6.5 Creedmoor

[Basic user]

What's everyone getting for the Berger 153's out of a 24" barrel? (bolt rifle) I'm already getting pierced primers at 2647fps with 39.7 of H4350, with the bullet seated 2.140" BTO in fire formed Alpha brass. I'm right off the lands with a clean chamber and bore. I heard the federal small primers can do this so I loaded this with the standard CCI's. Started getting hard bolt lift on top of that at 39.9 grains. Hodgdons max is 41gr and I think Bergers was something a tad above that.

 

[stello1001]

What's everyone getting for the Berger 153's out of a 24" barrel? (bolt rifle) I'm already getting pierced primers at 2647fps with 39.7 of H4350, with the bullet seated 2.140" BTO. I'm right off the lands with a clean chamber and bore. I heard the federal small primers can do this so I loaded this with the standard CCI's. Started getting hard bolt lift on top of that at 39.9 grains. Hodgdons max is 41gr and I think Bergers was something a tad above that.

I mean how much more above 2650 did you want to be at, especially with a not so long barrel.

I think low 2600s is where it's at.

 

[Basic user]

I mean how much more above 2650 did you want to be at, especially with a not so long barrel.

I think low 2600s is where it's at.

I wasnt really looking for any specific velocity as I have no idea what right looks like for this bullet/cartridge combo, as I've never shot the 153's before. This was my first serious load work up in it. I just started a little before book max and began working up slowly like normal. I'm just wondering why I'm getting pressure signs of this size when I was a grain & a half at least below book max.

 

[TBK]

I did something similar. I started with 3 boxes of Berger 144 gr LRHT ammo for break in and to get used to the chassis setup. I then worked up a load and tested for how far off the lands with 1x fired brass.

I am up to ~300 rounds on the barrel. Yesterday I loaded up 30 rounds (now 3x fired brass) above and below the initial load. I did add neck mandrel sizing and neolube to my process. The preferred charge has not changed but the avg speed is up ~30fps and the SD has tightened (<7). I’m at just under 0.5MOA at 100 yards.

26 in CRB 1:8 twist on an Impact 737
Lapua LP 3x fired brass
Federal GM210 primers
41.6 gr H4350
0.030 off the lands
TBAC Magnus SR
Avg speed is now 2780 fps (10 rounds).

 

[stello1001]

I wasnt really looking for any specific velocity as I have no idea what right looks like for this bullet/cartridge combo, as I've never shot the 153's before. This was my first serious load work up in it. I just started a little before book max and began working up slowly like normal. I'm just wondering why I'm getting pressure signs of this size when I was a grain & a half at least below book max.

I started searching this thread. I saw a 2640 MV from a 26" barrel and a few others close to that MV. I personally wouldn't want to be any higher than that myself or I'd probably be question myself all the time if my brass will last

Maybe back down just a tad and keep it 2610 ish?

 

[Rob01]

I wasnt really looking for any specific velocity as I have no idea what right looks like for this bullet/cartridge combo, as I've never shot the 153's before. This was my first serious load work up in it. I just started a little before book max and began working up slowly like normal. I'm just wondering why I'm getting pressure signs of this size when I was a grain & a half at least below book max.

I shoot 153 ATips in my 28” with H4350 and get in the 2680fpa area.

 

[StrayDog]

Run a 28" barrel if you want free speed and better brass life? Why so many 24" creeds these days? PRS vs NRLH vs hunting, what's the intended use? Curious.

 

[Alaskaman11]

Question on Brass. I picked up some Norma Brass for my new 6.5 Rig, Running 34.2 of Stabol 6.5 with the 147ELD Match. Virgin Brass is incredibly tight groups, I get 2860 from a 26 inch. I then FL resize the brass and the groups open up a lot. IS this indicative of Norma brass or of 6.5. The reason I ask, I have Alpha on my 6 Dasher and im on the 6th or 7 reload and not a change in group sizes. Any thoughts?

 

[Rob01]

Run a 28" barrel if you want free speed and better brass life? Why so many 24" creeds these days? PRS vs NRLH vs hunting, what's the intended use? Curious.

Most factory barrels are 24” and under unfortunately. If people are putting on a new barrel they may look at that as the way to go. I have run 28” since I started with the cartridge in 2008 and won’t go shorter personally.

 

[Basic user]

I shoot 153 ATips in my 28” with H4350 and get in the 2680fpa area.

