Thread: 6.5 Creedmoor load development

I guess I also need to mention that I intended from the start to cut this barrel down somewhere between 18" and 20" to keep it a super compact platform in the pup stock and end up at approx 765mm total length without the suppressor.

So with that in mind I grabbed a few powders that I had on the shelf that I thought might achieve decent velocities in a shorter barrel.
I have always favoured ADI AR2208 for my .308's and .223s as they have always grouped the best for me with a variety of rifles and projectiles so that was my first trial along with some 2209 that everyone else seemed to recommend in this cal.




I was loading brand new Lapua small primer brass with federal gold medal match primers and a variety of decent projectiles with modest loads and firing them over a chrono in +2gr icroments until I was happy with a starter load.

So started with lighter loads to fire form the brass to max capacity and to run in the new barrel.
I shot 5 shot groups from a prone position and off front and rear bags for all the initial testing.
I was pleasantly surprised to see all the breaking in groups all under an inch at 100 yards with the best one being a very respectable 5 shots in a 1/2" with 38gr of 2208 behind 130gr Sierra TMKs with a string of 2720fps, 2727fps, 2720fps, 2719fps and 2726fps. Unfortunately my wooden backboard was quite shot up in many of the spot behind these groups so it didnt make for many clean holes to measure centers etc.. take it for what it is and we will move on as its not until the next trip to the range thing got remotely interesting.



Second best groups went to the 139gr Lapua Scenar with 36gr of 2208 shooting a .660" 5 rnd group at 2570fps AV and 11fps ES with the same 139gr Lapua pills nipping at its heels at a .79" group loaded with 41.5gr of 2209. That 5 shot barrage got an AV of 2733fps with a ES of just 6fps. Here's some pics of the targets from that day before I wrote all over them, for what its worth they are 1" squares and my groups were measured CTC. There was a light wind from right to left but it was fairly consistent. I still have this "paper work" as a reference but from here on is where the wheels of my Creedmoor experience really came of....