6.5 Creedmoor 147 Gr ELD-M. RL16, RL26, H4831SC, H4350 Test and Data

[9/11]

So I have been lurking for a while now, I have made a few posts here and there, but nothing with much contribution yet. Now it is time to put up some meaningful data for all of you. I have noticed it can be hard to find load data on the Hornady 147 Gr ELD-M for the 6.5 Creedmoor. So I did some research and bought a few powders that interested me for this. I chose 4 different powders, loaded up 50 rounds of each, took it to the range and here are the results for anyone who is interested.





The powders I tested were RL16, RL26, H4831 SC, H4350. After testing all four I had great results with all of the in different ways. I will let you all be the judge of what might work for you. This data will hopefully help anyone trying to choose a good powder for the 147 ELD-M.



Use Caution when using any of these loads, be sure start low and work your way up. All these loads below, start high and get over recommended charges. Don't be a fool and blow up your tool.



The Rifle
View attachment 6905571
View attachment 6905576

Action - Defiance Deviant

Barrel - 26" Krieger 1:8 MTU

Break - Area 419 Hellfire

Trigger- Timney Calvin Elite 2 Stage

Chassis - MDT ESS

Rings - ARC M10 Medium

Scope - Minox ZP5 5-25x56



The Ammo



Bullet - Hornady 147 Gr ELD-M

Brass- Virgin Lapua Small Rifle 6.5 CM

Primer - CCI 450

OAL - 2.263

.020 Off the lands



Testing was done at my local range at 100m. Temperature was 22c with 30km wind gusting to 60km. Altitude was 805m above sea level. Sorry but all you guys from the USA will have to convert that from Canadian on your own eh.



Test #1 - RL16

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



40.3 2658 9.8 26 1.637

40.6 2687 8.1 18 .998

40.9 2707 6.0 13 .495

41.2 2721 5.6 15 .926

41.5 2749 8.1 22 .754

41.8 2771 6.6 15 .852

42.1 2788 4.5 12 .802

42.4 2808 9.8 26 .735

42.7 2835 6.7 14 1.040

43.0 2851 6.3 14 .926

View attachment 6905572



Test #2 - RL26

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



45.3 2715 4.7 12 .757

45.6 2759 8.7 22 .563

45.9 2776 9.5 25 .855

46.2 2794 6.4 16 .834

46.5 2817 5.1 13 .896

46.8 2844 9.2 21 .529

47.1 2855 6.9 19 1.093

47.4 2881 9.6 25 .905

47.7 2904 11 30 .739

48.0 2917 9.4 23 .826

View attachment 6905573



Test #3 - H4831 SC

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



42.5 2614 9.0 25 .516

42.8 2631 6.7 16 .555

43.1 2642 11 28 .826

43.4 2665 7.0 18 .668

43.7 2682 6.2 15 .915

44.0 2696 7.6 15 .507

44.3 2714 5.9 14 .437

44.6 2733 5.0 12 .878

44.9 2746 10.8 27 .607

45.2 2760 4.5 10 1.010

View attachment 6905574


Test #4 - H4350

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



40.0 2657 7.9 21 .971

40.3 2690 11 30 .888

40.6 2688 8.7 21 .799

40.9 2706 4.0 10 .799

41.2 2719 2.4 6 1.159

41.5 2737 4.7 12 .467

41.8 2750 4.4 11 .742

42.1 2769 9.9 25 .494

42.4 2792 2.6 7 .556

42.7 2806 7.4 19 .806

View attachment 6905575




After doing these tests I thought I would have a clear winner but now I just want to test these all more thoroughly. So this test has turned into phase 1 now. I will see what kind of fine tuning I can do to these in the future. I will keep you all posted when phase 2 is completed and I will post the results for you all.

2900 48 gr is way to much pressure to be safe,didn't you see pressure signs?

 

[ReplicaSnipers]

2900 48 gr is way to much pressure to be safe,didn't you see pressure signs?

Have you checked it on Quickload or similar? RL26 does seem to give you crazy velocities at safe pressures.

 

[TACC]

Great info and experience to say the least

 

[toxic]

2900 48 gr is way to much pressure to be safe,didn't you see pressure signs?

In my last 6.5cm, 47.8gr rl26 with the 147 eldm was 2985 from a 26” rock creek from PVA

 

[EDMJustin]

2900 48 gr is way to much pressure to be safe,didn't you see pressure signs?

