6.5 Creedmoor question

rayzorloo

rayzorloo

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
284   0   0
Location
Ottawa
Hi CGN,

I am starting out on loading for 6.5CM, (previously only did pistol) my rifle is a Remington 783 SA. I went on Hodgdon's site and plugged in Hornady 140gr, using IMR4350 and this is what it spit out.

BULLET WEIGHT
140 GR. HDY A-MAX

Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4350 BUY NOW 0.264" 2.820" 37.0 2,460 47,500 PSI 41.0C 2,607 59,800 PSI
BULLET WEIGHT
140 GR. SFT A-FRAME

Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4350 BUY NOW 0.264" 2.700" 37.1 2,491 46,600 PSI 40.3 2,710 60,500 PSI

I made up 5 rounds at a COL of 2.80", but I couldn't lock the bolt. Went home and made up an empty round with just the case and bullet (no powder/primer) and made the COL 2.74. I used that number because the factory S&B rounds I shot had that as a COL. My question is the 2 load data I got from Hodgdon has 2 different COL's, same weight but different types of bullets. The bullets I have are neither of the ones listed, would it be safe to have the COL at 2.74? My bullets are as listed:

Hornady Interlock 140gr SP
Sierra Matchking 140gr HPBT
Sierra Matchking 142gr HPBT

Anyone have a Remington 783 SA out there and can share their load data for 6.5CM?

Thanks
 
I'm loading 130 ELD m ,with 36.6 varget col 2.855.
I'm shooting. 6 MOA with this load.
I have the same gun.
Every bullit type will usually have a different max length in your gun.
I get the col for each individual bullet type,then I load them about 20 thous shorter.
It's been working for me so far.

View attachment 468216View attachment 468217
 
Last edited:
rayzorloo said:
Hi CGN,

I am starting out on loading for 6.5CM, (previously only did pistol) my rifle is a Remington 783 SA. I went on Hodgdon's site and plugged in Hornady 140gr, using IMR4350 and this is what it spit out.

BULLET WEIGHT
140 GR. HDY A-MAX

Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4350 BUY NOW 0.264" 2.820" 37.0 2,460 47,500 PSI 41.0C 2,607 59,800 PSI
BULLET WEIGHT
140 GR. SFT A-FRAME

Starting Loads Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR IMR 4350 BUY NOW 0.264" 2.700" 37.1 2,491 46,600 PSI 40.3 2,710 60,500 PSI

I made up 5 rounds at a COL of 2.80", but I couldn't lock the bolt. Went home and made up an empty round with just the case and bullet (no powder/primer) and made the COL 2.74. I used that number because the factory S&B rounds I shot had that as a COL. My question is the 2 load data I got from Hodgdon has 2 different COL's, same weight but different types of bullets. The bullets I have are neither of the ones listed, would it be safe to have the COL at 2.74? My bullets are as listed:

Hornady Interlock 140gr SP
Sierra Matchking 140gr HPBT
Sierra Matchking 142gr HPBT

Anyone have a Remington 783 SA out there and can share their load data for 6.5CM?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Did the 2.74 allow the bolt to close?
 
Hey Ray bullets are measured off the give,so that's why ,even though bullets measured from the tip,may be the same, but not from the Ogive.

Heavier bullets be longer as well.

Forget about your factory rounds.

It sounds like your using two different bullets,so you need to make a dummy round for each of them.

I'm just starting to learn about seating deaths and I've read that measuring from the tip can be a bit off,because of bullet variation.
I've just ordered Hornady OAL gage,comparator inserts,modified case etc.
That will allow me to get a precise measurement from the ogive.
 
When I reload I check to see if it chambers and ejects before going to the range - I did encounter the same issues as the original poster seated bullets a little more until it chambered with little to no resistance
 
The stumpy 140gr Interlock is likely engaging the lands at 2.8" SAAMI length. I would try to find the longest length that will chamber a dummy round, then seat .030" deeper and that will be the OAL for your rifle. Start at 38.0grs IMR 4350 and work up in 0.4gr increments. Find the charge weight your rifle groups the best and enjoy. When accuracy goes south someday, you'll likely find the accuracy will return if you add a bit more powder as your throat erodes. I like to work in 1% of charge weight steps, in this case 0.4grs, anything smaller is a waste of components and anything larger is too big of a jump, especially closer to max charge
 
The collated OAL of your template round measured 2.74. Assuming you produce your template by seating to the lands.
Your loaded rounds measure 2.74.
That suggests your jump to the lands is zero.
Back off, check the accuracy and over a period time and further testing can you safely consider sating closer to the lands.
 
