6.5 Creedmoor with 130gr bullets. What's your favorite H4350 load? What velocity do you get?

[Macchina]

I have been working up a deer round for my Tikka with a 24" barrel. I'm at 43gr H4350 now but only getting 2720 FPS. I have no pressure signs whatsoever (nice rounded primers with no cratering and no bolt face impression) and have seen a lot of guys going above 43gr. I was hoping to get above 2800 FPS

The load is currently just barely compressed. Should I move over to Varget (the only other appropriate 6.5 powder I have) or be happy with that velocity. I don't want to add RL-16 to my collection at this point.

 

[Blue68f100]

You may just have a slow barrel. If new once it gets broke in, the speed will/should pick up. I'm getting 2700+ fps from my 24" AR with 140gr ELD-M using 42.3gr H4350 powder. I've had problem with the RL-17 powders blowing primers when the temp rises 10F. I would be shooting in the morning 80°F and every thing is good. Shoot in the afternoon 90°F and blow primers 1 gr under where I was at. The RL-16 is suppose to be temp stable, 17 & 19 are not. I've had the same thing happen using the RL-19. And this was before the heat wave hit. Now I'm running 100°F+ so I would not even try it. H4350 has not wavered nor has the Varget.

I did find that Varget worked better with the lighter 130gr SMK for me over H4350. So you can try it and see.

 

[JFrank]

You may have a slow lot number of powder, do you have any RL-15 ??

 

[Macchina]

I do not have any RL-15...

 

[Captcurt]

I'll have to shoot through my chrony next trip to the range. The most accurate loads that I have for my Bergara is a starter load of 40gr. of H4350 pushing a 129gr Accubond LR with Hornady Brass and Federal 210 primers. The book says 2650 fps, maybe. That load matches the BDC in my Vortex out to 500 yards. Longest shot on game with it was 357 yards. Worked swell.

My M18 Mauser likes the Sierra 130gr TGK with 42grs of H4350. Book places it at around 2800 fps. Shoots sub-MOA and has taken several deer out to 250-275 yards. This load has taken over 20 deer so I have no need to tweak it. I will chrono the loads next trip, but for me, it doesn't matter.

 

[N555]

I loaded 6.5creedmoor with H4350 and I found couldn't fit enough powder in new cases to drive the 130gr bullets fast enough to be really accurate. Mine likes 130gr bullets loaded hot, usually max or a little over. But my coal is also like 0.08'' over book.

 

[Howa 9700]

Have looked at the various 6.5 options and they all leave me scratching my head. Why the hype? But any mention of 6.5 usually references the 6.5 Swede.....which always comes with the comment of how it was a stellar hunting cartridge. Deer, elk.....moose? Yet most load data for even that tends to top out at 2500 to 2600 fps for 140 grain bullets. Perhaps if you have a soft bullet that expands easily at that speed, it has more than enough punch to do the job. But if so.....what is all the concern about velocity? Just roll with it?

 

[Howa 9700]

Part of what has me scratching my head is when I compare the 6.5's to something like a 270 or 308.

I can load a 130 grain Interlock in 270 to 3100 fps. Or a 150 gr in 308 to 2800 - 2900 fps. When that gets where its going, seems to me either of those pack a lot more punch than a 140 at 2,500 fps.

I get the part about sending a long skinny bullet out to 1000 yards, but is that it?

 

[Captcurt]

I quit chasing velocity 30 years ago. The 270 with 130 Speers have served me well. In fact, 3 of the longest shots that I have made on deer was with the 270. The last 5 or 6 years I have used the 6.5 CM for cropping work on a couple of farms. It works just as well as the 270 without the extra powder or recoil. I also used a 300WSM for several years. I can't tell any difference in performance when it comes to killing game. If the proper bullet is put in the proper place, caliber or velocity is moot.