Long Range Beginner Class: Would you prefer 140 or 147 gr 6.5 CM match ammo out to 1100 yards?

[Rockrivr1]

So I'm going to start this by stating that I don't reload anymore. I've done it, I hated it and I sold all my reloading gear for more then I bought it for during the covid period. So I know most of these kinds of posts would tell me to reload my own and I'm curbing that right at the start. Though I'm sure I'll get some to try and change my mind, again.....

So next month I'm going to be taking at Beginners Long Range Class at Granby MA with ranges out close to 1100 yards. I have an MPA rifle that I put together for PRS that I received just recently that I'm going to take this class with. When talking to MPA they said that the rifle will shoot either 140gr or 147 gr 6.5cm ammo with equal accuracy. I'm wondering though whether one would give me an advantage over the other? Most likely it'll be Hornady Match ammo that I'll be picking up this week.

Figured I'd ask the experts here what they prefer. If there is a brand that you prefer over Hornady, please let me know that as well. I'll be heading out next week to site the rifle in and get ready for the class. My range is only 300 yards so at least I'll have some dope to start.

This is my rifle. I'm sure there are many like it but this one is mine!

 

[dh1633pm]

No recommendations from me on reloading. Our long range shooters will definitely add value to your post. My LRP loves 140 grain bullets so I have never tried anything else. So don't listen to me, just adding my own experience. Nice rifle and good luck with the class. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Chuck R.]

Whichever one shoots better in your rifle.

You're looking at a better BC with the 147s, but accuracy trumps whatever minor savings you'll get in drift and especially drop.

 

[C-grunt]

Ive heard guys complain about weird things happening with the 147 ELD-M. Inconsistent BCs or something like that. Id run the 140s myself. Ive been shooting the 140 ELD-M for a few years now and it's been nothing but consistent good performance. My home range goes out to just under 1400 yards and Ive taken the 140 out to 1800ish yards. It will have no problem at 1100 and still be solidly in the super sonic range.

Just for comparison the day I was shooting my 6.5 out at a mile using 140s my friend was shooting the 147s. At 1 mile the 147 had about .3 or .4 mils less drop. Wind was roughly the same, but it was a fairly calm day that day. My buddy has switched to the 140s himself due to inconsistency with the 147s.

 

[C-grunt]

If you decide to go with something else besides Hornady Ive also had good luck with the 140 SMK bullet. That was reloaded by me. Very accurate bullet but the lower BC does show itself out past 1000. If I remember correctly it started going transonic around 1100 or 1200 yards.

There are a lot of good bullets out there for the 6.5CM but those are the two that I have a significant amount of experience with.

 

[LoonWulf]

I primarily shoot 140s, and while i do reload ive shot the factory ammo and it did just fine.

 

[thump_rrr]

I shot at Dead Zero Shooting Park in Spencer Tennessee this past July.

I ran out of handloads at the 600Y target.
I had 2 boxes of FGMM with 140SMK's which were not sub MOA at 1,000y.
I bought 1 box of 147ELD-M Hornady Match and 1 box of Sierra branded ammo with 140 SMK's.
They both shot around .6MOA at 1,000y in my Ultimatum Deadline with a 24" 1-7.5" twist IBI barrel.

 

[bangswitch]

So I'm going to start this by stating that I don't reload anymore. I've done it, I hated it and I sold all my reloading gear for more then I bought it for during the covid period. So I know most of these kinds of posts would tell me to reload my own and I'm curbing that right at the start. Though I'm sure I'll get some to try and change my mind, again.....

So next month I'm going to be taking at Beginners Long Range Class at Granby MA with ranges out close to 1100 yards. I have an MPA rifle that I put together for PRS that I received just recently that I'm going to take this class with. When talking to MPA they said that the rifle will shoot either 140gr or 147 gr 6.5cm ammo with equal accuracy. I'm wondering though whether one would give me an advantage over the other? Most likely it'll be Hornady Match ammo that I'll be picking up this week.

