6.5 Creedmoor - 147 ELD-M H4350 SRP Loads

[MMH]

Just starting to load 6.5 Creedmoor. Picked up (500) 147 gr. ELD-M bullets & 3 lbs. of H4350. Will be using Alpha SRP brass. This will be shot out of a Masterpiece Arms rifle w/ a 26" barrel for PRS shooting out to 1000 yards. Seems like most people end up between 41 to 42 grains & 0.020 bullet jump.

Hodgdon lists 36.7 gr. as a starting load & a max load of 41.8 gr. Don't want to go too hot (save the barrel) as at 1000 yards & will be comfortably supersonic.

First of all, this is a new rifle. How many rounds should I run through it before starting load development? I'm thinking that by 30 rounds or so the barrel should be ready.

To develop the loads I will start at 40 grains & go up in 0.2 gr. increments up to 42.0 grains. I will load w/ a 0.020" jump & load 3 rounds per charge. I will chrono the rounds (Labradar) & shoot groups at the same time. Will base my decision weighing in group size and velocity spread. At that point I will seat at .015" & 0.25" to see what shoots better.

Comments on my plan?

 

[John Glidewell]

There is a sticky on 6.5 cm loads. you can also use the search function - this question is asked multiple times a week

 

[Lightning8]

1. You will probably need more than 30 rounds before barrel speeds up. Probably 100+.
2. Amazing amount of "known good loads" for 65CM, 147s, and H4350 - as stated above see the 65CM load sticky.
3. If shooting PRS - trend is heavy 65CM projectiles at moderate speed to minimize recoil and improve seeing impacts.

 

[eamars]

With 42.5gr AR2209 (H4350), I'm getting ~2774fps from 24" barrel and 2900fps from 30" barrel.
The pressure sign is still minimal.

 

[MMH]

1. You will probably need more than 30 rounds before barrel speeds up. Probably 100+.
2. Amazing amount of "known good loads" for 65CM, 147s, and H4350 - as stated above see the 65CM load sticky.
3. If shooting PRS - trend is heavy 65CM projectiles at moderate speed to minimize recoil and improve seeing impacts.

Agreed. Do not expect barrel speed to stabilize until at least 200 rounds. Figure I can tweak the load at that point. Just want to be able to get some use & practice out of the rifle and not wait until barrel fully broken in. Will definitely stick to the heavier bullets - 147 and up.

Any comments on looking for accuracy and velocity stability at the same time & shooting only three rounds?

 

[Lightning8]

Any comments on looking for accuracy and velocity stability at the same time & shooting only three rounds?

Lots of threads here on load development. Hornady podcasts stirred conversation with their "your sample size is not big enough".

I pick a known good load that is safe (falls within major reloading data range) for first 125 or so rounds while the barrel is speeding up.

After 125 shots or so, I use abbreviated technique. I pick a speed range I want based on known "good load" data. Then I shoot one round each at different powder weights to find the bullet/powder/primer/rifle combo that gets me in that speed range. I pick a couple of powder weights from there and shoot a couple of 5 shot groups. Typically, that gets me right back to a known "good load" when loading for a known, established PRS cartridge.

There are many that will advocate for a more detailed, complicated approach but will also end up at an already established load.

 

[Dog Doc]

I consider myself fairly new but try to research more than post. My technique is old school and new school, but it works for me at least with 3 rifles so far. My rifle is different than yours and work up is always necessary in my opinion. So, using your same powder and bullet (H4350/147 ELDM).
1st step: Velocity testing paired with a 300 yard ladder. 41.0-42.0 in 0.2gr increments. I do 3 and average the results totaling 18 rounds.
2nd step: Take selected charge you want to use and do seating depth testing. Depending on jumps you want to test this could be 15-35 rounds.

My hope from step 1 is to find a velocity with minimal change in the average of 3 charges, then pick the middle one. I also hope to see minimal vertical dispersion on the ladder. If those 2 line up, this is the charge I am using. If they do not, then it gets confusing, lol! But you should get the idea.

 

[BobinNC]

Just starting to load 6.5 Creedmoor. Picked up (500) 147 gr. ELD-M bullets & 3 lbs. of H4350. Will be using Alpha SRP brass. This will be shot out of a Masterpiece Arms rifle w/ a 26" barrel for PRS shooting out to 1000 yards. Seems like most people end up between 41 to 42 grains & 0.020 bullet jump.

Hodgdon lists 36.7 gr. as a starting load & a max load of 41.8 gr. Don't want to go too hot (save the barrel) as at 1000 yards & will be comfortably supersonic.

First of all, this is a new rifle. How many rounds should I run through it before starting load development? I'm thinking that by 30 rounds or so the barrel should be ready.

To develop the loads I will start at 40 grains & go up in 0.2 gr. increments up to 42.0 grains. I will load w/ a 0.020" jump & load 3 rounds per charge. I will chrono the rounds (Labradar) & shoot groups at the same time. Will base my decision weighing in group size and velocity spread. At that point I will seat at .015" & 0.25" to see what shoots better.

Comments on my plan?

My opinion only:

Load one round @ 40.0 grains
Load one round @ 40.5
Load one round @ 41.0
Load five rounds @ 41.2
Load five rounds @ 41.4
Load five rounds @ 41.6
Load five rounds @ 41.8
Load five rounds @ 42.0


Your plan called for 45 rounds to be tested. Mine plan calls for 28.

My rational is why waste rounds at velocity levels you probably won't be happy with. The one rounders is to monitor pressure and velocity as you go up. The five rounders are better for establishing accuracy, SD, and it gives you some margin if your chrono misses reads a round or two.

Of course if you only looking for the most accurate load, regardless of velocity (as apposed to both accuracy @ desired velocity), then you should use your plan, but make them all 5 shot groups, and make the increments 0.3 grains each rather than 0.2 grains.

So:
40.0
40.3
40.6
40.9
41.2
41.5
41.8
42.1

So 40 rounds total. You can then fine tune between your two best levels for your second round.