New to 6.5 Creedmoor loading
- Thread starter Kmccord
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Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
I was running 47.0 RE26 under Bergers 135 Cl Hunter in a Lapua case with CCI 450. Velocity was 2,890 ft/sec. It was not difficult to keep groups under 1.5" at 400yds when shot from my 26" Browning HC McMIllan rifle. There were no pressure signs and I could have probably gotten to Berger's recommended max. (48.9?)
Starlite
Well-Known Member
To the OP. Now that your getting your gun rigged up. Though I'd get your juices flowing. Nothing but glowing reviews from this fella. Hope yours shoots well. Too. I've mounted the vortex diamondback tactical and the javelin bipod. Although this photo shows the Sig Sauer Sierra3 6.5-20X52
I'll try to post more data tomorrow.
I'll try to post more data tomorrow.
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Starlite
Well-Known Member
OP,
you get any pills down range?
I just loaded some alpha brass, CCI BR4, STAball 6.5 (10 round ladder test; starting ~43gr IIR) and Barnes 127gr pill. Will shoot at ~ -10*C this week and post the data results. As well I'll post some earlier results of some Hornady pills.
also I've got plenty of data from my SAKO Finnlight in 6.5CM with standard 20" SS barrel if you (or anyone else) wants it.
L8er
signing off.
you get any pills down range?
I just loaded some alpha brass, CCI BR4, STAball 6.5 (10 round ladder test; starting ~43gr IIR) and Barnes 127gr pill. Will shoot at ~ -10*C this week and post the data results. As well I'll post some earlier results of some Hornady pills.
also I've got plenty of data from my SAKO Finnlight in 6.5CM with standard 20" SS barrel if you (or anyone else) wants it.
L8er
signing off.
Kmccord
Well-Known Member
Not yet, still waiting for the Weaver rail to arrive, just received my carbon fiber cleaning rod and waiting for the jags to come in, should have everything received today. I purchased 40 American Eagle 120 gr to break in the barrel. I hope to start this coming weekend, I still have to buy some dies. I have a question for you, do you anneal your Creed brass? I planned on purchasing a Lee Pot and Salt Bath kit to start annealing my brass before I reload. Since I have H4831 in stock and have not used any, I will probably give it a try first to cut down on my expenses in the beginning, then try RL16 and StaBall. Keep me updated on how well it works for you.
Starlite
Well-Known Member
Yes i do anneal my brass; after it's 4th firing. However! I'm currently doing a test on that as well. Half of my 200 pieces of Peterson brass will receive no annealing. Given what I've read i suspect that the primer pockets will fail before the brass otherwise does. Currently because I'm not fully committed to annealing I simply use a drill mocked up on my bench. it has a 1/8 drill bit and turning at low rpm. I pop the primers and sonic clean, rinsed and dry off outer case. Then I'll place a thin 1/8th line of TEMPILAQ 650° F from just below the shoulder up to the mid neck area. I place the base over the bit and put a torch to it. Approximately from 10" away. Once the TEMPILAQ changes colour I remove ( wear safety gloves ) and place in distilled H20. next I clean off paint with WD40, trim length to spec. I Resize (bump the shoulder back a thou) using WD40 as well. Chamfered NECK EDGE, inside and out, clean the primer pocket and inside the neck. ally it gets a blast of compressed air. WOW !!! once I put this on paper it's a lot of work. Lol. Therapy for me. Well -17*C here this AM so I think I'll go to the range.Not yet, still waiting for the Weaver rail to arrive, just received my carbon fiber cleaning rod and waiting for the jags to come in, should have everything received today. I purchased 40 American Eagle 120 gr to break in the barrel. I hope to start this coming weekend, I still have to buy some dies. I have a question for you, do you anneal your Creed brass? I planned on purchasing a Lee Pot and Salt Bath kit to start annealing my brass before I reload. Since I have H4831 in stock and have not used any, I will probably give it a try first to cut down on my expenses in the beginning, then try RL16 and StaBall. Keep me updated on how well it works for you.
dougduey
Well-Known Member
I have the salt bath annealing kit and Lee pot. It works very well......honestly, it's probably the best way to anneal next to the AMP annealer.Not yet, still waiting for the Weaver rail to arrive, just received my carbon fiber cleaning rod and waiting for the jags to come in, should have everything received today. I purchased 40 American Eagle 120 gr to break in the barrel. I hope to start this coming weekend, I still have to buy some dies. I have a question for you, do you anneal your Creed brass? I planned on purchasing a Lee Pot and Salt Bath kit to start annealing my brass before I reload. Since I have H4831 in stock and have not used any, I will probably give it a try first to cut down on my expenses in the beginning, then try RL16 and StaBall. Keep me updated on how well it works for you.
I know you stated 147 would be your limit but I don't have any on hand to test. If you decide the 156 EOL is an option, using 46gr RL26 will get you 2780 from a 22" barrel. This is about all the powder you can fit in the case. No heavy bolt lift or ejector marks. Some cupping as you can see in the picture but very doable. I split loads between H4350 and RL26 but if I am looking for more velocity with 140gr or heavier pills the 26 is going to be hard to beat. 
