Thread: 6.5 Creedmoor load development

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

I must get to the range and shoot my 6.5 CM more seeing as it's only two minutes from my place. Last time I was getting 2,910fps average with 44.3gr of R16 with the Sierra 130gr Camechanger. Long throat and mag length so bullets are seated well out in my 24" barrel Tikka TSx Lite; good accuracy. For deer hunting though I'll stick with the 143 ELD-X with AR2209 (exact same powder as H4350).

@10-Ring - have you tried Re16 with the 143 ELD-X at all? I've tried it and got great accuracy but not quite the speed that Wingman is achieving (with the same load). What sort of results have you got with the 2209 and the 143? I got 2700 out of mine (20") but it felt 'warm'. So far the Re16 feels like a better fit for the heavier bullets.

The 2209 seems to work very nicely with the 123 ELD-M in mine. Decent speed and great accuracy. And the classic 41.5 behind the 140 ELD-M isn't fast but shoots so well it is boring.

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

@10-Ring - have you tried Re16 with the 143 ELD-X at all? I've tried it and got great accuracy but not quite the speed that Wingman is achieving (with the same load). What sort of results have you got with the 2209 and the 143? I got 2700 out of mine (20") but it felt 'warm'. So far the Re16 feels like a better fit for the heavier bullets.

The 2209 seems to work very nicely with the 123 ELD-M in mine. Decent speed and great accuracy. And the classic 41.5 behind the 140 ELD-M isn't fast but shoots so well it is boring.

I haven't tried Re16 with the 143 ELD-X. I get 2,760 fps with the AR2209; very accurate load. Could get more speed than that but not worth it in terms of reduced case and barrel life. Have tried Re26 with the 143 ELD-X and can easily get 2,800 fps without pressure signs, however it's not as accurate in my rifle as the AR2209. With the small primer pocket brass such as the Lapua by the time you see pressure signs you're way over pressure.

Incidentally, I've found the small primer Peterson brass to be even better quality than the Lapua.

Another quick loading and range session today with two new projectiles. I picked up a box of Hornady 147gr ELD Match bullets and decided to give the 139gr Lapua Scenars a go too as I have quite a lot of them.
I also decided to give the Hornady 143gr ELDX another go as I pulled one in the last trial ruining a sub 1/2 moa group.





I loaded a few of the 147gr ELDMs and 139gr lapuas with various charges of RL16 to find a max load then backed then off until the pressure only showed itself with a light primer crater like all the others tested.

The chosen loads for the paper tests were:

139gr Lapua Scenar 42.5gr of RL16, COAL of 72.8mm
These shot an average of 2884fps and brass looks good.



The 147gr ELD Match got 41gr of RL16 with a COAL of 74mm and gave 2731fps AV.
I tested right up to 42gr at 2785fps which just started to show a faint ejector print(just a shiny spot not raised brass) but it sounded louder and had heavier recoil. As soon as I shot the 41gr over the chrono it was noticably
quieter and obviously getting a more complete burn within the barrel. The sound changes quite dramatically when you reach that point. I decide 41gr is a good start to test on paper.

So armed with 5 of each I made my way to the 100m range and preceded with the paper work.
I started with the 139gr Lapuas which shot about the same 1/2moa as all the others tested as did the second test of 143gr ELDXs which was a little worse than my last test with them (excluding my pulled flyer) but still very good.
The 147gr ELD Match really set themselves apart though!
While not as fast as some of the 130s they made up for it in this tiny one holer and a ridiculous high BC figure of .697!







While the 100 meter group was perfect it will be interesting to test it for retained stability at 500-600 meters as it slows up. Can anyone else comment on the stability of this long ass bullet in a 1-8" twist Creedmoor or Creedmoor velocities?

I think the 143gr ELDX has more potential if I do some more group tests dropping the charge off 0.2gr at a time and I know from real world tests its still stable out past 1000 meters.

@Wingman, can you remember where you got that target ? it is a good layout.

That’s good shooting with all of those.
The 147 are doing good speed man. That’s a nice load.

Originally Posted by ebf

@Wingman, can you remember where you got that target ? it is a good layout.

Cant remember sorry, it was a download from the net about 10 years ago but has been a fav of mine.
P/M me your email addy and Ill sent you the A4 jpeg

Shot the 139 scenar and the 140 ELDM out to 600 yd with repeatable 1/2 MOA with 41.5 of 2209 They seem to stabilise well, cant help on the 147.

@gimp was running the 147s in his 260. He may have some experiences to add?

Any experience would be greatly recieved. I may give them a try in my .260Rem barrel which is a 26" long 1-8.5" twist.
I suppose I could load them down to match the velocity they would give at 300 meters and test them at 300 meters.. (that's as far as I can get at my place) that should give an accurate indication of what the stability is like at 600 meters loaded to 2730fps

I've had exactly the same grouping experience at 100m with 143ELD-X & 147 ELD-M with my 260Imp with 1:8 barrel as your grouping above. I haven't had a chance to stretch their (ELD-M) legs yet over distance for stability, so keen to see your results when done.

Nice group with the 147 ELD-M Wingman. Haven't tried those yet but will.

I use the 139 Scenar's in a reduced load of AR2209 for NZDA Hunter Class shoots. Always accurate and mild to shoot.

I would have had all this to go through myself but, fortunately, I’ve just bought a 6.5 x 47 Lapua that someone else has done all the load dev for, proven it in competition, and given me the details. Hopefully I will be able to duplicate the pet load, but even if I only come close, it’ll be fantastic.

Great skill and patience shown here by @Wingman to work through this process himself.😎

Had good experiance with the 147's in a Bergara. Only a mild load doing 2520fps from the 22" tube. Tight groups and went where I told my scope to put them.

Going the cheats route and getting someone to load develop for me with the 143 eldx in my Tikka.

Would do it myself but I’m living in Aus now so barely get any time to shoot let alone reload but a mate will have my rig and is learning how to reload for his 7-08 so he can replicate the winning recipe for me.
The rifle is heading to the smith to get bottom metal fitted anyway so thought getting a load developed would be a good idea at the same time.
Taking the advice of getting a decent chrony and will invest in a Magnetospeed for good measure.