6.5 CM load development, round 2

[KHawk66]

I have just gathered up components for load testing for the 6.5CM. The gun is a Savage Axis 22" barrel, 1:8 twist, bone stock with the exception of a shimmed and lighter trigger. Factory trigger was very heavy, so I bought a lighter spring and shimmed the trigger for a better feel. I put a Nikon 4-12X40 Buckmaster scope on it. It's a deer rifle.

I load for consistency and accuracy and rarely shoot longer than 400 yds. I'm a hunter and enjoy going to the range to keep sharp. I just enjoy shooting, so I like a gun that I can get to group well. If I can get a group to touch or close, inside a 1" square at minimum, then I can live with that, (I really prefer them all to touch!).

This is my 2nd round of load testing for this gun. I had previously loaded Nosler 140gr Accubond with 43.0gr R17. This load shot very well with all 5 shots touching every time I went to the range. I shoot my tests at 100yds.
Now, I cannot find the Nosler Accubonds any where, or R17 for that matter. I'm down to my last 16 rounds, so I'm trying to find a new load.

I'm using Federal cases with Winchester primers.
I have these powders:
Reloder 17
Big Game
IMR 4064, 4895, 4350
Hodgdon H380, H414, H4831SC, Superformance, Hybrid 100V, H4350
Winchester 760, 748, StaBALL 6.5

I have these bullets:
Hornady 123gr ELD Match, 129gr SP Interlock, 130gr ELD Match, 140gr SST, 140gr SP Interlock, 140gr ELD Match, 140gr BTHP
Sierra 140gr TGK, 140gr SBT
Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tip
Speer 140gr Gold Dot

 

[ARlife4me]

I fo have most of the powders and bullets you listed, but haven't reloaded any 6.5creed yet. Having 7 in AR's of various manufacturer barrels. So far the Aero Precision barrels work best and the Criterion barrel shoots the tightest group with 123 a-max and set's. The 2nd shot from the Criterion was almost in the 1st hole. Stopped shooting due to primers popping. I wish I had some proven loads, but most likely used n550, superformance or 17. Big Game and hunter might be good as it shows good for a 7-08?

 

[GLTaylor]

Go to Hammer Hunter Load Data on this Forum. Tons of load data. Hammers are always available and ready to ship. You can go to lighter bullet weights/and much faster with Hammers!

 

[CoyoteConquest]

About any 140 gr bullet with between 41.5 and 42.5 of H4350 works awesome. You can also google the Secret Carolina load with H4831. Never tried it but heard great things.
Also heard of great results with a max load of 6.5 StaBall.

 

[bgoniea]

I have 2 6.5 creeds one is a custom with a 26" barrel. The other is a Ruger American Predator both shoot sub MOA with 143 ELDX.
Hornady cases 42.3 hrs of H4350 with a COL of 2790.

 

[Csbc4fun]

My experience is with H4350. It's got to be one of the most readily available powders on the market. It pushes every bullet I have tried in my 6.5 CM using the load data (or a little higher) from Hodgdon. 140 and 147 ELDM are my everyday range loads, very accurate at all distances and cost effective at under $0.40 each. Oh yea, the pigs really dislike the 127 gr. Blue tip Barnes LRX at over 2900 fps. H4350 all the way!

 

[Hydra6]

Reloading Data Center

www.hodgdonreloading.com

65CM with 140 class projectiles and H4350 is the common standard. When H4350 was hard to get, I used Winchester STABALL 65.

 

[GUNNNN]

I have just gathered up components for load testing for the 6.5CM. The gun is a Savage Axis 22" barrel, 1:8 twist, bone stock with the exception of a shimmed and lighter trigger. Factory trigger was very heavy, so I bought a lighter spring and shimmed the trigger for a better feel. I put a Nikon 4-12X40 Buckmaster scope on it. It's a deer rifle.

I load for consistency and accuracy and rarely shoot longer than 400 yds. I'm a hunter and enjoy going to the range to keep sharp. I just enjoy shooting, so I like a gun that I can get to group well. If I can get a group to touch or close, inside a 1" square at minimum, then I can live with that, (I really prefer them all to touch!).

This is my 2nd round of load testing for this gun. I had previously loaded Nosler 140gr Accubond with 43.0gr R17. This load shot very well with all 5 shots touching every time I went to the range. I shoot my tests at 100yds.
Now, I cannot find the Nosler Accubonds any where, or R17 for that matter. I'm down to my last 16 rounds, so I'm trying to find a new load.

I'm using Federal cases with Winchester primers.
I have these powders:
Reloder 17
Big Game
IMR 4064, 4895, 4350
Hodgdon H380, H414, H4831SC, Superformance, Hybrid 100V, H4350
Winchester 760, 748, StaBALL 6.5

I have these bullets:
Hornady 123gr ELD Match, 129gr SP Interlock, 130gr ELD Match, 140gr SST, 140gr SP Interlock, 140gr ELD Match, 140gr BTHP
Sierra 140gr TGK, 140gr SBT
Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tip
Speer 140gr Gold Dot

I've got the same rifle set up close to yours I'm loading the max load in the barnes manual for reloader 17, federal primers, and Hornaday brass with excellent accuracy using the 127 gr lrx bullet I'm not 100% sure but I think 40.8 grains of reloader 17 is the max load the load is available on the Barnes website I think they were running a little over 2800 fps according to my cronagraph and your right the trigger sucks on these rifles

 

[Grey Goast]

I have just gathered up components for load testing for the 6.5CM. The gun is a Savage Axis 22" barrel, 1:8 twist, bone stock with the exception of a shimmed and lighter trigger. Factory trigger was very heavy, so I bought a lighter spring and shimmed the trigger for a better feel. I put a Nikon 4-12X40 Buckmaster scope on it. It's a deer rifle.

I load for consistency and accuracy and rarely shoot longer than 400 yds. I'm a hunter and enjoy going to the range to keep sharp. I just enjoy shooting, so I like a gun that I can get to group well. If I can get a group to touch or close, inside a 1" square at minimum, then I can live with that, (I really prefer them all to touch!).

This is my 2nd round of load testing for this gun. I had previously loaded Nosler 140gr Accubond with 43.0gr R17. This load shot very well with all 5 shots touching every time I went to the range. I shoot my tests at 100yds.
Now, I cannot find the Nosler Accubonds any where, or R17 for that matter. I'm down to my last 16 rounds, so I'm trying to find a new load.

I'm using Federal cases with Winchester primers.
I have these powders:
Reloder 17
Big Game
IMR 4064, 4895, 4350
Hodgdon H380, H414, H4831SC, Superformance, Hybrid 100V, H4350
Winchester 760, 748, StaBALL 6.5

I have these bullets:
Hornady 123gr ELD Match, 129gr SP Interlock, 130gr ELD Match, 140gr SST, 140gr SP Interlock, 140gr ELD Match, 140gr BTHP
Sierra 140gr TGK, 140gr SBT
Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tip
Speer 140gr

I have just gathered up components for load testing for the 6.5CM. The gun is a Savage Axis 22" barrel, 1:8 twist, bone stock with the exception of a shimmed and lighter trigger. Factory trigger was very heavy, so I bought a lighter spring and shimmed the trigger for a better feel. I put a Nikon 4-12X40 Buckmaster scope on it. It's a deer rifle.

I load for consistency and accuracy and rarely shoot longer than 400 yds. I'm a hunter and enjoy going to the range to keep sharp. I just enjoy shooting, so I like a gun that I can get to group well. If I can get a group to touch or close, inside a 1" square at minimum, then I can live with that, (I really prefer them all to touch!).

This is my 2nd round of load testing for this gun. I had previously loaded Nosler 140gr Accubond with 43.0gr R17. This load shot very well with all 5 shots touching every time I went to the range. I shoot my tests at 100yds.
Now, I cannot find the Nosler Accubonds any where, or R17 for that matter. I'm down to my last 16 rounds, so I'm trying to find a new load.

I'm using Federal cases with Winchester primers.
I have these powders:
Reloder 17
Big Game
IMR 4064, 4895, 4350
Hodgdon H380, H414, H4831SC, Superformance, Hybrid 100V, H4350
Winchester 760, 748, StaBALL 6.5

I have these bullets:
Hornady 123gr ELD Match, 129gr SP Interlock, 130gr ELD Match, 140gr SST, 140gr SP Interlock, 140gr ELD Match, 140gr BTHP
Sierra 140gr TGK, 140gr SBT
Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tip
Speer 140gr Gold Dot

use the 129gr sp interlock with 44 gr of whinchester staball 6.5 and with 143 eldx use 43.5 gr of staball 6.5 then let me know what your grouping is like. P.s staball is not temperature sensitive

 

[Rosebud]

While I love and hunt with hammer bullets, the list of components you have is pretty good. The 130 ELDM will work very well on whitetails. I'd try the H4350 ,very good temp stable powder. But if its a hair burning close shot make sure your bullet goes into the lungs.

 

[chav0_12]

I'd go straight for the H4350. I'd give the StaBall 6.5 a try too, with 140gr bullets. I have a bunch of the 140gr ELD-Ms and 143gr ELD-Xs. I'd also give a 123gr Hammer Hunter a try too, but I'd want to try that with Varget.

 

[RockyRandy]

I use 43.5 Staball 6.5, Federal 210 Premium primers, nosler brass, Lupus 136 gr Scenar-l Bullets. You have all the components to make a great load for what you are going to use it for and more.

 

[KHawk66]

Thanks for the input guys! It's great to hear what you've used and your success's. And all are duly noted.

Most of the Hodgdon powders are new to me, as is StaBall and 4895. I do have a question about StaBALL, where does it fit in on the burn rate chart? I'm looking forward to seeing how these work out. Nothing is loaded yet. I spent last night measuring the chamber with the new bullets to get the seating depth dimension. Checking the quantity of test loads and counting brass to ensure there is enough to load up the test subjects. I like to test 5 rnds, but may just be able to have 4 of each.

As I test each bullet, I will post the results and include pics of the targets.

 

[KHawk66]

Reloading Data Center

www.hodgdonreloading.com

65CM with 140 class projectiles and H4350 is the common standard. When H4350 was hard to get, I used Winchester STABALL 65.

My focus is on 140gr projectiles. I haven't tried any of the 143gr or 147gr projectiles yet, but I'm curious if the extra weight will be more accurate in windy conditions. I researched the Hodgdon site and noted their data for the powders I chose. The Hodgdon site is a wealth of knowledge.