I am wanting to try Varget with 140 gr. SMK's in a 6.5 Creedmoor bolt gun. I am having a very tough time finding load data. Any help is appreciated.
- Thread starter PharmShooter
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My book shows 34.1 to 35.8 gr Varget, ranging from 2500 to 2600 fps for a 140gr SMK.
I really believe 140's need to go faster than that to stabilize....more like 2750 to 2800 fps.
I really believe 140's need to go faster than that to stabilize....more like 2750 to 2800 fps.
I'm afraid that you're not going to get the results you're looking for using Varget with the 140s...you just won't get the velocity that makes the caliber what it is. Sorry to say, It will almost be a waste of good powder.
You will have good results using Varget with the 120gr pills though...
You will have good results using Varget with the 120gr pills though...
Thanks. I can get my hands on some H 4350. Any thoughts on where to start with this?
Check Hodgdon's website for min and max charge for the 6.5CM. I had a good accuracy node at 40.5grs of H4350 and 142SMK
I would start at 42 gr and work your way to 44 with H4350
As already mentioned, skip Varget and 140s in the 6.5 CM.
H4350, I'd start at 40 and work up. 140 SMK is going to seat deeper in case and have more bearing surface then 142 SMK, 139 Scenar, 140 Berger VLD/hybrid. Jump'em 0.040" to start.
I have excellent results with 42.4gr Hodgdon H4350 and 142 SMK out of a 6.5CM. I like the recommendation above but I'd start at 40 and work up to be safe. It's only a round or two for a pressure check. IMHO, it's silly not to work up.
Edit: FWIW, I had excellent results with the 139 gr scenars too. I'd recommend buying a bunch of whichever are cheaper. Oddly enough I've never tried the 140 AMAX.
Edit: FWIW, I had excellent results with the 139 gr scenars too. I'd recommend buying a bunch of whichever are cheaper. Oddly enough I've never tried the 140 AMAX.
My best 5 shot group was shot with 140 Hybrids seated .072" from the lands. It was .060" when the gun was new. That puts the OAL at 2.840" and the mags can handle up to 2.860".
I have about 3# of H4350 left than I'll have to switch over to IMR4350. Not looking forward to working up a new load.
I have about 3# of H4350 left than I'll have to switch over to IMR4350. Not looking forward to working up a new load.
Thanks for all the comments...FCS, are you recommending to NOT use the 140 gr. SMK? This is for a rifle I bought from a friend and I was going to use what I already had available, but can go a different direction if need be. I'm all ears on what's best to shoot.
Thanks again for all the feedback.
140 SMKs will shoot really well, just isn't the LR bullet that the 142 SMK, 139 Scenar or any of the 140 Berger bullets are. 400 yards or less, the 140 SMK will work really well for you. However, the 140 SMK will use less powder due to ogive profile and increased bearing surface compared to other bullets. 140 SMK will take you to 1K, just going to need more elevation and windage as the 140 SMK doesn't have the BC of the other bullets mentioned above.
If you can get H4350 no need to waste the Varget with the 140's, I assumed you couldn't get H4350 and wanted to try something you had on your bench. Anywhere from 40-42.5 of H4350 should be good. I am running 41.8 with the 140's and 43 with the 130's. I really like the Creedmoor, great choice.
Okay, I was not able to get H4350. I was able to get IMR 4350. Does anybody have experience with IMR 4350 in the creedmoor? I went to the IMR reloading data website and Sierra 140 gr SMK's were not among the options. 142 SMK and 140 A-max were available, but not the 140 SMK.
Any additional thoughts would be appreciated regarding where to start with IMR 4350 and if it is a suitable choice for the 6.5 creedmoor. In a perfect world I would have everything at my fingertips, but this is what I have. However, if I need to wait and get other components I will.
Thanks for all the help!
Any additional thoughts would be appreciated regarding where to start with IMR 4350 and if it is a suitable choice for the 6.5 creedmoor. In a perfect world I would have everything at my fingertips, but this is what I have. However, if I need to wait and get other components I will.
Thanks for all the help!
Varget is like gold right now, sell it for some faster powder
I'd suggest 38.5 gr to start, work up to a max of about 40-40.5 gr of IMR 4350. Jump the 140 SMKs at least 0.040" but you'll already be pretty deep in case due to ogive profile. IMR is fine choice for 6.5 Creedmoor.
41.0 gr of IMR 4350 is compressed load with 140 A-max at 2.820" OAL. You'll be deeper in case w/140 SMK and probably be compressed around 40 gr.
Thanks Andrew!
38.5 gr= 2513 fps
38.8 gr= 2543 fps
39.1 gr= 2591 fps
I tested these rounds at 150 yards (corn is in) and shot (2) 3 shot groups to get a feel for how it shot and what the FPS would be. Below are the results:
38.5 - .605" MOA
38.8 - .220" MOA
39.1 - .485" MOA
I do plan on shooting this 1000 yards so I will continue to work up the load. I was thinking about going to 39.7 gr, 40.0 gr and 40.3 gr next. The .220" avg at 38.8 may have been a fluke, not sure.
Any other thoughts?
38.8 gr= 2543 fps
39.1 gr= 2591 fps
I tested these rounds at 150 yards (corn is in) and shot (2) 3 shot groups to get a feel for how it shot and what the FPS would be. Below are the results:
38.5 - .605" MOA
38.8 - .220" MOA
39.1 - .485" MOA
I do plan on shooting this 1000 yards so I will continue to work up the load. I was thinking about going to 39.7 gr, 40.0 gr and 40.3 gr next. The .220" avg at 38.8 may have been a fluke, not sure.
Any other thoughts?
I would think that IMR 4350, H100V, Reloader 17 and N550 would be the best substitutes for H4350 from looking at a powder burn rate chart. I have IMR4350 and N160 to play with when the H4350 runs out.
Yes RL17 works very well in a 6.5 Creedmoor and I was able to get more velocity without pressures sign then with H4350.
Get some 140 Berger Hybrids and test them also. My best results were with 42.5 grns of H-4350. Seating depth can be tricky in "some" rifles. Mine rocked on at .015" jump.
But for what it's worth they are shooting well under one minute out of my rifle at 1500 yards..... Out of a 18" tube. Superb bullet! I will kill something with them this season.
Varget is to fast for a 140. But I've seen great groups at 100 yrds. Just not enough velocity
But for what it's worth they are shooting well under one minute out of my rifle at 1500 yards..... Out of a 18" tube. Superb bullet! I will kill something with them this season.
Varget is to fast for a 140. But I've seen great groups at 100 yrds. Just not enough velocity
Real quick, have any of y'all done any tests with N550 behind a 123 Lapua Senar? Sounds like a good combo to me...
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