25 Creedmoor Advice

[CaptDru]

I am currently developing a load for my 25 Creedmoor with a 26" 1-7.5 Proof barrel. I am wondering what my next move should be. Load at 42.2 and fine tune there or load 42.8 and see what that does and go from there. Only thing is, is that it will be slightly compressed at 20 off at 42.8. And I might not have much room to seat deeper. I haven't shot for groups yet, as I am trying to find a node. I realize virgin brass, barrel speed up etc. will affect it, but I can fine tune later. I have 50 rounds down the barrel. What would you guys do?

Components:
Peterson virgin brass
H4350
210M primers
133 Bergers
-.020 off

Here is my data that I have collected so far: First green row is SD, second is ES

 

[Buxndiverdux]

Mine wouldn't shoot that hot. I definitely tried it. I ended up on 41.8 H4350 CCI450 135LRHT at 20 off at around 2850. That was at roughly 60-70 rounds. Anti X with 24" Proof Sendero 1-7.5. I did experience speed up around 125 rounds and ended up loading it down about 3/4 of a grain to get back in the node. It's my favorite rifle. So much fun to shoot and it stacks them at distance.

If I were you I'd start shooting groups because the math isn't worth a darn if the shots don't hit on target.

Nice looking rig!

 

[Jud96]

I wouldn't start getting serious about load development until all the brass is once fired and you have 100-150 rounds down the barrel. I also wouldn't be chasing ES and SDs. That leads to a wild goose chase. I would do an OCW or modified OCW test at 100-200 yards or do a ladder test on paper at 500-1000 yards and look for similar points of impact with at least 2-3 loads in a row. Fireform your brass with you a load that's light and seat the bullets -.010 off the lands or -.020 shorter than the mag box if you can't fit rounds in the box with them being seated -.010 off.

 

[willfrye027]

Looks quite hot. My 26" likes to be at 2920 or so. And it's fairly warm. With the high BC you really don't need to chase speed with these bullets.

load up 10 at 42.0 grains, shoot a 10 shot group, it'll probably be good (1" or so). If not up to your standards switch powders and try n555 or rl16. Looking for a node with a hunting weight rifle is…a waste of components.

 

[CaptDru]

Looks quite hot. My 26" likes to be at 2920 or so. And it's fairly warm. With the high BC you really don't need to chase speed with these bullets.

load up 10 at 42.0 grains, shoot a 10 shot group, it'll probably be good (1" or so). If not up to your standards switch powders and try n555 or rl16. Looking for a node with a hunting weight rifle is…a waste of components.

I didnt have any pressure signs. Easy bolt lift and primers were still round, I knew I was pretty warm, thats why I stopped there.

 

[Seabeeken]

I didnt have any pressure signs. Easy bolt lift and primers were still round, I knew I was pretty warm, thats why I stopped there.

By the time you get those kinds of pressure signs, you are overpressure by about 10,000 psi. I recommend measuring case head diameter for pressure.

 

[COPrecisionRifle]

I would load 100 up at 41 grains and go shoot them all then revisit the load dev. So much changes in the barrel in those first 200 rounds that its not even worth collecting data on. Out of my last two 6.5 creed barrels, one sped up 80 fps and the other sped up 65. During those first 200 rounds the second barrel wouldnt shoot ANYTHING. I messed with it repeatedly. At around 200 rounds I cleaned it all out with some abrasives and now it hammers.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Not sure where Peterson brass lands for capacity, but my two 26" 25CMs run a 135 @ 2920 and a 133 @ 2900 respectively.

26" 1:7.5" Brux 5R
Lapua 6CM SRP necked up
42.4gr H4350
CCI BR2
135 LR Hyb
2920fps

26" 1:7" Bartlein 5R
Alpha 25CM SRP
42.4gr H4350
Fed GM205M
133 Elite
2900fps

 

[Bryan M]

Not sure where Peterson brass lands for capacity, but my two 26" 25CMs run a 135 @ 2920 and a 133 @ 2900 respectively.

26" 1:7.5" Brux 5R
Lapua 6CM SRP necked up
42.4gr H4350
CCI BR2
135 LR Hyb
2920fps

26" 1:7" Bartlein 5R
Alpha 25CM SRP
42.4gr H4350
Fed GM205M
133 Elite
2900fps

I would guess because you are shooting the SRP brass, you can shoot a big more powder and the cases will handler a bit more pressure than when shooting a standard primer like the 210M, BR2 or CCI200. This will give the consisent speed of 2900+ fps? I have shot SRP in my 6 CM. I am getting a 25CM this month and am ordereing the Alpha SRP brass for this reason. Thanks for sharing your data.

 

[CaptDru]

So I went a different route from the Bergers for this hunting season and loaded up some 121 Hammers with 40.5gr RL16 at 2955fps. I am pretty impressed with this load so far. Hopefully I will get to test them out on a deer or hog soon.

 

[AudentesFortunaJuvat]

I would personally get more rounds on the barrel before doing powder workup, I'd also start lower as I've found over 2900 to be on the warm side. You should between 2870-2930 with a 135 and 26" barrel from my experience.


Proof 26" 7.5
Alpha brass and reamer
135hybrid seated at lands
Cci450
H4350 41.5
2910fps

It'll put 3 In one hole, opens up to this with 10 shots. Didn't measure it but guessing a .6 or so. I have two barrels that shoot this exact load and soon to be testing it on a preferred prefit.

 

[TX Badger]

I would guess because you are shooting the SRP brass, you can shoot a big more powder and the cases will handler a bit more pressure than when shooting a standard primer like the 210M, BR2 or CCI200. This will give the consisent speed of 2900+ fps? I have shot SRP in my 6 CM. I am getting a 25CM this month and am ordereing the Alpha SRP brass for this reason. Thanks for sharing your data.

I have 6.5cm Lapua brass necked down and headstamped 25cm brass from Alpha. With 131BJ bullets I went all the way to 43.3gr of H4350 without a problem in the Lapua brass. I couldn't hold seating depth with 42.8gr in the Alpha brass. There is a lot of difference in the case capacities here. I have no clue about Peterson brass, but everyone here needs to make sure they are comparing apples to apples.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Not sure where Peterson brass lands for capacity, but my two 26" 25CMs run a 135 @ 2920 and a 133 @ 2900 respectively.

26" 1:7.5" Brux 5R
Lapua 6CM SRP necked up
42.4gr H4350
CCI BR2
135 LR Hyb
2920fps

26" 1:7" Bartlein 5R
Alpha 25CM SRP
42.4gr H4350
Fed GM205M
133 Elite
2900fps

Revisiting these.
The 135s are now 2990 once barrel broke in.

The 133s are at 2954 after break in.

Both have been verified for drops.to 1430 so far.

 

[Critter Picker]

I would personally get more rounds on the barrel before doing powder workup, I'd also start lower as I've found over 2900 to be on the warm side. You should between 2870-2930 with a 135 and 26" barrel from my experience.


Proof 26" 7.5
Alpha brass and reamer
135hybrid seated at lands
Cci450
H4350 41.5
2910fps

It'll put 3 In one hole, opens up to this with 10 shots. Didn't measure it but guessing a .6 or so. I have two barrels that shoot this exact load and soon to be testing it on a preferred prefit.

That is one nice 10 shot group. I hate 3 shot groups. 5 is my standard and prefer 5 5 shot. With component prices I've had to cut back.