6.5 Creedmoor - Finally found "The Load"

[Matthew Clark]

I bought my RPR over a year ago and I have been tinkering with components and loads for a while.
The rifle has shot accurately at 100yds with just about every combination I stuck in its chamber and fired. To the point of being boring in fact. Then I had some 142gr Sierra matching bullets I picked up at the Sierra outlet store here in Sedalia. I had kept to 140gr bullets till now and thought I'd give them a try. I loaded 40gr. H4350 under them with Federal 210M primers in neck sized Starline brass and put a medium Lee factory crimp on them. The bullets were factory seconds sold by the pound by the way. The five shots on the right side of the Target at 100 yds. had me feeling all warm and fuzzy. So I put 5 more down range. That's ten shots in one ragged hole.
I had to take this farther. The only place I could shoot farther required prone in the bed of my truck across an open field with a levy for a backstop. I ranged it at 300yds and squeezed off three rounds using a SWFA Super Sniper 16X 42 Fixed Power mil/mil scope. That's the three on the left side of the Target with a medium crosswind. That's a 2" dot bull for reference.

I have not had an opportunity to shoot farther than 300yds with it yet but I think I'm ready to start stretching her legs now.
How do these groups compare to what some of you guys are getting?
It's the best I've gotten so far and all I want is to someday ring a steel plate at a mile if I ever can find a place to do it. Thoughts on feasibility with this load so far at a mile? Most likely will be 1000 yds someday around here. Not much open country here in mid Mo. And I don't own any land out in the country. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[LoonWulf]

Good shooting!
Hopefully I'll get to stretch out my 6.5CM in the next couple weeks.

 

[Matthew Clark]

Good shooting!
Hopefully I'll get to stretch out my 6.5CM in the next couple weeks.

Believe me my friend it's all the rifle!
I don't think a person could shoot badly with that cartridge if they tried

I hope you do! Please post pics of your fun!

 

[LoonWulf]

Hah! You maybe right, everyone who has used my 6.5s has done well.

I'm shooting 140 Eld-blems (tips are crooked) in my RA, and it's turned in a few one hole groups. My two other 6.5s shot . 75-1" with 143 Eld-xs.

 

[troy fairweather]

matthew how do you like the 16x swfa.i have the 10 and like it very much, one o the most rugged scopes out there.

 

[Matthew Clark]

matthew how do you like the 16x swfa.i have the 10 and like it very much, one o the most rugged scopes out there.

Troy I spent an enormous amount of time trying to figure out what scope to put on my RPR. There are so many choices and good to great ones depending on how much money you want to spend. I had the good fortune to be able to look through most of the choices on the table and almost bought the Vortex Viper FFP. Then my good friend and shooting buddy reminded me that I have always respected fixed power scopes for their simplicity, durability and function. I chose the SWFA because of the great reviews by owners and write ups in articles. One of my students really revered them as well. I chose 16X for several reasons. One being I never would have cranked the Vortex up beyond that anyway. Above 16x the mirage in the reticle was awful and gave me a headache. Two I had always respected Craig Boddington's view on fixed power scopes and followed his lead on several rifles. His theories are sound and there is a lot less to fiddle with when I need to be concentrating on the shot and not gadgets and gizmos to draw my attention to.
That SWFA is as clear and sharp as scopes costing 3-4 times as much. I really like the mil/mil set up on it. The reticle isn't cluttered with gizmos and is easy to use. The only drawbacks it has for me is a really tight eyebox and will I be able to get on target and shoot well at a mile with 16x. I'll have to see on the latter if I ever get a chance to shoot that far. On the eyebox issue the RPR is so adjustable it really doesn't pose a problem. I wouldn't want it on a hunting rifle where fast target aquisition was required but for slow purposfull shooting it's fine. I think the 20X would have been too much, I don't like mirrage. The 12X would not have been enough if I ever get to shoot that mile. Some could probably do it but I'm getting older and don't see as well anymore. All in all so far I couldn't be happier with it and it fit my budget better than most other choices. If you like the 10X you'll love the 16X as well if you shoot past 1000 yds. You can also get a kit from SWFA to fashion a zero stop on the elevation turret. Worked out perfect for me and won't void your warranty.

 

[dh1633pm]

Not many places to shoot beyond 300 yards in this area. I purchased a Savage LRP in 6.5. Backed into a nice load using some 140 grain barnes bullets and AA2700. Out of the box the rifle outshoots me at every opportunity. I put a Vortex Viper scope on mine to match my other two rifles with the same scope. Anyhow good shooting. Its nice to have a rifle that you can enjoy that shoots exceptional. Looks like you found one.

