Lower Velocity 6mm Creedmoor Loads

[BulletScientist]

I used Federal Gold Medal 6mm Creedmoor 107gr SMK for competition last year. My Benchmark barrel shot them really fast. The box said 3000 fps, but I was getting as high as 3200 fps. I want to hand load the 107's this year. Does anyone have experience with hand loading 6mm Creedmoor to slightly lower velocities? Should I just use Reloder 16, and back off on the charge weight? Like 38 grains? Or should I switch to a slower powder, like Reloder 23?

 

[shields shtr]

My go to load for my 6 Creeds are as follows:
Hornady 108 ELD-M
40.0 Grains Reloder 16
CCI primers
Alpha Brass
2980 FPS out of a 24" Proof Barrel

I am at well over 1800 rounds on my Carbon Proof Barrel and probably around 1000 on my steel barrel. (I have two 6 Creeds)
Accuracy is still 1/2 MOA

 

[6brshooter]

I would run a slower powder at shoot for 100% fill. H4831sc or maybe h1000, depending on how slow. When I started running 243 fast twist 13-14yrs ago, I used h4831sc and was right at 3000fps with 105-107. 43-43.5 in a 243. I'd say somewhere between 41-42 would put you in that speed area.

 

[Supersubes]

3200 is screaming for sure. No reason you can’t load it softer. I’d do an OCW test and find your low node.

I use the 115 dtac with 38 gr of rl16. Very soft load that produces 2900 FPS. Stunningly accurate, and very easy on the brass and throat. At 400 rounds, measurements showed the throat had not moved a single thousandth.

 

[BulletScientist]

3200 is screaming for sure. No reason you can’t load it softer. I’d do an OCW test and find your low node.

I use the 115 dtac with 38 gr of rl16. Very soft load that produces 2900 FPS. Stunningly accurate, and very easy on the brass and throat. At 400 rounds, measurements showed the throat had not moved a single thousandth.

By OCW, are you measuring velocity? Or vertical group size at distance?

 

[supercorndogs]

By OCW, are you measuring velocity? Or vertical group size at distance?

Neither.

 

[Supersubes]

By OCW, are you measuring velocity? Or vertical group size at distance?

Group position in the vertical plane realative to the other groups along the charge range, not the vertical size of the group. I stick to the standard OCW method, except I shoot them at 500 yds.

 

[King_beardsly]

I ran last year at 3080 last season, but I think I didn’t have enough neck tension based on some of the other speeds I’ve seen with similar powder loads but it shot a consistent .5

Federal brass necked to I believe .270
Federal primers
H4350 @41.8
Berger 105 hybrids

 

[BulletScientist]

Group position in the vertical plane realative to the other groups along the charge range, not the vertical size of the group. I stick to the standard OCW method, except I shoot them at 500 yds.

Thanks, I'll do that. Hoping to find a node around 38-39gr of RL16 with the 107's, at around 3000 fps.

 

[Rob01]

3000fps should be easy to find. I use H4350 and the 108 and 110 and get 3020fps with around 41-41.4grn area. 3000fps is my target area too. No need to be near 3200fps and burn out barrels fast.

 

[Supersubes]

H4831SC, RL23, RL26 are all good powders for running the 6 Creed "slow".

115 DTAC, 3000fps, H4831SC, 43.5 gr
115 DTAC, 3000fps, RL26, 44gr
115 DTAC, 3000fps, RL23, 42.5gr



I guess 100fps makes a huge difference in throat erosion.

We’ll see. That was kind of the purpose of this barrel.

 

[BulletScientist]

H4831SC, RL23, RL26 are all good powders for running the 6 Creed "slow".

115 DTAC, 3000fps, H4831SC, 43.5 gr
115 DTAC, 3000fps, RL26, 44gr
115 DTAC, 3000fps, RL23, 42.5gr



I guess 100fps makes a huge difference in throat erosion.

Thanks for this information. I will try Reloder 26 as well.

 

[King_beardsly]

So my load I though was slow, turns out to be anything but. I got 3150 at 45 degrees when I tried the slight tighter neck tension, also tried my Dtac in ADG brass and was a little disappointed in the lack of speed.

 

[dgheriani]

I run 110 SMKs in necked down Prime (RUAG) brass with 43.0gr H4831SC and CCI BR2s. Gives me 2950fps in a 26" tube, great accuracy, mild recoil, what's not to like