I am pretty sure this is in the wrong section but seemed like the best place to ask. I have 6.5 creedmoor with a 1-8.5 bartlien barrel and have no reloading equipment. I have been using copper creek cartridge company for ammo and so far have only used the 140 amax's. I have about 200 rounds left and I am about to buy more, since I want to shoot tactical match's which rounds are best for it, I recently shoot a match and one of the gentlemen there stated that he had a poor experience with the 140 vld's past 1000. I was looking at the lapua 139 gr scenars, 142 gr sierra match kings, or just sticking with the 140 amax. All the research I have done really hasn't pointed me in the right direction the only tangible statement I have seen was the 155 scenar was used to set a new record at the 600 yard line, and my data from this weekends match is that my stock hornady match 140 amaxs did better than I did. I am keeping the amax's for light deer hunting here in SC where the deer are about the size of great danes but was wanting the absolute best round for matches. Thanks for your opinions.
6.5 creedmoor bullet selection
- Thread starter gunn317
- Start date
I don't have a ton of data, and I don't do reloading either.
In my DPMS LR308 with the stock barrel, I think that was a 1-8.5 twist, I had a little better consistency when I was using some reloads that a friend of mine made with my used Hornady brass and 142gr SMK's over over the counter Hornady Amax's. Haven't shot past 1000 yards. His reloads really weren't anything too hot, his statement, and he did give me some reloads with a little more powder, but I didn't realize any substantial change. I don't have the data on the reloads handy at all to make much more of a claim on those 142gr SMK's.
In my DPMS LR308 with the stock barrel, I think that was a 1-8.5 twist, I had a little better consistency when I was using some reloads that a friend of mine made with my used Hornady brass and 142gr SMK's over over the counter Hornady Amax's. Haven't shot past 1000 yards. His reloads really weren't anything too hot, his statement, and he did give me some reloads with a little more powder, but I didn't realize any substantial change. I don't have the data on the reloads handy at all to make much more of a claim on those 142gr SMK's.
Only your rifle knows for sure. Between Hornady, Berger, Sierra, Lapua, and JLK, you should be able to come up with something your rifle likes. They are all competitive and like gunn317 said the AMAX is pretty easy on your wallet and is a very good bullet.
I would look at the 130 Bergers too if you are going to experiment a bit.
Have fun!
I would look at the 130 Bergers too if you are going to experiment a bit.
Have fun!
Thanks for the info, I was really trying to avoid the experimentation process...... I don't have the range facilities here in SC, all I have available is 100 yd range available. I know the lapua's are more expensive and the bergers are right there in the same price range, ultimately I was hoping more expensive equaled better for the sake of buying 10 different types of rounds. I guess I can get a box of each and give them a go, the issue being off a 5 round group of 140 amax straight from hornady I shot a .236 group (with sandbags) with maybe 10 rounds down the barrel so I can't see how a 100 grouping will tell me anything. I just want to be as competitive as possible considering my oppurtunities to shoot further are very limited if not impossible, how far out would I need to shoot to actually truly test for the best round for my rifle?
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I've shot them ALL. The factory 140 amax is going to shoot as good as any hand load (at least in my rifle ...GA Crusader 1:8.5) Although when your really wanting to push it our there I've found the 140 vld and the 140 hybrid bergers to get it done really well. The hybrid bucks the wind so well that up to 1k there's barely many turns on the turret most times. My load is 42.6 h4350 jumping them pretty far... Coal is 2.800 on average. 2810 fps. Any how, you need any load data just pm me. AS
I've shot the 140amax, 140 Berger hybrids, 142smk, 139 scenars, 120amax, and 140 Berger VLD target and hunting bullets as well as factory loads from my 6.5 Creedmoor. Here's my opinion.
Factory 140amax will give you match accuracy up to 1000 yards. Don't waste your time with lighter bullets unless you are shooting short distances only, less than 600 yds or have a semi-auto that can't handle the heavies, it makes a bigger difference at longer distances and I haven't been able to push the lighter bullets fast enough to make up for lower BC.
I like the 142smk and 140gr Bergers better than the Scenars because I point my bullets, that is just me.
The VLDs are very sensitive to seating length dependent which can effect accuracy at shorter distances (50-100yds) but at longer distances my groups have tightened up and their high BC beat almost anything else out there for wind drift which is what matters the most at 1000 yards on beyond. Just work and the seating length as quoted from Berger website:
"For years we have relayed that it is best to jam the VLD into the lands for best performance. This works for many rifles however there are many rifles that do not shoot the VLD well when the bullet is jammed. We have learned that the VLD can shoot best as much as .150 jump off the rifling. VLD bullets can be sensitive to seating depth and it has been found that these bullets shoot best in a COAL “sweet spot”. This sweet spot is a COAL range that is usually .030 to .040 wide.
The quickest way to find this sweet spot is to load ammo at four different COAL. Start with a COAL that allows the bullet to touch the rifling. The next COAL needs to be .040 off the lands. The third COAL needs to be .080 off the lands. The last COAL needs to be .120 off the lands. One of these COAL will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. It has been reported that the VLD bullets don’t group as well at 100 yards but get better as the bullet “goes to sleep” at further ranges. We have learned that by doing the four COAL test you will find a COAL where the VLD bullets will group well at 100 yards. Once the COAL that shoots best is established you can tweak +/- .005 or .010 to increase precision or you can adjust powder charges and other load variables. Frankly, those who do the four COAL test usually are happy with the results they get from this test alone."
The hybrids are less sensitive to seating length and what I like to use with the 142smk as close second for anything pass 800 yards.
Factory 140amax will give you match accuracy up to 1000 yards. Don't waste your time with lighter bullets unless you are shooting short distances only, less than 600 yds or have a semi-auto that can't handle the heavies, it makes a bigger difference at longer distances and I haven't been able to push the lighter bullets fast enough to make up for lower BC.
I like the 142smk and 140gr Bergers better than the Scenars because I point my bullets, that is just me.
The VLDs are very sensitive to seating length dependent which can effect accuracy at shorter distances (50-100yds) but at longer distances my groups have tightened up and their high BC beat almost anything else out there for wind drift which is what matters the most at 1000 yards on beyond. Just work and the seating length as quoted from Berger website:
"For years we have relayed that it is best to jam the VLD into the lands for best performance. This works for many rifles however there are many rifles that do not shoot the VLD well when the bullet is jammed. We have learned that the VLD can shoot best as much as .150 jump off the rifling. VLD bullets can be sensitive to seating depth and it has been found that these bullets shoot best in a COAL “sweet spot”. This sweet spot is a COAL range that is usually .030 to .040 wide.
The quickest way to find this sweet spot is to load ammo at four different COAL. Start with a COAL that allows the bullet to touch the rifling. The next COAL needs to be .040 off the lands. The third COAL needs to be .080 off the lands. The last COAL needs to be .120 off the lands. One of these COAL will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. It has been reported that the VLD bullets don’t group as well at 100 yards but get better as the bullet “goes to sleep” at further ranges. We have learned that by doing the four COAL test you will find a COAL where the VLD bullets will group well at 100 yards. Once the COAL that shoots best is established you can tweak +/- .005 or .010 to increase precision or you can adjust powder charges and other load variables. Frankly, those who do the four COAL test usually are happy with the results they get from this test alone."
The hybrids are less sensitive to seating length and what I like to use with the 142smk as close second for anything pass 800 yards.