Clearly you didn't read the whole post and just jump to conclusions. As stated above, with my conditions and set up, I was seeing no major pressure signs. Maybe the slightest of ejector mark possibly. There are plenty of Pictures of my brass in the post if you do not believe me. Also this post is from 4 years ago and no one has posted any pictures or comments about blown up rifles following my info. I am guessing they are all doing there load workup carefully and responsibly to reach these numbers. Just because I didn't see pressure does not mean someone else won't. Plenty of people here running that load with no issues.

 

[9/11]

Clearly you didn't read the whole post and just jump to conclusions. As stated above, with my conditions and set up, I was seeing no major pressure signs. Maybe the slightest of ejector mark possibly. There are plenty of Pictures of my brass in the post if you do not believe me. Also this post is from 4 years ago and no one has posted any pictures or comments about blown up rifles following my info. I am guessing they are all doing there load workup carefully and responsibly to reach these numbers. Just because I didn't see pressure does not mean someone else won't. Plenty of people here running that load with no issues.

Best wishes I'm not shooting 1400 yds and if I were I'd change calibers!

 

[9/11]

So I have been lurking for a while now, I have made a few posts here and there, but nothing with much contribution yet. Now it is time to put up some meaningful data for all of you. I have noticed it can be hard to find load data on the Hornady 147 Gr ELD-M for the 6.5 Creedmoor. So I did some research and bought a few powders that interested me for this. I chose 4 different powders, loaded up 50 rounds of each, took it to the range and here are the results for anyone who is interested.





The powders I tested were RL16, RL26, H4831 SC, H4350. After testing all four I had great results with all of the in different ways. I will let you all be the judge of what might work for you. This data will hopefully help anyone trying to choose a good powder for the 147 ELD-M.



Use Caution when using any of these loads, be sure start low and work your way up. All these loads below, start high and get over recommended charges. Don't be a fool and blow up your tool.



The Rifle
View attachment 6905571
View attachment 6905576

Action - Defiance Deviant

Barrel - 26" Krieger 1:8 MTU

Break - Area 419 Hellfire

Trigger- Timney Calvin Elite 2 Stage

Chassis - MDT ESS

Rings - ARC M10 Medium

Scope - Minox ZP5 5-25x56



The Ammo



Bullet - Hornady 147 Gr ELD-M

Brass- Virgin Lapua Small Rifle 6.5 CM

Primer - CCI 450

OAL - 2.263

.020 Off the lands



Testing was done at my local range at 100m. Temperature was 22c with 30km wind gusting to 60km. Altitude was 805m above sea level. Sorry but all you guys from the USA will have to convert that from Canadian on your own eh.



Test #1 - RL16

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



40.3 2658 9.8 26 1.637

40.6 2687 8.1 18 .998

40.9 2707 6.0 13 .495

41.2 2721 5.6 15 .926

41.5 2749 8.1 22 .754

41.8 2771 6.6 15 .852

42.1 2788 4.5 12 .802

42.4 2808 9.8 26 .735

42.7 2835 6.7 14 1.040

43.0 2851 6.3 14 .926

View attachment 6905572



Test #2 - RL26

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



45.3 2715 4.7 12 .757

45.6 2759 8.7 22 .563

45.9 2776 9.5 25 .855

46.2 2794 6.4 16 .834

46.5 2817 5.1 13 .896

46.8 2844 9.2 21 .529

47.1 2855 6.9 19 1.093

47.4 2881 9.6 25 .905

47.7 2904 11 30 .739

48.0 2917 9.4 23 .826

View attachment 6905573



Test #3 - H4831 SC

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



42.5 2614 9.0 25 .516

42.8 2631 6.7 16 .555

43.1 2642 11 28 .826

43.4 2665 7.0 18 .668

43.7 2682 6.2 15 .915

44.0 2696 7.6 15 .507

44.3 2714 5.9 14 .437

44.6 2733 5.0 12 .878

44.9 2746 10.8 27 .607

45.2 2760 4.5 10 1.010

View attachment 6905574


Test #4 - H4350

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



40.0 2657 7.9 21 .971

40.3 2690 11 30 .888

40.6 2688 8.7 21 .799

40.9 2706 4.0 10 .799

41.2 2719 2.4 6 1.159

41.5 2737 4.7 12 .467

41.8 2750 4.4 11 .742

42.1 2769 9.9 25 .494

42.4 2792 2.6 7 .556

42.7 2806 7.4 19 .806

View attachment 6905575




After doing these tests I thought I would have a clear winner but now I just want to test these all more thoroughly. So this test has turned into phase 1 now. I will see what kind of fine tuning I can do to these in the future. I will keep you all posted when phase 2 is completed and I will post the results for you all.