Starlite
Well-Known Member
I just welded a base together and attached an old tripod head to it. Have a bino mount screwed onto the chrono and it holds fairly well. This full image is a little clearer
Starlite
Well-Known Member
So, have the book open tonight in prep for the range tomorrow (bummer that I couldn't go today but the honey-do-list needed to be pared down)
Can't remember if I posted some 140gr data.
140HyTg 36.3 -36.5gr of Varget. Peterson brass and CCI BR2
(2502-2538 FPS)
VV N-160 38.9-39.1gr (2408-2430FPS); Produces better numbers and only slightly better accuracy (tested out to 500M)
140gr Elite Hunter with N-160 40.5-40.7gr. Peterson brass and CCI 250 primer. 2501-2017FPS. Only tested to 100M. .350MOA. LOVE THIS SETUP!!!
129gr SST and 140gr SST
39.9gr of VV N-160 seemed to give the best results. 2505-2521FPS. TESTED to 350M. Both sub MOA.
tested box ammo. Barnes 140gr Match 2625-2687FPS.
SHOT 4 five round group.
avg MOA ~1.15O"
143gr ELDX Boxed ammo
Shot 7 rounds. Avg 2632.87. Exsp 44.4FPS SD 16.15FPS
143gr ELDX, Hornady Brass,(new brass) CCI BR2, 41.2gr H4350
COL 2.8100. (Loaded for my SAKO but shot out of the bergara. Shot 4 rounds. Avg 2643. Exsp 39.88FPS SD 17.36FPS. Still shot accurately despite this not being its primary rifle.
143gr ELDX, Peterson brass, CCI 200, 41.4-41.6gr H4350
COL 2.800. shot out of the bergara. Avg 2730FPS. Shot out to 800M. 1.100MOA.
147gr ELDM, Hornady brass, CCI BR4, 38.5-38.7 N-160
shot out of the bergara. 2340-2336FPS Shot out to 1000M 1.355 MOA. Shot Jan 3rd 2019 0*C no wind low pressure with overcast skies. This would shoot better in better hands I'm afraid.
Well time for bed
L8er.
Can't remember if I posted some 140gr data.
140HyTg 36.3 -36.5gr of Varget. Peterson brass and CCI BR2
(2502-2538 FPS)
VV N-160 38.9-39.1gr (2408-2430FPS); Produces better numbers and only slightly better accuracy (tested out to 500M)
140gr Elite Hunter with N-160 40.5-40.7gr. Peterson brass and CCI 250 primer. 2501-2017FPS. Only tested to 100M. .350MOA. LOVE THIS SETUP!!!
129gr SST and 140gr SST
39.9gr of VV N-160 seemed to give the best results. 2505-2521FPS. TESTED to 350M. Both sub MOA.
tested box ammo. Barnes 140gr Match 2625-2687FPS.
SHOT 4 five round group.
avg MOA ~1.15O"
143gr ELDX Boxed ammo
Shot 7 rounds. Avg 2632.87. Exsp 44.4FPS SD 16.15FPS
143gr ELDX, Hornady Brass,(new brass) CCI BR2, 41.2gr H4350
COL 2.8100. (Loaded for my SAKO but shot out of the bergara. Shot 4 rounds. Avg 2643. Exsp 39.88FPS SD 17.36FPS. Still shot accurately despite this not being its primary rifle.
143gr ELDX, Peterson brass, CCI 200, 41.4-41.6gr H4350
COL 2.800. shot out of the bergara. Avg 2730FPS. Shot out to 800M. 1.100MOA.
147gr ELDM, Hornady brass, CCI BR4, 38.5-38.7 N-160
shot out of the bergara. 2340-2336FPS Shot out to 1000M 1.355 MOA. Shot Jan 3rd 2019 0*C no wind low pressure with overcast skies. This would shoot better in better hands I'm afraid.
Well time for bed
L8er.
Starlite
Well-Known Member
Yeah that screw in the first photo is easy to tighten. It's that damm big Phillips screw that comes with the OEM base that won't stay tight. Maybe I'll just locktite it. Thankx for the reply. Btw. How you enjoying your radar. I just love mine. As long as you don't forget the SD USB card. I haven't been able to get that information onto a card.
This radar has some miles on it and has been outstanding. The battery life is the only problem I have. Need to drag around that rechargeable battery pack if intending to put any time on it. If not, it will end up crashing when most inconvenient. Mine does not read reliably when the batteries start wearing down so the auxiliary battery is a must have
Starlite
Well-Known Member
yeah I only carry the AAs for emergencies. I bought 2 small 1 amp black lithium ion batteries and Velcro them to the sides. Keeps them off the ground. when possible I like to mount it on a tripod. One of these days I'll build a box with the bottom ant top on a piano hinge. It will store the device and its accessories but also will be its mounting base. Then I'll shoot thru it.
Hopefully you can see the batteries in the photo.
