6.5 Creedmoor

[Blackrock2]

I have a friend who won a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle in a charity raffle and he wants me to help him get a start reloading for it. I load for several of my own rifles and handguns and have been in the game the 60's. I have an assortment of dies from all of the major brands. I would like to get him started out without going overboard from the start.
He likes the Hornady name and is shooting Hornady 140g factory loads right now.
Does anyone have a favorite brand of dies, bullet and powder combinations? I've got a pretty good stock od powders and primers on hand and several loading books.

 

[rayatphonix]

I got on the Creedmoor ship when it first came out. H4350 and RL 17 have worked well for me for many loads and bullet weights in the 130 - 143 grain weights. H4350 is readily available and would be a good start.

 

[AJC1]

I particularly like the rcbs matchmaster dies with the window on the seating die. They are a little expensive, kinda on par with a standard set of Redding in price. Makes quality ammo and is very nice to use.

 

[Howa 9700]

As for dies, my default starting place is Lee dies with crimp die. For bullet, try Hornaday ELD-X........and the default start powder for the 6.5CM seems to be H4350. As for brass, best to buy a couple boxes of factory used to sight it in and break it in, then use that initial fire formed brass to load for that particular rifle.

 

[Charlie98]

The easy button would be H4350 and a 142grn SMK, or one of the 140grn Hornady bullets if he is brand conscious.

Dies are a personal choice... I think my 6.5mm dies are Hornady, but I have RCBS and Redding on the shelf for other cartridges, too, and they all work well.

 

[Varminterror]

If a 140 ELD and a load of H4350 within a couple tenths of 41.5grn doesn’t shoot well, the rifle doesn’t shoot.

I highly recommend Redding Type S Bushing Full Length Sizing die, 21st century mandrel expander, and Wilson chamber type seating dies. Set the bushing and mandrel for 2-3 thou neck tension.

Don’t crimp 6.5 Creedmoor if you’re wanting it to shoot well.

 

[lightman]

H-4350 seems to be a favorite for the caliber. I'm a big fan of Sierra bullets over most of the other brands. For tools, I like RCBS followed closely by Redding. Brass ans primers, pick one. If he may get serious about this maybe start with 100 Lapua cases.

 

[Blackrock2]

Thanks fellers, just about what I was thinking. I do have H4350 but I have a helluva lot of Alliant Rel15 as well. Might go with Forster dies if he wants to go that way.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Thanks fellers, just about what I was thinking. I do have H4350 but I have a helluva lot of Alliant Rel15 as well. Might go with Forster dies if he wants to go that way.

RL-15 would work, just not optimal. It's really hard to obtain right now if you end up needing more.

 

[Charlie98]

RL-15 would work, just not optimal. It's really hard to obtain right now if you end up needing more.

When I started loading for the 6.5, I even tried IMR4064, and even IMR4451... thinking they would be a good fit. They worked, but... and I know this sounds cliche'... H4350 just makes it stupid easy.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I was really hoping for some man bun jokes here.. I know nothing about 6.5cm. I don’t have anything to contribute

 

[Walkalong]

Hopefully that has run its course, it's just another caliber.

 

[Charlie98]

Hopefully that has run its course, it's just another caliber.

Nope. Even my load data inserts say '6.5 ManBun'. It's easier than trying to remember how to spell Creedmoor correctly...

 

[Kwaynem]

I use hornady dies with 140 grain SST’s around 41.0 of H4350 and get half to 5/8 groups from a Ruger American predator

 

[jmr40]

If a 140 ELD and a load of H4350 within a couple tenths of 41.5grn doesn’t shoot well, the rifle doesn’t shoot.

I'll add, just about any decent bullet near 140 gr. I've found 139 gr Lapua Scenar's to shoot the best for me, but it's really splitting hairs compared to any 139-143 gr bullet I've tried with a similar powder charge.

And I've yet to find a 6.5CM that didn't shoot.

 

[Dane R. Marley]

I am just getting started on reloading the 6.5CM. I am planning to try using a mandrel die for the first time. I am looking at the Cortina Expanding Mandrel Die.

I will post my results.

​

 

[Walkalong]

Cortina Expanding Mandrel Die

Well this brush holding cap for his expander die body that also fits the 21st Century body which I have is cool. I brush my necks a lot in my prep. Once more couldn't hurt.

Mandrel Die Brush Cap | Cortina Precision

This brush cap fits our mandrel dies as well as 21st Century mandrel dies. You can install the brush and it will allow you to brush the inside of your necks using a press rather than doing it by hand. If you have a progressive press, you can add this brush to one or even two of the stations to...

www.shootsmallgroups.com

 

[JFrank]

These dies from Bruno’s are excellent quality and very well priced.
If she’s out of stock it only takes a couple extra days to ship.

Wilson Bushing Type Full Length Sizing Die 6.5 Creedmoor | Bruno Shooters Supply

Sizes the case body and shoulder while controlling neck tension with the correct size bushing and decaps the case in one operation. Bushing Sold Separately Made In the U.S.A

www.brunoshooters.com

 

[JFrank]

Well this brush holding cap for his expander die body that also fits the 21st Century body which I have is cool. I brush my necks a lot in my prep. Once more couldn't hurt.

Mandrel Die Brush Cap | Cortina Precision

This brush cap fits our mandrel dies as well as 21st Century mandrel dies. You can install the brush and it will allow you to brush the inside of your necks using a press rather than doing it by hand. If you have a progressive press, you can add this brush to one or even two of the stations to...

www.shootsmallgroups.com

I’m not a mandrel guy ( although I have nothing against them) and being a lazy guy I started using a nylon bore brush chucked up in my small cordless drill to prep the neck ID rather than by hand. I can buzz through a hundred rounds in short order. happy happy happy

 

[dieselchief]

is win staball 6.5 standing up to its advertizing hype in the creedmoor? thanks

 

[Walkalong]

and being a lazy guy I started using a nylon bore brush chucked up in my small cordless drill to prep the neck ID rather than by hand. I can buzz through a hundred rounds in short order

I brush necks on my little hobby lathe.

Wouldn’t hurt to have that just in front of the mandrel, which is my last step before charging and seating.

 

[Walkalong]

is win staball 6.5 standing up to its advertizing hype in the creedmoor? thanks

Not for me in the 6 Creed, didn’t try it in the 6.5 based on that.

 

[hillman23]

is win staball 6.5 standing up to its advertizing hype in the creedmoor? thanks

I’ve loaded it for several projectiles in a couple different 6.5 CM rifles and haven’t had particularly exciting results compared to other powders. Hardly exhausted all possibilities with it though so I’ll probably keep messing around with it until I use up what I have in the bottle

 

[Okie_Poke]

is win staball 6.5 standing up to its advertizing hype in the creedmoor? thanks

I use it sometimes to get a bit more velocity from a shorter barrel for hunting, but it’s not been quite as consistent in dispersion or velocity for me as h4350. I haven’t tested temp stability but according to Hornady podcast it’s not in the same class as h4350, varget, r16, or even staball match or had.

 

[dh1633pm]

As said before I lucked out using AA2700 and 140 grain projectiles.