6.5 Creedmoor ? Comments / load info ?

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Kevan

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Curiosity got the better of me today so I ordered a rifle chambered in the Creedmoor cartridge.
And now I'm looking for some feedback from fellow CGNers.
Any information with respect to comments about your experiences with the 6.5 CR and especially load info will be most appreciated.
I'm currently wearing out Google.
Thanks from a curious old man....;)
 
I am helping my son out with his Ruger Precision 6.5 Creedmoor so I just went through this. To start I would buy a Berger reloading manual, reload Berger bullets, and you are set. I would also go to the Berger twist rate calculator first, this helps eliminate some of the unstable rounds for your particular rifle based on it's twist rate. My son shoots target rounds to 900 yards, so we picked out a Berger Hybrid Target (I think it was 140 grain but would have to check) and used Hodgon H4350 which we got from Cabelas. The manual is a great manual so that would be my first step.
 
Last edited:
Been shooting it for a while out of a Savage LRP. The hybrids didn't shoot well for me, for some reason?? So I tried the Berger BT Target in 140 over 4350. One hole at 100 is common and out to 500 she's deadly accurate. Problem is it's a hard bullet to find. Only Wholesale carries it and it isn't often there. Everyone wants hybrids.... The 139 Lapuas Scenars also shot almost as well. I believe Hybrids are very picky about seating depth... And I just couldn't find the sweet spot. In my 6.5/284 with more space I found it though...
 
CS, give me a shout if you want Bergers.. they are all possible but only come up a few times a year.

Kevan, brass is the big bottle neck right now. Hrn, Norma, Nosler.. all expensive and backordered.

Dies are not bad and will get a lot better in 2016... Forster seaters will be available.

So right now, it is an expensive chambering but it is growing in popularity so access will get better. If not planning on shooting lots, see about getting some factory ammo to get the brass and have some fun.

Then pick your bullet from 120 to 140 and H4350, match LR primer and enjoy. Keep pressures to spec and brass will last a decent number of firings.. go more and they will fail very fast.... Hrn does not reinforce their case head.. it is not in their best interest.

Because of access to brass, I would look at forming my own from 22-250... WAAAYYYY less money and you can get superb results. I will be using PRVI.

Not hard to do either.. you will need tools to handle neck prep but you will need that anyways. Annealing becomes your friend... do it properly and cases will last a very long time.

Let me know Thanks

Jerry
 
Thanks Jerry, appreciate the info.
So far no problems with dies or brass, now I'm more curious about what everybody is loading and you have given me a heads-up there also.
 
I have a Savage Mod 11 Predator (heavy barrel) in 6.5 Creed.

I bought it with "hunting" in mind, I'm not much of a target shooter. My plan was to use it for Moose - and not trying to get suggestions, it WAS/IS enough for the way I moose hunt.

So my load work-ups were based on that. I loaded some 140 grain Swift A-Frames, 140 grain Nosler Accubonds and 130 grain Nosler Accubonds (moose loads).

I loaded the 140 grain bullets with IMR 4350 in three charges (39.5/40.0/40.5 grains) - shot best with the lighter charge and made about 2600 fps (warm weather shooting).

Loaded the 130 grain with Varget - 37.0 grains gave me good accuracy and made just on 2700 fps.

But will say, for my application MOA (give or take) is accurate enough and I'm shooting animals, not chrono's - so didn't push the envelope. I stick with mid-range loads in all my rifles and won't fiddle infinitely with .1 grain increments to take it from .95" to .75", because I just don't need that.

I initially sourced my brass by reloading a couple of off the shelf boxes of 120 grain GMX Superformance Hornady ammo. It shot just as well as anything I loaded myself, I just wanted a heavier bullet or I would have stuck to that for the number of rounds I intended to shoot with the rifle.

Ultimately I settled on a different rifle for moose (chambered in 7.08), so the 6.5 sits mostly unused now.

I just had to have one to have "something different" - I'm still looking for a real use for it.
 
Kevan said:
Thanks Jerry, appreciate the info.
So far no problems with dies or brass, now I'm more curious about what everybody is loading and you have given me a heads-up there also.
Click to expand...

Check the chamber and throat. Decide what the usage will be. load a quality bullet and tune accordingly.

Not a hard case to work with.. If you need options on bullets, give me a shout.

Thanks

Jerry
 
No shortage of suitable fuel

Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 Creedmoor
Bullet             : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 47.583 grain H2O = 3.089 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 105 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

22 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant RL17                        97.7     44.9     2.91    2879   100.0    62000   12586   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL26                       105.0     49.5     3.21    2850    99.3    55146   13973   1.078  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                     102.4     46.4     3.00    2840    99.0    62000   12784   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      96.7     44.8     2.91    2834    98.4    62000   12763   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        96.7     44.8     2.91    2834    98.4    62000   12763   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot BigGame                     92.1     43.0     2.79    2801   100.0    62000   11771   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            91.7     40.2     2.61    2795   100.0    62000   11760   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                104.6     44.4     2.88    2793   100.0    62000   11404   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL15                        92.6     40.6     2.63    2787   100.0    62000   11728   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL19                       105.0     46.1     2.98    2781    96.2    58290   12755   1.056  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                        93.9     42.1     2.73    2779    99.6    62000   11852   1.049  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                      104.0     44.6     2.89    2776    97.8    62000   11991   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                           102.0     44.5     2.88    2775    97.9    62000   11974   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                            94.5     40.8     2.64    2773   100.0    62000   11307   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828ssc                        105.0     47.3     3.07    2761    93.5    55025   13113   1.074  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           105.0     44.1     2.86    2758    99.6    58345   11969   1.077  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Varget                      95.3     40.4     2.62    2754    99.9    62000   11289   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007ssc                         95.6     42.5     2.76    2754    97.9    62000   11794   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 3031                            91.9     37.7     2.44    2749   100.0    62000   10506   1.051  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064                            95.9     39.7     2.57    2747   100.0    62000   11091   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831sc                    105.0     46.6     3.02    2716    93.1    56327   12234   1.071  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL22                       105.0     46.6     3.02    2710    94.6    51243   12970   1.120
 
Mystic Precision said:
Check the chamber and throat. Decide what the usage will be. load a quality bullet and tune accordingly.

