Reloading 6.5 Creedmoor

[charlie b]

There is the possibility the bullets will make a difference, and maybe not. :) Keep in mind that some of the ELD bullets might be more sensitive to distance from the lands. SMK's are known for tolerating large jump to the lands than some others. The Berger 155's in my .308 weren't really 'happy' unless they were touching or slightly jammed into the lands.

I have found that most powders give a lower ES/SD at higher density loads.

[Ernest T]

Ernest T

I have three 6.5 CMs all Savages, two with 26-inch barrels and one with a 24-inch barrel.
All three shoot accurately, but the 26-inch barrels shoot most accurately with bullets 140 grs and above.
The 24-inch barrel shoots most accurately with 130 grain bullets (Sierra TMKs and ELD-Ms).
I don't think that barrel length is the reason, because I have two Savage 308s, both with 24-inch barrels, and they show different bullet and powder preferences. One likes heavier bullets (175 gr) and the other likes lighter bullets (155 gr).

Each barrel will tell you what it shoots best.
IMHO, the wear on the barrel reamer or a lot of steel being used have more to do with bullet performance than barrel length.
Barrel length will determine velocity because of the time the bullet is being accelerated in the barrel, but I don't think it effects bullet or powder preferences.

Thanks, I've decided to try 130 and then 120 grain bullets, just to see how it shoots them.

[Ernest T]

I ordered Hornady 120 and 130 grain ELD-Match bullets just to see how they'd shoot in my gun. However, I am puzzled by the Hornady reloading manual entries for these bullets. Since I just bought 8 lbs of Superperformance powder, I was looking for loads using that powder and 120 130 and 140 grain bullets. The books lists loads for 140 and 120 grain bullets, but not 130 grain for Superformance. Is that because they just didn't work up a load for that bullet or, however unlikely, is there is possibly an issue using that weight bullet with Superperformance? I'm thinking its the former and that I could work up a load using the data for the 120 and 140 grain bullets to determine a starting point.

In the meantime, I've ordered a pound of Winchester 760 powder which is listed for the 130 and 140 grain bullets, but not the 120. I can understand that since it might not be suitable for the lower weight bullet. I don't understand being suitable for lighter and heavier bullets, but not the one in the middle between them. It'd be nice if there was a powder I could use for all three just for comparison.

[charlie b]

Never been able to figure out how the mfgs decide on which loads to list.

I would just extrapolate.

[Ernest T]

Never been able to figure out how the mfgs decide on which loads to list.

I would just extrapolate.

This is what I came up with. The differences between the first four loads for the 140 grain bullet are much larger than the differences between the other three loads for the 140 grain bullet. The differences between the loads for the 120 grain bullets are much smaller and more consistent. The large differences between the first four loads for the 140 grain bullet throws off the first four extrapolated loads for the 130 grain bullet.




2400
2500
2600
2650
2700
2750
2800
2850
2900
2950
3000


140
38.2
39.8
41.4
42.2
43.1
43.9
44.7






130


41.2
42.4
43.5
44.3
45.1
45.9
46.6




120




44.2
44.9
45.6
46.4
47.1
47.8
48.5



I'm wondering if I shouldn't just start loads for the 130 grain bullet at the 46.6 max and back off each load .8 toward the minimum load. That results in a .8 grain higher load for the minimum, but it splits the difference between the starting loads for the 120 and 130 grain bullets.




2400
2500
2600
2650
2700
2750
2800
2850
2900
2950
3000


130


42.0
42.8
43.6
44.2
45.0
45.8
46.6






I arrived at the numbers by averaging the 140 and 120 grain loads. The first 130 grain load is the average of the first loads of 39.8 and 44.2.

[Ernest T]

Well, doing some more searching and I found Superperformance loads for a Hornady 130 gr. CX bullet. It has a coefficient of .489 which is close to the 130 gr. ELD-M ballistic coefficient of .656. The good news is I wasn't far off at the high end with my estimates.






2600
2700
2750
2800
2850
2900
2950



130 gr. Hornady CX

39.6 gr.
41.6 gr.
42.7 gr.
43.7 gr.
44.7 gr.
45.7 gr.
46.8 gr

[charlie b]

You do know you could use that load data for your 130ELD-M. For any case you need to start a little lower and work up. If I know I want to be near max then I'll start a grain or two lower and run a series in 0.2gn increments.

[PhilC]

You do know you could use that load data for your 130ELD-M. For any case you need to start a little lower and work up. If I know I want to be near max then I'll start a grain or two lower and run a series in 0.2gn increments.
Excellent advice and precisely how I'd approach it.