Col gota be more than that

 

[Rockhurr]

So I have been lurking for a while now, I have made a few posts here and there, but nothing with much contribution yet. Now it is time to put up some meaningful data for all of you. I have noticed it can be hard to find load data on the Hornady 147 Gr ELD-M for the 6.5 Creedmoor. So I did some research and bought a few powders that interested me for this. I chose 4 different powders, loaded up 50 rounds of each, took it to the range and here are the results for anyone who is interested.





The powders I tested were RL16, RL26, H4831 SC, H4350. After testing all four I had great results with all of the in different ways. I will let you all be the judge of what might work for you. This data will hopefully help anyone trying to choose a good powder for the 147 ELD-M.



Use Caution when using any of these loads, be sure start low and work your way up. All these loads below, start high and get over recommended charges. Don't be a fool and blow up your tool.



The Rifle
View attachment 6905571
View attachment 6905576

Action - Defiance Deviant

Barrel - 26" Krieger 1:8 MTU

Break - Area 419 Hellfire

Trigger- Timney Calvin Elite 2 Stage

Chassis - MDT ESS

Rings - ARC M10 Medium

Scope - Minox ZP5 5-25x56



The Ammo



Bullet - Hornady 147 Gr ELD-M

Brass- Virgin Lapua Small Rifle 6.5 CM

Primer - CCI 450

OAL - 2.263

.020 Off the lands



Testing was done at my local range at 100m. Temperature was 22c with 30km wind gusting to 60km. Altitude was 805m above sea level. Sorry but all you guys from the USA will have to convert that from Canadian on your own eh.



Test #1 - RL16

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



40.3 2658 9.8 26 1.637

40.6 2687 8.1 18 .998

40.9 2707 6.0 13 .495

41.2 2721 5.6 15 .926

41.5 2749 8.1 22 .754

41.8 2771 6.6 15 .852

42.1 2788 4.5 12 .802

42.4 2808 9.8 26 .735

42.7 2835 6.7 14 1.040

43.0 2851 6.3 14 .926

View attachment 6905572



Test #2 - RL26

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



45.3 2715 4.7 12 .757

45.6 2759 8.7 22 .563

45.9 2776 9.5 25 .855

46.2 2794 6.4 16 .834

46.5 2817 5.1 13 .896

46.8 2844 9.2 21 .529

47.1 2855 6.9 19 1.093

47.4 2881 9.6 25 .905

47.7 2904 11 30 .739

48.0 2917 9.4 23 .826

View attachment 6905573



Test #3 - H4831 SC

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



42.5 2614 9.0 25 .516

42.8 2631 6.7 16 .555

43.1 2642 11 28 .826

43.4 2665 7.0 18 .668

43.7 2682 6.2 15 .915

44.0 2696 7.6 15 .507

44.3 2714 5.9 14 .437

44.6 2733 5.0 12 .878

44.9 2746 10.8 27 .607

45.2 2760 4.5 10 1.010

View attachment 6905574


Test #4 - H4350

Charge Muzzle Vel. SD ES Group Size "



40.0 2657 7.9 21 .971

40.3 2690 11 30 .888

40.6 2688 8.7 21 .799

40.9 2706 4.0 10 .799

41.2 2719 2.4 6 1.159

41.5 2737 4.7 12 .467

41.8 2750 4.4 11 .742

42.1 2769 9.9 25 .494

42.4 2792 2.6 7 .556

42.7 2806 7.4 19 .806

View attachment 6905575




After doing these tests I thought I would have a clear winner but now I just want to test these all more thoroughly. So this test has turned into phase 1 now. I will see what kind of fine tuning I can do to these in the future. I will keep you all posted when phase 2 is completed and I will post the results for you all.

How are you able to stuff 48 grains of powder in a 6.5 cm case and still able to seat a bullet deep enough to stay in the neck. You must be single feeding and have a super long throat. ? I trialed it out using 48 grains of H4350 in a starline brass through a drop tube and the powders are right above the neck / shoulder area…

 

[supercorndogs]

You could probably fit 60g of H335 in a 6.5 creed case. Not all powders have the same amount of bulk per weight.

