Thread: 6.5 Creedmoor load development

I have fairly recently entered the world of 6.5 Creedmoor after 20+ years of favouring .308win.
I strayed to this fad/trendy cal with scepticism and apprehension but a lot of curiosity and sat down to watch every youtube vids and read hundreds of forum posts etc

I was torn between a custom build 6.5x47 Lapua or a factory 6.5 creedmoor and was leaning the way of x47 lapua but after finding a cheap platform in Creedmoor I decided that was a better way to cut my teeth on the 6.5cal .

I eventually picked up a Remington 700 Tactical in Creedmoor and some Redding competition dies proceeded to experiment with accuracy and velocity.




Id consider myself an experienced reloader with plenty of match load seasoning but Im am almost embarrassed to say that the Creedmoor cal has challenged me and taught me more it 6 months than my 25+ years of reloading match grade ammo in any other cal.
It has been the hardest to tune load I have ever come across any has been plagued with pressure issues. I think I have tried every brass, powder projectile and primer combo out there available for this cal and very nearly threw in the towel writing it off all together as a bunch of exaggerated online hype.

That was until I tried something a little left field and hit the mother load.
I am almost afraid to mention the powder I use here for the fear it will deplete the NZ supply with its sudden spike of demand.
I can proudly say I have found my Creedmoor load nirvana.

The case is nothing more than a slightly oversized Bench rest style case and actually has a bigger case capacity than the 6.5x47 Lapua which seems to have no drama at the 3000fps mark. This was the mind frame that got my results.

Sure Creedmoor can be loaded to 2600 to 2700fps in 24"+ tubes with fair hunting accuracy using many of the easy to get powders and loading components but when I finally had the break through that combated high pressure and hang fires (powder v/s primer related) I was reaching velocities over 3000fps with 139gr Lapua Scenars with perfect ignition and no dangerous high pressure signs.

I have actually cut my heavy barrel back to 20" from 24" to get the best efficiency/accuracy node to suit this load and have now settled on a ragged hole cutter load of 136gr L Lapua Scenars running at 2910fps at are still supersonic at 1450 yards.

This cal has been an OCD adventure and a fun challenge that has had me pulling my hair out at times but looking back on it I learned so much from it that it has changed that way I look at reloading other cals.