Reloader 26 in 6.5 creedmoor

Bowfishn said:

Yes that is odd, with a 30" barrel you should have seen closer to 3000 fps without signs of pressure. What Chrono device are you using?

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ProChrono pal. Not the most expensive one out there but usually reads velocity as expected. As far as I'm concerned 2880 FPS is pretty fast for 147gr. I'd be fine with it if that's all a can get.

I'm running coated bullets and see pressure tight to the lands. I found that 2.820-2.845 I don't see that. I have 46.3 with coated(ws2)@ 2.845= 2842 If I run them @ 2.820-28 my sd grows but I never hit pressure even when leaving a round in a hot to the touch barrel for 2 minutes. My rifle will hold .5moa or better at all depths to 300yds It is just the sd/es that concerns me longer as I don't have easy access to longer distances. RIght now because of snow/snowmobilers I have none where I have distances to confirm. I'm shooting in about an hr to confirm my speeds and a new lot of rl26 I just bought. If the 10 I loaded work the same I will be gtg. If not I will shoot my 120 load at closer than 400yds and save what I have left at targets longer than that for the event next Saturday.

So I took my new 6.5CM out yesterday for its initial break-in. I loaded up some ADG virgin brass with CCI 200 primers and RE26 (44.8-46.8). Based on some other postings here I was expecting kind of pedestrian numbers with others loading up say 48 grns of RE26 and getting around 3000fps. I was quite surprised by the numbers my LabRadar was spitting out. My build is a Howa 1500 I just had rebarreled in 6.5CM. The barrel was made and installed by Mark Chanlynn with 1:8 twist.

My numbers were as follows:
44.8 AVG - 2823
45.3 AVG - 2843
45.8 AVG - 2881
46.3 AVG - 2951 - slightly compressed load
46.8 AVG - 3003 - compressed load, slight ejector mark

There was a slight ejector mark on the 46.8 but otherwise no signs of pressure.

I was not really expecting real numbers, and still don't based on I was breaking in the barrel (shoot, clean, shoot, clean method) and the brass is virgin, but i was not expecting that. Having said that, my SD and ES, especially in the lighter loads, was nothing to write home about.

I'll be curious to see what happens after the next loading on this brass as well as once a few more rounds are down the tube. Might put the MagnetoSpeed on to confirm the LabRadar again as well.

jb1023 said:

So I took my new 6.5CM out yesterday for its initial break-in. I loaded up some ADG virgin brass with CCI 200 primers and RE26 (44.8-46.8). Based on some other postings here I was expecting kind of pedestrian numbers with others loading up say 48 grns of RE26 and getting around 3000fps. I was quite surprised by the numbers my LabRadar was spitting out. My build is a Howa 1500 I just had rebarreled in 6.5CM. The barrel was made and installed by Mark Chanlynn with 1:8 twist.

My numbers were as follows:
44.8 AVG - 2823
45.3 AVG - 2843
45.8 AVG - 2881
46.3 AVG - 2951 - slightly compressed load
46.8 AVG - 3003 - compressed load, slight ejector mark

There was a slight ejector mark on the 46.8 but otherwise no signs of pressure.

I was not really expecting real numbers, and still don't based on I was breaking in the barrel (shoot, clean, shoot, clean method) and the brass is virgin, but i was not expecting that. Having said that, my SD and ES, especially in the lighter loads, was nothing to write home about.

I'll be curious to see what happens after the next loading on this brass as well as once a few more rounds are down the tube. Might put the MagnetoSpeed on to confirm the LabRadar again as well.

Click to expand...

If you were shooting on a cleaned bore, your e.s. is gonna vary significantly. My first round from a clean bore is usually 20-50 fps slower than the following shots.

I was shooting 46.3 today in 28 degrees snowy and same windy conditions as Monday. With the snow it was the easiest I have had it it in awhile. THe snow marked all the changes in direction and speed. Made me look hero for a day. 46.3 in peterson twice fired brushed necks clean pockets trimmed to 1.915 vld deburr inside. Coated 147's not sorted. 2.845 coal. Cold bore was 1/4moa 11 o'clock @ 2844. Rest of the 5 were from 2842,2854 2849,2851. All were near the diamond in the photo I'll post later. This was 300yds. I did a ladder today with 4955 from 41-43 in .3 increments with 142's 2590-2744 in FC brass 210m's. 42.2-43 is the start off the top node with some room to go further. I also loaded 5ea 147's @ 42.7 of 4955@ 2.825 and 2.845. The 2.845 had 2791-2808 the 2.825 had 2830first shot2810 and 2854. Both in peterson brass 215m once fired just FL sized no other prep. I'm positive I will like this a bit better for match loads than 26. It is way cleaner without a big loss in speed. It wasn't really hot and will do a full ladder after later on in May. I just don't have any time with work and vacation coming before I have to get back to my summer job running a boat

The staple was the aiming point in the ladder

I see you guys are all trying the RL26 shooting heavies. I use 120/123 gr in my rifle. It has a 26in bbl. Would it be worth me trying it out?

While I feel the 120/123 bullet weights are ideal for the 6.5 CM you don' see much info on them.

Its a good question, I've been thinking to load the wife's CM with bullets in that class for hunting. Our shots are very hard to stretch out much past 300yds so the need for high BC bullets is limited to shooting steel at the range.

