Interesting find with my 6.5 Creedmoor.

kilotanker22 · September 22, 2020, 11:17 AM

So I have been shooting and loading for the 6.5 Creedmoor for a couple years now. I have found my share of good shooting loads in that time, but always feel the need to keep tinkering.

It seems that I have found a powder charge that shoots well with any bullet I seat on top of it. With certain bullets this powder charge shoots exceptionally well.

From 135 grain bullets up to the Hornady 147 grain ELD bullet. With two bullet in particular I shoot 1/4-1/3 MOA groups all the time. Those bullets are the Hornady 147 ELD and the Nosler 140 Grain Custom Competition. Across all bullet weights the Velocity ES is less than 20 fps with single digits SD.

I did recently change to Peterson small rifle primers brass and I think quality brass plays a big part in the new found consistency.

I am finding that developing a great load is easier and simpler than I ever thought it could be. What I am finding is that there are three main things that contribute to a good load. Consistent pressure, Harmonics and consistent bullets.

Or have I simply stumbled upon an optimum charge weight for this cartridge in the brass I am using?

Here is the most recent 300 yard group. Six rounds instead of 5, because I am recording where my cold bore shot impacts at varying ranges. At 300 yards my cold bore shot hits just about 1/3 MOA higher than the following shots. Discounting the first cold bore shot this group measured .89" or .28 MOA. I have confirmed this through more than a dozen groups shot in varying conditions.

ballardw · September 22, 2020, 11:39 AM

And the powder charge is ?

kilotanker22 · September 22, 2020, 12:08 PM

Depending on the load data and components used this data may or may not be safe to use in all firearms. This is safe to use in my firearm. Neither myself or TFL can be held liable for damages caused by the use of the following data.

Peterson Small Rifle Primer Brass trimmed to 1.900"
CCI 450 small rifle Magnum primer
41.8 grains of H-4350. 41.78-41.82 grains is the weight range I load inside of.

Distance to the lands for the Nosler and Hornady bullet listed above is .010". I also found the 140 grain Hornady interlock to shoot exceptionally well seated .050" off the lands.

Worth noting is that from 41 grains all the way to 42.2 grains these bullets all shot ok, but all of them shoot very well at 41.8 grains of H -4350

straight-shooter · September 23, 2020, 04:39 PM

Interesting you found that same charge I did. I picked up a Savage 110 Precision 6.5 Creedmoor and have done a few weeks of testing past a Labradar. I also found that 41.8gr of H4350 and 42.2gr were the magic numbers loaded under a Hornady 143 ELD-X.

cdoc42 · September 23, 2020, 06:40 PM

Hasn't 4350 been the powder of choice for some time? Or has there been a distinction between IMR and Hodgdon?

kilotanker22 · September 24, 2020, 12:19 AM

Yeah H4350 has been the powder of choice for years

Scorch · September 24, 2020, 01:53 AM

I ran into that same thing years ago with my 7X57, IMR4350 shot 120 through 175 to about the same POI at 100 yds.

cptjack · September 24, 2020, 06:17 AM

using same charge with shooters world 4350 a lot cheaper than h4350

hooligan1 · October 7, 2020, 03:44 PM

Kilotanker have you tried StaBall yet? It's a good alternative to h4350 if that gets scarce.

kilotanker22 · October 7, 2020, 07:11 PM

I have tried StaBall. In this particular rifle and with small rifle primers I was unable to achieve anywhere near the velocity I am getting with H-4350. With StaBall I was a fair clip above published max loads with velocities 100+ fps below H-4350.

H-4350 is plentiful in my neck of the woods for now

hooligan1 · October 8, 2020, 04:23 PM

Well cool man. The main thing I've noticed about StaBall is the smoke....damn it smokes.

hounddawg · October 8, 2020, 06:10 PM

copied disclaimer - Depending on the load data and components used this data may or may not be safe to use in all firearms. This is safe to use in my firearm. Neither myself or TFL can be held liable for damages caused by the use of the following data.

interesting, I looked back through some of old targets for the .260 Rem and found 40.6 to 41.5 H4350 was optimum for .3 to .5 groups at 300 using 123's. Between 4775 to 4825 FPS seemed to be the sweet spot. That was with a 29 inch Criterion barrel.

