6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

[chawk]

Has anyone pulled bullets and weighed the powder charge in Hornady's factory 140AMAX ammo? I pulled bullets and weighed 5 charges and I'd like to know if this is typical results as I'm a little surprised by the variations...

(from Lot#3101904)
40.7gr
40.6gr
40.4gr
41.1gr
40.6gr

Previously I chrono'd a few rounds and had an extreme spread of 33fps (low velocity of 2622fps, high velocity of 2655fps). I've shot three boxes from this lot already and the accuracy from this ammo and the new rifle has been the best I've ever experienced. That said I've not had a chance to shoot further than 100yds and won't until the corn gets cut.

I also have some ammo from Lot# 3100799 that I'll probably pull a few bullets from and weigh. Also, boxes from both lots show 41.5gr of H4350 as the recommended reload data.

Any input appreciated.

EDIT TO ADD CHARGE WEIGHTS FROM LOT# 3100799
41.5gr
41.3gr
41.5gr
41.2gr
41.5gr

 

[memilanuk]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

No, haven't done that yet. Starting to think it might be interesting to do so, though

I will say that I put 41.5gn H4350 behind a 140AMax seated @ 2.810" lit by a 210M per the factory recipe... and it shot approx. 1/2 moa out to 600yds. Tough to beat that from a factory rifle w/ un-prepped brass, yada yada.

 

[FCS]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

I pulled two apart two rounds of factory 140A-max ammo, charge was 42.2 and 42.3 gr. I'd have checked at least 5 but I only had two rounds to work with.

I tried 41.5, 41.9, 42.2, and 42.5 to see what shot best.

Ended up loading 41.8 gr (factory box suggested 41.9gr of H4350) of H4350, 140A-max @ 2.800, and GM210M.

 

[Rob01]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

Stop pulling it apart and shoot it

All we shoot in our Creedmoors is factory 140 AMAX and have shot them to over 1000 yards and they are plenty accurate.

 

[chawk]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Stop pulling it apart and shoot it

All we shoot in our Creedmoors is factory 140 AMAX and have shot them to over 1000 yards and they are plenty accurate. </div></div>

I hear ya... This rifle/factory AMAX combo shoots fantastic for me. But once I get through all the factory ammo I have on hand I'm going to be handloading for the rifle. The Hornady ammo shoots so good that I don't even plan to try a different powder, bullet, or primer. I've already stocked up on F210M primers, H4350 and 140 AMAX bullets. I just figured rather than trust what was on the box I would pull a few down and verify the charges. Just a little surprised it shoots as good as it does given the variations I found...

 

[Rob01]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

You can actually play with the charge weight. The factory load is a lighter load. I have gone up to 43.5grns of H4350 with no pressure in my rifle. As usual work up but use 41.5grns as a good starting point.

 

[chawk]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

Yeah... I will probably work up the powder charge to see where it gets me. It's just that the factory stuff shoots so well I almost don't care that it's a little on the slow side. I'm averaging 2635fps from 30 rounds over the chronograph with my relatively short barrel (22" from the recoil lug).

 

[chawk]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

I pulled bullets and weighed charges on 5 rounds from the other lot of factory ammo I have, Lot# 3100799.

41.5gr
41.3gr
41.5gr
41.2gr
41.5gr

More consistent than the other lot, and also closer to the info published on the box. The funny thing is, this lot has an average velocity virtually identical to the other lot (I've run 15 of each lot over the chronograph), and an identical P.O.I. My guess is that Hornady must be doing a pretty good job of adjusting charge weight when switching from one lot of powder to the next.

 

[Rob01]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chawk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> My guess is that Hornady must be doing a pretty good job of adjusting charge weight when switching from one lot of powder to the next.</div></div>

That would be a pretty good guess

 

[dvdt]

Re: 6.5CM 140gr AMAX - factory powder charge...

This is exactly one of the reasons I chambered my bolt gun in 6.5CM. The factory loading of components I can actually buy and make myself. It took the guess work out of it for me.

However, once I 'reproduced' factory ammo, I moved up a little just to see how things went. I run 42.4gr behind a 139gr scenar (cause the 140 AMAXs are so damn hard to find) and I'm getting about ~2750 ft/sec in my neck of the woods. I loaded all the way up to 43 and didn't have any pressure signs but my ladder test showed that 42.2, 42.4 and 42.6 were within an inch at 300yds. I took the one in the center and ran it to account for the chargemaster tolerances with each throw.

Thanks for posting up this information. Definitely helpful and I'm sure others will find this data invaluable when they chamber their rifle.

FWIW, I went with a .260 in a semi platform