[Ernest T]

You do know you could use that load data for your 130ELD-M. For any case you need to start a little lower and work up. If I know I want to be near max then I'll start a grain or two lower and run a series in 0.2gn increments.


Excellent advice and precisely how I'd approach it.

Sounds like a plan!

[Ernest T]

I can't remember which thread it was in, but somewhere I mentioned that I used nutserts to hold down my press and other accessories on my bench top, and someone, I believe it was either Dave or Charlie, recommended I use T track. I decided to take that advice and put a new top on my bench with two rows of T-track across the width.

I used 3/4" melamine sheet to make the top and used walnut to trim the edge. That tall box with the scale on it is made for raising my dovetail jig to a comfortable height above the bench top. I found its the exact height, when placed on end, to raise the scale to eye level. Its a lot better than bending down to view the pointer.

9094

9095

Closeup of the T-track. I didn't want to use the melamine square under the press, but I'd have had to put the T track right on the edge of the bench top for the handle to clear it when depressed.

9096

[Dave Hoback]

Wasn’t me who recommended…, but I like it. Great job!

[CFJunkie]

Wow!
I wish my bench looked that clean and uncluttered.

Very nice work.

[PhilC]

You do nice work!

I may have posted about using T-track on my bench but not for the press. Priming, trimming, powder measure stand, etc. are all set up for t-track so I have a clean bench when they're not in use.

[Ernest T]

You do nice work!

I may have posted about using T-track on my bench but not for the press. Priming, trimming, powder measure stand, etc. are all set up for t-track so I have a clean bench when they're not in use.

Thanks! Woodworking is my main hobby. Here's a look at the inside of my tool cabinet -- this is the top half..

9112

[charlie b]

Now that's beautiful!! I love my woodworking hand tools, but, I am not that good with them, or patient :) Had to give up quite a few of them in a move years ago. Have just the minimum left.

The track wasn't my idea either. I use Tnuts under the benchtop. I used thread inserts before and the force on the press pulled them out. But, with your extended frame mount for the press that is not going to happen. Leverage favors that kind of setup.

Your loading bench looks great too.

[Ernest T]

Thanks Charlie. For a lot of years, except for dimensioning, I used hand tools almost exclusively, I hand-cut dovetails and mortise and tenon joints and used hand planes for dados and rabbets. I have gone back to using machines for most of those operations since I retired as I don't have the patience or eyesight to do that type of work any more. Most of my hand tools are antiques I've collected over the years and I'm in the process of donating most of them to the local museum. I'll keep the few that have a place in a machine woodworking shop.

[charlie b]

Cool.

I don't do a lot. These days it is really simple stuff or 'therapy' work :)

[PhilC]

Gorgeous woodwork!!! My son has more of a flair for that than me. Autobody metal work was my thing but when it comes woodwork I just make sawdust. :-)

[Palmafiddleman]

Hello,
New to posting on the forum. I reload for 6.5 CM for long range target (bullseye). I have found my rifle likes H4350 the best, getting 2825 with 41.2 gr. I have a 30" barrel that helps velocity. I have tried R-16 which gave me a little better velocity but was not as accurate. The H4350 load is in comfortable pressure range. No signs of high pressure.

I didn't read every page of this thread, just the first 5 then the end so I may have missed someone post that they use Starline brass. I got mine just before covid lockdown so I decided to turn the necks taking very slight amount off high side. What the heck, I was locked down and not much else to do. The brass has performed well for me. Reloaded 5 times, annealed after four reloads. Gave me the best sd compared to everything else that I shoot. It loves the ELD-Match 140's. Will not tolerate Sierra 142 gr bullets, trying several times and finally gave up.

BTY Earnest T, nice bench set up. Mine does not look as well kept. Thanks

[Ernest T]

Hello,
New to posting on the forum. I reload for 6.5 CM for long range target (bullseye). I have found my rifle likes H4350 the best, getting 2825 with 41.2 gr. I have a 30" barrel that helps velocity. I have tried R-16 which gave me a little better velocity but was not as accurate. The H4350 load is in comfortable pressure range. No signs of high pressure.

I didn't read every page of this thread, just the first 5 then the end so I may have missed someone post that they use Starline brass. I got mine just before covid lockdown so I decided to turn the necks taking very slight amount off high side. What the heck, I was locked down and not much else to do. The brass has performed well for me. Reloaded 5 times, annealed after four reloads. Gave me the best sd compared to everything else that I shoot. It loves the ELD-Match 140's. Will not tolerate Sierra 142 gr bullets, trying several times and finally gave up.

BTY Earnest T, nice bench set up. Mine does not look as well kept. Thanks

Thanks