Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles SAKO A7 6.5 Creed-Disappointing Chrono Results

Hey ALL....Used Nosler #8 Guide...New Hornady Case... Fed 210..140 Partition @ 2.790" OAL Max Load of H4350 41.0gr...YES...I started lower and worked up...no pressure signs..absolute stellar accuracy...well under .5" at 100yds...B U T ...TWO 10 shot strings only 2590fps & 2595fps..!!!!!! A full 100fps slower than Nosler Book... PAGE 258...well..now to chase another 100fps..????
This rifle has a 24.3" bbl...expected a little more velocity that that....jeez...100fps slower..????!!! C'mon all...what other powders to try..????
Thanks To All..
Pete

I would be inclined to try IMR 4451. Here is a recipe from Enduron:

Case: Hornady Twist: 1:8" Primer: Federal 210M, Large Rifle Match Barrel Length: 24" Trim Length: 1.910"
BULLET WEIGHT
140 GR. HDY A-MAX
Starting Loads/Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam.
C.O.L.
Grs.
Vel. (ft/s)
Pressure
IMR IMR 4451 .264" 2.820" 37.0 2,414 47,700 PSI 41.1 2,670 60,700 PSI

Note that they used the Federal 210M primer.

I found H4350 exceptionally slow. RL16, -17 and -26 all much faster and equally accurate based on only a few loads. RL17 with 140 ELDs was exceptional. .2-.4” at 2685. My 140 Partition load with 43gn RL16 was good for 2770 out of a 22” barrel.

IMR 4451 (41.6gn) only got me 2550 with a 140 ELD-M.

HEY ALL...THANKS FOR THE HELP...I have both FED 210M and RL 16...ok...more work to do..
Thanks Again..
Pete

Have an A7 Roughtech Pro 6.5 CM. I shot some Hor factory 143's and chrono'd at 2600 but accurate. Now shooting 142 ABLR w/R17 at 2750 which are just as accurate (1/2 moa). I like this much better and a big buck was DRT last fall. Mac

Unless you are stretching beyond 600 yards, it doesn't matter with that load. If so, a Partition isn't the choice anyway...

Sometimes slow barrels just happen. I worked up 06 loads in a Tikka and found a lovely accuracy node for 165s at several grains heavier than new manuals list. Velocity was a dissapointing 2830fps. Having said, it regularly shoots into 1/2” with accubonds. Slow barrels just happen sometimes....

I like the 120 Barnes TTSX. It will kill as well as a 140 Partition. It will get you more speed.

If you’re looking for speed reloaded 26 is hard to beat. I’m getting great accuracy / consistency with Rl 26 and velocity is around 200 FPS faster than my go to H4350 load.

HEY hank & obie458....can you guys send me your loads ...??? If you dont want to put them here...can you send me a PM..?
Thanks...
Pete

Nosler book numbers are usually high. I'm a Nosler fan but you can't go by their speeds. Look at the IMR and Hodgdon website and go by their numbers in comparison. They have your load listed at 2660 fps. H4350 is listed as the 2nd fastest powder behind Hybird 100V at 2736 fps. Nothing in their manual gets you the speed you want.

You may just have a little slower barrel. You can chase the 100 fps all you want with that bullet and it isn't going to happen with out exceeding max by a fair amount and then it still probably won't happen.

There is no sense in chasing 100fps. There is nothing to gain unless you're doing long range shooting 600+. I would take an extremely accurate barrel that is a little slower over a fast barrel any day.

Stay safe.

My 22" LH Tikka 6.5 seems slow also with RL 26 and 143 GR see pressure at 2600 ?

Easily get above 2700 with other 22" 6.5 Ceedmoor,s and RL 26 which is slow to show pressure.

Going to try other powders and see if its a slow barrel based on limited testing.

For my purposes, if I had that going I'd be in high cotton.

I get 2722 fps with 41.5 gr of H4350 and 140 gr Hornady Interlock. It shoots .33 @ 100 yds. I've been tinkering with the 120 gr Sierra Pro Hunter. Using 44.5 gr of H4350 I'm getting 3000 fps and it's shooting 1/2 moa groups at 200 yds. Rifle is a Ruger Hawkeye All Weather with a 26" barrel.

IMO, Tikkas are notoriously long throated, hence the slower than published velocities. I have never had an issue, loading for 6-7 different Tikkas, in proceeding cautiously above Nosler's max load data, watching the chrono of course.

HEY ALL...I just measured,,,JGRaider above...my barrel will allow an OAL of 2.875"...!!! I used Nosler's OAL of 2.790"....sooo....that 140 Partition was jumpin'
.085"....could that cause the slow velocity...??
Thanks again ALL..
Pete

Made my dummy cartridges to seat at max COAL seated just short of that, still see pressure with RL 26 before expected velocity, more testing to verify? Loaded for 4 other 6.5 Creed Moors with same data and all are faster same barrel length with no pressure signs.

Put more powder in until you "find pressure." Then back off.

Or just go hunting and don't worry about any of it.

I had good accuracy with H4350 and 140's, very slow really. I went to RL 26 & am getting 2825 with the 140 Partition with a 22" RAP.

147 eldm, Lapua brass, CCI BR-4, 45.6 gr RL26, col of 2.880”. Getting around 2900fps from a 28” barrel.