Berger Load Development for 6.5 Creedmoor

[AJenke]

Hey All,

First of all my question concerns a good starting point for OAL to Ogive for the beginning stages of load development.

I use snipers hide all the time for looking up already known information. I haven't been able to find an answer to my current question though. So I figured I would give some context to my question...

I am reloading for my new DTA in 6.5 Creedmoor. So far these are the components I will be using...

Hornady Brass x1 firing
Fed 210 Primers
H4831SC
140gr Berger Hunting VLD's

I have a good system in place for determining charge weight, but I don't know where to start with the OAL to Ogive. I know my Length to lands with the 140 Bergers is 2.247 +/- .001

Where should I seat all of my test rounds when looking for the charge weight sweet spot? They all need to be consistent, but where should I set them?

My ideas so far are Factory dimensions, or some increment of .015 off the lands.

Any help from you experienced loaders would be great!

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[dauntedfuture]

Try .020 off the lands and .020 into the lands to start and see what happens.

 

[Seandradamus]

Start .001 off
Then once you find your load test .015 and .030 off
My results have been very apparent one will stand out

 

[AJenke]

Try .020 off the lands and .020 into the lands to start and see what happens.

This rifle is my Tactical Competition and Hunting rifle. Will .020 into the lands result in a stuck projectile if I do not fire the round? I know you can have some jam without issue, I just don't know how much.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[AJenke]

Start .001 off
Then once you find your load test .015 and .030 off
My results have been very apparent one will stand out

Thank you for your help! I received the same advise from others and will give this a try.

 

[dauntedfuture]

The reason I don't suggest that you try .001 off is that there is some variation in the MFG process and you will also have some slight variations in bullet seating depth because of brass etc. These variations together can be, when compounded .003-.005 or so. Even 1 or 2 out of a box of quality bullets will be a little long or short. If you are seating .001 off (in theory) then when you get a "short" loaded round your off the lands, and with a "long" your into the lands. This is a critical point in pressure. The end result of .001 off could be one or two (or more) erratic shots.

Provided you are .02 off or .02, you have enough room to account for this variation. .02 off and .02 in, is also what Mid Tompkins recommends as the best place to start for these same reasons. I doubt that you will see any accuracy loss from .001 to .02, but I suspect that you will have more consistent ES and ES either into or off the lance. In reference to bullets sticking, yes there is a possibility that they will stick which poses issues. There are some rifles that will only shoot VLD bullets jammed into the lands, and as such to shoot these VLD bullets you have to jam them.

 

[Seandradamus]

Then seat .003 off