Not a hard case to work with.. If you need options on bullets, give me a shout.

Thanks

Jerry
Click to expand...

Thanks Jerry, my plans are for strictly hunting application, the rifle is light and short should work well for an old geritoler and yes I'll probably need some hunting bullets.
I'll chat once its in my hands.
 
todbartell said:
No shortage of suitable fuel

Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 Creedmoor
Bullet             : .264, 130, Nosler AccuBond 56902
Useable Case Capaci: 47.583 grain H2O = 3.089 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62000 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 105 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

22 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant RL17                        97.7     44.9     2.91    2879   100.0    62000   12586   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL26                       105.0     49.5     3.21    2850    99.3    55146   13973   1.078  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                     102.4     46.4     3.00    2840    99.0    62000   12784   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      96.7     44.8     2.91    2834    98.4    62000   12763   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        96.7     44.8     2.91    2834    98.4    62000   12763   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot BigGame                     92.1     43.0     2.79    2801   100.0    62000   11771   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            91.7     40.2     2.61    2795   100.0    62000   11760   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                104.6     44.4     2.88    2793   100.0    62000   11404   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL15                        92.6     40.6     2.63    2787   100.0    62000   11728   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL19                       105.0     46.1     2.98    2781    96.2    58290   12755   1.056  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                        93.9     42.1     2.73    2779    99.6    62000   11852   1.049  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350                      104.0     44.6     2.89    2776    97.8    62000   11991   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                           102.0     44.5     2.88    2775    97.9    62000   11974   1.035  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320                            94.5     40.8     2.64    2773   100.0    62000   11307   1.032  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828ssc                        105.0     47.3     3.07    2761    93.5    55025   13113   1.074  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           105.0     44.1     2.86    2758    99.6    58345   11969   1.077  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Varget                      95.3     40.4     2.62    2754    99.9    62000   11289   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007ssc                         95.6     42.5     2.76    2754    97.9    62000   11794   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 3031                            91.9     37.7     2.44    2749   100.0    62000   10506   1.051  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064                            95.9     39.7     2.57    2747   100.0    62000   11091   1.041  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831sc                    105.0     46.6     3.02    2716    93.1    56327   12234   1.071  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RL22                       105.0     46.6     3.02    2710    94.6    51243   12970   1.120
Click to expand...

Thanks for the chart TB, most appreciated !
 
Mystic Precision said:
CS, give me a shout if you want Bergers.. they are all possible but only come up a few times a year.

Kevan, brass is the big bottle neck right now. Hrn, Norma, Nosler.. all expensive and backordered.

Dies are not bad and will get a lot better in 2016... Forster seaters will be available.

So right now, it is an expensive chambering but it is growing in popularity so access will get better. If not planning on shooting lots, see about getting some factory ammo to get the brass and have some fun.

Then pick your bullet from 120 to 140 and H4350, match LR primer and enjoy. Keep pressures to spec and brass will last a decent number of firings.. go more and they will fail very fast.... Hrn does not reinforce their case head.. it is not in their best interest.

Because of access to brass, I would look at forming my own from 22-250... WAAAYYYY less money and you can get superb results. I will be using PRVI.

Not hard to do either.. you will need tools to handle neck prep but you will need that anyways. Annealing becomes your friend... do it properly and cases will last a very long time.

Let me know Thanks

Jerry
Click to expand...

What would be the procedure to form 6.5 CR from 22-250 and what tools are needed?

I also have a good quantity of .308 win norma brass, would it be more work to form 6.5 from it?

Thanks
 
IMG_0489_zpsxplxlafz.jpg


Pic forming 6XC brass but the process is the same... left to right.

Bump the shoulder so the case is a snug fit in the chamber when the bolt fully closes.

Fireform using COW method - you will need to research this yourself

Do basic neck and case prep.. You will need to outside neck turn and size neck properly to get rid of any excess brass at the base of the neck.

Load with a bullet and fully form case... you can develop a very accurate load to do this final forming and use this for practise and local matches.

Jerry
 
audet548 said:
What would be the procedure to form 6.5 CR from 22-250 and what tools are needed?

I also have a good quantity of .308 win norma brass, would it be more work to form 6.5 from it?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Audet 548------6.5 Cr from 22-250--prime cases--load 18 grs Unique--fill to base of neck with Cream of Wheat(hence the name COW method--I use corn meal,myself) insert a small piece of cloth to hold everything in place---Shoot in your 6.5 Cr--Viola !--6.5 cases--I caution to do this outdoors--they are LOUD !--I am extremely pleased with my 6.5 Cr Browning A-bolt--VERY accurate and gentle to shoot.-------Bent Barrel
 
Ok, so I finally received my 6.5CM dies and decided to experiment last night. I resized a .308win case using the 6.5CM full lenght sizing die and it went really smooth contrary to what I was anticipating. I then trimmed to lenght and here is the result.

93012948f9b87c6b33b4f172b89ebf84_zpsbl8jbrld.jpg


Now I gues I would be at the point of fire forming using the COW method and then normal reloading? Do I need to neck turn?
 
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