6.5 cm powder testing

[CJS-6.5]

R17 pushing 123 sst, 2.80 coal. Pressure signs at 42 grains and up. Hard bolt lift at 44 grains and noticeable recoil.

R17 pushing 140 eldm 2.83 coal. Ran up38.5, 39,5, 40.5, 41.5 no issues

Varget pushing 123 sst 2.80 coal. 37 grains to 39 grains showed minor pressure signs at 39. not accurate, won't be using for 6.5 anymore

Imr 4350 pushing 123 sst 2.80 coal 40,5 to 44.5 in 1 gn increments. no pressure signs at all and noticeably less recoil. very accurate.

my chrony isn't here yet so unfortunately no velocity data.

However I will continue to use IMR 4350 and try more bullets and lengthes. Will update with best load data for each bullet length.

 

[CJS-6.5]

the 123 sst doesn't like to be jammed. I pulled it back to 2.750 and all pressure signs went away at 42-44 grns r17. I will push it up to 46 grns to see if I can find the ideal balance between length, grns and velocity to get accuracy.

 

[CJS-6.5]

4831 works good for the 140s. rl17 works good for the 120-130s. I have tons of data wrote down now but will only post it if desired...im tired. I did find it hard to get the ssts to group well...

 

[6.5 Luster]

Just loaded up some 139 grn Scenars 2.840. was difficult to find some load recipes for the 6.5 creedmoor using R17. I ended up starting at 44.3g, 44.5g and 44.8g. Now I just need a day where the wind isn't blowing 25 mph to go out and test. Anyone have some experience loading 6.5 with R17?

 

[CJS-6.5]

I wouldn't start that high. I had primer catering at 43 grns rl17 pushing 140 eldm.

 

[CJS-6.5]

One round was as high as 2886 fps witch is nuts out of a 24" barrel.

 

[Tim_WNC]

R17 pushing 140 eldm 2.83 coal. Ran up38.5, 39,5, 40.5, 41.5 no issues

My Savage FCP-SR with MDT HS3 chassis consistently shoots 0.4-0.5" 8 shot groups with

41.2 RL 17
Hornady 140gr ELD-M loaded 2.200" base to ogive
Hornady >1 time fired brass
WLR primers

Std Deviation ~8
Density Altitude 3312

 

[CJS-6.5]

2.830 coal is 2.175 to ogive on the 140 eldms. That's .005 jump on my Rpr. .100 jump on my Savage. Huge difference. I have to be careful not to mix ammo up.

 

[CJS-6.5]

Just loaded up some 139 grn Scenars 2.840. was difficult to find some load recipes for the 6.5 creedmoor using R17. I ended up starting at 44.3g, 44.5g and 44.8g. Now I just need a day where the wind isn't blowing 25 mph to go out and test. Anyone have some experience loading 6.5 with R17?

I'm not telling you what to do but I wouldn't shoot those loads without working up to them. RL17 is hotter than 4350 and most guys are seeing pressure signs above 43 grns of H4350

 

[6.5 Luster]

Any suggestions? I have never used this powder and am looking for a MV between 2750-2850. There is no data on Alliants website for the 6.5. I have a 26" barrel.

 

[rduckwor]

Just loaded up some 139 grn Scenars 2.840. was difficult to find some load recipes for the 6.5 creedmoor using R17. I ended up starting at 44.3g, 44.5g and 44.8g. Now I just need a day where the wind isn't blowing 25 mph to go out and test. Anyone have some experience loading 6.5 with R17?

I would pull those if I were you. I have run the 140 ELD-M up to 42.5 RL17 without any pressure signs. Your loads are a bit too hot for my tastes. I was also way out there with OAL at 2.91X for single loading.

Please be careful.

RMD

 

[CJS-6.5]

Any suggestions? I have never used this powder and am looking for a MV between 2750-2850. There is no data on Alliants website for the 6.5. I have a 26" barrel.

42.5 grns of Rl17 will get you there easily.

