All,
Thank you all for the feedback. My takeaway from this is there are max ‘book’ loads that reach my goals in 24” barrels, a factory GMX that is on goal, and a couple of suggested loads that get there. It seems 3000 fps is reasonable, so I am going to get a 6.5 CM.
As a recap, here are the book loads you all pointed out that nominally meet my 120 gr muzzle velocity goal with 24” barrel:
Alliant - RL16
Hogdon - StaBALL 6.5
Nosler - H4350, RL17, Hunter
So 5 different powders. There were several others very close.
As my username suggests, I like short rifles. Looks like I need to make an exception for this project. For engineering margin, I’m going with a 26” barrel.
Thanks again for your support!
It should be easy peasy to hit 3k with a 24" barrel.
Cartridge : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet : .264, 120, Nosler BalTip 26120
Useable Case Capaci: 49.496 grain H2O = 3.214 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 62250 psi, or 429 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 108 %
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 !
30 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 60%. 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 Reloder-26 *C 108.0 53.0 3.43 3185 100.0 60187 11740 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 60 *T 99.4 47.6 3.08 3156 100.0 62250 10531 1.089 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 70 *C 105.5 51.3 3.32 3151 99.3 62250 11393 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17 98.4 47.1 3.05 3134 100.0 62250 10470 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 *T 98.4 47.1 3.05 3134 100.0 62250 10470 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP *C 108.0 51.4 3.33 3127 98.6 58996 11653 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16 *C *T 103.5 46.0 2.98 3122 100.0 62250 10468 1.092 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 105.5 47.9 3.10 3103 100.0 62250 9989 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 62 102.0 48.7 3.16 3102 99.9 62250 10570 1.114 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 518 104.0 49.0 3.17 3096 99.3 62250 10769 1.104 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511 99.9 48.5 3.15 3095 99.5 62250 10712 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 103.2 48.6 3.15 3093 99.5 62250 10696 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 *C 107.7 49.1 3.18 3088 97.7 62250 10905 1.100 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 97.4 47.0 3.05 3087 99.0 62250 10690 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 97.4 47.0 3.05 3087 99.0 62250 10690 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 108.0 50.6 3.28 3086 95.7 59783 11290 1.109 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 106.9 48.5 3.14 3084 97.5 62250 10811 1.094 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP *C 102.7 46.4 3.00 3076 100.0 62250 10295 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation 102.7 46.4 3.00 3076 100.0 62250 10292 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 *C 99.7 46.5 3.01 3075 99.9 62250 10422 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 102.0 46.5 3.02 3073 100.0 62250 10270 1.127 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon CFE223 *C 93.0 46.3 3.00 3070 100.0 62250 10201 1.109 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 108.0 49.3 3.19 3067 97.5 61370 10783 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 105.3 48.1 3.11 3060 97.4 62250 10591 1.102 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 105.3 48.1 3.11 3060 97.4 62250 10591 1.102 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 *C 102.0 48.1 3.11 3060 97.4 62250 10591 1.102 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 107.8 47.1 3.05 3057 100.0 62250 10070 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 11 96.0 45.2 2.93 3055 100.0 62250 9901 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 107.9 49.8 3.23 3052 98.5 62250 10459 1.119 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 *C 108.0 50.3 3.26 3052 94.6 56042 11502 1.146 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 52 93.5 44.0 2.85 3049 100.0 62250 9638 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game 92.9 45.1 2.93 3049 100.0 62250 9799 1.112 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895 92.5 42.2 2.74 3044 100.0 62250 9817 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 108.0 49.8 3.23 3043 95.2 58219 11080 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT *C ~approximation 102.9 47.6 3.09 3041 98.7 62250 10282 1.115 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 105.5 46.6 3.02 3037 100.0 62250 9466 1.111 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-15 *C 93.3 42.6 2.76 3035 100.0 62250 9787 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA11 93.3 42.6 2.76 3035 100.0 62250 9787 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP11 ~approximation 93.3 42.6 2.76 3035 100.0 62250 9787 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 105.8 50.9 3.30 3033 