Which Starline case for the 6.5 Creedmoor?

jski

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Starline offers 2 different cases for the 6.5 Creedmoor, one with large rifle primer pockets, the other with small rifle primer pockets.

The website lists the advantages of the small rifle primers. Does anyone have experience with this?

SR 6.5 CM (Small Rifle primer)

Small Primer 6.5 Creedmoor

1.908 - 1.912 O.A.L.
This is our Small Rifle Primer version of the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed as a target caliber in 2007 by Hornady but has become an extremely popular hunting caliber as well. While it isn't as long as some of the other 6.5 caliber short action calibers, such as the .260 Remington, the Creedmoor utilizes a 30° shoulder and very little body taper to help it achieve similar ballistics. The shorter length also gives it more versatility as far as bullet seating depth is concerned. Almost every major rifle manufacturer offers either a bolt-action rifle or a modern sporting rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor caliber due to its versatility and inherent accuracy.

Our SR6.5CM brass uses a Small Rifle Primer. Many target shooters prefer the Small Primer for the increased consistency and accuracy. While other small pocket manufacturers use a smaller than standard flash hole, Starline uses our standard .080" flash hole, as we feel that it gives better ignition with some of the slower powders and in cooler conditions* (and you won't be breaking off decapping pins either!)The Small Primer version also maintains primer pocket size much better than the large primer version under higher pressures. For our Large Primer version please see our 6.5 Creedmoor case.

*As with all types of cases this large with small primer pockets, it will require care in powder and primer selection in cooler temperatures to prevent hang fires. Single-based propellents are generally easier to ignite and a quality primer such as the Remington 7 1/2 BR are recommended.
 
I'm running Lapua in my 6.5 Creed target (140 ELD-M) and Starline in my hunting 6.5 Creed (Berger 140 elite hunter). So far the performance has been very similar with accuracy and velocity. I'm on my 5th firing without annealing and only neck sizing.
 
LongWalker, are you using the Starline brass with the large or small rifle primers? Starline offers both for a reason:
Our 6.5 Creedmoor brass uses a Large Rifle Primer. This is the standard for this round and it is what many prefer due to its reliable ignition no matter what temperature you are shooting in or the burn rate of your powder.
 
Small rifle brass. 43.6 of RE-16 pushing the Berger 140 at 2840 out of a 22" tube. Bolt is a little sticky but very accurate and hits very hard
 
Small rifle primer pockets result in a stronger case head and less case head expansion, which is good for brass longevity, especially with hot loads. There is also some evidence that small rifle primers result in reduced ES and SD. YMMV.
 
Starline offers 2 different cases for the 6.5 Creedmoor, one with large rifle primer pockets, the other with small rifle primer pockets.

The website lists the advantages of the small rifle primers. Does anyone have experience with this?
I use the Starline brass for both my 6.5 and 6mm creedmoor's. Large rifle only because I have 1000's of BR2 primers on hand. good thick brass, needed to be run through a mandrel to straighten out dinged necks, capacity on par with Lapua so a slightly lighter charge than say Hornady brass since it's thicker. was short when new ( 1.905-08) and on 6th hot loads still only 1.910-13 so no trimming needed. Primer pockets still nice & snug.
 
Starline offers 2 different cases for the 6.5 Creedmoor, one with large rifle primer pockets, the other with small rifle primer pockets.

The website lists the advantages of the small rifle primers. Does anyone have experience with this?

I don't have hands on experience yet as I just got my 6.5 CM but when I am ready off your choices I will go with the large rifle primers as I am in the same boat as bigdaddyWSM. It is also cheaper. :D

This guys seems to pave pretty good with them ...

 
Best to have .062 firing pin if you will be using small rifle primer brass. I've wasted money on both and didn't see any difference to speak of in accuracy or longevity. Guess it all depends on how hot you load, if you anneal, etc.
 
I recently read an article in Shooing Times that suggested that some of the powder mfg. felt that the small rifle primers would not work as well with certain powders in cold weather. I have used both large and small in my 6mm Creedmoor without seeing any difference.
 
Starline offers 2 different cases for the 6.5 Creedmoor, one with large rifle primer pockets, the other with small rifle primer pockets.

The website lists the advantages of the small rifle primers. Does anyone have experience with this?
 
I've used Lupa, Peterson, Starline & Hornady brass for 6.5 creedmoor. For accuracy I use either Lupa or Peterson small mag primers with H4350. For 400+ yards found RL26 Starline or Hornady gets it done using Federal 215 primers. Today Temp 55* tested Lapua brass, 142 MK's, RL26 46.1 gr, CCI 450, 6 shots avg 2843 fps then Peterson brass (LRP), 142 MK's, RL26 45.6 gr, Fed 215, 6 shots avg 2905 fps. I guess RL26 likes Large Mag primer with large flash holes brass.
 
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Read a "torture" test on this brass, both LR and SR. Same piece of brass fired 15 times in same rifle with the LR brasss. 12 with the SR. LR Starline, as I recall, had a better accuracy average than the test on the SR brass. Primer pockets held up just fine. My experience thus far with the LR Starline Creedmoor brass mimics this test result as far as primer pocket integrity after the 4th firing. My loads are 2,800 fps out of a 22" Bergara B-14 HMR with Reloader 26 and Fed GMM primers. All brass sized with a Lee Collet die. Haven't trimmed yet either. Sub MOA with every bullet I have shot.
 
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