N555 powder in the 6.5 CM

Tikka ace target, 24" barrel, lapua sp brass, 139gr lapua senar, cci 450, 42.8gr n555, velocity 2690fps (tikka barrel I've read are a little slow)
42.8 gr is above the listed max. I went off ultimate reloaders testing with n555 in 6.5 creedmoor and I have zero pressure signs with this load.
Accuracy is very good,3/4 moa or less at 100m, no problems with the 18" plate at 1000m and can hit the 12" every once in a while, my first summer shooting at those distances.
 
Sako S20, Peterson SRP, Lapua 139gr Scenar (GB458), 45.0gr N555, Federal Match Small Rifle Primer
About 0.003 jump, so loaded longer OAL than the book value, yields ~2800 fps muzzle velocity and shoots about 3/4 MOA (verified at 500m)
 
Ditch the N555 and get RL16!

I know you wanted to hear that Jim! :cool:

I did try it out just in case as I was starting to get short on my RL16. I'll have to look up my loading manual when I get home and have a look for ya.

But short of the story, once I found more RL I ditched the N555. Tried stabal as well as 4350.

Using 139 scenar, in starline brass, 26" 1-8 twist barrel with cci450.
 
Just had a chance to look at my older data.
I was actually using lapua brass, LRP, GM210Match primers at that time. I think it was one of my first loads on the new chrony as well, as I did not have one before.
2799 fps avg, ES: 28.9, SD: 8.9, so totally acceptable. 10 shot group. My node was right in that 42.0 gr area.

I ended up running RL 16: 2903.4 fps average, ES: 16.8 SD 6.0, again 10 shot group.

50 shot group: 2917.8 fps, ES: 36.5, SD: 8.7. Dec 2023.
Ended up pushing them @ 2950.1 fps for a while as well: 50 shot group: ES: 32.2 and SD 7.2. This was March 2024.

When I say group I mean a 50 shot string as I was shooting any where from 500m to 1378M on our range.

I've since slowed them down a bit as the barrel is wearing now as I'm in that 3K rounds mark, +/- a few hundred. Now also running starline srp brass, and the cci450 with RL16. 2856.4 fps, ES: 42.9 and SD 8.9 for a 38 shot string just here at the beginning of July.


If I didn't have any RL 16 it would for sure be N555 I'd run.
 
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