97.4 62250 10298 1.105 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203B *C 93.8 42.8 2.77 3032 100.0 62250 9705 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC *T 108.0 49.8 3.23 3031 95.2 61105 10547 1.109 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 *C 108.0 49.8 3.23 3029 96.6 55328 11180 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 *C 108.0 49.8 3.23 3029 96.6 55328 11180 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 108.0 49.8 3.23 3029 96.6 55328 11180 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380 94.6 44.1 2.86 3026 99.9 62250 9913 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070 102.0 46.1 2.98 3025 99.0 62250 10131 1.125 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2 88.2 43.9 2.85 3025 100.0 62250 9562 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 108.0 52.4 3.39 3023 92.5 55072 11422 1.160 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old 95.1 43.9 2.84 3023 100.0 62250 9551 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 95.1 43.9 2.84 3023 100.0 62250 9551 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 106.0 47.7 3.09 3022 96.4 62250 10262 1.107 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350 *T 104.7 46.7 3.03 3021 98.4 62250 10058 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350 102.8 46.7 3.02 3021 98.5 62250 10043 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 516 91.2 44.3 2.87 3018 99.8 62250 9794 1.116 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Wild Boar 88.6 43.2 2.80 3017 100.0 62250 9556 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320 95.3 42.8 2.77 3017 100.0 62250 9427 1.106 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903 97.3 43.9 2.85 3017 100.0 62250 9471 1.133 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748 85.8 42.1 2.73 3017 100.0 62250 9232 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4895 90.1 41.1 2.66 3016 100.0 62250 9478 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 NT *C ~approximation 96.5 44.4 2.88 3016 99.1 62250 9812 1.099 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2206H 90.4 41.3 2.67 3015 100.0 62250 9535 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355 97.3 43.5 2.82 3011 100.0 62250 9480 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 108.0 53.7 3.48 3010 97.2 56493 10749 1.141 ! Near Maximum !
Elcho TR140 - preliminary data 94.2 44.4 2.88 3009 99.9 62250 9652 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 9 91.1 42.9 2.78 3008 100.0 62250 9460 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 50 94.5 44.8 2.91 3007 99.2 62250 9838 1.119 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065 100.8 45.0 2.91 3003 99.6 62250 9785 1.125 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4451 Enduron *C*T 98.2 44.3 2.87 3002 98.8 62250 9867 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 99.4 44.5 2.89 2999 98.4 62250 9915 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907 99.4 44.5 2.89 2999 98.4 62250 9915 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot TAC *C 88.6 43.6 2.83 2998 99.7 62250 9690 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC 96.3 44.6 2.89 2998 98.4 62250 9908 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon VARGET *T 96.1 42.4 2.75 2997 100.0 62250 9440 1.111 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2208 95.7 42.4 2.75 2997 100.0 62250 9440 1.111 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 7 89.3 43.7 2.83 2997 99.8 62250 9566 1.126 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 507 *C 87.7 41.8 2.71 2994 100.0 62250 9190 1.119 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 NT *C ~approximation 98.2 44.5 2.88 2994 99.6 62250 9582 1.110 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S341 89.4 43.9 2.84 2991 100.0 62250 9217 1.119 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 3031 92.8 39.6 2.56 2990 100.0 62250 8775 1.125 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S321 86.1 42.3 2.74 2990 100.0 62250 9204 1.126 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4064 96.6 41.7 2.70 2989 100.0 62250 9256 1.116 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D073.6 90.2 42.4 2.75 2987 100.0 62250 8966 1.137 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520 88.2 42.4 2.75 2987 100.0 62250 8966 1.137 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N530 *C 87.0 39.9 2.59 2986 100.0 62250 9085 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S062 94.4 41.9 2.71 2985 100.0 62250 9107 1.130 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S361 104.7 50.9 3.30 2984 95.4 62250 10004 1.119 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064 94.8 42.3 2.74 2982 100.0 62250 8955 1.154 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 8208 XBR 89.0 40.6 2.63 2978 100.0 62250 8995 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4166 Enduron *C*T 97.3 42.5 2.75 2976 98.8 62250 9550 1.113 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 201 *C 91.5 40.8 2.65 2975 100.0 62250 