Remaking Berger Factory 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo

[PanhandlePilgrim]

I have a Tikka CTR in 6.5 Creedmoor that I doctored up and it shoots the Berger Factory 130 OTMs very well (10 shot group below.) Any ideas what powder they are using? I have yet to begin my dissection, I have a feeling it's probably N550, can anyone confirm?
Also, just got my Sythe TI out of jail. I don't know how I have lived without a suppressor for this long.

 

[waspocrew]

Do you have anymore loaded ammo? If so, pull a round and dump it to see the charge weight. You might be able to cross reference some data based on the charge, velocity, etc.

I’ve heard most major ammo manufacturers (Hornady for example) use a proprietary powder blend, not something commercially available. Not sure if that’s the case for Berger, but could be.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

Here is a close up of the powder. Looks close to RL16 but not quite. Charge weight in the neighborhood of 39 gr, each kernel weighs .02.

 

[khuber84]

39.0 with a 130otm, what's the velocity from your barrel? Berger advertise 2920, but you're shooting a shorter barrel Tikka so you're likely 100-200fps slower. 39gr indicates this is a faster burning powder. Could be N150, or N550if they're sticking to their own groups powders.

 

[slowelk]

39.0 with a 130otm, what's the velocity from your barrel? Berger advertise 2920, but you're shooting a shorter barrel Tikka so you're likely 100-200fps slower. 39gr indicates this is a faster burning powder. Could be N150, or N550if they're sticking to their own groups powders.

I shoot these Berger loaded 130 OTMs out of my 22" creedmoor. For data, I get 2,850-2,880 depending on the temp.

 

[khuber84]

I shoot these Berger loaded 130 OTMs out of my 22" creedmoor. For data, I get 2,850-2,880 depending on the temp.

Tikka are notoriously slow to advertised velocity. I know guys running the 130otm in nrl hunter factory class from CTR at 2900, but they're loading way higher than book numbers to get it.

 

[slowelk]

Tikka are notoriously slow to advertised velocity. I know guys running the 130otm in nrl hunter factory class from CTR at 2900, but they're loading way higher than book numbers to get it.

Aftermarket barrel, not a tikka barrel for me.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

Yeah mine is a 24" factory and I am getting 2808 avg. Slow, but very accurate. The load data and the photo of the powder grains on the VV website are kinda pointing toward N550. I think the book max charge is 40.5 gr.

 

[wind gypsy]

Viht powders I’ve used seem to be short and fat like that.

I’ve got a feelin that bullet would shoot well with a bunch of powders for ya.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

Yeah I'm going to start with what I have, which is a lot of R16 and might even give 26 a try before I go out and buy a bunch of 555 or 550.