Lighter bullets for less recoil in 6.5CM

[Castle Rock]

That sounds pretty ambitious

 

[cal30_sniper]

I’m chasing the same results in a 6.5x55 at the moment. I intend to try both 107 TMKs and 100 ELDMs and will likely hunt with the one that shoots best. Rifle will be a Tikka 20” suppressed in a Rokstok set up to use biathalon-style diopter and globe sights for an Utah iron sight hunt. I’ve been messing with the sight design on a .308 Tikka while Karl Campfeld works on my Swede barrel.

The thought process here is that with a lighter recoiling setup I can get my eyeball closer to the rear diopter, taking better advantage of the sight picture especially under low light conditions. I’m a little concerned with terminal performance in these light for caliber options, but there’s really only one way to find out.

 

[Wprinkle]

I didn't read everything on this thread but, My vote is a 6creed prefit. I shot a 6 Creed for the class and man it was awesome. Super easy to spot shots even in the yoga positions. Plus you can get 108 eldm's. The 108's give you a 5 MPH gun vs 4 MPH with the TMK...

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Did a lot of searching and found some reports of using ~40g of lever in a creedmore with lightweight bullets. Burn rate is similar to other powders listed in the loading manual for the 107 grain bullets. I have a few pounds of lever so decided to try it.

Loaded up a pressure ladder from 38-40g of lever with the 107 TMK’s. If there’s no pressure I’ll shoot some groups with 40g to see how they do.
View attachment 895470

Interesting. Definitely post results.

 

[JGRaider]

Not sure of the purpose to reinvent the 6.5CM wheel. Take virtually any 130-140gr bullet especially 130 AB, 139 Scenar), around 41gr of H4350, if your rifle won't shoot that you need to get another rifle.

 

[EmperorMA]

A few bullets I haven't seen suggested here are the 100gr and 120gr Barnes TTSX along with the 100gr and 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.

I have personally seen all four bullets perform beautifully on elk, even out to 400 yards. I am sure 500 yards would have been OK, as well, just never got a chance to seen an animal shot at greater distance.

 

[ztc92]

Lever + 107 TMK’s did not go well. No pressure signs with the ladder but almost every shot was a hang-fire. I decided not to shoot the other rounds I loaded. Really sketchy when you hear the firing pin click and the round fires a brief moment later. Also noticed the cases came out full of powder/soot at the base, not really sure what that’s about. I’ll be doing some reading on hangfires but my suspicion is that the case was not filled enough for good ignition.

I think I’m going to go back to using H4350, which I’ve used for all other creedmore loads with good success. I also shot five of the 107 TMK’s using that just to see if there was a notable decrease in recoil and those loads shot well.

More updates to come as time allows.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Lever + 107 TMK’s did not go well. No pressure signs with the ladder but almost every shot was a hang-fire. I decided not to shoot the other rounds I loaded. Really sketchy when you hear the firing pin click and the round fires a brief moment later. Also noticed the cases came out full of powder/soot at the base, not really sure what that’s about. I’ll be doing some reading on hangfires but my suspicion is that the case was not filled enough for good ignition.

I think I’m going to go back to using H4350, which I’ve used for all other creedmore loads with good success. I also shot five of the 107 TMK’s using that just to see if there was a notable decrease in recoil and those loads shot well.

More updates to come as time allows.

How much powder were you using?

 

[Tanner]

Unsure if it’s been mentioned but the 123 Scenar is another nice option for the little 6.5s…. Carries a nice BC for the weight and kills really well.

 

[ztc92]

How much powder were you using?

Post # 59. Ladder ranging from 38-40 grains. Magnum small rifle primers and starline brass on its 4th reload.

 

[Castle Rock]

Unsure if it’s been mentioned but the 123 Scenar is another nice option for the little 6.5s…. Carries a nice BC for the weight and kills really well.

I like it for the big ones, doing a work up for my PRC now, it was outstanding in my 260AI

 

[Tanner]

I like it for the big ones, doing a work up for my PRC now, it was outstanding in my 260AI

Sounds like a winning combo, they might be the first one I try in a new to me 16” Creedmoor soon.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Surprised no mention of the 123 gr eldm which is for the Grendel and deadly little pill. Always wondered how they would do with speed and ran into a guy on the fire who’s been running them from a prc for awhile and says it’s a lightning drt formula. I think he said around 3100 so safe to say you’ll do great at manbun speeds. Even launched at only 2386 fps from short barrel Grendels they have drt’d whitetail for me at 420 yards, quartering and exited. The Grendel 123 m has been killing well for me and kids since 2017-2018. Not a mono fan so no comment other than that. Hoards of things have died by the Grendel 123 m from Grendel users for a long time now, proven bullet. Was just surprised to hear someone chose it for a prc and that it did well for him even at those speeds so passing it along.

