Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 6.5 Creedmoor loads

I just finished developing a load with RL16 and 120 Barnes TTSX. 43.3 grains was the center of my node. Avg speed is 2897 fps. Shot four groups so far with this combo. Largest was .512" smallest was .201".

Thanks, I will be getting some 120 TTSX bullets from Midway in the next couple of days. I have a tread in "ask the gunwriters" about this bullet. If already there forgive me but do you have personal experience with that bullet ?

24" K&P barrel. I was using a regular alpha chrony, but I tested the velocity of factory hornady eld loads, and velocity was in line with stated published velocity. That was my confirmation the chrony was accurate at least. I haven't had a chance to re-test that same string of charges yet.

I have zero experience with the Barnes TTSX. This will be my first year trying them out.

Went back and retested the Nosler RDF 140gr, with RL16. I used a Labradar this time, to check my velocities. It looks like the first test I was consistently .2gr higher powder charge throughout my string than what I was reading on the scale. So my 44gr charge was actually 44.2, that was my max I tested. That got me 2,964 first test. When I tested my "new scale" that I used against my old digital scale, that's how I found out. Charting my loads and velocities, this stood out plainly. The trends matched perfectly together, .2gr off. All that being said, my second test with a true 44gr, I saw 2,905 fps. Found really good nodes at 43gr 2819 AVG, ES 7, SD 3.09, and 43.6 AVG 2894, ES 9, SD 3.68. Zero pressure even at 44gr.

I have been doing some forum reading, research, and my own curiosity, on pressure signs or lack there of. I knew getting 2,900fps out of a 140gr 6.5CM was pretty impressive/not heard of. I tested the Nosler RDF 140gr, working up .5gr increments from 41.5 to 44.0, to test for pressure. Saw none on my brass, bolt lift was normal. Velocity at 44.0 was 2,905. I then started .2gr increments from 42.0-44.2, velocity at 44.2 was 2,964. Same as before, no pressure signs on brass, same bolt lift as normal.

I switched to the ELD to test, started in at 42.0, went up .2 to 44.0. Didn't get past 42.8 before starting pressure signs and stopped at 43.0.

I decided to call Nosler and talk to one of their bullet guru's, since I don't have quickload and see what psi I potentially am at. It was a very good conversation. He did say I was well over max pressure, they don't have any data using RL16 but made a scientific guess. Even though I wasn't seeing normal pressure signs, the pressure was still there, potentially damaging other areas like the bolt lugs.

All that being said, I thought I was in the clear since I wasn't seeing the pressure signs but that doesn't seem to be the case always. That maybe a no brainer for a lot of people but I've read a lot of posts from other guys as well, pushing the limits.

That's interesting, thanks for sharing. I've always read that you can have pressure without signs, but never really understood that. I understand how you can have very different velocities with the same peak pressure, but not how you can have an over pressure without signs.

Variations in brass and primers.

Same brass, same primer, same trim length, seating depth was 0.020" off lands for ELD, and 0.030" off lands for RDF. From what I'm told, I haven't measured, the bearing surface of the ELD is greater that can cause a higher pressure than a lower bearing surface bullet like the RDF. Regardless, the pressure is there, and in my case way over pressured with the RDF at 2,900+ fps. The ELD I noticeably saw the pressure signs and backed off.

But to your point, those two things can also cause a variation in pressure.

PRM, I was curious about the same thing, no visible pressure sign on brass, primer, or hard bolt lift. I had read a few post about it, and that's why I decided to call Nosler. He stated, it can and does happen. A lot depends on how well the rifle is put together, blue printed action, custom action, or factory action. Mine happens to be from a top custom rifle maker, which was able to take the pressure, this time. However the over pressure is still there, causing stress on areas I can't see like the bolt lugs. He made a very good analogy about the bolt lugs because I asked if I had done irreparable damage to the rifle. He said no, it's like someone who does a burn out in a vehicle. The tires will hold up but only so long before they come apart, but eventually they will. All bolts have a finite life with a given amount of pressure/stress. Over pressure shortens the life.

My post was a reply to the question posed by prm.

WRT your experience, I would suggest that the ELD has a longer bearing surface and potentially uses a stickier jacket material, increasing pressure. The reason that you can be well over SAAMI pressure standards and not see traditional pressure signs, is the hardness/toughness of your brass/primers. They can withstand pressures over the SAAMI limit without deforming.

I started playing with 143 ELD-Xs using RL16 and -26.

RL16
42.5 2679
43 2710
43.5 2745
44 2762

Best accuracy based on a single three shot group was at 1” for all three groups. Not really great.

RL26
Worked up to 48 which showed 2737 on my Magnetospeed. Actually two shots, 2738 and 2736. A single three shot group was .58”. Worth trying again to verify.

Tag

Very nice!! 48 grains is what works in my Tikka with the 143s as well. But its getting 2850 on virgin lapua brass. For some reason now that same load is going 2910 fps in the once fired brass, but primer pockets are still tight and zero pressure signs so far good.

Tag

Ive got four good loads so far for 3 different bullets in a Field Craft. 40.0 of RL 15 with 129 Hornady and 130 Berger @ 2760fps, 47.0 RL 22 with a 147 Hornady @2700 or a little more. Those three loads were around 1.5" or a little less at 300 yards for 3 shot groups. I worked up to 47.6 RL 26 for 2760 fps and it shot moa @ 300 yards but that was before I got the seating depth squared away. This rifle likes the 147 Hornady around 50 thou off. Going to try the 26 again at the right seating depth. If it does what I think it will, 147's @2760 from a 21" barrel is going to be sweet.

Jim, that is some great velcoity...my Fieldcraft with an 18" barrel is just over 2700 fps with the 147....seems to keep 3 shots inside 1 MOA but I am right in the lands right now...need to work on backing it up some too see if I can get even better accuracy. BTW my powder charge was .1 less than yours...they both seem to like that amount of powder roughly.

Bought Alpha large primer brass any one with any 6.5 Creedmoor data with Alpha Brass?

Hornady brass, cci 200, 44.4gr of rl 19 I’m not a big money hustla like you guys I’m slumming it shooting 140gr nosler ballistic tips. Seated at 2.780 again I’m poor shooting these out of a savage axis 2.. no problems with the hornady brass either.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...264-diameter-140-grain-spitzer-box-of-50

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-diameter-143-grain-boat-tail-box-of-100

Seem to remember you gave me enough .264 bullets when you were moving I may just have to mail you a few boxes of 143s....still working through those BTW....thanks again.