9065 1.132 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot X-Terminator *C 86.5 42.1 2.73 2969 100.0 62250 9108 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N150 *C 102.5 44.1 2.86 2967 100.0 62250 8908 1.127 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H335 82.0 40.8 2.65 2967 100.0 62250 8786 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N540 *C 93.1 42.9 2.78 2967 100.0 62250 8918 1.127 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R902 93.3 41.0 2.66 2966 100.0 62250 8952 1.134 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 10 81.6 39.8 2.58 2965 100.0 62250 8751 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4955 Enduron *C*T 108.0 47.9 3.11 2965 95.1 59263 10130 1.132 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 202 *C 90.8 40.8 2.64 2964 100.0 62250 8765 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 508 *C (PCL223) 81.6 39.9 2.58 2964 100.0 62250 8739 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 40 85.2 39.6 2.57 2963 100.0 62250 8767 1.121 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2230 84.4 41.7 2.70 2960 100.0 62250 8862 1.131 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D073.5 84.7 41.5 2.69 2957 100.0 62250 8757 1.140 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2460 84.5 41.5 2.69 2957 100.0 62250 8757 1.140 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP2 NT *C ~approximation 90.3 40.9 2.65 2956 100.0 62250 8862 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2219 81.6 38.5 2.49 2955 100.0 62250 8531 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H322 86.9 38.5 2.49 2955 100.0 62250 8531 1.120 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495 89.2 39.8 2.58 2954 100.0 62250 8616 1.161 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N140 *C 97.6 42.8 2.77 2953 100.0 62250 8730 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
RL-17 should get you there without even breathing hard:
Cartridge : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet : .264, 120, Nosler BalTip 26120
Useable Case Capaci: 49.496 grain H2O = 3.214 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17 *T
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.064% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-10.6 88 42.00 2812 2106 43215 9899 99.4 1.291
-09.6 89 42.50 2844 2155 44770 9979 99.6 1.270
-08.5 90 43.00 2876 2204 46385 10052 99.8 1.250
-07.4 91 43.50 2908 2253 48061 10119 99.9 1.230
-06.4 92 44.00 2940 2303 49801 10179 100.0 1.210
-05.3 93 44.50 2972 2353 51608 10232 100.0 1.191
-04.3 94 45.00 3003 2403 53484 10280 100.0 1.172
-03.2 95 45.50 3034 2453 55434 10326 100.0 1.153 ! Near Maximum !
-02.1 96 46.00 3065 2504 57461 10372 100.0 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
-01.1 97 46.50 3096 2554 59567 10417 100.0 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 98 47.00 3127 2605 61756 10460 100.0 1.100 ! Near Maximum !
+01.1 99 47.50 3158 2657 64030 10503 100.0 1.083 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.1 100 48.00 3188 2708 66407 10545 100.0 1.066 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.2 101 48.50 3218 2760 68872 10586 100.0 1.049 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.3 102 49.00 3249 2812 71442 10626 100.0 1.033 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.3 103 49.50 3279 2864 74120 10665 100.0 1.017 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
W760/H414 will work well if you like old school ball powders.
If you want to go modern, I'd try CFE223:
Cartridge : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet : .264, 120, Nosler BalTip 26120
Useable Case Capaci: 49.496 grain H2O = 3.214 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Hodgdon CFE223 *C
Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.064% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-10.6 84 42.00 2808 2101 46327 9593 98.7 1.266
-09.6 85 42.50 2839 2148 47980 9682 98.9 1.246
-08.5 86 43.00 2870 2195 49684 9768 99.2 1.226
-07.4 87 43.50 2901 2243 51440 9848 99.4 1.207
-06.4 88 44.00 2932 2291 53252 9923 99.5 1.189
-05.3 89 44.50 2963 2339 55126 9994 99.7 1.171 ! Near Maximum !
-04.3 90 45.00 2993 2388 57067 10059 99.8 1.153 ! Near Maximum !
-03.2 91 45.50 3024 2437 59075 10120 99.9 1.135 ! Near Maximum !
-02.1 92 46.00 3054 2486 61155 10175 100.0 1.118 ! Near Maximum !
-01.1 93 46.50 3084 2535 63310 10224 100.0 1.101 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0 94 47.00 3115 2585 65542 10269 100.0 1.085 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.1 95 47.50 3144 2635 67854 10312 100.0 1.068 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.1 96 48.00 3174 2685 70251 10354 100.0 1.052 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.2 97 48.50 3204 2735 72736 10396 100.0 1.037 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.3 98 49.00 3233 2785 75313 10436 100.0 1.022 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.3 99 49.50 3262 2836 77986 10476 100.0 1.007 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