 

[wally]

From your photo, 2" bull = 5.5" on my screen the group outer edges = 4", ignoring the traditional "subtract a caliber to get center to center" works out by my arithmetic to be ~1.5" group or ~ 0.5 MOA, I'd take it!

Much better in elevation than windage, typical of what I do with my .308 RPR, although I'm usually happy to be ~1 MOA in windage:
6" steel plate diamond, 5 shots at 300 yards, Hornady 155gr Steel Match, hardly top of the line ammo, but very good for the price:

IMHO 300 yards is just where "long range" starts, even 400 is significantly more difficult. With no wind it easy, when the wind it swirling the men get seperated from the boys real quick -- I'm still a boy

 

[Matthew Clark]

Wally,
Thanks for your input. Outstanding calculations on the group size. I checked my records and it measured exactly 1.5" that day.

Nice shooting on your part also!

I agree, most people who boast of there long range deer killing ability can't judge distance worth a hoot. Their 400 yd shot usually wind up being barely over 250 yds. Still a nice shot but not nearly long range.
Just wish I had a place to practice true long range shooting and work my way out to my limit. Just for me i'd like to know.
Thanks again for your input. Much appreciated.

 

[Newtosavage]

Only 6.5 CM I have is a 22" Savage sporter barrel chopped and crowned (by me, in my garage) to 20" So far it's turned in two 1/2" groups in the past week, which is as good as any 7 lb. hunting rifle I've ever shot. That's not a chassis or bedded action either. Just a plain 'ol model 10 receiver, cheap Axis barrel dropped in a walnut LWH stock with plastic bottom "metal". That gun has no right to be a 1/2" gun, but so far, it is.

 

[Matthew Clark]

Only 6.5 CM I have is a 22" Savage sporter barrel chopped and crowned (by me, in my garage) to 20" So far it's turned in two 1/2" groups in the past week, which is as good as any 7 lb. hunting rifle I've ever shot. That's not a chassis or bedded action either. Just a plain 'ol model 10 receiver, cheap Axis barrel dropped in a walnut LWH stock with plastic bottom "metal". That gun has no right to be a 1/2" gun, but so far, it is.

Like I'VE stated before, I don't think a person could shoot poorly with that cartridge even if they tried hard.
Savage rifles tend to be inherently accurate it would seem. You get a dud now and then but not often. Couple that to a 6.5 creedmoor, you'd have to close both eyes and be shaking all over to shoot a horrible group.

 

[Newtosavage]

Like I'VE stated before, I don't think a person could shoot poorly with that cartridge even if they tried hard.
Savage rifles tend to be inherently accurate it would seem. You get a dud now and then but not often. Couple that to a 6.5 creedmoor, you'd have to close both eyes and be shaking all over to shoot a horrible group.

There is one other way I found to shoot a horrible group with my Savage 6.5 CM barrel. Feed it 140 grain factory Core-lokts and watch them scatter. LOL Just awful. 1/2" with my 140 SST hand loads, and 2" with the Core-lokts.

 

[horsemen61]

Love my Creed nice shooting op nothing better than finding your load!

 

[WelshShooter]

Excellent shooting Mr Clark! I think this rifle will be capable of making hits at one mile with some practice, but mostly depending on the size of the target.

I'm not an amazing shooter by any means, but I've been able to hit a 4ft high x 2ft wide target at 1,300 yards with my 6.5x47 Lapua, but this is mostly on a calm day or at least when the wind is stable. I use 123gr Scenar's travelling at 2,900fps. I've not tried the heavier 139gr Scenar as my rifles throat has been cut to suit a 123gr bullet so I've not bothered trying anything else.

According to Hornady load data, a 142gr bullet loaded with 41.5gr of H4350 should be travelling around 2,690fps out of a 24" barrel, so you should have a chance at a mile. Good luck and good shooting!

 

[Matthew Clark]

Love my Creed nice shooting op nothing better than finding your load!

Thank you Sir and you are correct .
The 6.5 creedmoor had begun to be boring in it's consistantly until by accident I tried a different bullet weight for the heck of it.
Now I'm all into it again. Gotta extend the distance!

 

[Matthew Clark]

Excellent shooting Mr Clark! I think this rifle will be capable of making hits at one mile with some practice, but mostly depending on the size of the target.

I'm not an amazing shooter by any means, but I've been able to hit a 4ft high x 2ft wide target at 1,300 yards with my 6.5x47 Lapua, but this is mostly on a calm day or at least when the wind is stable. I use 123gr Scenar's travelling at 2,900fps. I've not tried the heavier 139gr Scenar as my rifles throat has been cut to suit a 123gr bullet so I've not bothered trying anything else.

