6.5 Creed, 4831sc / h4350, OCW and many questions

[EscapeVelocity]

I've always shot the 140 and 142s with h4350. It's obviously been great with tiny little groups. I was at my gun smith's shop and he said he was running 44.2 grains of h4831sc and the 147 eld. He reported very low pressure but relatively low velocity (2650 I think he said). But it's very consistent way out past 1200.

My need is only out to 1k, so I'm not overly worried about velocity. So I bought some 4831sc and h4350 and tried them yesterday in load development:

Hornady brass
CCI BR2
147 eld
H4350 / h4831sc
Ogive 2.224 (.030 off the lands)
Stock 700 aac-sd w/ 22" barrel

Here are the 4 shot groups below. I'm new to OCW and have always picked the smallest groups and called that my load. (Very tempted to load the 41.8 of h4831 but I know its a low node at .3")

So when I look at these I can go 2 routes:
- h4350 tried and true and get decent velocity (not a huge concern). Although very hard to find.
-or h4831 which this barrel seems to favor and get decent barrel life at low speeds.

What route would you go? What looks like the best OCW?

Also note, this is my second test batch. The first was loaded .30 off the lands instead of .030.... Groups were not great. There were only 2 shots of h4350 at 41.5 grains.

 

[isofahunter]

Can you push a little harder 43+ grains, it looks like you are tighten up at 43gr? A little more you might find next node, maybe you are at max as is so a suggestion only if safe to give it more fuel. 41.8 looks great and may be where you end up. That is how my 6.5 is, likes to cruise along not race.

 

[supercorndogs]

I run 45.5 with 143 ELD for 2790 out of a 26" Criterion.

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Can you push a little harder 43+ grains, it looks like you are tighten up at 43gr? A little more you might find next node, maybe you are at max as is so a suggestion only if safe to give it more fuel. 41.8 looks great and may be where you end up. That is how my 6.5 is, likes to cruise along not race.

I think I'm going to push 43 grains a little further. I can always play with the seating depth too. That way I with sacrifice too much velocity.

I run 45.5 with 143 ELD for 2790 out of a 26" Criterion.

H4831sc?

 

[shornik]

Personally, I don't think it could hurt to develop one load for each powder. That way you aren't high and dry if the H4350 unicorn dust dries up.

 

[supercorndogs]

I think I'm going to push 43 grains a little further. I can always play with the seating depth too. That way I with sacrifice too much velocity.

H4831sc?

Yes. I had some trouble with it in a 23" barrel running a can. The chamber would get stuff in it. Sometimes i would have to tap it out before I could chamber a round. I switched to 123s and RL15 for that barrel.

 

[supercorndogs]

Its also possible 41.8 is right in the middle of a node. Consistent POI for 41.8-42, it could run from 41.5-41.6 or so. If you aren't looking for speed you could load up some at 41.8 and see.

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Its also possible 41.8 is right in the middle of a node. Consistent POI for 41.8-42, it could run from 41.5-41.6 or so. If you aren't looking for speed you could load up some at 41.8 and see.

What would your best guess be for velocity at 41.8? I'm running a 22" barrel, 8 twist with or without a brake.

 

[supercorndogs]

I don't know. I was going into my ballistic app to check on my phone and it died. I want to say 45.5 was high 2500s in the 23". Your burn in going to be like 95%.

 

[EscapeVelocity]

I just loaded some 44 grains and got a light powder crunch. I think I'll keep going until it gets substantial.

 

[supercorndogs]

Looks like it was 2686 average out of the 23".

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Did you have a lot of powder compression?

 

[supercorndogs]

Yea had to run a pretty short OAL in the first barrel they sent me. I have only worked up the other load in the new barrel 123 ELD and RL15.