Thread: 18" 6.5 Creedmoor - anyone loading for one? what FPS can I expect?

Hey guys,

I have a brand new Tikka T3x 6.5 Creedmoor Superlite.

I was originally going to cut this down to 16" and put my ODL muzzle forward can on it as I wanted a shortish compact rifle. I did a bit of research and know that you can get a ~140 grain pill out of a 16" Creedmoor at about 2550fps if you load them up right which seems okay out to roughly 450 - 500m.

I am just wondering if I went to 18" - what sort of FPS increase would I get on a ~140 grain pill?

Does anyone here load for a 6.5 Creedmoor this length and what do you get?

I already have a decent scope (VX-5HD 3 -15) for the rifle which would work well with a 600m range I would think.

The main article I have found on short barrel 6.5 Creedmoors does not show much of a difference between 16" and 18" for the specific 142 grain pill the author loaded up but that is just one load compared and I am sure is not a definitive answer.

https://rifleshooter.com/2016/02/6-5...p-a-creedmoor/

Thanks!

I ask this not because I want to be difficult but because I am genuinely curious, why did you get a Creedmoor when a 308 would have been a much better cartridge for this application considering your barrel length? And your username!

Originally Posted by Flyblown

I ask this not because I want to be difficult but because I am genuinely curious, why did you get a Creedmoor when a 308 would have been a much better cartridge for this application considering your barrel length? And your username!

Nah all good mate it is a fair question - Firstly, I have a 6.5 Creedmoor PRS rifle and wish to use the same calibre in my hunting rifle for reloading. Secondly I wanted a hunting rifle that is relatively short but still has legs (one rifle for all my hunting needs basically). From what I have read and various people I have spoken to on here a 16ish" 308 can not get quite the same range as a 16ish" 6.5 Creedmoor if you are handloading (I would like a 500 - 600m rifle) Lastly my nephew who likes to shoot my rifle a bit found my old 308 a bit of a kicker and he did not like it, I think the 6.5 Creedmoor he will be fine with.

I am not opposed to making the rifle longer than 16" if need be.

And yep my name...love 308 but after shooting my other 6.5 Creedmoor, it has captured my imagination a bit it would be fair to say.

Got mine cut to 20" with DPT and can push the 143gr Eld-X 2605fps and the 135gr A-Tip around the 2750 but haven't settled on a final load here yet. The 2605fps is with 40gr of AR2209 and could go up to 44gr in my rifle without pressure signs but most accurate was 40gr so stuck with that. Hit's plenty hard. The picture below is the Eld-X stuck in a steel disc from a sowing machine shot from 802m, nearly made it through with half of it sticking out the other end. Means speed is not everything...

16" 308 with a 168eldm and 2208 with a warm load should happily get you to 500 and be fine up close.

My Remington 700 with 18" Trueflite barrel and DPT suppressor spits factory Precision Hunter 143gr EDL-X at 2538fps.
40gr of AR2209/H4350 which is 1.5gr below max but in my gun just starting to show pressure signs on the primers averages 2498fps

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

My Remington 700 with 18" Trueflite barrel and DPT suppressor spits factory Precision Hunter 143gr EDL-X at 2538fps.
40gr of AR2209/H4350 which is 1.5gr below max but in my gun just starting to show pressure signs on the primers averages 2498fps

Is that a 6.5cm? Wouldn't be too stoked with that performance. You tried superperformance or 2208 or h414 to give you a bit more speed??

I would say 2600 with 140eldm is probably at the top of your expectation. 2550fps sounds about right. Maybe try rl16. Would maybe be able to get to 2700.

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Originally Posted by dirkvanvuuren

I would say 2600 with 140eldm is probably at the top of your expectation. 2550fps sounds about right. Maybe try rl16. Would maybe be able to get to 2700.

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Im running a 19" Trueflite and 147gr ELDMs at 2730fps with load of RL16.. no pressure

I've loaded for a few Creedmoor and .260 with.143 ELDX I use RL26 and Hodgdon superprofrmance in a 20" you can push close to 2800 so an 18" you should be getting over 2700. These are seated long in a Tikka with long mag and bolt stop.
I know @buzzman load an 18" Creedmoor.

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The 143gr ELDX reach pressure faster than the 147gr ELDM in my 19" barrel and only get about 2680fps with RL16. I havent tried the 140gr ELDM.

Originally Posted by superdiver

Is that a 6.5cm? Wouldn't be too stoked with that performance. You tried superperformance or 2208 or h414 to give you a bit more speed??

Yes, Creedmoor. It was the only powder I had on the shelf that suited and as I am shooting everything under 200m I haven't felt the need to change.

I just sold my Kimber 6.5CM. It had an 18 inch barrel & DPT suppressor.
Load as follows
143ELD-X
48gr RL26
Fed large rifle primer
Hornady case
COAL to suite mag
2650 FPS
Half inch groups
I hope this helps

Cheers guys I'll keep it at least 18" and try to sort a load 2600fps+

Thanks for all the input.