saterlee load test

[rockwallraider]

so I am new to reloading. gonna start with my 6.5 creedmoor. Using rl 16 with fed 210m primers. Loaded all the bullets .020 off lands. Here is the velocity I got, never reached pressure but stopped at 44 because had no plans to run that bullet that hot. Where would you test from there. Thanks for your help

grains Velocity

41 2748
41.2 2765
41.4 2760
41.6 2776
41.8 2792
42 2801
42.2 2823
42.4 2816
42.6 2833
42.8 2862
43 2874
43.2 2886
43.4 2890
43.6 2892
43.8 2917
44 2948

 

[C.O. Shooter]

I'd go with the 43.2 - 43.6.

 

[rockwallraider]

man that seems fast compared to numbers i have seen from people I guess if no pressure signs and its 87 degrees here then I wont be burning up my barrel?

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

I agree. 43.2-43.6

 

[ShtrRdy]

I agree with what the others have suggested. But dang the velocity seems fast. What is the weight of the bullet? What were you measuring velocity with?

 

[rockwallraider]

140 eldm
Lab radar
It's a custom from Alamo Precision with a mueller barrel

 

[jasonco]

What bullet weight, if any, are you using, don't see it listed, and what barrel length?!

 

[rockwallraider]

140eldm
24 inch

 

[jasonco]

Because I was idle and this takes minutes to do and easier to visualize: load 10 of the 43.4 and test. It's right in the middle of a good node. Similar velocities I get in my 26" RL17 140 load.

 

[Jud96]

42.2-42.6 and 43.2-43.6 both look like good nodes. I would load 42.5 and 43.5 with 5 rounds each and go test them for accuracy and see what the ES and SD are.

 

[mobenzowner]

Jud96's post above exactly echoes my thoughts....

 

[Nalgi]

so I am new to reloading. gonna start with my 6.5 creedmoor. Using rl 16 with fed 210m primers. Loaded all the bullets .020 off lands. Here is the velocity I got, never reached pressure but stopped at 44 because had no plans to run that bullet that hot. Where would you test from there. Thanks for your help

grains Velocity

41 2748
41.2 2765
41.4 2760
41.6 2776
41.8 2792
42 2801
42.2 2823
42.4 2816
42.6 2833
42.8 2862
43 2874
43.2 2886
43.4 2890
43.6 2892
43.8 2917
44 2948

Clearly you have a node at 2823-2833, pick the middle and shoot some groups. If they are what you want play with the OAL 10, 50, 90, 130 off. you should see the sweet spot pretty quick. Good Shooting!

 

[TRG65]

I'd go with 42.4. It corresponds to a long time used 140 grain node for 6.5s. 2810-2820 is where I shot my Berger 140s and my 147 ELDs are in the same place. I got RL 16 into the 2900s and even shot a upper 2800 load in a couple matches. I couldn't shoot it in my wife's rifle, and if the barrel heated up from PRS shooting, it would start punching primers. My recommendation is if you want to run 2900, get a 260AI, 6.5 Addiction, 6.5x284, or one of the other rounds that were designed to send the 140 and up that fast. I don't think 70fps will buy you that much in bullet performance.

 

[lightshooter]

Looks like you have a couple nodes you could work with. Depends if you want a lot of speed or more barrel life. I'm not an expert to say the least but I think 41.2-41.6 or 43.2-43.6.
I just did the Satterllee method for the first time yesterday for my 6.5. I arrived with similar results as a ladder test, but the Satterlee seems more accurate.
Here's my graph. I think I'm going to work with my slower node, as 2725 fps is fast enough for me. I think I have another node at the very top end if I would of shot 2 more on the top end, 43.4 and 43.6. My last barrel I was shooting 43.1. What are your thought?