Slow 6.5 Creedmoor

Lonehill

Private
Minuteman
Sep 25, 2018
19
17
I bought a new Rem 5R Gen2 in 6.5 CM. Topped it with a NF SHV ffp with MOAR reticle. Shooting some factory Hornady Precision Hunter 143gr Eld-x because deer season coming up quick. I've got some Lapua brass, will def handload in due time. Shot a ten shot string over my F1 chrony during initial sight in. Avg velocity is a mediocre 2580fps. At first I thought my chrony was jacking with me. Today I took rifle back out and took first shot at a distance. Target was 12" plate at 500yds. Plugged the 2580 vel into my Strelok, dialed up 11 moa and made a perfect first round hit. I then fired 7 more slow shots, all hits. I had a big piece of cardboard behind the plate because I was expecting/hoping the hits would go high, but alas it confirmed my slow barrel fears. Anybody ever heard of a factory 6.5 this slow?
 
I know the posted velocity was prob from a 26" barrel. I've never clocked a factory load at "box speed" but it does seem pretty slow. Got a .22-250 that sped up a bunch after about 200 rds. Also have a .257wby that clocks way slow. Guess a deer won't notice the difference. I am really impressed with the rifle. It shoots very well even with the crap trigger which has to go. Was also standing shooting off the flatbed of the old feedtruck using the Harris and a rear bag made from some old bluejeans. A little load dev and I'm pretty well sold. Guess who cares as long as the dope is on, just adds a couple more clicks right?
 
I have a tikka .260 20inch ctr with hornady 130grn i as getting about 2450fps with magneto speed, my brother has a 20inch ctr in 6.5cm and he was getting 2580 fps with hornady 143 eld-x's. Measured with same magneto speed.

The barrel should speed up but I think hornady might be downloading their ammo just a bit. I know tikka barrels are known to be slow but these are almost laughable. That being said both rifles shoot dime size groups or better.
 
Yeah, you may have a problem. I'm shooting an 18" barrel and I'm getting 2580 fps out of factory ammo. Seems you can expect 50 fps or so for each inch of barrel length, I remember reading that somewhere... I'll post the link if I can find it.
 
I've never achieved Hornady box speed in any rifle I've ever had. It does indeed have a 24" barrel. I'm pretty sure I can get more speed with some load dev. Just unimpressed, especially when you read where everyone else is getting a couple hundred fps faster. Had read somewhere that the 5R rifling being unopposed would be a little faster than conventional. I've got an 18" .223 Wylde Blackhole Weaponry barrel (polygonal rifling on 3grooves, looks shot out looking down the tube) that matches my 22" barrel in speed. It might get to Hornady spec, don't know, it only gets handloaded.
 
Yeah, you may have a problem. I'm shooting an 18" barrel and I'm getting 2580 fps out of factory ammo. Seems you can expect 50 fps or so for each inch of barrel length, I remember reading that somewhere... I'll post the link if I can find it.
20fps is more normal. Maybe 30. Unless youre talking super short (under 20")

But yeah factory barrels are known to be slower. So is factory ammo.

Yeah itll speed up some, but its probably still a little slow.
 
I bought a new Rem 5R Gen2 in 6.5 CM. Topped it with a NF SHV ffp with MOAR reticle. Shooting some factory Hornady Precision Hunter 143gr Eld-x because deer season coming up quick. I've got some Lapua brass, will def handload in due time. Shot a ten shot string over my F1 chrony during initial sight in. Avg velocity is a mediocre 2580fps. At first I thought my chrony was jacking with me. Today I took rifle back out and took first shot at a distance. Target was 12" plate at 500yds. Plugged the 2580 vel into my Strelok, dialed up 11 moa and made a perfect first round hit. I then fired 7 more slow shots, all hits. I had a big piece of cardboard behind the plate because I was expecting/hoping the hits would go high, but alas it confirmed my slow barrel fears. Anybody ever heard of a factory 6.5 this slow?
Whats the problem? You know your dope and made a first round hit at 500yds which is further than 99.9 percent of all ethical hunting shots. The deer wont know the difference between 2580 and 2680fps.