 

[TradLife406]

Glad I'm not the only guy who thinks a 6.5 creed kicks. My kids Sig Cross only likes a 140 eldm over a max charge of Stabal 6.5. It's in the mid 2700 range of speed. But dang after long range session it's not fun. My 8 year old could only shoot about three shots and he had enough. He hit the rock he was aiming for at 750 though. Seriously has me looking at getting a 6 milly or a GT barrel for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ztc92]

Glad I'm not the only guy who thinks a 6.5 creed kicks. My kids Sig Cross only likes a 140 eldm over a max charge of Stabal 6.5. It's in the mid 2700 range of speed. But dang after long range session it's not fun. My 8 year old could only shoot about three shots and he had enough. He hit the rock he was aiming for at 750 though. Seriously has me looking at getting a 6 milly or a GT barrel for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am spoiled by my 223 but live in WY where 6mm is minimum for elk. Every time I shoot my creedmore, I think “this isn’t so bad”. Then I shoot the 223 and realize I want to build a 6ARC because the reduced recoil is such a joy to shoot.

My goal with the 107’s out of my creedmore is to get a feel for what this gun would be like as a 6creedmore with 108’s. Based on my few shots so far, I’d still prefer less recoil and a 6 ARC…

 

[jzeblaz]

Surprised no mention of the 123 gr eldm which is for the Grendel and deadly little pill. Always wondered how they would do with speed and ran into a guy on the fire who’s been running them from a prc for awhile and says it’s a lightning drt formula. I think he said around 3100 so safe to say you’ll do great at manbun speeds. Even launched at only 2386 fps from short barrel Grendels they have drt’d whitetail for me at 420 yards, quartering and exited. The Grendel 123 m has been killing well for me and kids since 2017-2018. Not a mono fan so no comment other than that. Hoards of things have died by the Grendel 123 m from Grendel users for a long time now, proven bullet. Was just surprised to hear someone chose it for a prc and that it did well for him even at those speeds so passing it along.

I have a decent amount of 123 Amax leftover from a 6.5 Grendel experiment and plan to try it in the 6.5 Creed. Looks like you could get it moving decently fast in the Creed. H4350?

 

[TradLife406]

I am spoiled by my 223 but live in WY where 6mm is minimum for elk. Every time I shoot my creedmore, I think “this isn’t so bad”. Then I shoot the 223 and realize I want to build a 6ARC because the reduced recoil is such a joy to shoot.

My goal with the 107’s out of my creedmore is to get a feel for what this gun would be like as a 6creedmore with 108’s. Based on my few shots so far, I’d still prefer less recoil and a 6 ARC…

I just got my 6 arc 18 gasser running good. Had a few hiccups. I was trying to use 4198 I believe and it was so dirty it'd shut the gun down after a few rounds. Using varget now. But using a gasser you lose about 150 fps but still great for deer pushing a 108 eldm at 2500 and change. I really want to pickup a howa mini for the $550 or whatever and have a bolt gun. Just make sure I don't get the ammo mixed up between the two guns.
I think the way that Sig Cross stock is designed it's not the best for managing recoil even with a can. That cheek riser sucks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ztc92]

I have a decent amount of 123 Amax leftover from a 6.5 Grendel experiment and plan to try it in the 6.5 Creed. Looks like you could get it moving decently fast in the Creed. H4350?

I use 43 grains of H4350 with the 130 ELDM and get about 2735 FPS out of an 18” barrel. I suspect 2800 would be easy with a similar load of H4350 and the 123’s.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Lever + 107 TMK’s did not go well. No pressure signs with the ladder but almost every shot was a hang-fire. I decided not to shoot the other rounds I loaded. Really sketchy when you hear the firing pin click and the round fires a brief moment later. Also noticed the cases came out full of powder/soot at the base, not really sure what that’s about. I’ll be doing some reading on hangfires but my suspicion is that the case was not filled enough for good ignition.

I think I’m going to go back to using H4350, which I’ve used for all other creedmore loads with good success. I also shot five of the 107 TMK’s using that just to see if there was a notable decrease in recoil and those loads shot well.

More updates to come as time allows.

Interesting. What other powders do you have?

Stabal 6.5 looks like it would get it screaming fast. I use it with 130’s as my go to powder

 

[Natebonebusta]

I use 43 grains of H4350 with the 130 ELDM and get about 2735 FPS out of an 18” barrel. I suspect 2800 would be easy with a similar load of H4350 and the 123’s.

I run 42.6gr h4350 through an 18” barreled xbolt with 130Tmk and it produces 2715fps