 

[6.5 Luster]

I would pull those if I were you. I have run the 140 ELD-M up to 42.5 RL17 without any pressure signs. Your loads are a bit too hot for my tastes. I was also way out there with OAL at 2.91X for single loading.

Please be careful.

RMD

Thanks for the advise, I did feel that the load felt a bit heavy. I'll pull these and back it off. I do believe this wind was devine providence.

 

[CJS-6.5]

I wish I could feel if a load was too heavy or not. It would save time messing with these stupid scales...

 

[6.5 Luster]

My Savage FCP-SR with MDT HS3 chassis consistently shoots 0.4-0.5" 8 shot groups with

41.2 RL 17
Hornady 140gr ELD-M loaded 2.200" base to ogive
Hornady >1 time fired brass
WLR primers

Std Deviation ~8
Density Altitude 3312

What's your average velocity with that load if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Tim_WNC]

What's your average velocity with that load if you don't mind me asking?

sorry for the late reply.

2762 fps average after ~75 rounds or so chrono'd.
24" Savage heavy profile barrel.

 

[dsouza411]

Currently running 140 RDF, Hornady brass, CCI 200 with 42.6 grains of RL17 with a base to ogive 2.1625

This load is out of a factory RPR 24in barrel .070 off the lands.

 

[Beneviolence]

Isn't 2.830" running quite short for a 140gr in 6.5CM? Particularly for a poly-tipped bullet? I'm at 2.93" COAL and 0.050" off the lands still.

 

[6.5 Luster]

Well, did some different loads with the RL17 and found that 41.5 gns works great with the 139 Scenars. I shot a 1", 3 shot group at 300 yds. Bullet seating at 0.020" off lands, 2.840 coal. I just got some Lapua brass and a couple hundred RDF bullets to try. I heard these are similar to the Berger bullets, and require a larger jump. Any one have first hand knowledge with RDF bullets?

 

[canezach]

I've used about a thousand 140 RDFs in my 6.5 Creedmoor. I also did some minimal testing (about a pound or two) and was in the lower 2800s at 40.something grains during summer testing. I went with more temp-stable powders like H4350, but since Reloder 16 came out, that is my powder of choice for the 6.5. 42.0 grains of RL16 and the 140 RDF puts me at 2850ish 0.020 off the lands.

 

[Cavitation]

Just loaded up some 139 grn Scenars 2.840. was difficult to find some load recipes for the 6.5 creedmoor using R17. I ended up starting at 44.3g, 44.5g and 44.8g. Now I just need a day where the wind isn't blowing 25 mph to go out and test. Anyone have some experience loading 6.5 with R17?

RL17 Is all I use. Loaded everything from 123s to 143s. Good to excellent results. Best was 42.6gn and SGK130 .3 to.5 inch groups

 

[Leprechaun4b]

R17 pushing 123 sst, 2.80 coal. Pressure signs at 42 grains and up. Hard bolt lift at 44 grains and noticeable recoil.

R17 pushing 140 eldm 2.83 coal. Ran up38.5, 39,5, 40.5, 41.5 no issues

Varget pushing 123 sst 2.80 coal. 37 grains to 39 grains showed minor pressure signs at 39. not accurate, won't be using for 6.5 anymore

Imr 4350 pushing 123 sst 2.80 coal 40,5 to 44.5 in 1 gn increments. no pressure signs at all and noticeably less recoil. very accurate.

my chrony isn't here yet so unfortunately no velocity data.

However I will continue to use IMR 4350 and try more bullets and lengthes. Will update with best load data for each bullet length.

I've used about a thousand 140 RDFs in my 6.5 Creedmoor. I also did some minimal testing (about a pound or two) and was in the lower 2800s at 40.something grains during summer testing. I went with more temp-stable powders like H4350, but since Reloder 16 came out, that is my powder of choice for the 6.5. 42.0 grains of RL16 and the 140 RDF puts me at 2850ish 0.020 off the lands.

42 grains always seems to be the money spot with 140s