How hot should I go?

A

awesomealvin

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Hi Reloading Masters,

I'm a Google taught re loader. (Zero formal training)
I'm currently running on the edge of what the Hornday Reloading Book recommends for max load. Groups are holding good (~0.75-1 MOA) and achieving ~65FPS more than what's stated on the handbook. No high pressure signs, primers not flat, no ejection marks on the brass, no split cases, no trouble extracting. I would love to get more speed from the bullet and achieve flatter trajectory for long range.

My question is, how hot of a load shall I run? Another 0.5gn until I get pressure signs and/or loose accuracy? Am I getting too greedy? At what point do you guys call it max? I'm already achieving 65FPS more than the handbook, but if it's safe I certainly won't turn down another 50-100FPS.

Thanks,

For reference
6.5cm
24" 1 in 8 twist
143gn Hornady ELD-X
CCI 200
Varget 36.5gn
~2665 FPS
Neck Sized
 
I always load for best accuracy. Usually isn't a max load. If you over do it, case life shortens, hard extraction, things like that can happen.
 
Why are you trying to go more? Where is you most accurate so far? Couple hundred feet per second is not going to matter on game, and faster is not always better. What is your goal?
 
BRDAVISAUTOREPAIR said:
Why are you trying to go more? Where is you most accurate so far? Couple hundred feet per second is not going to matter on game, and faster is not always better. What is your goal?
Click to expand...

Most accurate was at 36gn (vs. 36.5gn I'm running now), but not by much...we're talking 0.65-0.75moa vs. 0.75-1moa. The gun holds very consistent sub moa accuracy even down to 35gn of powder.

I want to hit this 10"x10" plate at 800m. Faster bullet, less flight time, less drop, less wind effects. No? At 800m, my ballistic app tells me I get 19" less of a drop if I can achieve another 100fps. Well worth 0.1-0.2MOA of lost accuracy...no?

I'm pretty new at this, thanks guys.
 
143 grain eld-x 36 grains at 100 yards .291
hit plate regularat 875 meters 12 inch plate with last few rounds, holdover was huge and ay was perfect.... Pm me for anything else
 
Typical cgn, ask a question...get advice on why you didn't need to ask the question in the first place. I'd probably ditch the varget to start with. You can get the extra 100 FPS you want just by switching powders. I go up in .3 grain increments until I see pressure signs.
 
Typical cgn, ask a question...get advice on why you didn't need to ask the question in the first place. I'd probably ditch the varget to start with. You can get the extra 100 FPS you want just by switching powders. I go up in .3 grain increments until I see pressure signs.

As mentioned above accuracy over speed any day. Drop is just math, windage not so much lol I like to speed it up so I can miss faster.
 
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Accuracy first.

I'd suggest backing down to 36g and foolimg around with seating depth. Those ELD's seem to shoot best just off the lands.

Any accuracy you can squeeze out of the gun will give you more margin for error at the target. More speed will just help you miss faster
 
If your looking.for more performance in 6.5....6.5-284...260...26 nosler...6.5-300 wea.....264wm.
Switch components....switch calibers....accept what you have. Each rifle has its own personality, not to anthropomorphize too much.

Looked again at your powder, its not known for going from no signs, to stuck bolt/blown primers ...instantly. If you have a good measuring set up....go up .2 gr at a time until you get bad ejector marks/swipe or primer deformation. Books and site info is lawyer proof, often very conservative. Pay attention to ease of decapping primers, be very picky with brass that decaps too easily or seems loose in priming.
 
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Hi everyone, thanks for all the great feedback.

I've measured the COAL for the bullet to hit the rifling, this however was longer than what my magazine can accommodate. I therefore seated the bullet so it just clears the magazine, and developed my load for that. I chose to user Varget...really just because it's popular. The choice to use the Hornady ELD-X 143gn was for it's availability, and also because my research suggest that it's the heaviest bullet my 1 in 8 barrel can stabilize. The heavier the bullet, the less effect from wind. No??

I was getting consistent Sub MOA with my setup, confirmed with paper targets at 100,200 and 300m. This accuracy is theoretically sufficient to hit the 10"x10" metal plate consistently at 800m. As a side note, I would need to buy a lottery ticket if I can get my gun to shoot sub 0.5 MOA. Mine is a budget heavy barrel Remington 783, MSRP around $500. 0.75-1 MOA consistently I'll say is a big A+ for Remington.

My theory is that the higher speed would be more forgiving and allow more error to remain on target. 100fps extra get's me 19 in less in drop out at 800m, that sounds quite significant to me.

It sounds like my best bet to get higher speed is to select a faster powder as oppose to adding more Varget. Hornady's book have the following powders which according to their data can output 150-200fps more speed. You guys have any suggestions for reloading newbies? On a budget here, don't really want to spend $300+ on various powders and have them collect dust haha. Also the temperature out here can swing between -40C to 30C.

BIG GAME
Alliant RL-17
NORMA URP
Hybrid 100V
IMR 4350
SUPERFORMANCE
 
awesomealvin said:
Hi everyone, thanks for all the great feedback.

I've measured the COAL for the bullet to hit the rifling, this however was longer than what my magazine can accommodate. I therefore seated the bullet so it just clears the magazine, and developed my load for that. I chose to user Varget...really just because it's popular. The choice to use the Hornady ELD-X 143gn was for it's availability, and also because my research suggest that it's the heaviest bullet my 1 in 8 barrel can stabilize. The heavier the bullet, the less effect from wind. No??

I was getting consistent Sub MOA with my setup, confirmed with paper targets at 100,200 and 300m. This accuracy is theoretically sufficient to hit the 10"x10" metal plate consistently at 800m. As a side note, I would need to buy a lottery ticket if I can get my gun to shoot sub 0.5 MOA. Mine is a budget heavy barrel Remington 783, MSRP around $500. 0.75-1 MOA consistently I'll say is a big A+ for Remington.

My theory is that the higher speed would be more forgiving and allow more error to remain on target. 100fps extra get's me 19 in less in drop out at 800m, that sounds quite significant to me.

It sounds like my best bet to get higher speed is to select a faster powder as oppose to adding more Varget. Hornady's book have the following powders which according to their data can output 150-200fps more speed. You guys have any suggestions for reloading newbies? On a budget here, don't really want to spend $300+ on various powders and have them collect dust haha. Also the temperature out here can swing between -40C to 30C.

BIG GAME
Alliant RL-17
NORMA URP
Hybrid 100V
IMR 4350
SUPERFORMANCE
Click to expand...
1-8 RoT will shoot heavier, longer projectiles than the 143. Also, BC is more important than bullet weight, as far as wind deflection goes.

A 4350 burn rate powder is pretty much perfect w/ 140+ bullets in the 6.5CM. H4350 or IMR4451 have been fantastic in any 6.5CM I've been around and best for temp stability.
 
Agreed with all the above. I like speed as much as the next guy to reduce the time of flight and bullet drop, but stick close to the book unless you are willing to take on all liability.

Max load is max pressure. Find a faster powder or a lighter projectile if you need more velocity, but remember you trade velocity for other things like being able to push through the wind or potential overpressure issues that can lead to reduced brass and barrel life, sticky bolt openings, and more.
 
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