Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloader 16 loads for 6.5 CM

I picked up some RL16 to try in the 6.5 CM but Alliant doesn’t even list the 6.5 CM in their load data. Looking to load 139 Scenars and 140 partitions as well as some 127 LRX’s. If anyone has any data using RL16 I’d sure appreciate it.

My bad I missed the 6.5 CM loads on Alliant website because they aren’t in the caliber order, they’re at the top of the list. Still open to any good loads.

139 Scenar, 43.7 RL16, BR2, 2780s

140 Berger VLD Hunting, 43.7 RL16, BR2

127 Barnes LRX, 44.8 RL16, BR2, 2943 FPS

...with the obligatory statement about working up.

Cool, thanks.

And I found the area from 42.9 - 43.2 was solid with the 140 Partition. All of these put 140 gun bullets in the 2740-2790 range from a 21” barrel depending on seating depth. Scenars on average are the fastest and Partitions on the slower end with the 140 VLD in between.

Roland, I use 43 gr. R-16 with the 143 ELD-X at 2.810" with a Fed 210. Magnetospeed shows 2750 fps with stellar accuracy in my Kimber Montana. The same load in my Tikka is 2725 fps - accuracy is fantastic. Used it on a caribou (275 yds.) on the north side of the Talkeetna River this year. I started with H4350 for several hundred rounds. While the accuracy was excellent, velocities were in the low 2600's. As long as the R-16 was temperature insensitive, I bought an 8 pounder after testing with a pounder. Work up as always......................

Thanks for the info Joe. I may give the 143 ‘s a shot. I have H4350 and when I had the Tikka 6.5 cm the loads were fairly accurate but slow enough that I was unimpressed. I guess word hasn’t got out yet on RL16 so it was readily available locally. Figured I’d give it a shot.

I’m running 140 Accubond’s with 42 grains RL16 for 2750fps 22 inch barrel.

Tag

Why do they give a Minimum OAL on the Alliant Site? Their suggestion of 2.825" for 140gr SST's would put them right at the lands on my rifle

Well this powder is sure spooky. I ran two different loads today that blew the primers out of the pockets.

Hornady brass
CCI200’s

43.7 RL16 with 127 LRX too hot. .05 off lands

43.4 RL16 with 139 Scenar too hot .04 off lands

I have never blown a primer out of a pocket in all my reloading. Also had ejector marks but no stiff bolt.

Short day at the range, sighted in new scope with factory 129’s and I only fired two shots from my handloads followed by a 1/2 dozen factory 143 ELDX’s. The ELDX’s shot fine and grouped well under MOA, had to sight in a new scope anyway so it wasn’t all lost.

Not sure why I am seeing these pressures well under what some are using safely. Gonna have to back chit down and see where I’m at.

Wow, I just looked at one of mine from my Scenar load and there is zero indication of pressure. Rounded primers, no extractor mark, no shiny face, there was no stiff bolt, and velocities are in the ballpark for my barrel length.

It’s weird, I’ve seen guys running your numbers and then I’ve seen guys that saw crazy pressure well below them. The LRX really surprised me seeing as Alliant has a load listed with the 130 TTSX with a charge of 44.5! I was amost a full grain under that with a 3 gr lighter bullet.

Check your scale? That is weird though. Good thing you were working up.

Oh I did, used weights to verify. Maybe I just got a hot batch of RL16 or something. Very frustrating.

I wonder if it isn't a bad batch of Hornady brass. I assume you didn't have a chrony at the range did you? Keep us posted.

I didn’t have the magneto attached as I was shooting for groups. I wish it were as simple as bad brass but having two out of three major signs of over pressure I’m leaning more on the charge weights.

I always have the chrony "working" and with my new magneto as well. Going to shoot with it on and off to see if there is any credibility to the claim of a change in POI.
If I wasn't such a hardcore hand loader, I'd buy a case of Hornady 143 ELD-X and just go hunting. Keep us posted.

Honestly Joe I am not a hardcore hand loader I’ve just never had to mess with much to find loads I am content with. I am seriously ready to go buy a box of 147 ELDM’s and a box of 143 ELdX’s Head to the range and shoot some groups at 200 and 300 , whichever shines I’m gonna go buy a case and be done with it. This is a deer and antelope gun mostly as I have found myself hunting elk with a smoke pole and archery offers me better opportunities here anyway.

I have a magneto and I like it, but I can’t imagine with the thin barrel on this Kimber that group accuracy wouldn’t be affected by it so I use it when I have already found the right charge producing the group I want, to determine velocity for dope.

I can say that the magnetospeed will absolutely change POI on thinner barrels and lighter rifles.