6.5 Creedmoor & 123 Scenar's

[jefo65]

Just got a pile of 123gr scenars and want to do a bit of load work this weekend weather allowing. Leaning towards H4350 starting at 43.0grs and working up to 44.2 in .003 increments with a .005" jump to start out with. Have had pretty good luck with the 123 Nosler CC's in that area, but just can't get it to were I think it should be....that's hopefully something the scenars can clear up a tad.
Would appreciate any info you folks could share on the 123's (Got most powders imaginable, so if ya have something that worked better then the H4350, please share!)
26" Krieger 8.5 twist is the tube I'm using.

 

[briang7511]

my notes show i was at 39 gr of varget with the 123 scenar. Been almost a year now so dont remember specifics. also using a 26 in kreiger with a 8 tw. jump was .020. as always work up.

 

[mojavejim]

39.5 Varget w/ hornady brass 24" AI, -1/2 moa or better. 2890 - 2900 depending on weather. Great bullet but the lighter bullets are affected more by the wind. I settled on .020 jump, slightly better group closer but brings up the SD

 

[Supersubes]

I recently set back a .260 barrel to 6.5 creedmoor and tested with 123's. The scenars(both 123 and 139) are some of the most forgiving bullets around. Ive shot about a zillion of them in .260's over the years. I always start them at .030 off the lands.

Below are three back to back tests using 42.5 gr of h4350(24" broughton,2930 fps). This was with no prep virgin brass, no sorting or truing of any type, and chambered with a saami creedmoor reamer. In the first two pics, the left target is .040 jump, then .030, .020, and .010. In the third pic, the left three targets were shot with "touching" loads. All three shot groups at 640 yards. Shot over an hour and a half or so. Same holds, group placement is caused by variable light winds. It was interesting to note that between .020 off and .040 off, velocities were very close between those jumps. .030 and .040 were dead even, and .020 was + 4 fps. As you get closer to the lands pressures begin to go up at an increasing rate. The jump from .020 to .010, and .010 to touching each produced an 11 fps increase(22fps increase from .020 to touching). In my pea brain, I like the fact that I can load at .020 for example, and never chase the lands, because out to .040 off, there is no meaningful change.

Ive duplicated this a number of times with different rifles, and typically load off the lands because of it. Pair these results with an OCW test, and you have a very consistent load.


On a slightly different note, I pushed this load to 44.5gr in lapua brass(same barrel, same bullet), which produced 3037 fps average. Brass lived fine. I settled on 43 gr and 2965 fps.

 

[jefo65]

Good info guys,..greatly appreciate it. I know my "sweet spot" with the H4350 and some Nosler 123 CC's was at 43.3gr's,...pretty convinced now I was playing to close to the lands. Gonna do a handful tomorrow with both the Scenar's and the CC's at .0015" out with 43.3gr of H4350 and 39.2gr of Varget and see what combo shows me a reason to poke at em more. I'm using the new Lapua small primer brass, necks turned with 0.002 neck tension. I seriously doubt pressure will be an issue with either load. I'll keep ya posted with the initial results,..and again...thanks for taking the time to help out!

 

[jefo65]

Had a little more wind today then I would have liked for load testing,...gave it a whirl this afternoon though. As suspected,..the Nosler's got nothing on the Scenar's..The H4350 out did the Varget by the slightest margin with the Scenar's with the both powders tested. (both jumping 0.015") 4 shot group with the H4350 measured .324" and the Varget .367" definitely want to visit them both again and stretch em out a little,..but HIGHLEY impressed with the 123 Scenar's so far.

 

[Scottie15]

The 123's shot very well for me with 42.4-42.6 gr of H4350. Velocity out of a 20" gasser was 2790.