When are you done tinkering with a load?

[Bowfinn]

I wouldn't know that, do they use H4350 for factory? Interesting if so. With no pressure signs at 89 degrees I'm tempted to do some more testing with higher charges, but I had one really heavy bolt lift at 42.5gr (I think) when I was doing a ladder test so I dropped back. Tempting, but at the same time it's a CM not a PRC so not a speed demon. These were only my 3rd set ever of 6.5 CM reloads so thinking I should get experience and my process down before opening more rabbit holes.

Both of these same exact loads shot .5" and .42" with 5 round groups when doing the charge testing. The 10 round groups are humbling, 20 rounds will be more humbling when I get to them so maybe I'll just skip that and shoot steel at 600. When I look at the groups in the OP, it's unlikely to shoot 3 at the extreme edges of the group so I can pick almost any 3 shots and all be real tight, very good visual in my mind on why the 3's and even 5's just don't reflect the whole picture. I can also see why the 3 round groups people always post seem to wander around the POA here and there every time they post one. I'm forever scarred and can't unsee it now.

With Hornady currently I don’t think anything is known. I found a pic of one of the early eld boxes I think it’s the 140 but I’m not sure. Just get used to the larger group size of the large sample sizes. You have a good barrel it’s gonna shoot with good components.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

^that's pretty cool to know.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I may pickup some TMK in 153's or 130's... or both and try to come up with an alternate load, because it's sort of addicting.

Absolutely it is!

 

[sierracharlie338]

With Hornady currently I don’t think anything is known. I found a pic of one of the early eld boxes I think it’s the 140 but I’m not sure. Just get used to the larger group size of the large sample sizes. You have a good barrel it’s gonna shoot with good components.

I forgot they were doing that at one time.

 

[mtnbound]

So I just started, unsurprisingly my Tikka 6.5 CM didn't offer me much tinkering and seems to just shoot acceptably almost everything I feed it. I've not done much at all except rule out n555 due to slow speeds with pressure. Seating everything 35 off the lands. Would you stop with these 10 round groups or keep tinkering? At this point I'm thinking I'm likely sitting at minute of trigger man and his old eyes so I fear even if I made improvements it may not translate to paper.
Top is 45gr Superformance at 2680ish and bottom is 41.5gr H4350 at 2625ish at 89 degrees. Neither have so much as a smudge on the brass for pressure signs.

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For myself I like to tinker until I have two proven loads meeting my FPS and accuracy goals using two different powders that way if something happens and I can’t get a certain powder I have another option already proven. If what you have meets your goals I would say load more and shoot.