Thread: 6.5 Creedmoor load development

Damn some of you guys make developing a load sound like a chore

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Damn some of you guys make developing a load sound like a chore

Nope.. been a lot of fun

Thank you all for you contribution to this thread.

I have a new batch of 2209 to pick up on monday to do some load development on a friends .260 Rem so will try a few more loads in mine to see if the pressure signs remain. Ive lost intrest in using this powder now anyway as the RL16 performs so well but I will be nice to curb the curiosity.
@10-Ring, Nice to see someone else who knows how to put an animal down humanely without destroying half the usable meat

So is the 143 the pick over the 147?

Originally Posted by longrange308

So is the 143 the pick over the 147?

I haven’t tried the 147gr. It’s a totally different bullet to the 143gr, basically an A-Max.

All shooting is good fun, but it can become obsessive.

I’ve been doing some Quickload modelling of the AR2209 loads listed in post #53 with @Wingman’s dimensions and the speeds are pretty much as expected. The modelled chamber pressure however is the same as the RL-16 loads that give 250-300fps higher velocity and considerably less pressure signs.

I have had problems getting AR2209 to model correctly in Quickload for my validated (drop tested) velocities, except I have the opposite problem, I have to increase the burn rate to match higher actual velocity compared to modelled velocity.

At the end of the day, I don’t think Wingman’s AR2209 velocities are too low per se. They compare pretty closely to many others listed on the interweb. The pressure signs at 41.5gr however are significantly different to the normal experience. I tested the exact same powder charge in my rifle during load development and didnt get a hint of pressure.

I think this is a case of Wingman’s barrel doesn’t like that particular batch of AR2209 as much as it likes RL-16 for whatever complicated interior ballistics reasons that I’ll never understand. Whether it would behave itself with another batch is probably a moot point.

What’s great about this thread is that it proves something we read about reloading but sometimes (often?) fail to put into practice. And that is perseverance. I know I’ve stopped at a point where its a case of meh, well, could be better, but can’t be bothered. That’s for a near enough is good enough kind of load, like my .308 woods gun. But if you want to shoot goats in the head at 500m, this is the kind of effort you’ve got to put in. So thanks for sharing Wingman.

It is of course also worth pointing out that what Wingman has achieved is a semi-custom result, not one that will necessarily be possible in a lot of rifles. i.e. the extended COAL.

I think its also worthwhile to note from his tests that not all chambers and barrels are equal and a load from rifle A should not be used in rifle B without working up.

Who sells RL 16 in NZ?

Originally Posted by chalkeye

Who sells RL 16 in NZ?

I (Terminator Products) have some.

No one sells it.. I bought it all before posting this thread mwaa ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaa...

To be honest I selected RL16 to shoot the 130gr TMKs fast in a relatively short 20" tube.. if your barrel is longer and you want to shoot the 140 + gr pills I'd go to RL26. You will get scorching velocities and much lower pressures.

After my poor pressure and accuracy results with 2209 I was leaning towards 2208 a max load of 38gr gave me 2700fps with the 24" barrel but shot one holers all day long. The RL16 is a tad slower burning than 2208 but faster than 2209 and gave me 3000fps with 44.2gr. With the cut down 20" tube I got 2940fps but Ive back it off to a load of 44gr at 2900 which matches the POI and accuracy of my other 136gr lapua load at 2910fps.

The TMK is my hunting load and the Scenar is my paper puncher/varminter

The new Aliant powders have a great name for adding 200 to 300fps of velocity over other brands seemingly without the additional pressure. Their new temperature stability is an added bonus too.
Like everything though it may be faster but not all rifles will group well with a particular powder. In this case Im glad mine did.

Originally Posted by Wingman

No one sells it.. I bought it all before posting this thread mwaa ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaa...

LOL my DG store tells a different story, have RL26, 33, 50 as well as many others

Hay @Wingman just finished reading all this
You have probably saved me alot of time mate
Might just go to RL16 was gonna go try 26 but you seem to be getting good results
Every rifle is Different as we all know but hay if it works for you id be silly not to try it
Will order a tin tomorrow

I plan to use 130gn vlds

I just got my can with the 20 inch tube it’s still pretty compact