shaneroyce
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2016
- Messages
- 141
I'm curious how you'd move forward with determining a load for a new rifle that I purchased...Christensen Arms Mesa 6.5 Creedmoor.
Background...I've been loading about a year for 6.5 CM and 7mm RM. I put together 5 different loads (4 shots each load) for my 6.5 CM and headed to the range. All loads are seated .060" off the lands at 2.250" COAL. All loads are Hornady 143 ELD-X over H4350 with Hornady brass and CCI 200 Large Rifle primers. I shot all 5 loads at 100 yards with the following results:
40.0 grains: .500 moa
40.5 grains: .656 moa
41.0 grains: .375 moa
41.5 grains: 1.00 moa
42.0 grains: .438 moa
All groups were shot cold bore with full barrel cool down between each group. There was ZERO pressure signs at any load...even the 42.0 which is .5 over max.
I would typically take my next session to the range at 300 yards and shoot my best grouping load, within a node of good grouping loads, at different seating depths to see if the load holds it's accuracy at range. In this case, I see that as my 41.0 grain group.
My question is really two-fold. First...before settling on which group to work with, would you continue to go up in powder charge above 42.0, until pressure signs begin, to see where the max load is for this rifle?
Second...if seating depth makes no difference to the group size at 300 yards, where would you want your bullet seated...where it's at, closer to the lands, or further from the lands?
FYI...this will be like all of my rifles...a hunting rifle that I also shoot year round for fun.
Any other thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you all! Also...feel free to be critical of my process if you see a significant issue. I should add that I have no chronograph and no access to one in the near future.
Background...I've been loading about a year for 6.5 CM and 7mm RM. I put together 5 different loads (4 shots each load) for my 6.5 CM and headed to the range. All loads are seated .060" off the lands at 2.250" COAL. All loads are Hornady 143 ELD-X over H4350 with Hornady brass and CCI 200 Large Rifle primers. I shot all 5 loads at 100 yards with the following results:
40.0 grains: .500 moa
40.5 grains: .656 moa
41.0 grains: .375 moa
41.5 grains: 1.00 moa
42.0 grains: .438 moa
All groups were shot cold bore with full barrel cool down between each group. There was ZERO pressure signs at any load...even the 42.0 which is .5 over max.
I would typically take my next session to the range at 300 yards and shoot my best grouping load, within a node of good grouping loads, at different seating depths to see if the load holds it's accuracy at range. In this case, I see that as my 41.0 grain group.
My question is really two-fold. First...before settling on which group to work with, would you continue to go up in powder charge above 42.0, until pressure signs begin, to see where the max load is for this rifle?
Second...if seating depth makes no difference to the group size at 300 yards, where would you want your bullet seated...where it's at, closer to the lands, or further from the lands?
FYI...this will be like all of my rifles...a hunting rifle that I also shoot year round for fun.
Any other thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you all! Also...feel free to be critical of my process if you see a significant issue. I should add that I have no chronograph and no access to one in the near future.