• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Alternative Powders for 6.5 Creedmoor

libertyman777

libertyman777

Are you gonna eat that....
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 26, 2007
849
11
57
Heflin, Alabama
Ok, I'm almost out of H4350 and can't find any. I have the following powders but am not sure all are suitable.

RL 15
RL 19
RL 7

H Benchmark
H Varget

XMR 4350

IMR 4895
IMR 4350
IMR 4320
IMR 4227
IMR 4189
IMR 4064
IMR 3031

I've seen a few loads posted for Varget but nothing else on my list. How do you guys work up a load from powder that is deemed to be suitable for a particular cartridge?

The factory data is great to have but I think it's hindered experimentation with this round.

Any help is appreciated.

Paul
 
Rl17. I'm running it in my .260, 44.5gr under a 140 amax going 3000fps
 
I just started reloading the Creedmoor but have been developing load data: I use RL 17 with a 142 Sierra BTHP - 22.5" Bartlein BlackOps Rifle.

42.3 Grains of RL 17 at .10 off the lands at 2.840" COAL and average 2720fps
 
I just loaded up 20 rounds of RL17+120AMAX's today. The 120's with RL17 shot real well for break in.
Did this 3 shot group (100yd, best of 4 groups most avg. at 3/4") today on a brandnew 26" savage barrel:
IMG_01061.jpg


I'm putting some 140AMAX's together tonight with RL17 and V100 as well. I don't have a chrono yet so I'm loading conservatively per the Hornady Manual. I'm planning on loading them to 2.810
 
Last edited:
SAB9259 - I have been hesitant to get into that range of powder charge (44.5) due to what I have been hearing about Hornady brass leaking primer pockets. I have found a charge that basically replicates the speed of the Hornady 140 AMAX at 2710. Have you seen any issues with your brass after that high of a charge? Also, were there any pressure signs?
 
JSTARSZ said:
SAB9259 - I have been hesitant to get into that range of powder charge (44.5) due to what I have been hearing about Hornady brass leaking primer pockets. I have found a charge that basically replicates the speed of the Hornady 140 AMAX at 2710. Have you seen any issues with your brass after that high of a charge? Also, were there any pressure signs?
Click to expand...

Be careful! Per his post, Sab is running a .260, NOT a 6.5 Creedmoor.
 
With the 140 class I stick with H4831SC in my .260. I haven't reloaded for my creedmoor but thought that the H4831SC would be a good choice when I did. With the 120 grain class Varget should work great. Good luck
 
42.5 RL17 is my go to with the 142 SMK. I like H4350 with the 130VLD though. of course you have neither of those. If you're looking on the Hodgdon guide you should be finding something but I don't think anything will perform as well as the two I listed.
 
Yes im running a .260, not a 6.5 so use caution.

Ive seen no pressure signs of hard lift.

OAL of 2.87. The barrel has over 2k rounds on it i juiced up the load to get into the 3k fps range. My previous load was 43gr of h4350 running 2850
 
shoot4fun said:
42.5 RL17 is my go to with the 142 SMK. I like H4350 with the 130VLD though. of course you have neither of those. If you're looking on the Hodgdon guide you should be finding something but I don't think anything will perform as well as the two I listed.
Click to expand...
Awesome load. I'm hoping to get started on a few boxes of 142smk's myself. I would love it if they like rl17! You have my hopes up.
 
It has been exceptionally accurate so far. The knock on RL powders has been that they are temp sensitive but I have not noticed it so much with RL17. This load is shooting at or below 1/2 MOA in two different rifles.
 
Continuing the conversation of the use of alternative powders for the 6.5mm Creedmoor. I had the opportunity to take the Creedmoor out today and air it out a tad. I had two steel targets set-up - one at 580 yards and the other at 880 yards. I am using RL 17 with 42.3Gr's on a 142 Sierra BTHP at it runs 2740fps out of a Bartlein 22.5" Barrel and the rifle is a BlackOps Precision Recon. The MOA to 580 was 11.5 and the 23 MOA out to 880 yards. My partner was shooing a Bartlein 20" 308 and it was fun to see the two rifles work at those distances. Just watching the bullet trace of the 308 and the 6.5 Creedmoor was lesson enough to know why I am starting to really love the flat shooting Creedmoor.

It was a beautiful day at around 55 degrees with a small amount of breeze - around 3MPH constant but it did eek up to 7 MPH in the gusts and the wind was ever changing and shifting from right to left. I worked a lot of just watching the mirage for changes.

