6.5 Creed, 4831sc / h4350, OCW and many questions

EscapeVelocity

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Minuteman
Jan 24, 2010
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Zanesville, Ohio
I've always shot the 140 and 142s with h4350. It's obviously been great with tiny little groups. I was at my gun smith's shop and he said he was running 44.2 grains of h4831sc and the 147 eld. He reported very low pressure but relatively low velocity (2650 I think he said). But it's very consistent way out past 1200.

My need is only out to 1k, so I'm not overly worried about velocity. So I bought some 4831sc and h4350 and tried them yesterday in load development:

Hornady brass
CCI BR2
147 eld
H4350 / h4831sc
Ogive 2.224 (.030 off the lands)
Stock 700 aac-sd w/ 22" barrel

Here are the 4 shot groups below. I'm new to OCW and have always picked the smallest groups and called that my load. (Very tempted to load the 41.8 of h4831 but I know its a low node at .3")

So when I look at these I can go 2 routes:
- h4350 tried and true and get decent velocity (not a huge concern). Although very hard to find.
-or h4831 which this barrel seems to favor and get decent barrel life at low speeds.

What route would you go? What looks like the best OCW?

Also note, this is my second test batch. The first was loaded .30 off the lands instead of .030.... Groups were not great. There were only 2 shots of h4350 at 41.5 grains.
20180323_202328.jpg
 
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Can you push a little harder 43+ grains, it looks like you are tighten up at 43gr? A little more you might find next node, maybe you are at max as is so a suggestion only if safe to give it more fuel. 41.8 looks great and may be where you end up. That is how my 6.5 is, likes to cruise along not race.
 
Can you push a little harder 43+ grains, it looks like you are tighten up at 43gr? A little more you might find next node, maybe you are at max as is so a suggestion only if safe to give it more fuel. 41.8 looks great and may be where you end up. That is how my 6.5 is, likes to cruise along not race.
I think I'm going to push 43 grains a little further. I can always play with the seating depth too. That way I with sacrifice too much velocity.
I run 45.5 with 143 ELD for 2790 out of a 26" Criterion.
H4831sc?
 
I think I'm going to push 43 grains a little further. I can always play with the seating depth too. That way I with sacrifice too much velocity.

H4831sc?
Yes. I had some trouble with it in a 23" barrel running a can. The chamber would get stuff in it. Sometimes i would have to tap it out before I could chamber a round. I switched to 123s and RL15 for that barrel.
 
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