 

[EDMJustin]

How are you able to stuff 48 grains of powder in a 6.5 cm case and still able to seat a bullet deep enough to stay in the neck. You must be single feeding and have a super long throat. ? I trialed it out using 48 grains of H4350 in a starline brass through a drop tube and the powders are right above the neck / shoulder area

How are you able to stuff 48 grains of powder in a 6.5 cm case and still able to seat a bullet deep enough to stay in the neck. You must be single feeding and have a super long throat. ? I trialed it out using 48 grains of H4350 in a starline brass through a drop tube and the powders are right above the neck / shoulder area…

All the details you are looking for is listed in the post. Every load listed is at a OAL 2.263 .020 off the lands. They were all mag fed using magazines without binder plates. The chamber is a standard 6.5 cm chamber. The only issue I ran into loading these with the RL26 was a slightly compressed load. This problem was mitigated by using and electric toothbrush to shake the cases once the powder charge was dropped in to settle the powder before seating the bullet.

 

[357Max]

Every load listed is at a OAL 2.263 .020 off the lands.

This is not correct! BTO maybe, but it’s not OAL.
OAL should be 2.800 - 2.950 depending on jump and chamber.

I’m guessing you were about 2.890 OAL?

I ran up to 47.5 gr RL26 with the 147eldm. Very compressed, but my OAL was only 2.807, BTO was 2.175, & jump was .053”
That load went 2946 with and SD of 6.4 in virgin Lapua sml primer GM205
25” Rock button barrel

46.9 = 2904 / SD 5.4 shot tighter and was easier to fit in the case.

 

[EDMJustin]

This is not correct! BTO maybe, but it’s not OAL.
OAL should be 2.800 - 2.950 depending on jump and chamber.

I’m guessing you were about 2.890 OAL?

I ran up to 47.5 gr RL26 with the 147eldm. Very compressed, but my OAL was only 2.807, BTO was 2.175, & jump was .053”
That load went 2946 with and SD of 6.4 in virgin Lapua sml primer GM205
25” Rock button barrel

46.9 = 2904 / SD 5.4 shot tighter and was easier to fit in the case.

The measurement are BTO they were taken using a a hornady comparator set. You would be correct they are 2.885 COAL. I have edited the post to BTO to avoid any more confusion. I could care less what the COAL is as long as it fits in my magazine and it is able to get close to the lands so I can tune it. All the data posted above is what I used at the time and was meticulously recorded to help guide people on this forum. Nothing in the post was fabricated or exaggerated. That is just what worked for me at the time. Every rifle is different, chamber, weather, elevation, humidity, reloading practice, powder lot number, bullet lot number will change all these results. This was a test from 5 years ago and I don't even own this rifle anymore. At the time there was little to no published load data for the 147 eld-m. I picked 4 powders that were interesting to me and had potential. Everything I tested was all a guess with the little information I could find at the time to do these load workups. I am glad people are still able to use this information as a guide to find a load that works for them. It has been over 5 years since I posted this, I would hope people would find better results than I did at the time. Cheers.

 

[Rockhurr]

This is not correct! BTO maybe, but it’s not OAL.
OAL should be 2.800 - 2.950 depending on jump and chamber.

I’m guessing you were about 2.890 OAL?

I ran up to 47.5 gr RL26 with the 147eldm. Very compressed, but my OAL was only 2.807, BTO was 2.175, & jump was .053”
That load went 2946 with and SD of 6.4 in virgin Lapua sml primer GM205
25” Rock button barrel

46.9 = 2904 / SD 5.4 shot tighter and was easier to fit in the case.

RL26 must have heavier weight ratio than H4350. Also, If you can get 2900’s with RL26 out of 25” then I might get 2870’s out of a 24” ?

 

[kodak45]

AS a beginning loader I am facinated with the exacting measurements you folks are capable of.
Safe and consistant are my initial goals and we'll see how deep it gets after some experience.

 

[Rockhurr]

Did some testing this past weekend with 140 ELDM and R16. Picture here shows powder charge of 42.0 and 45.0. Need your opinion on the case marking and primer. Bolt lift was same on both loads. TIA!

Lapua SRP
6.5 CM
140 grn ELDM
RL 16

 

[Rockhurr]

Correction. 42 and 44.6 grains of R16 and CCI BR4

Speed at 44.6 was 2998 fps. Anyone got similar results?