Hello, im looking for real world velocities achieved when hand loading for the 6.5 creedmoor to help decide what my next cartridge will be. Particularly interested in 140gn bullet weight and ideally 24 -26" barrel length. Any one care to share their data. Thanks.
- Thread starter MJR
- Start date
The go to load with 140s would typically be 42-42.6 grains H4350 producing a velocity typically right around 2800fps
If you need more velocity your best bet is to bump up to something like a 6.5PRC
If you need more velocity your best bet is to bump up to something like a 6.5PRC
26" Benchmark
140 ELDM
41.8 gr H4350
Lapua Brass
CCI 450
2840 FPS
-- I've pushed 140s well over 2900 FPS with this barrel, but tamed it down for brass life.
140 ELDM
41.8 gr H4350
Lapua Brass
CCI 450
2840 FPS
-- I've pushed 140s well over 2900 FPS with this barrel, but tamed it down for brass life.
Without getting stupid you should be able to achieve 2720 to 2820 depending on barrel length and powder.
Like other said, 2700-2800 with Reloder 16, Reloder 17, H4350, and IMR4451 with the 139-143 bullets is definitely reasonable. You can go faster, but you'll sacrifice brass and barrel life.
30” barrel with 42.7gn of H4350 I get 2900 with Berger 140 hybrids so with a26” barrel you should be at about 2800. I would start around 41.5gn and work up. I went up to 43gn and stopped there because I felt a little sticky bolt lift on a couple rounds.
I purchased some Hornady 140eld ammo that was on sale a few years ago and got 2900fps out of it. I was surprised to get that kind of speed out of factory ammo I could tell it was hot by the felt recoil so I chronographed it.
I purchased some Hornady 140eld ammo that was on sale a few years ago and got 2900fps out of it. I was surprised to get that kind of speed out of factory ammo I could tell it was hot by the felt recoil so I chronographed it.
43.5gr h4350, lapua brass, 140 eldm and 20" =2700fps
43.3gr h4350, lapua brass, 147eldm and 20"=2725fps
43.5gr h4350, win brass, 140eldm, and 18" barrel=2650fps
43.9gr h4350, win brass, 139scenar, and >1800rd 23.5"=2845fps
All are bart 5r, except the 23.5 is bart 4groove and 147eldm 20" is steel proof.
43.3gr h4350, lapua brass, 147eldm and 20"=2725fps
43.5gr h4350, win brass, 140eldm, and 18" barrel=2650fps
43.9gr h4350, win brass, 139scenar, and >1800rd 23.5"=2845fps
All are bart 5r, except the 23.5 is bart 4groove and 147eldm 20" is steel proof.
Gezzus, OP be careful with some of the numbers you see in here.
FWIW I pressured out at 41.1 h4350 in Lapua brass
FWIW I pressured out at 41.1 h4350 in Lapua brass
Dont worry bro, no swipes and primers still tight on 15x fired brass. Not my first rodeo.
With 143 ELDx 2750 AA4350
With 140 ELDm 2830. Rl 16
With 140 ELDm 2830. Rl 16
Wasn't worried about you, surely you get that the loads you posted would be unsafe in most chambers. Bro....
42gr H4350 in Alpha brass pushes Berger 140gr Elite Hunter to 2790fps.
40.1 gr Varget in Hornady brass pushes Berger 130gr AR Hybrids to 2910fps.
Both from 24” 8” twist Bartlein 5Rs.
John
Nope, plenty of guys run that much. Just cause you dont, doesnt mean its unsafe. Look at my speeds, not like they are crazy fast. Maybe your lot is hotter, you never mentioned your speed. What was the speed when you "pressured out"?
In the summer, I can easily push a 140gr 2850 fps out of a 26" bbl with H4350 and Lapua brass. I have had a 147 over 2900 out of this barrel, that was just to see if could without pressure signs and I worked my way up slowly.
142 smk
26” barrel
42.6 rl16
~2840fps
26” barrel
42.6 rl16
~2840fps
About the same spot I pressure out also with LRP Lapua brass. I’m at 40.7 h4350 right now @2835fps with a 136gr scenar in my 260rem which is very similar
I'm running 40.6 H4350 in Starline brass pushing 140 eldm pills down a 26" Benchmark and the average is 2785.
Looks like N160 or N550 might be good bets for you. Most folks use H4350 because it seems to be "the one" powder for 6.5CM, and is very temperature insensitive. RL16 is another that seems to fit that bill. Both are less expensive for us here in the US vs. Viht, but I've seen folks report success with Viht here on the forum. Might check the reloading depot thread? https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/6-5-creedmoor.89643/unread
All loads over 2800, usually about 2820 or so around the best node. Did get the 147's going 2850 with RL16 without pressure signs. Every barrel is different though.
I agree every gun and barrel is different so start low and work up. I have 3 different 6.5 creedmoor and two are the same the other showed pressure at a little lower charge. I don’t ever recommend using someone’s load data but use as a guide. It seems with H4350 loads run from 40.0 to 43.5 depending on the brass used. So again start low and work up. Don’t just focused on speed. I would rather have less speed with a smaller group than the opposite. 50 or 60 FPS less is not giving up much to wind even out to 600 plus yards.
I run a MPA BA Comp with 24" barrel, Peterson Brass, CCI BR4 primers, Hodgdon H4350, Hornady 140 ELD-M bullets. I achieve 2835 FPS with SDs of sub 5 fps. Calculated sub-sonic threshold is 1290 yards. I have hit out to a mile with this round. Fully disclosure mile was accomplished with 8 shots. 4 to get on target, then 4 hits.
