Thread: 6.5 Creedmoor Loads for 1:8 Twist?

I got a chance to shoot some loads through a chronograph yesterday @Flyblown.

This is my standard Lapua brass/CCI450/140 ELD-M/AR2209 @ 41.5grains, 2.840 coal (20" off lands). I got an opportunity to shoot at 200m to verify my zero and measure drop etc and there happened to be a Prochrono available thanks to the nice folks at the Deerstalkers club. My rifle is a stock Howa 1500 with 22" barrel and suppressor.

The first series was 2609,2614,2588 and 2594.
Second series 2619, 2624, 2666 and 2650.
Last three were 2656, 2666 and 2704.

This was over about an hour or so. The light conditions and temperature were changing which might explain the velocities that kept rising? The barrel got a chance to cool between strings so I don't think it was temperature related. I hand weigh every charge to the exact amount so I don't think that is likely to be it. The only other thing might be varying neck tension - I use a Lee collet die to size and haven't neck turned the brass so it might possibly be a factor. Working backwards with JBM Ballistics and my measured drop I came to the conclusion the load is likely doing 2580 to 2600 fps realistically.

I learned some useful things shooting at 200m - any variation is magnified. I need to learn how to set up the rest and my shooting position more accurately. Learning how to be absolutely consistent is key I think.

To put this in perspective the rifle was easily shooting well enough to hit a wallabies vitals out to 300m or more. I'm just very focused on learning to shoot as best I can with what I have.

I also chatted to another guy there who had two Creedmoor rifles. One he was feeding with a very similiar load to mine and the other was using Winchester 760. Didn't get the particulars on that one unfortunately.