Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 6.5 Creedmoor loads

prm,

Just last weekend I loaded up some 139gr Scenars due to Dogshooter's comments regarding successful results by him and his buddies. He also mentioned how easy it is to get them to shoot. Dog was spot on!

I loaded 30 rounds just to see if I was on the right track. Started at 41.5grs and worked up to 42.5gr.


Tikka CTR 20" Barrel
RL-17
42.5gr Max load (no signs of pressure)
.015 off lands
3 shot average 2699fps - Magnetospeed

Following is the 100yd 42.5 grain target (can't figure out how it got rotated - the pic is fine on my desktop). The 41.5 target looked similar. The center group was with the Magnetospeed attached.

Going this weekend to shoot the 42.5 loads in bigger groups to see how they hold up.

I also have H4350 and RL-16 that I will try at some point.



Glen

30 grains of 4198, 100 grain Ballistic Tip...

Looks like I need to try RL26

https://www.speer-ammo.com/download...mm_264_dia/65_Creedmoor_Gold_Dot_140.pdf

I think that speer data is pretty close. I got 2889 fps with 140 Interlocks and 47 grains of Re 26.

43.0 H4350 2.710

For Predator, Fire Formed, neck turned. .0015 run out.

For long range target applications you may get great results with the ALCO line of bullets. Very high BCs. Have not applied them to hunting...yet.

This is weird......very weird......that's exactly where I wound up in my Tikka T3x. Around .7 MOA.

I just saw that Federal now has a decent selection of factory ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor. I asked them about a component Edge TLR or Trophy Bonded Tip bullet and they basically waffled and said it was possible, but not this year. Either of those in a 140ish grain bullet would be a nice addition.

Did you ever get to shoot the 139s with RL16?

Not yet. Hope to get out this weekend and try the RL16. I'll post the results when I do.

Glen

I see Alliant only has the 6.5CM listed with R-16 data - so I'm off to the lgs. I'll start with a pounder and maybe get an 8#er later.

Anyone tried Big Game?

I've had good results with IMR 4064 and PowerPro 2000-MR with 120 grain AMAX/ELD-Ms. Bug hole accuracy and 2930 fps from a 21" RAR. Although a little dirty H414 and a 130 gr ELD-M gives me 2850 from the same rifle.

Finally had a chance to start loading for my Barrett Fieldcraft.

147 ELD-M, 47.8 RL26, BR2, 2760 FPS, .48” group.

139 Scenar, 43.7 RL16, BR2, 2742 FPS, .6”

140 Berger VLD Hunting, 43.7 RL16, BR2, 2766, .53”

127 Barnes LRX, 44.8 RL16, BR2, 2943 FPS, .56”

I wouldn’t hesitate to use any of these for hunting. For LR plinking that 147 would be the ticket. I still to play with seating depths and possibly refine the powder charges.

Hi everyone im new to the Forum.

I own 3 6.5 creedmoors. A RPR a savage 10fcp sr and a kimber loghtweight hunter. My go to load for the RPR and the savage is Lapua brass CCI#450 41.2gr of H4350 with a 140gr RDF velocity is 2725fps SD's run from 4 to 7 and even had an ES of 1 and SD of 0 once but that was only a 3 shot group the load repeatably shoots sub 1/2 minute groups in both guns and shoots very well all the way out to 1150yds.

I am currently trying to develop an elk hunting load for the kimber it has a 22" barrell and Im trying 140gr accubonds with RL-16 powder the magazine on the kimber only allows me to load to 2.800" OAL I havent got a chance to shoot any yet but today when I was loading up a ladder test I found that at around 41.8gr of RL-16 I started hearing the powder crunch down when I was seating my bullets. Reading through this post I see a lot of you guys are using quite a bit more powder than that and I was wondering if you guys are just loading longer or are you just shooting compressed loads

I have shot compressed loads in about every cartridge that I own, over the years. Compressed loads are fine. You have got to play within the confines of your magazine and compressed loads are very common in short cartridges.

So far my two are H4350 and R-16. Still getting velocities and patterns cataloged in order to decide. This with a 22" laminated Tikka and a 24" SS Tikka. Concentrating on 143 ELD-X's @ SAAMI 2.810". At this point, they all look darn good but I'll keep recording the data. Most likely will go to AK. next month with a CM for caribou.

Sounds fun! Happy hunting.

Todays session involved two rifles, two bullets and R-16.
1. 44gr. R-16 with a 130gr. Acc. went 2742fps with a 22" Tikka.

2. Same as above with a 24" barreled Tikka went 2761fps.

3. 43gr. R-16 with a 143ELD-X and a 22" barrel went 2653fps

4. Same as above in a 24" barreled Tikka went 2697fps and a 5 shot group that measured 1/2". OAL was 2.800"

Six range sessions to date consistently show R-16 edges out H4350 in velocity - granted not by much. No downside to accuracy either. An extra grain of H4350 may catch-up but no need to hot rod.

I’ve shot quite a few combinations in my new 6.5 lately. I’ve settled on 140 Berger Hunting VLDs with 43.7 RL16 and BR2s for hunting deer and elk and longer range plinking. Consistently shoots .4-.7 in my Fieldcraft. Last three were clocked by labradar at 2778, 2775, 2776. I’ve been trying different support combinations at the bench so group sizes have varied a bit more than normal.

130 Sierra Tipped Gamekings have been a disappointment. Best group I could get with RL16 was at 44.5gn for groups of .9-1.0. Only three shots each. Velocity was 2850s. Switched to RL17 and had slightly better accuracy on average. .85” at 42.6gn (2832, 2812, 2820). 1.0” at 43.2. Only one reading of 2850.