Reloading 6.5 Creedmore

[Varminterror]

I don't know what kind of barrels they were shooting those out of...

Most guys I know which tried the magnum powder in 6.5 creed use(d) 26-28” barrels, extra inches looking for that speed, and even with those lengths, H1000 and Retumbo are too slow. My 6.5 creeds were 26”, and my 6’s are 26 -26.5, and even with that smaller bore capacity, I STILL don’t have the right expansion ratio to make those magnum powders work. I don’t even think 22 creed is getting into Retumbo/H1000 zone.

Lots of guys try lots of things, but magnum powders in the Creedmoor cases is a rabbit I can tell you really isn’t worth chasing. Thousands and thousands of shooters point towards H4350 ballpark burn rates, don’t be distracted by the 2 or 3 voices in the crowd talking magnum powder magic… Remember, there’s about a percent of humans which can’t figure out their own plumbing, and more than a percent of humans who like to get tied up and whipped, for fun… not everyone is an ideal fount of good advice.

 

[Slamfire]

Is there any advantage to 6.5 Creedmoor over 308 for target shooting out to 300 yards?

Out to 300 yards the ballistic advantage of the 6.5 Creedmore will be in the noise level. However, the further you go out, the 6.5 will drop less and drift less, all things considered. When I shot High Power and scored 6.5 shooters, their bullet trace was almost a flat line to 600 yards. The crest of a fast 308 was at the top of the black, those 6.5 bullets crested well inside the black.

Sierra shows the 168 SMK and 140 6.5 mm bullet starting off at 2650 fps, and at 300 yards, maybe a 80 fps difference. That 80 fps is well within the extreme spreads I get for rifle cartridges, so while the 6.5 has the advantage at 300 yards, you would have to shoot a group, for a velocity average, to tell there is a difference.

https://www.sierrabullets.com/308-winchester-168-grain-matchking-trajectory-chart/

https://www.sierrabullets.com/6-5-creedmoor-140-grain-matchking-trajectory-chart/

However, take a look at 600 and 1000 yards, clearly the 6.5 is ballistically a better bullet.

 

[JCSC]

I don’t think I would even try retumbo in a small CM case. I run that in my PRC.

 

[JFrank]

Last I checked, the load recipe is written on the side of the Hornday ammunition box.
Not a lot of development needed to shoot well.

 

[243winxb]

Does it (6.5CM) share powders with 308 or 223?

No, 6.5 is mostly slow powders. I tried IMR 4350 & IMR 4831. My Savage Axis is still an average 1 1/4" gun @100 yards. 18 power scope didnt help.

For target shooting mostly and perhaps cast bullets

A reduced load of IMR 4198 can be loaded in 6.5,308, 223.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-9-power-scope-on-savage-axis-100-yards.4103/

 

[CMV]

I did H4350 + Hornady 140gr SST. This was for my buddy's boys deer rifles. Their "starter" rifles on the inexpensive side - one was the basic Savage Axis with the hollow plastic stock & the other a Mossberg Patriot also with the plastic stock. They both came as kits with budget 3x9 scopes and China rings. Anyway, from the starting load and every step up it was just remarkable ~3/4" groups @ 100 yds. I had a hard time working up because it started excellent & just stayed there in 2 of the least expensive rifles out there. I just kinda picked a place to stop & never bothered with lengths.

And the recoil was surprisingly soft even out of those very light rifles. I AM SO GLAD that's not the first thing I ever loaded. Imagine starting with that and then forever wondering what you're doing wrong with everything else

 

[BJung]

I don't shoot a 6.5 Creedmore and am a 6.5 Swede Shooter. Yet, I'd suggest 4350 also. Not only does it seem like a good choice for this cartridge but also 30-06, 7 Rem Mag and my 7.7 Arisaka. I also suggest investing in a Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die. I get very little to no run-out with my reloads using it.