I have a few pounds of IMR 4350 that's about 10 years old also but no load workup data. I am going to be swapping out the 6CM barrel I burned out on my FTR with a old but lightly used (750 rounds count) .260 Kreiger next month just to see if I can get it to shoot. I might see how that IMR shoots in it

September 22, 2020, 11:39 AM	#2
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,411	And the powder charge is ? __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

September 22, 2020, 12:08 PM	#3
kilotanker22 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: North Central, PA Posts: 2,117	Depending on the load data and components used this data may or may not be safe to use in all firearms. This is safe to use in my firearm. Neither myself or TFL can be held liable for damages caused by the use of the following data. Peterson Small Rifle Primer Brass trimmed to 1.900" CCI 450 small rifle Magnum primer 41.8 grains of H-4350. 41.78-41.82 grains is the weight range I load inside of. Distance to the lands for the Nosler and Hornady bullet listed above is .010". I also found the 140 grain Hornady interlock to shoot exceptionally well seated .050" off the lands. Worth noting is that from 41 grains all the way to 42.2 grains these bullets all shot ok, but all of them shoot very well at 41.8 grains of H -4350 __________________ “We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace. – St. Augustine Last edited by kilotanker22; September 22, 2020 at 06:49 PM.

September 24, 2020, 12:19 AM	#6
kilotanker22 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: North Central, PA Posts: 2,117	Yeah H4350 has been the powder of choice for years __________________ “We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace. – St. Augustine

September 24, 2020, 01:53 AM	#7
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I ran into that same thing years ago with my 7X57, IMR4350 shot 120 through 175 to about the same POI at 100 yds. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

October 7, 2020, 03:44 PM	#9
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Kilotanker have you tried StaBall yet? It's a good alternative to h4350 if that gets scarce. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

September 23, 2020, 04:39 PM	#4
straight-shooter Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 436	Interesting you found that same charge I did. I picked up a Savage 110 Precision 6.5 Creedmoor and have done a few weeks of testing past a Labradar. I also found that 41.8gr of H4350 and 42.2gr were the magic numbers loaded under a Hornady 143 ELD-X.

September 23, 2020, 06:40 PM	#5
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	Hasn't 4350 been the powder of choice for some time? Or has there been a distinction between IMR and Hodgdon?

September 24, 2020, 06:17 AM	#8
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	using same charge with shooters world 4350 a lot cheaper than h4350

October 7, 2020, 07:11 PM	#10
kilotanker22 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2012 Location: North Central, PA Posts: 2,117	I have tried StaBall. In this particular rifle and with small rifle primers I was unable to achieve anywhere near the velocity I am getting with H-4350. With StaBall I was a fair clip above published max loads with velocities 100+ fps below H-4350. H-4350 is plentiful in my neck of the woods for now __________________ “We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace. – St. Augustine

October 8, 2020, 04:23 PM	#11
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Well cool man. The main thing I've noticed about StaBall is the smoke....damn it smokes. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

October 8, 2020, 06:10 PM	#12
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	copied disclaimer - Depending on the load data and components used this data may or may not be safe to use in all firearms. This is safe to use in my firearm. Neither myself or TFL can be held liable for damages caused by the use of the following data. interesting, I looked back through some of old targets for the .260 Rem and found 40.6 to 41.5 H4350 was optimum for .3 to .5 groups at 300 using 123's. Between 4775 to 4825 FPS seemed to be the sweet spot. That was with a 29 inch Criterion barrel. I have a few pounds of IMR 4350 that's about 10 years old also but no load workup data. I am going to be swapping out the 6CM barrel I burned out on my FTR with a old but lightly used (750 rounds count) .260 Kreiger next month just to see if I can get it to shoot. I might see how that IMR shoots in it __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek