6.5 Creedmoor reloading powder

[shawnff]

What powder is everyone using for 6.5 creedmoor. I have tried RL16, H4350, and Staball in my 18" Daniel Defense rifle and think I like RL16 so far but need to test more of Staball.
Might be willing to trade H4350 for Staball if any of you like H4350.

 

[QuietM4]

H4350 is the gold standard for 6.5 Creedmoor. I also tried RL17 and Hybrid 100V, but I've liked H4350 the best.

 

[shawnff]

That's what I thought, but when I ran a ladder test I got low velocity, and I loaded up .1 less than the max. I got 2600fps with RL16 and only 2450 with H4350. I only have an 18" barrel so I'm thinking I maybe a slightly fast burning powder might help, but per the chart RL16 is right next to H4350.

 

[QuietM4]

What bullets are you running?

I've got a shorter than normal 6.5 barrel also, I shoot a Bergara B-14 Ridge SPR, 18" barrel. Running 140gr ELD's over 41.8gr H4350 I get about 2550fps. I've got a new ladder test to load up tomorrow 42.0-42.8gr of H4350. I want to get up to 2600-2650fps. I know Hornady publishes the "max" as 41.5, which people regularly load over. I've seen loads as high as 43.0gr on forums. At some point the bullet compresses the powder too much and you will get pressure signs, but I've never had any issues loading over max...yet.

A faster powder will obviously increase fps, but so will a lighter bullet...which really just allows more case volume for powder. I'm going try some Berger Hybrid 130 as soon as I can find some.

If you've got some free time, check out the load data forum on Sniper's Hide....40+ pages of data other people have loaded up.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/6-5-creedmoor.89643/

 

[shawnff]

I'm shooting a lapua 139gr projo, but I have 123 ELDMs from my grendel, that I want to try at some point, and I have some other 140gr Barnes burners that are also on the list. I will be sure to check the link, and try another ladder test with 4350. Let me know your results with your test.

 

[QuietM4]

I'm shooting a lapua 139gr projo, but I have 123 ELDMs from my grendel, that I want to try at some point, and I have some other 140gr Barnes burners that are also on the list. I will be sure to check the link, and try another ladder test with 4350. Let me know your results with your test.

Finally got out to the range last week...took me a little time to collate the data.

*added updated data and some charts!

I've got a speed nodes at 41.6/41.8 and 42.4/42.6, so I'll start loading at 42.5 grains ( I want the extra little bit of FPS). Seating depth ladder test is next....I'll load up 10 different depths 0.03" interval, shoot 5 shots each.

 

[TheAccountant]

How is your ES lower than SD? Seems like it should be around 50 for the datasets you pointed out. I would look beyond the averages considering the variations. I think you might be setting yourself up for a headache.

 

[QuietM4]

How is your ES lower than SD? Seems like it should be around 50 for the datasets you pointed out. I would look beyond the averages considering the variations. I think you might be setting yourself up for a headache.

Good catch...I was just testing you

Somehow the formula was switched to AVGDEV....fixed it (edited original image)

 

[TheAccountant]

I know you said you used RL17 in the past but came back to H4350. If that wasn’t with this barrel I would give it a shot. I also like H4350 in longer barrels, but RL17 seems to really make the short barrels come alive.

 

[QuietM4]

I know you said you used RL17 in the past but came back to H4350. If that wasn’t with this barrel I would give it a shot. I also like H4350 in longer barrels, but RL17 seems to really make the short barrels come alive.

I'm fine with H4350. I actually didn't get great results with RL17...also tried Hodgdon V100. But, since I have 9lbs of H4350, and only less than 1/2 lb left over from RL17 and V100, I'll stick with H4350. Not like I have much of a choice these days.... :roll:

 

[shawnff]

After testing Staball, 4350, and RL16, I found RL16 (42.3gr) is giving me 2600 fps with a ES around 20 fps (5 shot groups two different days). Staball is a close second with 2575 fps (44gr) and an ES around 30 fps. I have 4 one pound jugs of H4350 made this year minus 10 rds out of one jugs I will trade for RL16 made in the last 12 months.

 

[shawnff]

I'm shooting a lapua 139gr projo, but I have 123 ELDMs from my grendel, that I want to try at some point, and I have some other 140gr Barnes burners that are also on the list. I will be sure to check the link, and try another ladder test with 4350. Let me know your results with your test.

Finally got out to the range last week...took me a little time to collate the data.

*added updated data and some charts!

I've got a speed nodes at 41.6/41.8 and 42.4/42.6, so I'll start loading at 42.5 grains ( I want the extra little bit of FPS). Seating depth ladder test is next....I'll load up 10 different depths 0.03" interval, shoot 5 shots each.

What's the COL you loaded these at? I had flatten primers at 40.5 and ejector marks at 41gr of H4350

 

[QuietM4]

I like Varget and TAC. But I only do .308 so I wouldn't know if it either would actually work for 6.5/260.

Varget and TAC are faster burn rate, according to the relative burn rate chart. TAC is #92, Varget is #108...H4350 is #124.

I've seen load data for both, just didn't come across any during my powder search last year. Luckily, I started reloading in February, before everything became impossible to find. H4350 was difficult enough to find last March, so when I found a few lbs I snapped them up.

 

[QuietM4]

What's the COL you loaded these at? I had flatten primers at 40.5 and ejector marks at 41gr of H4350

COAL is 2.740", 2.1085 BTO.

I know semi-auto gun are a little more difficult to load for in 6.5. I expected to start seeing some pressure signs as I loaded over "max", but nothing. No primer issues, no ejector marks, not even a difficult bolt lift.

 

[shawnff]

RL16 is working great right now so I think I will stick with it, but I only have a bit more than two pounds so I might have to do some more work with staball, and see if I can get a lower ES.

 

[TheAccountant]

What's the COL you loaded these at? I had flatten primers at 40.5 and ejector marks at 41gr of H4350

COAL is 2.740", 2.1085 BTO.

I know semi-auto gun are a little more difficult to load for in 6.5. I expected to start seeing some pressure signs as I loaded over "max", but nothing. No primer issues, no ejector marks, not even a difficult bolt lift.

Are you compressed at all being that short? I was seeing large swings in velocity like you are with even the lightest compression of H4350.

 

[QuietM4]

A little compression on the higher charge weights...it was very apparent when I was testing V100. I would have 200fps jumps as soon as I started to compress the powder.

There are guys on forums who loading H4350 in the low to mid 43's, so I'm not overly concerned with going over what Hornady calls "max".

My next ladder test will be starting with the bullet seated at max magazine length (don't know what that is off the top of my head) then backing off by 0.020" for 5 shot strings. Hoping to find a sweet spot.

 

[shawnff]

I know when loaded to LR308 mag length 2.8..." I was seeing a slightly compressed load if I can remember, my ES was great the problem is velocity I was getting just under 2500 fps out of my 18" barrel.

 

[QuietM4]

I know when loaded to LR308 mag length 2.8..." I was seeing a slightly compressed load if I can remember, my ES was great the problem is velocity I was getting just under 2500 fps out of my 18" barrel.

Only a few ways to increase velocity; longer barrel - this is a non-starter, we both want shorter guns. Faster burn rate powder - then you are back to looking for pressure signs. Lighter bullet - I've been looking to try out some 130 gr Berger Hybrids, and this would allow me to squeeze in a few extra grains before I start compressing the powder. I'm happy with getting about 2650fps.

Shorter barrels just don't generate a high fps...but, it's a trade off I am willing to make so I don't have a 4.5' rifle plus a suppressor hanging off the end.

 

[shawnff]

Ya, I'm happy with the 2600 fps I am getting, don't want to go with a lighter bullet because I have never been able to call wind. I will just have to find more RL16 and maybe some better projos. I have been looking for Nosler RDF or some Hornady ELDM, but it's going to be a long time before they show up on the shelf. I did find another pound of H4350 yesterday at bass pro and couldn't help myself.