Figured I'd ask the experts here what they prefer. If there is a brand that you prefer over Hornady, please let me know that as well. I'll be heading out next week to site the rifle in and get ready for the class. My range is only 300 yards so at least I'll have some dope to start.

This is my rifle. I'm sure there are many like it but this one is mine!

View attachment 1173046

Use the bullet with the higher BC, there isn't enough weight difference to matter between those two. Really, at 1100 yards, the slight difference in BC probably won't matter either, but get all the advantage you can. Before you go to the long range course, you should already have tested a number of loads for accuracy, and it isn't always about velocity. Look at your 300 yard groups and see what works best, then take those with you. Have you made a ballistics chart projecting your drop at ranges out to the 1000 yards? My rounds drop 46.9 MOA at 1125 yards, yours probably won't drop that far, but it's still a good bit. Unless you walk your rounds out a 100 yards at a time, knowing the approximate drop will allow you to get your scope close without taking too many SWAGs.

Nice rifle, what is your glass and how is it mounted? You'll need a mount with more MOA built in, because you'll run out of reticle past about 850-900 yards. I shoot a 6.5 Grendel, lighter bullet (123 grain) and powder load than the CM, and get 1-1/2MOA accuracy at 1125 yards (18" steel plates). The first time out I was having to hold over beyond my reticle, adjusting my POA based on where the spotter would see the POI before it. (Aim for the branch two feet above the right top corner of the steel, etc). I am using a Vortex Viper HST 6-24x50 which has an extended vertical elevation and after the first LR outing I added a 20 MOA mount, which gave me enough to keep my POA within the reticle's limits.

I used Hornady 123 grain AMAX for my early loads (I do reload for this rifle), am using Lapua Scenar 123 grain now. They shoot just a tiny bit flatter, the BC is only incrementally better. They have a meplat and ogive more like a Sierra Match King, and no nylon tip that can get deformed and change the ballistics like the AMAX (and now the ELD). Either are still good at those ranges, and not sure what is available in the heavier weight/better BC you'll have. Anything heavier than 130 in the Grendel eats up case capacity when seated for an AR action length, and the trade-off for BC vs. velocity drops my effective range. My rounds are transonic at 1125 yards, so that's about as far as I can reach and still be accurate. You should still be carrying the mail at 1150-1200. Good luck, LR shooting is hella fun.

 

[thump_rrr]

I can tell you that the 147 ELD-M load from Hornady was 1558fps through my 24” IBI barrel at 1,000y.


The Sierra branded ammo with the 140 SMK was at 1475fps at 1,000y through my 24” barrel.

Both were shooting 10’s and X’s.
Here is a picture of the Sierra MatchKing Competition ammo box I’ve never seen anywhere else before.

 

[irishlad]

Whichever one shoots better in your rifle.

You're looking at a better BC with the 147s, but accuracy trumps whatever minor savings you'll get in drift and especially drop.

^^^^^^This

 

[Okie_Poke]

As others have said, just pick the one your rifle likes better. I don't have any experience at that range, but if I were going to take a long range course with factory ammo I'd shoot a few different types at the longest range I had available locally and then buy several boxes of whatever shot the best. Also, Cal at precisionrifleblog did a fairly thorough 6.5 CM factory ammo test a couple of year's back where he analyzed both raw dispersion and muzzle velocity and projected hit probability. Here's a link to hit probability rankings page: https://precisionrifleblog.com/2021...o-test-summary-hit-probability-at-long-range/

I wouldn't treat this as gospel necessarily, but if I could find some Berger factory 140 hybrid ammo I'd definitely want to test that in my rifle against the Hornady, budget allowing.

 

[Walkalong]

Great looking rifle, and lots of good advise here.

 

[IALoder]

Whichever one shoots better in your rifle.

You're looking at a better BC with the 147s, but accuracy trumps whatever minor savings you'll get in drift and especially drop.

^^^This^^^ (For a second time)