Tikka 6.5 Creed 20" Load data

Ice_man

FNG
Joined
Feb 8, 2022
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37
Anybody running a load for this setup? recently picked up a 20" Tikka and while it loves factory 147 eldm, I can't help but want to see if I can gain any speed out of it. That load is going 2520 FPS. I'm also open to running other bullets as well. Things like the 130 TMK, 140 ELDM, & 143 ELDX. I already have an assortment of h4350 and a box of 143 ELDX, but I'm curious what kind of velocities people are getting with handloads in a 20" barrel. Thanks!

Edit - I'm planning on starting to reload on this within the coming months. I will be sure to update and post my findings here.
 
Bought one (t3x 20" 6.5cm) this summer. I went straight to RL16 for my powder for the very technical reason that I had ~2lbs of it and nothing that I need to use it in. Put another way, there are other powders that would work; I used what I had.

20" Tikka, Peterson LRP brass with CCI LR BR primers, seated to 2.93"ish which put the 147eldm close to 0.060" off the lands which is where I like to try to stay. New brass, 42.3 grains of RL16 gave me 2610'. After the first firing, the now-1x fired brass with 42.0 gives me the same speed.

Based on what I see when I put this load into Gordon's Reloading Tool I believe that I could push it up to around 2650' velocity at safe pressure and that's what I saw early on when I pushed the powder charge a bit. I don't remember details, but I saw a faint ejector mark at a heavier charge that went 2660' IIRC.

I have also considered trying to switch to RL23. I think I could beat 2700' with that powder, but I am trying to hoard what I have for use elsewhere. 2600' is plenty for what I do with the rifle.

I don't have notes at my fingertips but ES/SD with new brass was something like 45 and 15; with 1x fired brass it has been maybe 25' and 10'. Point being, it tightened up with formed brass.

ETA: the only other loads I've shot have been the Nosler 123CC and the Hornady 130ELDM over 38.0 of IMR4895. I shot those just to have a gentle load for my eight year old's introduction to the rifle, and to burn up the handful of the 123s I had left over from a long-gone other project. I will likely use up the rest of the 130s with the same powder for practice ammo for the kids.
 
Just posted this on another post
6.5 cm 19” tikka suppressed
130 tmk
43 gr h4350
Starline brass large rifle primer
2.826” oal
2745

I had to back off from 43.5gr that originally weren’t showing any pressure signs.

Pretty common for some guys to run 43.5-44 h4350 behind 130’s though.

factory hornady 147’s shot somewhere around the mid 2500’s for me.
 
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