How cold is it? Cold weather can have a dramatic effect on velocity. Remember speed is an ever changing number anyhow. It will always be a variable depending on conditions and lot number (whether handloads or factory). I just realized this myself not long ago.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bender
Yeah, you may have a problem. I'm shooting an 18" barrel and I'm getting 2580 fps out of factory ammo. Seems you can expect 50 fps or so for each inch of barrel length, I remember reading that somewhere... I'll post the link if I can find it.
50fps per inch is incorrect. More like 20-25fps in both .308 and 6.5 creedmoor.
 
I've never achieved Hornady box speed in any rifle I've ever had. It does indeed have a 24" barrel. I'm pretty sure I can get more speed with some load dev. Just unimpressed, especially when you read where everyone else is getting a couple hundred fps faster. Had read somewhere that the 5R rifling being unopposed would be a little faster than conventional. I've got an 18" .223 Wylde Blackhole Weaponry barrel (polygonal rifling on 3grooves, looks shot out looking down the tube) that matches my 22" barrel in speed. It might get to Hornady spec, don't know, it only gets handloaded.
The only way to match Hornady’s stated velocity is to shoot from a 26” barrel in 90 degree or greater temps. Anything less than this and uou will fall short.

I have a 26” bartlein and see 2700fps average only in the hot months with 140bthp, 140eldm, 147 eldm. My 24” tikka avg 2650 with the same factory loads. I dont have a chrono but these velocities true at 800yds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tx_Aggie
I've never achieved Hornady box speed in any rifle I've ever had. It does indeed have a 24" barrel. I'm pretty sure I can get more speed with some load dev. Just unimpressed, especially when you read where everyone else is getting a couple hundred fps faster. Had read somewhere that the 5R rifling being unopposed would be a little faster than conventional. I've got an 18" .223 Wylde Blackhole Weaponry barrel (polygonal rifling on 3grooves, looks shot out looking down the tube) that matches my 22" barrel in speed. It might get to Hornady spec, don't know, it only gets handloaded.
My rem 700 30-06 is always slower than published numbers. I have always had to go higher in powder to get the same numbers. I attribute this to match grade chambers verses my factory looser tolerance chamber.....
 
Shooting in 40 degree weather. Actually fairly impressed accuracy wise. Managed two sub inch 3 shot groups during sight in. Yesterday's long range session finished off my first box, so it's barely been shot. But it held moa at 500. Can't wait to swap out the trigger. Cleaned copper out twice, once after first couple shots and again prior to going long. Interestingly, first shot was on clean barrel. It went 2 in left and 2 low of poa and ended up being group center. Typically, my first shot post cleaning is quite a bit faster and will go high.
 
Shooting in 40 degree weather. Actually fairly impressed accuracy wise. Managed two sub inch 3 shot groups during sight in. Yesterday's long range session finished off my first box, so it's barely been shot. But it held moa at 500. Can't wait to swap out the trigger. Cleaned copper out twice, once after first couple shots and again prior to going long. Interestingly, first shot was on clean barrel. It went 2 in left and 2 low of poa and ended up being group center. Typically, my first shot post cleaning is quite a bit faster and will go high.
I bet its the cold weather. If it were 85-90 degrees you would be at 2650 fps like all of us. I looked back in my notes from last year and i was losing roughly 1.5fps per degree dropped starting at 90 degrees. Your numbers mimick mine. I see the same drop off with fgmm ammunition .308 win. Start out at 2500fps from my 20” and drops off 60-70fps when temps are near freezing. Like i said earlier. Velocity is ever changing. Its one of the reasons recording DOPE is so important.
For reference, I'm getting 2650 with Hornady 140gr ELD Match from a 24" PVA barrel.
Matches mine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lonehill