Thread: 6.5 Creedmoor advice

Originally Posted by 25 /08 IMP

If you start reloading with an 18" Creedmoor you will still get over 2700fps with the 143 ELDX

Which powder?

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Which powder?

I use RL26 but @buzzman is using 2209 I think and his is cut to 18" and was getting 2700 if he is still shooting the same load.
Also Hodgdon superprofrmance will get you there.

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I am running a 6.5 creed and find that at ranges short of 200yd the ballistic tipped rounds like the eldx are not expanding on lighter game like goats, they just punch a hole in one side and out the other. Shot placement is key if you don’t want to have to follow your game. Switched to lead heads and no problem. Past 300yds the 6.5 is like a laser with the ballistic tips, good penetration and good expansion. Love the 6.5 over the 7m08. Thinking of a 6.5 grend for my goat culls as I like what I am hearing and it packs a touch more punch than my .223.

Originally Posted by Rossiwiz

I am running a 6.5 creed and find that at ranges short of 200yd the ballistic tipped rounds like the eldx are not expanding on lighter game like goats, they just punch a hole in one side and out the other. Shot placement is key if you don’t want to have to follow your game. Switched to lead heads and no problem. Past 300yds the 6.5 is like a laser with the ballistic tips, good penetration and good expansion. Love the 6.5 over the 7m08. Thinking of a 6.5 grend for my goat culls as I like what I am hearing and it packs a touch more punch than my .223.

What length is your barrel on your 6.5 Creedmoor? I am wondering if a short barrel 6.5 Creedmoor ~2700fps won't have the issue of not having expansion with eldx?

Originally Posted by 308mate

What length is your barrel on your 6.5 Creedmoor? I am wondering if a short barrel 6.5 Creedmoor ~2700fps won't have the issue of not having expansion with eldx?

I run a 20" and have used the ELDX in the Creedmoor and the .260 and have not had a lack of expanding issue.
But then I shoot for the shoulders not heart lungs. They work well up close and out far, another good bullet is the 142 Nosler LRAB.

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Originally Posted by 25 /08 IMP

I run a 20" and have used the ELDX in the Creedmoor and the .260 and have not had a lack of expanding issue.
But then I shoot for the shoulders not heart lungs. They work well up close and out far, another good bullet is the 142 Nosler LRAB.

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What FPS are you getting for that at 20"? I am going for a 16" 6.5 Creedmoor hoping to get around 2550fps out of 140~ grain and about 2700 out of 120~ grain which seems achievable from what I have read.

As for 6,5, I have one in x55 and it does everything I could possibly want.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Which powder?

As @10-Ring said, Re26 can do some spectacular speeds if YOUR RIFLE likes it and shoots accurately AT A SAFE LOAD LEVEL.

There is no guarantee that your rifle will shoot it well - mine didn't. Out of my 20" barrel velocity topped out at 2760fps, but the primers were cratering badly.

I also started out with a 22" barrel with a 4" forward suppressor. Got it shortened to 20" which seriously improved the balance - lost 55-60 fps doing so. But be aware velocity loss as you shorten barrels is not linear. The lower the expansion ratio of the cartridge, the greater th loss will be on average, but also there will be a point at which velocity takes a big hit. Some reading will show that the Creedmoor will very likely take that bigger hit going from 20 to 18 inches.

Sooo in summary @H.M, buy the 308 if you must have an 18" barrel and ideally handload. If sticking to factory the Precision Hunter seems good if your rifle will shoot it. Either way, out on the tops use a range finder and more importantly before you do - practice, practice, practice! Nothing like spending time on a long distance range (Sparrowhawk) to show the complexities of hitting things properly at longer ranges ��