According to Hornady load data, a 142gr bullet loaded with 41.5gr of H4350 should be travelling around 2,690fps out of a 24" barrel, so you should have a chance at a mile. Good luck and good shooting!

Thank you very much for that but as I have said it's as much the rifle and round as it is me.

I thank you much for your words of encouragement and support. I hope to make good on them soon before I get to old and blind to get er done.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Nice shooting it's great to find that perfect load.

Keep it up and good luck finding a place to shoot a mile.

 

[kimberkid]

2 years ago I put together a AR10 style in 6.5 Creedmoor on a Sharps Jack 308 receiver, JP Enterprise hard parts, Giselle 3.5 trigger, Leupold 8.5-25x50 ELR scope ... it was like magic 2.5" group at 450 (I'd thought it was 500 but I've since re-measured it). Last year I had Benchmark cut me a 22" barrel for my SiG SSG 3000 (US) but haven't gotten it to the range yet, looking forward to it when it dries out and the 20-40mph winds die down! It's pictured with the original 24" 308 barrel installed, and a 20x SuperSniper

 

[bfoosh006]

You should be proud of your shooting, that is a very good group.

 

[Matthew Clark]

You should be proud of your shooting, that is a very good group.

I thank you sir. I am pretty happy with the group but am curious if it will be good enough to hit say a 24x24 steel plate at 1 mile. 1760yds is a long ways off. Very good shooting may not be good enough. I'd just like to try for my own personal knowledge of my limitations. I can accept whatever that is, I know there are much better marksman in the world than I. Kinda a personal goal for me to do even if it is just once.
Thanks again to everyone who posted with comments and pics. I could talk all day and night about shooting sports. I appreciate all the input
Happy shooting!

 

[kimberkid]

I thank you sir. I am pretty happy with the group but am curious if it will be good enough to hit say a 24x24 steel plate at 1 mile. 1760yds is a long ways off. Very good shooting may not be good enough. I'd just like to try for my own personal knowledge of my limitations. I can accept whatever that is, I know there are much better marksman in the world than I. Kinda a personal goal for me to do even if it is just once.
Thanks again to everyone who posted with comments and pics. I could talk all day and night about shooting sports. I appreciate all the input
Happy shooting!

I've never tried to figure it out but I know mine dropped 35" in 450 yards, I gotta wonder how many feet will it drop in a mile!

 

[horsey300]

I thank you sir. I am pretty happy with the group but am curious if it will be good enough to hit say a 24x24 steel plate at 1 mile. 1760yds is a long ways off. Very good shooting may not be good enough. I'd just like to try for my own personal knowledge of my limitations. I can accept whatever that is, I know there are much better marksman in the world than I. Kinda a personal goal for me to do even if it is just once.
Thanks again to everyone who posted with comments and pics. I could talk all day and night about shooting sports. I appreciate all the input
Happy shooting!

Even a full 2moa should not be shameful, why not a 35x35 with a 24" circle?

 

[Newtosavage]

After three consecutive 3/4 (or less) MOA groups on three different days, I think I found my 6.5 CM load as well. The group below was shot at 200 yards and if you include the flier, it's still 0.7 MOA.

Boring, repeatable accuracy. Exactly what I want in a hunting rifle. Sure doesn't hurt if that rifle is 7 lbs., has a beautiful walnut stock and points like a dream.

I must say, the caliber has quickly grown on me and I can see why it might be one of the best deer calibers ever created.

 

[bfoosh006]

I thank you sir. I am pretty happy with the group but am curious if it will be good enough to hit say a 24x24 steel plate at 1 mile. 1760yds is a long ways off. Very good shooting may not be good enough. I'd just like to try for my own personal knowledge of my limitations. I can accept whatever that is, I know there are much better marksman in the world than I. Kinda a personal goal for me to do even if it is just once.
Thanks again to everyone who posted with comments and pics. I could talk all day and night about shooting sports. I appreciate all the input
Happy shooting!

My experience was 1200yds was "easy".. the mile was heavily dependent on the wind... Lol.

 

[Hpi_jeep]

The range in Versailles mo is building a 1k yard range it’s called Ozark outfitters gun shop.
Lead farm in Syracuse has 1k capability, call the guys at tooth and nail armory in Laurie mo. They own the lead farm.
Iberia mo has A range called Gadsden, it’s got 2 1000yard ranges.
Last but not least of the places I shoot in central mo is rolling hills in Mack’s creek and it has 1300 yard range.
Send me a message if you ever want to go take some pokes at long ranges. I rather enjoy it