26” barrel, 308 Lapua Palma brass formed to 6.5CM, CCI450’s under 42.8gr H4350 with 140 ELD’s and I’m getting 2745.
This seems to be slower than most so I believe I have a slow batch of powder.
Edit: I looked up my load data and I’m using 42.8gr not 42.7. Post above updated.
This seems to be slower than most so I believe I have a slow batch of powder.
Edit: I looked up my load data and I’m using 42.8gr not 42.7. Post above updated.
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Have you tried to step up another grain in .1 grain increments?
Do this until you start to get pressure signs and maybe find a better node.
Berger 140 hybrids
42.7 H4350
Lapua Brass
2840fps
24” Bartlein
42.7 H4350
Lapua Brass
2840fps
24” Bartlein
Im getting 2900fps in a 23" JP barreled gas gun with 123g Hornady AMAX(bought a shit ton 3 years ago, still havent used them all) with 39.9g of Varget.. So fairly similar load.
Yep I sure did. Went right up to 43.6 if memory serves me right. I got very slight pressure signs at 43, slightly noticeable signs at 43.3 and definite signs at 43.6. I think 43.6gr got me to about 2820 IIRC.
I’m just about finished this batch of powder so it’ll be interesting to see what I get with the new batch.
26 inch bartlein
41.5 4350
Hornady brass 210m primer 140 Eldm
2790 with omega attached
41.5 4350
Hornady brass 210m primer 140 Eldm
2790 with omega attached
Dunno which of these are safe or sane, all precautions apply.
www.snipershide.com
6.5 Creedmoor
I'm in the process of building my 6.5 Creedmoor and I have a few boxes of their 120gr AMAX factory loads, but once those are gone it to the table. I've seen a few loads on here, but they are spread out all over the place. Figured we need a spot for all of them to go. Bullets I'm interested in...
www.snipershide.com Bergara Premier Pro 6.5 CM, 24” barrel.
H4350
142 Sierra Match King
Lapua SRP Brass
CCI 400 Primers
40.5 grains = 2630 fps
41.9 grains = 2710 fps
using Lab Radar
H4350
142 Sierra Match King
Lapua SRP Brass
CCI 400 Primers
40.5 grains = 2630 fps
41.9 grains = 2710 fps
using Lab Radar
41.4 grains of H4350
ELD 140
Hornady Brass
CCI 200
2815 fps
24” Proof barrel with a can.
ELD 140
Hornady Brass
CCI 200
2815 fps
24” Proof barrel with a can.
2650fps from an 18" Bartlein
41.4 H4350
Peterson SRP SFH
143ELDX
Fed205
I have a new barrel on the way and plan on leaving it long this time.
41.4 H4350
Peterson SRP SFH
143ELDX
Fed205
I have a new barrel on the way and plan on leaving it long this time.
Any of you shooting factory Tikka barrels? Did you in the past and with a barrel change did you see a jump in MV? I know word on the street is they run slower but I’m interested in your data.
I’m shooting a new Tikka Tac A1 6.5cm
I’m shooting a new Tikka Tac A1 6.5cm
My Tikka is consistently about 100fps slower than every other 6.5 Creedmoor rifle I have ever shot LOL. But it's an absolute HAMMER. It's easy to come up a couple clicks of elevation.
That's outstanding. Start hammering away. I'll even recycle your brass for you ?
I was wondering how much I can push my ruger predator in 6.5 cm with H4350? Max says 43 gr. I can tell factory hornadys are hotter?
How long is a piece of string?
That's going to depend on your brass, bullet, and rifle. 43 seems to be on the high end for 140/147, just work up to it.
tagged for updates.....waiting on dies to show up for my now Sako S20 in 6.5CM
129 gr. Hornady accu bond. Hornady says 43 max gr. 22 inch bbl. Ruger american predator
Someone made the correct statement that each barrel is different. So don’t use the below data as transferable to your barrel. I’ve had a pressure trace system for a while and recently wired up my 24” bbl howa 1500 6.5 CM after procuring long term supplies of A4350 and Staball6.5. I used Fed GMM 130 AR HYB as my standard for pressure. In my brass and barrel a 3% compressed load of 43.0 gr of A4350 under 140 matchburners yielded ~2700 FPS and less measured pressure than the factory reference load. With the staball6.5 and 140 Mbrs and with the same pressure I achieved 100 FPS faster (in the 2800’s) and was still under the reference load pressures by approximately 5000psi. Right now there is a component crunch worst than the Obama years, now I can see where to load without damaging precious brass and still have a suitably performing long range load. Now I will repeat with the Nosler RDF’s. It’s interesting to see the relative differences between factory load pressures and reloads. Anyone who would like to see trends I am more than happy to PM.
I'm seeing similar.
The sweet spot for my 6.5 is 40.3 (Lapua brass) to 40.6 (Hornady Brass) of H4350. This lands around 2650. When I ran a ladder test I couldn't get the higher velocities most people report. The highest I saw was low to mid 2700s. I was getting significant pressure signs.
Obviously I have a slow barrel but it makes a strong case for starting low and working up.
Ive always figured the same.
My 6.5 runs slow compared to most but it has good accuracy / consistency and in theory it should help barrel life a little.
I guess if pushing out far enough the lower speeds would mean the bullets are going transonic sooner (which would limit your accurate range) but I have never pushed out far enough for that to happen (can only find ranges <1000 around here).
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