0e27b6e6-ca63-46f5-aea4-e5b7b3aaae2a_zps918a7210.jpg
 
We have a local dealer that got in 3- 8lb jugs last week. Want me to check if he still has them? I have enough, otherwise I would have bought one.
 
shoot4fun said:
It has been exceptionally accurate so far. The knock on RL powders has been that they are temp sensitive but I have not noticed it so much with RL17. This load is shooting at or below 1/2 MOA in two different rifles.
Click to expand...

I can't get my SMK142's to shoot anywhere near my Bergers or AMAX's....yet. The smk142 is one moa+ the Bergers are 1/2" or less. I think I need to change powder with the 142 or change the seating depth. At 2.820 and 40.5 or 40.8 gr of v100 they just aren't performing for me, and since I don't have a lot of extra pow I'm done messing with them for a bit.
 
demolitionman said:
I can't get my SMK142's to shoot anywhere near my Bergers or AMAX's....yet. The smk142 is one moa+ the Bergers are 1/2" or less. I think I need to change powder with the 142 or change the seating depth. At 2.820 and 40.5 or 40.8 gr of v100 they just aren't performing for me, and since I don't have a lot of extra pow I'm done messing with them for a bit.
Click to expand...

demo, get rid of the 100V. That powder has been the worst Hodgdon has ever come up with. I have tried the one pound I have in several different calibers and it sucked in every one.
The best two powders for 6.5CM are RL17 and H4350. Play with seating depth on the SMK. They like some jump.
 
shoot4fun said:
demo, get rid of the 100V. That powder has been the worst Hodgdon has ever come up with. I have tried the one pound I have in several different calibers and it sucked in every one.
The best two powders for 6.5CM are RL17 and H4350. Play with seating depth on the SMK. They like some jump.
Click to expand...
Oh man, I didn't know that V100 wasn't a good choice. I can't find anymore RL-17, and can't find h4350. The only pow I can reliably get locally seems to be V100, and I figured since I was seeing 1/2" or less out of my Berger130's with it it was decent stuff. I tried researching the consensus on v100 and there just isn't much real world results showing up online. Good to know about giving the 142's some jump. I have a 1 lb of h4350 and 1lb of Varget. I was waiting to use those up after barrel break in.
 
Running 42.5 grains of RL-17 with 142 gr SMK loaded 2.875 OAL in my .260 Rem. My 24" Wells Custom is running 2905 fps at 50 degrees. Getting about .4" at 100. That's with necked down M852 LC brass and Fed 210M
 
This is what my SMK's are doing with 40.8 or 40.5gr of V100 @ 100yds:
LOL, needless to say, I need some serious load development on these SMK's.
100YDSMK142V100408GR.jpg
 
I have 5 lbs of IMR 4350 as backup powder when the H4350 runs out. I also have Superformance, but it's really temp sensitive and I'd prefer not to use it.

Yeah demo, that's right at 1 MOA. I shot this with 120 AMax factory:

2013-02-09_14-37-29_985_zps8f3fa1e9.jpg


I have shot sub 1/4 moa with VLD and Hybrid reloads
 
demolitionman said:
Awesome load. I'm hoping to get started on a few boxes of 142smk's myself. I would love it if they like rl17! You have my hopes up.
Click to expand...
good day,

i am new on reloading creedmoor, i am running out of lock in securing 6.5 creedmoor powders sugested in the manual data. I only have H4227 which was also used in 300 blkout, fireball. i was wondering how much load it would be for 6.5 creed? any advice? Thank you
 
  • Like
Reactions: Baste
I am using VV N555. I am new to reloading but it gives me 0.3 moa at 200m so far.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Baste
Oldmauser said:
I am using VV N555. I am new to reloading but it gives me 0.3 moa at 200m so far.
Click to expand...
cool I was looking at it last night. will try to order a couple of powder that will work for 6.5 and do some test on the suggested load and will take it from there. I always use factory load from hornady and sig 120 grain. Its really hard right now to find components. Thank you sir👍🏻
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Bergara B-14 HMR 308 Loads
Replies
5
Views
400
ilmonster
I
A
Correlation between velocity, barrel length and powder burn speed
Replies
21
Views
657
grayfox72
G
R
Reloading Equipment Various Powder
Replies
1
Views
299
RTH1800
R
drtony
Powder Info
Replies
10
Views
675
drtony
drtony
W
Powder recommendations for 55 grain Hornady CX in 223/556
Replies
6
Views
741
secondofangle2
secondofangle2
Top Bottom
Back