Tesoro said:

I see you guys are all trying the RL26 shooting heavies. I use 120/123 gr in my rifle. It has a 26in bbl. Would it be worth me trying it out?

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The difference in wind hold from 142ser to 147 eld is significant. From the 120 class less the turned monos, it would be
Huge. If i missed the change of direction from 7 to 9 at 18 the 142s miss a 4" shoot n c the elds are just right of center splitting the inner rings

Tesoro said:

I see you guys are all trying the RL26 shooting heavies. I use 120/123 gr in my rifle. It has a 26in bbl. Would it be worth me trying it out?

Click to expand...

I don't believe you could fit enough rl-26 in the case to run 120 class bullets and see any benefits. I got 49 grains behind a 140 and still didn't hit pressure.

Tesoro said:

I see you guys are all trying the RL26 shooting heavies. I use 120/123 gr in my rifle. It has a 26in bbl. Would it be worth me trying it out?

Click to expand...

Here is the QL on a 123 ELD-M using RL26 in Hornady brass loaded to 2.800"
Most RL26 has a higher ba than the default listed so chances are it will do better than on this list.
I doubt you will be able to get more than the 106 to 107% fill in the case so 3150 fps will most likely be the max.
If it looks like it will do better for you give it a try.

Cartridge : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet : .264, 123, Hornady ELD-M 26176
Useable Case Capaci: 48.174 grain H2O = 3.128 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.392% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-03.9 103 49.00 3012 2478 47741 10397 99.1 1.288
-03.5 103 49.20 3026 2501 48468 10424 99.2 1.279
-03.1 103 49.40 3041 2525 49206 10449 99.3 1.270
-02.7 104 49.60 3055 2549 49957 10473 99.4 1.261
-02.4 104 49.80 3069 2572 50719 10495 99.5 1.252
-02.0 105 50.00 3083 2596 51498 10517 99.6 1.244
-01.6 105 50.20 3098 2620 52295 10537 99.7 1.235
-01.2 106 50.40 3112 2644 53104 10556 99.7 1.227
-00.8 106 50.60 3126 2669 53926 10573 99.8 1.218 ! Near Maximum !
-00.4 106 50.80 3140 2693 54766 10590 99.8 1.210 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 107 51.00 3154 2717 55621 10605 99.9 1.201 ! Near Maximum !
+00.4 107 51.20 3168 2742 56492 10619 99.9 1.193 ! Near Maximum !
+00.8 108 51.40 3183 2766 57380 10631 100.0 1.185 ! Near Maximum !
+01.2 108 51.60 3197 2791 58284 10642 100.0 1.176 ! Near Maximum !
+01.6 109 51.80 3211 2815 59205 10652 100.0 1.168 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 109 52.00 3225 2840 60143 10661 100.0 1.160 ! Near Maximum !

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 107 51.00 3320 3011 70619 10036 100.0 1.095 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 107 51.00 2904 2303 43645 10555 94.4 1.340

4955 might be a choice for 123s. It is something I'm going to do afyer this shoot

If you do want to try IMR 4955 here is the same loading info from QL as the above RL26


Cartridge : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet : .264, 123, Hornady ELD-M 26176
Useable Case Capaci: 48.174 grain H2O = 3.128 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder : IMR 4955 Enduron

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.087% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.9 95 41.00 2606 1854 39097 7900 89.4 1.443
-09.8 96 41.50 2637 1900 40481 8019 90.0 1.420
-08.7 97 42.00 2669 1946 41914 8137 90.6 1.397
-07.6 98 42.50 2702 1993 43400 8253 91.2 1.375
-06.5 100 43.00 2734 2041 44944 8367 91.8 1.353
-05.4 101 43.50 2766 2089 46546 8479 92.3 1.332
-04.3 102 44.00 2798 2138 48207 8588 92.8 1.311
-03.3 103 44.50 2830 2188 49929 8695 93.4 1.290
-02.2 104 45.00 2863 2238 51727 8800 93.9 1.270
-01.1 105 45.50 2895 2289 53580 8902 94.3 1.250
+00.0 106 46.00 2928 2341 55526 9001 94.8 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
+01.1 108 46.50 2960 2393 57541 9098 95.3 1.211 ! Near Maximum !
+02.2 109 47.00 2992 2446 59629 9192 95.7 1.193 ! Near Maximum !
+03.3 110 47.50 3025 2499 61794 9282 96.1 1.174 ! Near Maximum !
+04.3 111 48.00 3058 2553 64041 9369 96.5 1.156 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.4 112 48.50 3090 2608 66381 9453 96.9 1.138 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 106 46.00 3073 2579 65505 9130 98.9 1.146 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 106 46.00 2745 2058 45978 8504 87.5 1.338

Capt RB said:

The difference in wind hold from 142ser to 147 eld is significant. From the 120 class less the turned monos, it would be
Huge. If i missed the change of direction from 7 to 9 at 18 the 142s miss a 4" shoot n c the elds are just right of center splitting the inner rings

Click to expand...

I shoot live targets with mine where I cant always range so the diff is minimal on wind but huge on trajectory. But for steel/paper yeah I wouldnt shoot anything but 140's.

I consider my 6.5cm an improved 6.5x47 which was designed for the 120-130gr for hunting!