Hey rayzorloo,

It sounds to me like you may have inconsistent and improper sizing on your brass. If you can close the bolt enough to start camming the handle down that is more than enough force to push the bullet back into case. It sounds to me that you are hitting the shoulder and not the ogive of the bullet. Pull the bullets from the ones that don't close now. If the bolt doesn't close on the empty piece of brass you know the shoulder didnt get set back enough during sizing.

Invest in a hornady case OAL tool, bullet comparator and headspace gauges. This will let you get measurement on how far you are bumping the shoulder back during sizing and how far your bullet is off the lands.

Bottleneck cases stretch much more and aren't as forgiving as straight wall pistol cases. Goodluck on your rifle reloading journey.
 
OldRussian said:
Hey rayzorloo,

It sounds to me like you may have inconsistent and improper sizing on your brass. If you can close the bolt enough to start camming the handle down that is more than enough force to push the bullet back into case. It sounds to me that you are hitting the shoulder and not the ogive of the bullet. Pull the bullets from the ones that don't close now. If the bolt doesn't close on the empty piece of brass you know the shoulder didnt get set back enough during sizing.

Invest in a hornady case OAL tool, bullet comparator and headspace gauges. This will let you get measurement on how far you are bumping the shoulder back during sizing and how far your bullet is off the lands.

Bottleneck cases stretch much more and aren't as forgiving as straight wall pistol cases. Goodluck on your rifle reloading journey.
Click to expand...

Thanks will do
 
As the guys have mentioned, there are 2 possibilities.

One is the shoulder is too far ahead on the first 5 cases you loaded, and is ok on the dummy round. Unlikely there's enough difference in the 2 to cause the problem you're having, but it's possible.

COL is bullet-specific, because the profile of each bullet type is unique.

If your bullet is hitting the lands, and therefore the round won't chamber, you need to seat it deeper in the case. Without knowing the recommended COL for the bullet you're using, you need to find the seating depth at which the bullet just touches the lands, then seat it somewhat deeper in the case. How much deeper is a matter of opinion, both from a safety and performance standpoint.
The 2 Hornady comparator tools, one for measuring cartridge "headspace" for lack of a better term, the other for measuring from the case head to the ogive of the bullet, are a good investment IMO.
There are other ways to find the lands in your rifle, but using the Hornady tool is probably the easiest way. It used to be called the "Stony Point" tool, for whatever reason.
I strongly suggested getting both tools to the last gent that asked me to get him started in reloading rifle ammo.
I don't think he regrets buying either one, within 5 minutes he was getting the exact same measurements on his rifle that I was when we set up his new gear.
One of the often unmentioned pitfalls of the Hodgdon site is that they only list a few different bullets for each caliber. They can't test every bullet made, obviously, but it can be a bit intimidating for new reloaders to start out using their site.
For comfort, I'd suggest picking up a copy of the Sierra manual, version 6 has 6.5 CM listed, version 5 doesn't. Or didn't when I bought mine a few years ago. They used to list 6.5 CM data for their bullets on their website for free , I couldn't find it the last time I looked.
 
Chilly807 said:
As the guys have mentioned, there are 2 possibilities.

One is the shoulder is too far ahead on the first 5 cases you loaded, and is ok on the dummy round. Unlikely there's enough difference in the 2 to cause the problem you're having, but it's possible.

COL is bullet-specific, because the profile of each bullet type is unique.

