Since all my information is from the Speer, Lyman, Lee and Hodgden manuals, from 24 inch test barrels, and from the Lazzeroni Site, I think my velocities are probably good. I know my Chrony clocked the 140's, loaded to safe levels, from my friend's 6.5 Creedmoor also matched what I listed. The energy/velocities were run on the JDM bullet trajectory/velocity/energy calculator for distances to 1000 yards. I have chronographed the 300 Winmag on my Chrony and on my friend's chronograph: we got the same velocities from his 24 inch barrel, and about an average of 45fps less from the 22" barrel on his M1A. Both were 6.5, and loaded with Sierra Matchkings. They were his reloads, and they averaged about 2690fps or so. I think he was about a grain under the maximum load in the book he used. If you're getting much more than that in a Creedmoor, you're either loading above max loads or you've got a longer barrel. All my data is from max loads for each of the cartridges listed, fired from 24 inch test barrels, except the Lazzeroni (27 inch barrel) and the Lyman data on the .338-378 Weatherby (fired from a 26 inch Weatherby rifle). Straight from the Hodgden manual for the 6.5 Creedmoor: Hybrid V 100: Max charge: 40.9 compressed: vel. 2736fps, 140 grain A-max: Pressure, 59,600psi. 143 grain ELD-X: Superformance: max charge 45.8gr. Vel. 2795fps, pressure 60,300 psi. 150 grain Sierra BTHP: Hybrid 100V: max. charge: 42.6gr., max velocity 2713fps, max average pressure, 60,300psi. The Lee Modern Reloading #2 lists up to the 142 grain jacketed bullet in the Creedmoor, at a max velocity of 2761fps with Ramshot Hunter, and a charge weight of 45.7gr. with pressure of 58,540psi., from a 24 inch test barrel. The Lyman gives lower max velocities at pressures that are comparable. The heaviest bullet it lists in its 50th edition is the 140gr. A-max, at 2680fps, using 44.0gr. of Superformance, with a pressure of 59,500psi. Everything else is below 2620fps at maximum charges/pressures. The Speer manual is propriatory, but that being said, it gives both 140 grain Hotcor and 140 grain Gold dot rifle bullet, giving maximum loads with first, the Hotcor of 45.4 grains (compressed) of Alliant RL23 and a max. velocity of 2779fps, and RL26 with the Golddot 140 grain of 46.9gr (Compressed) and a MV of 2855fps. All other loads are below 2804fps, with most below 2750fps. Saami MAP for this round is 62,000psi. All the loads listed in these manuals are within 4,000psi of the max. If you're getting 2850fps with these bullets/weights, you're either using long barrels or loading at absolute maximum charges/pressures or over them. I don't do that with any of my loads. I learned a long time ago that that damages my rifles or ruins my brass. I've been loading since 1966, and I've spread primer pockets, blown primers, spread case heads, cracked brass at the head, split brass and had actions lock up from running up at max recommended loads. I no longer run at max listed loads/pressures. The information I use(d) is straight out of the four manuals listed, along with information from the Lazzeroni home page for their calibers. As to the potential of the various 6.5 cartridges and projectiles and a comparison to other cartridges/projectiles ranging from .223 up to .458, you should go to /
www.ballisticstudies.com and review their information on bullet diameter, weight and velocity, and wounding effectiveness in real-world usage. Also, I just reviewed a couple of bullet data bases for BCs of various manufacturers: Burger has 1 bullet with a bc above .6, Hornaday has 1 bullet with a bc above .6, Lost River has one bullet above .68 but its 120grain, and the rest are .58 and below. Most of the 140gr-150 grain bullets range around .48 to .55bc. That's not from me. /
www.accurateshooter.com/ballistics/bullet-database-with-2900-projectiles/ has researched and tested the G1 B.C. of these and several thousand others to determine actual BC. I don't pull this out of my hat. I actually research it from manuals and the manufacturers themselves.
