.

Any pressure signs with that RL26 load? How many grains?


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[orelkaddict]

A buddy of mine is using Hybrid 100 and it shooting faster than my loads with H4350

 

[mtnwrunner]

RL 17 is awesome. Great speed and accuracy, however it is temp sensitive.

Randy

 

[luke moffat]

RL26 and lapua brass was 2840 fps with a 143 in at 24” barrel on virgin brass. The same brass once fired was just over 2900 fps.

 

[RedSnake]

H4350. You’ll end up somewhere 42.2-42.8

 

[Sodbuster]

Yesterday with a cross wind gusts to 15 mph

Three shot groups

143 ELD-x
Barrett 18 inch barrel
Once fired Laupua brass
Same load with virgin Federal

You can see the charge so work up with your gun.

Reloader 26.

 

[ssssnake529]

Berger 140gr Elite Hunter. 42.3gr RL16 2814fps Lapua brass (small rifle primers)

Berger 140gr Elite Hunter 41.4 gr RL17 2816fps Prime brass (large rifle primers)

 

[danmayland]

42.8 grn H4350 for me with 140 eldm gives 2770fps and .2’s

43.0 grn H4350 with 143 eldx in my buddies 6.5. Haven’t crony’d it yet. Still working up the load.


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[PathFinder]

Don't overlook the 140 ELD-M as a hunting bullet. I've shot a handful of deer (and one elk at 300) from 250-755 and the bullets all did the exact same thing.
RL-16 is the king of the midsize calibers right now in my mind. My current load is 42 gr of RL-16 in Alpha brass, CCI 200, 140 ELD-M at 2812 out of a 22" barrel. SD of 6.1 FPS. RL-17 gave good velocity but horrible consistency. Same with Superformance and 100V.

 

[4IDARCHER]

Isn’t the EDL-M just designed to fragment and not penetrate? It would be an awesome hunting weight out of the 6.5 IF it would hold together and get me 2 holes on a deer.

 

[danmayland]

Isn’t the EDL-M just designed to fragment and not penetrate? It would be an awesome hunting weight out of the 6.5 IF it would hold together and get me 2 holes on a deer.

Yes-ish.... it doesn’t fragment as much as the Berger Hybrids and that’s not necessarily a bad thing or a good thing...

Fragmenting bullets can be very effective at killing game quickly and humanely. It’s all about shot placement and knowing how your bullet will preform. A fragmenting bullet through the rib cage is going to turn all the internal organs into mush and result in a quick kill.

The Berger 140 hybrid bullet is another option. I’ve used the hybrids with amazing success in my 7mm. Extremely accurate bullet with devastating fragmentation. Deer sized game gives tennis ball sized exit holes with fragmentation that devastates any internal organ within about 12” of the bullet path.

I’ve not had enough experience with the eldm bullets yet...I shot one deer and one antelope with them last season. Doe Antelope was a head shot and mule deer shot about 3” behind the heart taking out the bottom of the lungs. I was not pleased with the performance of that bullet. It didn’t fragment as much as I would have liked and the animal took much longer to expire. The Berger hybrid in that same scenario would have killed immediately by obliterating the heart and lungs. I have no doubt though had I taken a high shoulder shot on the mule deer that it would have pancaked him in his tracks resulting in an immediate kill. And now I know how that bullet performs and will make better informed shot placement with it.


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[JimGa]

I'm at 48.5 rl26 in Hornady brass. I'm not seeing pressure, but will no for sure if I can get say 6 reloads without primer pockets going. This load is moa at 600 yards and I've been trying different primers to see if it will help. The rl16 load is stupid accurate, so I don't know why I'm screwing with 26, but I like to tinker. Rl16 also has a very good reputation for being temperature tolerant and is extremely clean.

 

[5MilesBack]

Isn’t the EDL-M just designed to fragment and not penetrate? It would be an awesome hunting weight out of the 6.5 IF it would hold together and get me 2 holes on a deer.

Heck, the 143gr ELD-X didn't even give us 2 holes on a small doe. Found both the jacket and core right up against the offside hide, about 3" apart.