Bullet choice 6.5CM

[Megalodon]

I’ve hunted with the gun and 143 eldx shot well enough. Now looking to work up a target only load for it. I’ve got brass/primers/powder and picked up 300 of the 140 eldm. So that’s what I’m going with, my question is more hypothetical.

I’d planned to either run the 140 eldm or the 140 hybrids, with a slight preference to the Berger bullet just from reading. Before I went all in I found some factory ammo to shoot just to see. Groups below.

If those were your results with the Berger 140’s would you just write that bullet off for this gun all together, or if I magically could find some is there a chance reloading would tighten them up?

 

[CentralPAhunter]

I'm sure you could get a good grouping with a handload. The factory load just isn't in a node for your gun. Different speed, pressure, and seating depth will result in a tight group. You just need to find it.

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[Flyjunky]

I'm sure you could get a good grouping with a handload. The factory load just isn't in a node for your gun. Different speed, pressure, and seating depth will result in a tight group. You just need to find it.

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100% agree with this.

 

[FireDuck401]

100% agree with this.

Also agree 100%

They can be finicky on seating depth but doesn’t take long to find the right depth; normally.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’d shoot a Seirra MatchKing.

 

[woods89]

I bought a whole bunch of Hornady 140 gr BTHP for shooting steel. I can shoot them very accurately at the same charge weight as my 140 Elite Hunters.

 

[Lawnboi]

I’ll go against the grain and just stick with the eldm. Some barrels like a bullet better than the other. You know your barrel likes the 140 eldm, why waste components and time messing around to get a load to shoot when you can throw some eldm in there and be done trying to shoot little groups and do something more productive.

Plus 140 hybrids are impossible to find. I’m going to be messing with my match gun load this year because I can’t find a 140 hybrid anywhere, hopefully I can get my hands on 500 by spring.

 

[CentralPAhunter]

I’ll go against the grain and just stick with the eldm. Some barrels like a bullet better than the other. You know your barrel likes the 140 eldm, why waste components and time messing around to get a load to shoot when you can throw some eldm in there and be done trying to shoot little groups and do something more productive.

Plus 140 hybrids are impossible to find. I’m going to be messing with my match gun load this year because I can’t find a 140 hybrid anywhere, hopefully I can get my hands on 500 by spring.

Either are good bullets and I'd have no concerns with the ELD-M, though I prefer the heavier ones. That wasn't the question though, he was asking if due to the poor grouping of the bullet in a factory load, whether the bullet was a lost cause not worth pursuing. For some, the tinkering is the fun part in getting the most out of the equipment...

Good luck out there!

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[Lawnboi]

Either are good bullets and I'd have no concerns with the ELD-M, though I prefer the heavier ones. That wasn't the question though, he was asking if due to the poor grouping of the bullet in a factory load, whether the bullet was a lost cause not worth pursuing. For some, the tinkering is the fun part in getting the most out of the equipment...

Good luck out there!

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If answered like that, the only real answer can be maybe.

I gave an explanation. It’s a good bullet and if you want to waste time on the 100 yard line shooting groups through a chrono give er hell.

 

[Megalodon]

Should maybe start a new thread, but I’ll keep this going. Any thoughts on the OCW test pictured below? 6.5 Creedmoor, new Peterson LRP brass, Fed 210m, H4350, 140 ELDM, .020 jump. Started at 39.8 and increased .4, all 3 shot groups. None look bad but I think groups 4/5/6 are going to be the ticket. 5 is 41.4 g.

Load 10 at that weight and chrono now? Do 41.2 to 41.6 in .2 g increments?

 

[Spence]

Looks like 4,5,and 6 have some great potential. If it was me and had time and components. I would try adjusting as finely as possible to squeeze out as much as I could. If not I would look at your vel spreads and stick with which one is burning the best for consistency. As those are great groups. Most folks cant shoot that well on good days.

 

[elkstabber]

I've been fooling a lot with the 143 eldx and 140 bthp bullets by Hornady. I've found that the seating depth is critical for accuracy with each. In my gun the 143 eldx at SAAMI length of 2.800 has to jump .070 to the lands. The 140 bthp at SAAMI length only has to jump .020.

My gun shoots the 143 eldx at about 1.1 moa and the 140 bthp at 0.5 moa. There is no doubt that my gun just likes the 140 bthp much much better.

I've tried seating both at different depths and just can't find where the eldx shoots anywhere near as well as the bthp. The eldx simply isn't as accurate out of my Ruger American Predator.

41.5 gr of H4350.