If your bullet is hitting the lands, and therefore the round won't chamber, you need to seat it deeper in the case. Without knowing the recommended COL for the bullet you're using, you need to find the seating depth at which the bullet just touches the lands, then seat it somewhat deeper in the case. How much deeper is a matter of opinion, both from a safety and performance standpoint.
The 2 Hornady comparator tools, one for measuring cartridge "headspace" for lack of a better term, the other for measuring from the case head to the ogive of the bullet, are a good investment IMO.
There are other ways to find the lands in your rifle, but using the Hornady tool is probably the easiest way. It used to be called the "Stony Point" tool, for whatever reason.
I strongly suggested getting both tools to the last gent that asked me to get him started in reloading rifle ammo.
I don't think he regrets buying either one, within 5 minutes he was getting the exact same measurements on his rifle that I was when we set up his new gear.
One of the often unmentioned pitfalls of the Hodgdon site is that they only list a few different bullets for each caliber. They can't test every bullet made, obviously, but it can be a bit intimidating for new reloaders to start out using their site.
For comfort, I'd suggest picking up a copy of the Sierra manual, version 6 has 6.5 CM listed, version 5 doesn't. Or didn't when I bought mine a few years ago. They used to list 6.5 CM data for their bullets on their website for free , I couldn't find it the last time I looked.
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
To find wherr your bullet will touch the lands, set your rifle on a rest or vise. #### and close the bolt. Insert a cleaning rod until it touches the bolt face. Carefully afix a piece of tape to the rod just touching the muzzle and fold it around making a flag. If the sides of the tape line up, youve applied the tape square. This is your first reference point. Now, remove the bolt and insert a projectile and push it gently against the lands with a rod or pencil. Set the cleaning rod against the bullet and once again apply tape just touching the muzzle. The measurement between the two surfaces of tape that touched the muzzle will give you the MAX COAL to touch lands. Back off of that measurement by 20thou to start.
 
littlehughey said:
To find wherr your bullet will touch the lands, set your rifle on a rest or vise. #### and close the bolt. Insert a cleaning rod until it touches the bolt face. Carefully afix a piece of tape to the rod just touching the muzzle and fold it around making a flag. If the sides of the tape line up, youve applied the tape square. This is your first reference point. Now, remove the bolt and insert a projectile and push it gently against the lands with a rod or pencil. Set the cleaning rod against the bullet and once again apply tape just touching the muzzle. The measurement between the two surfaces of tape that touched the muzzle will give you the MAX COAL to touch lands. Back off of that measurement by 20thou to start.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will try this, when you say back off 20thou to start, I assume you mean seat it 0.02" deeper?
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I've just recently acquired a 6.5 Creedmoor which has a 1-8 twist. Just wondering, is there an ideal bullet weight that works best with that twist rate??
Click to expand...

Johnn my McGowan barrel 6.5 Creedmoor shoots anything from 123 too 140 really super right out to 1K.
I have never used anything but 4350 or 6.5 StaBall in it, and it does matter what brand of bullet I have tried , they all shoot well.
Cat
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I've just recently acquired a 6.5 Creedmoor which has a 1-8 twist. Just wondering, is there an ideal bullet weight that works best with that twist rate??
Click to expand...

If you are mostly hunting with it, start with 130's. Target start with 140's. They both may shoot good anyway. I started with 140's and they shoot great and have not tried 130's yet. 130's will deliver a bit more shock to the animal and thats always welcome.
 
Lead hammer said:
If you are mostly hunting with it, start with 130's. Target start with 140's. They both may shoot good anyway. I started with 140's and they shoot great and have not tried 130's yet. 130's will deliver a bit more shock to the animal and thats always welcome.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input.:) Much appreciated.
From a local site member and friend, I made a deal for a new Remington 700 CDL SF Limited Edition 6.5 Creedmoor.;)Decided I needed it. With it, and mounted, is a silver Leupold VX 111 3.5x10. And, not yet having any brass or other components, I opted to pick up a 'quantity' of factory ammo, ;)to get me started. In line with the weights you've made mention of, the 'deal' also included 6 boxes of Nosler Ballistic Tip BT 140gr and 5 boxes of Nosler Trophy Grade 129gr Accu Bond Long Range. And, prior to but in anticipation of this deal, from another site member and friend, I picked up a set of RCBS dies. Now, ;)time to get busy and 'play'. Thanks again:).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom