I have a Savage 110 Desert Tactical 6.5 Creedmoor and would like to hear from you guys about load/bullet preferences, especially with this rifle if you have one. . With Varget I have tried some Sierra 130rgr Match King and 140gr game king both good bullets and produced good, but not great groups at 100yds, usually about 1.5". Also had some 107gr bullets that were not good at all. I have a new box of the Sierra 130gr bullets they call The Game Changer. (I should learn to write down the product number). The stated quality of this bullet is that it has the accuracy of a match bullet with the killing power of a hunting bullet. So, what have you had good results with? I have Varget and H4350, which seems to be the preferred powder these days. My goal is to produce <1" groups consistently. My targets are coyotes that respond to calls, but sit out about 400 yds and refuse to come any closer. I may also shoot a long distance whitetail deer this or next year. As always I appreciate your help.
Favorite 6.5 Creedmoor bullets/loads?
- Thread starter Sniper66
- Start date
JFrank
Member
Hornday use to write the recipe on the box. Maybe they still do, IDK
thump_rrr
Member
I don’t hunt so that may not be of any help to you.
I also don’t know what twist rate you are using.
I have both 1-8 and 1-7.5 twist barrels.
41.5gr of H4350 over a 140gr Hornady ELD-M with a BR-4 Primer in Lapua brass.
A slower but more accurate load for me is 39.4 gr of H4350 over a 139gr Lapua Scenar using the same primers and brass.
The Hornady load is close to book max so start low and work your way up.
The target below was my Savage 12FV with factory barrel at 0°F
I also don’t know what twist rate you are using.
I have both 1-8 and 1-7.5 twist barrels.
41.5gr of H4350 over a 140gr Hornady ELD-M with a BR-4 Primer in Lapua brass.
A slower but more accurate load for me is 39.4 gr of H4350 over a 139gr Lapua Scenar using the same primers and brass.
The Hornady load is close to book max so start low and work your way up.
The target below was my Savage 12FV with factory barrel at 0°F
thump_rrr
Member
I shot a box of Hornady Match 147 ELD-M last month in Tennessee when I ran out of my hand loads.
I didn’t get the same velocity as them from my 24” barrel so who knows what they are using.
I can tell you that it shot 0.6 MOA at 1000y.
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JEBruns
Member
My best load so far is 37.0gr of Varget, 2.800", BR-2 primers, 130gr Hornady ELD-M in Hornady brass. .365" 5 shot group at 100yds from my Tikka T3X Tac A1. Same load with the 120gr ELD-M is very close to this performance also.
irishlad
Contributing Member
I do have that rifle, left hand. Really like it.
StaBall 6.5. 41.5 gr
Hornady BTHP 140gr.
Ogive 2.222
Hornady brass
CCI BR2 primer
StaBall 6.5. 41.5 gr
Hornady BTHP 140gr.
Ogive 2.222
Hornady brass
CCI BR2 primer
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Charlie98
Member
My favorite bullet in 6.5CM is the 142grn SMK... it's outshot everything else I've ever tried, including some Hornady VLD-M bullets. I've previously used IMR4451, because I couldn't find H or IMR4350, and it worked well enough... but I've finally worked my way through that, and secured some H4350, which is supposed to be MagicSauce in the 6.5. We will see.
irishlad
Contributing Member
Grandson's Bergara likes,
H4350 41.2 gr
Hornady ELD-M 140gr
Ogive 2.180
Hornady brass
CCI BR2 primer
H4350 41.2 gr
Hornady ELD-M 140gr
Ogive 2.180
Hornady brass
CCI BR2 primer
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Charlie98
Member
That was one of the other bullets I tried... the SMK's shot better, however. Granted... can't argue with your results! I'm hoping I can squeeze a little more out of the H4350, though...
irishlad
Contributing Member
D
Update- found these hidden in plain sight. They’re both unopened.
Don't tempt me with those!! We've only tried Hornady BTHP and ELD-M. I almost always start with Hornady bullets in my rifles.
Update- found these hidden in plain sight. They’re both unopened.
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Blue68f100
Member
I found that the Hornady 140gr ELD-M shoots best with the H4350, velocity above 2725 fps in my gun. I'm able to get a 1" group at 300 yrds out of my gun if I do my part with ELD-M. I'm using Lapula brass for my high precision and Starline for my general shooting. The Sierra 130gr Tipped GK shot best with Varget. Only one way to know for sure is to try for your self.
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,756
For me the best load has been
143 grain ELDX
41.5 grains H4350
Peterson brass
Federal GMM LRP
143 grain ELDX
41.5 grains H4350
Peterson brass
Federal GMM LRP
Charlie98
Member
You obviously found a good node with H4350, but I'm pretty impressed with the StaBall. I've not had very good luck with any of the new powders out there, rifle OR pistol.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
Mine likes AA2700 and 140 grain Barnes VLD. Tried some Berger’s and they also worked well, same load.
CptnAwesome
Member
Most (not all) get their best accuracy with bullets 140gr and slightly over.
I've had my best accuracy with 140gr Barnes MatchBurners and 140gr Hornady BTHP Match over H4350. I don't remember my exact loads but I think I was around 40gr of powder
I tried 140gr Hornady ELD-Ms but I am one of the very few that couldn't get them to shoot.
I've had my best accuracy with 140gr Barnes MatchBurners and 140gr Hornady BTHP Match over H4350. I don't remember my exact loads but I think I was around 40gr of powder
I tried 140gr Hornady ELD-Ms but I am one of the very few that couldn't get them to shoot.
JEBruns
Member
Both are very good powders, do some testing with each. I've had great results with both, but Varget is just a little bit better in my gun. I've done a lot of testing with my Tikka using both powders, and honestly, it's hard to find a bad load using 120-147gr ELD-M bullets. A bad 5 shot group would still be MOA.
H4350 is considered THE 6.5CM powder. Varget is not optimum for the cartridge.
I've settled on 139 gr Lapua Scenar bullets with a near max load of H4350.
It is a moderately priced match bullet that has proven to be extremely effective as a hunting bullet. I have used 143gr Hornady ELD's in the past, but the Scenar's are just a smidge better.
www.midwayusa.com
I've settled on 139 gr Lapua Scenar bullets with a near max load of H4350.
It is a moderately priced match bullet that has proven to be extremely effective as a hunting bullet. I have used 143gr Hornady ELD's in the past, but the Scenar's are just a smidge better.
Lapua Scenar Bullets 264 Cal, 6.5mm (264 Diameter) 139 Grain Hollow
For marksmen around the world, the Lapua name means one thing: reliability. Decades of experience and interaction with marksmen have led to the...
www.midwayusa.com
This, don’t waste the Varget
These exchanges always help me clarify existing ideas or learn new ones. I kept trying to find a load/bullet that was speedier (107gr) but my 1:8 twist barrel doesn't like them. Seems that many of you guys, maybe most, learned that 140gr or more work best. I'll renew my search for better accuracy and use 140+gr bullets. Thanks for the help.
Yankee1986
Contributing Member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2022
- Messages
- 185
I've used varget in the creedmoor, but I couldn't get anything else.
You lose about 200 ft per second, but accuracy is still good.
Personally, my go-to loads are any 140 grain VLD type in front of 41-42gr of h4350, depending on the gun.
I standardized on 41.2 in Peterson brass. So far I've shot that charge with Barnes burners, Nosler RDFs, and Hornady VLDs with nearly identical performance in six different creedmoors
If you really want to push the velocity in the creedmoor reloader 17 works well, but is sensitive to temperature changes.
You lose about 200 ft per second, but accuracy is still good.
Personally, my go-to loads are any 140 grain VLD type in front of 41-42gr of h4350, depending on the gun.
I standardized on 41.2 in Peterson brass. So far I've shot that charge with Barnes burners, Nosler RDFs, and Hornady VLDs with nearly identical performance in six different creedmoors
If you really want to push the velocity in the creedmoor reloader 17 works well, but is sensitive to temperature changes.
I did extensive accuracy testing for my home built 22" WC AR10 hunting rounds.
This is where I landed.
123gr SST - 43gr H4350 - 2724FPS @ 36F - 2.710 COAL - CCI BR primers - Hornady Match Brass
Loads are very rifle specific. Your rifle may like something different. There may be something better for this one, but this gives very accurate results and I'm not willing to put forth more effort into finding something better.
I hit one of those 4" hexagon shooting balls, sitting on top of a stick at 300 yards with a cold bore first shot. That is a good deal further than I'm likely to ever take a shot at a deer in the woods.
This is where I landed.
123gr SST - 43gr H4350 - 2724FPS @ 36F - 2.710 COAL - CCI BR primers - Hornady Match Brass
Loads are very rifle specific. Your rifle may like something different. There may be something better for this one, but this gives very accurate results and I'm not willing to put forth more effort into finding something better.
I hit one of those 4" hexagon shooting balls, sitting on top of a stick at 300 yards with a cold bore first shot. That is a good deal further than I'm likely to ever take a shot at a deer in the woods.
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