What brass and charge weight are you getting that velocity from? And any signs of pressure at all?

 

[Rob01]

What brass and charge weight are you getting that velocity from? And any signs of pressure at all?

Hornady brass and 40.6grns if memory serves. No pressure signs at all. I wouldn’t run it if there was.

 

[Basic user]

Run a 28" barrel if you want free speed and better brass life? Why so many 24" creeds these days? PRS vs NRLH vs hunting, what's the intended use? Curious.

For me it's just a target rifle, and possibly a hunting rifle in the future. I love the performance of long barrels, but I dont like transporting them. With a full length can on, it tends to get a bit unwieldy for me.

 

[Rob01]

For me it's just a target rifle, and possibly a hunting rifle in the future. I love the performance of long barrels, but I dont like transporting them. With a full length can on, it tends to get a bit unwieldy for me.

Just put the can on at the range. Easiest way. I run a can on mine too and on my 28” .308 in matches.

 

[Basic user]

Question on Brass. I picked up some Norma Brass for my new 6.5 Rig, Running 34.2 of Stabol 6.5 with the 147ELD Match. Virgin Brass is incredibly tight groups, I get 2860 from a 26 inch. I then FL resize the brass and the groups open up a lot. IS this indicative of Norma brass or of 6.5. The reason I ask, I have Alpha on my 6 Dasher and im on the 6th or 7 reload and not a change in group sizes. Any thoughts?

What are you group sizes before and after the resize? What was the reading on the base to shoulder before and after the resize? What is your rifles headspace measurement? Do you anneal? If so how often?

I run norma in my .270win, 8mm mauser, and 7.62x54 and I dont see a difference in group sizes on those rifles.

 

[Basic user]

Just put the can on at the range. Easiest way. I run a can on mine too and on my 28” .308 in matches.

No, that's what I do as well. I have a cramped arms room and car. I dont drive pickup trucks unfortunately. Space is at a premium. I hope to change that one day.

 

[stello1001]

@Rob01

I just got into 16lbs on reloder16. Will it provide any significant gains over h4350 when running heavy bullets.

I have a bunch of 130s, but I have some 144s, and a few of the heavier A-tips however many grains those are.

 

[david walter]

I have a 24" for hunting, and a threaded 22" for hunting with a can, and a 20" CTR for shooting at the range.

And a 22" Fieldcraft, and ...

Run a 28" barrel if you want free speed and better brass life? Why so many 24" creeds these days? PRS vs NRLH vs hunting, what's the intended use? Curious.

 

[Alaskaman11]

What are you group sizes before and after the resize? What was the reading on the base to shoulder before and after the resize? What is your rifles headspace measurement? Do you anneal? If so how often?

I run norma in my .270win, 8mm mauser, and 7.62x54 and I dont see a difference in group sizes on those rifles.

The first is the virgin brass, the second with the same load but with 2 firings on the brass. The rifle is a 700 action with a criterion barrel. I don’t have the headspace measurement, but I ran Pacific tool and dies headspace gauges through it when I was putting it together. I’m running the bullets at magazine depth, which is 2.83 and I do not anneil.

 

[Rob01]

@Rob01

I just got into 16lbs on reloder16. Will it provide any significant gains over h4350 when running heavy bullets.

I have a bunch of 130s, but I have some 144s, and a few of the heavier A-tips however many grains those are.

Sorry but no experience with that powder.

 

[Littleman13]

Question on Brass. I picked up some Norma Brass for my new 6.5 Rig, Running 34.2 of Stabol 6.5 with the 147ELD Match. Virgin Brass is incredibly tight groups, I get 2860 from a 26 inch. I then FL resize the brass and the groups open up a lot. IS this indicative of Norma brass or of 6.5. The reason I ask, I have Alpha on my 6 Dasher and im on the 6th or 7 reload and not a change in group sizes. Any thoughts?

What was the velocity difference between the batches?

I would look at:
Headspace on virgin vs fireformed vs sized
Neck tension on virgin vs sized
Same lot powder and bullets?
Humidity your powder is stored at? I prepped a bunch of hornady brass for my 6.5 for the first match this season and had some left over so I loaded up enough for the second batch and shot 3 of each batch. First was at 2615 with a es of 4 and the second batch was 2650 with an es of 8. Only thing that could have been different is humidity in my reloading room my powder is stored in. This was staball 6.5.