Made and fired my first hand loads! 6.5cm

[NotBotvinnik]

So finally got my very first small batch of hand loads done. Ran a ladder just to take a look at velocity and get some baseline data.

Bergara HMR 6.5cm
22” barrel (already had 250rnds fired)

Fired over Magnetospeed V3

Lapua 139gr Scenars
Hornady brass (once fired)
Federal GMM large primers
H4350

.025” OTL / .0015” neck tension
CBTO 2.217” / COAL 2.833”

41.0gr 2716fps
41.2gr 2742fps
41.4gr 2748fps
41.6gr 2760fps
41.8gr 2765fps
42.0gr 2786fps
42.2gr 2813fps

Zero pressure signs throughout! If anyone has any tips to help make progress from here please don’t hesitate.

 

[camocorvette]

It's an outstanding feeling when you load your first batch and they go bang the right way.

 

[nn8734]

A speed node may be present at 41.6-41.8 grains. I’d do some grouping at 100m with 5 rounds or so to confirm and see how the rifle stacks them.

Also Hornady has a lot of case capacity relative to other brass makers for 6.5 creedmoor hence no pressure signs so you may want to continue upping the charge by .2 or maybe even .3 grain increments until you either ID a higher node or start seeing pressure signs (marks on casehead, cratered primers, etc), assuming you want more MV. If you are good with ~2760-2765 then disregard this last paragraph as that seems to be decent velocity.

You full length sizing? If so, how far are you bumping your shoulder back?

 

[NotBotvinnik]

Thanks for the replies-

Yes I am full length sizing. I bumped the shoulders back .002” and used the .290 neck bushing to get that .015” neck tension. I’ve loaded up 45 rounds to run tomorrow.

5 @ 41.0gr just to warm the barrel
20 @ 41.3
20 @ 41.7

I have a few hundred new Lapua cases I’m going to be working up as well. I ran them through my Wilson .263” mandrel because the necks were really tight and lightly chamfered and deburred them in prep for charging and bullet seating. I’m aware that with a decreased case capacity as compared to the Hornady brass I’m going to have to run another ladder starting from a lower floor charge... maybe 40.0 grains or so.

Also- if I can find good working load in the 2765fps range do I need to pursue higher velocity? At this time the farthest I’ll be stretching out is 1000 yards. Most of my action will be around 600 yards though. Thanks again- Sal

 

[acudaowner]

can hardly wait to try my first crack at reloading thanks for the post .

 

[nn8734]

Thanks for the replies-

Yes I am full length sizing. I bumped the shoulders back .002” and used the .290 neck bushing to get that .015” neck tension. I’ve loaded up 45 rounds to run tomorrow.

5 @ 41.0gr just to warm the barrel
20 @ 41.3
20 @ 41.7

I have a few hundred new Lapua cases I’m going to be working up as well. I ran them through my Wilson .263” mandrel because the necks were really tight and lightly chamfered and deburred them in prep for charging and bullet seating. I’m aware that with a decreased case capacity as compared to the Hornady brass I’m going to have to run another ladder starting from a lower floor charge... maybe 40.0 grains or so.

Also- if I can find good working load in the 2765fps range do I need to pursue higher velocity? At this time the farthest I’ll be stretching out is 1000 yards. Most of my action will be around 600 yards though. Thanks again- Sal

Once you use the lapua cases you will forget about the Hornady ones. My 6.5 creedmoor load is 42.7g h4350, 130 Berger Hybrid, Fed 205M-AR primer with the Lapua small rifle primer case. Bump mine .002 also. BtO is 2.132”. Velocity is 2950fps, single digit SD sub 20 es for most random 5 round groups when I check them with LabRadar.

You shooting those 40 rounds at distance?

 

[NotBotvinnik]

That was a typo there ughhh. I edited it. 41.3 and 41.7gr is what I intended to type. I’ve got some Berger 140gr hybrids but for my first load development I figured the 139gr Scenars would be a little more forgiving. Besides that I think they’re good bullets too.

I’ll be running those two sets of 20 rounds tomorrow..... 10 over the Magnetospeed and 10 on paper at 100yards for each of the two charge weights. I’m looking to see what kind of consistency I’ll get velocity wise (SD/ES) and I’m looking to see how they group on paper.

 

[nn8734]

Yea no worries, I removed that portion of my post once I saw your edits. The 140 Berger Hybrids (and frankly most of their hybrid line) are not fussy and tolerate (even like) jump. Mine are jumping .075” and shoot better than when closer to the lands.

Good luck with your testing tomorrow, let us know how it goes.

 

[Punkur67]

Try this spreadsheet. It works great on deciding a load.

http://www.65guys.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Load-Analysis-Model-V2.xlsm

Here's a video explaining how to use it


This is an example from my 300wm

 

[308pirate]

So finally got my very first small batch of hand loads done. Ran a ladder just to take a look at velocity and get some baseline data.

Bergara HMR 6.5cm
22” barrel (already had 250rnds fired)

Fired over Magnetospeed V3

Lapua 139gr Scenars
Hornady brass (once fired)
Federal GMM large primers
H4350

.025” OTL / .0015” neck tension
CBTO 2.217” / COAL 2.833”

41.0gr 2716fps
41.2gr 2742fps
41.4gr 2748fps
41.6gr 2760fps
41.8gr 2765fps
42.0gr 2786fps
42.2gr 2813fps

Zero pressure signs throughout! If anyone has any tips to help make progress from here please don’t hesitate.

 

[Steel head]

No kaboom is good!
I’d load 10 at 41.7 and see if the ES is solid then do a seating depth test to tune it up a bit if needed.

 

[NotBotvinnik]

Thanks- If my velocity is stable at 41.7gr 2765fps ish I’m going to put a couple five shot groups on paper at 100yds. Like I stated above these first loads are all at .025” OTL. To check out what changes at seating depth will do do you suggest I just start ten-thou increments back off that .025”? Like .035” .045” etc?

 

[nn8734]

Do .020” or .030” increments, .10 won’t see enough difference especially now with resources so scarce

 

[NotBotvinnik]

Alright. Just got back from a little test and tune session. I forgot my rear bag so I had to shoot my group from a wadded up t-shirt. The loads seemed remarkably stable and it shot a decent group considering no rear bag. I shot two five round strings over the MagSpeed V3 at each charge weight (41.3 and 41.7gr) for a total of 20 rounds. I then shot one five round group on paper at 100yds. After that I ran an 8 round ladder over the chrono using Virgin Lapua brass.

41.3gr
Avg 2727 / Avg 2717
SD 10.6 / SD 7.4

41.7gr
Avg 2747 / Avg 2741
SD 6.4 / SD 4.0

5 round group .71

 

[NotBotvinnik]

Here’s the eight round Lapua brass ladder I ran.
Top row 40.2 40.4 40.6 40.8
Bottom. 41.0 41.2 41.4 41.6