Short barrel on 6mm Creedmore

Boatninja

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  • Sep 3, 2018
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    I installed a 16.5” , 1-8” twist Criterion barrel on a a Mausingfield action a couple of days ago and only a very few (15) rounds through it and am really curious about input on loads, anything constructive.
     
    How far are you wanting to shoot?

    High BC almost always will win out on the very long range stuff, but if you don't need to get to 1000 or further often, you can probably run 95gr class stuff and be fine. The lighter bullets and faster burning powder might do better with the short barrel length.
     
    Curious on this as well.

    To the OP, what have you tried so far? Any velocities?
    I haven't tried anything other than Hornady Match 108 gr ELDs,. I want to order all supplies including dies, hence the question. I recently inherited a complete loading setup, (except dies for 6 cr). I have many various powders, primers and bullets. It would be great if I already have the correct stuff. I could start the whole thing with what dies are considered best. Looks like I need to move the post to handloaders forum.
     
    Well you can try the 105-110gr bullets with H4350, H1000, RL16, RL26...

    Or you can try the 95gr SMK with something like Varget or H4350 etc...

    I typically go to Hodgdon's website in the "Reloading Data Center" and see what kind of velocity you can expect with a given bullet/powder. In your case with a 16" barrel, subtract about 200fps. Then run those bullets on JBM ballistics out to the max range I expect to shoot and then weigh performance vs. price to narrow down which bullets to try.

    Occasionally a barrel will just not like a bullet I want to shoot, so move on to the next and give it a go. There really isn't a one-size-fits-all when it comes to reloading. Some loads shoot well in a lot of rifles, but not every rifle. Just gotta massage seating depth and powder charge until you find something special.
     
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    I haven't tried anything other than Hornady Match 108 gr ELDs,. I want to order all supplies including dies, hence the question. I recently inherited a complete loading setup, (except dies for 6 cr). I have many various powders, primers and bullets. It would be great if I already have the correct stuff. I could start the whole thing with what dies are considered best. Looks like I need to move the post to handloaders forum.
     
    Bushing dies are not needed but some are very picky about the neck size. Bushings allow you to change it instead of getting a new custom die. Buy a bushing die and 3-4 different sized bushings or just run a standard die. People have won and lost with both. IMO it isn’t that much of a concern for me to keep changing shit. Reloading has enough steps to be critical about.
     
    Ok, looking at Whidden website. Bushings or no bushings? Do you need a specific bushing for each different brass maker? I tend to buy the best, "buy once, cry once".

    Bushing size will depend on desired neck tension and neck wall thickness. Different brass brands typically will have different neck wall thickness requiring a different bushing to keep consistent neck tension.