6.5 Creedmoor - Large Frame AR performance

[Smitty192]

I have been toying with the idea of a 6.5 CM gas gun. I recently had my 308 bolt gun finished and I have been shooting it quite a bit lately. 24" barrel shooting 175 SMK is running 2640. I would love to do a gas gun that would match the 308 for down range energy. I can't do that with 308 in a semi auto. So I was thinking maybe a 6.5CM, 22" barrel using some Berger 130 AR Hybrid. So, my long winded question...what is a realistic velocity to expect from a 6.5CM semi auto (22" barrel)? My Quickloads shows around 2870 fps with RL 17. According to JBM, the 308 & 6.5 would be very close in energy with that velocity and the 6.5 would be ahead for drop and windage.
Any thoughts, experiences or ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[padom]

Velocity with 130 Norma Golden Targets and 37g IMR4166 is 2804 out of a Bartlein 22" 6.5cm semi. I tested the 130 AR Hybrids with H4350 out of the same gun but didnt have a chrono on my that day. They are in the 2800-2850 range and are very accurate...These load test targets should give you an idea
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[Smitty192]

Very impressive. Any regrets on doing 6.5 in semi auto?

 

[padom]

Regrets? No, I've had 3... less recoil, higher BC bullets, higher velocity, better accuracy..

 

[Timetoshoot]

Bought my first AR 10 last year , no regrets. Shoot it more often than my bolt gun, unless I'm hunting and having to hump the gun all over hill and dale!! If shooting past 1200 I'll pick the bolt gun.

Seekins 6.5 22 inch. Easy load development, handloads around .65 at 100 yards. 130 hybrid @ 2760 and 123 eld @2870 both single digit sd. Factory 123 eld 2920fps sd of 16 and .85 at 100. Pretty sure the weak link in the system is still the shooter.

i shoot the ar 10 marginally better than my bolt gun, Now that I've figured out the long reacoil impulse. Initially it helped me focus on fundamentals, especially highlighting the need to follow through and drive the gun through the whole recoil pulse. Learning the AR improved my skills.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Had one a while back, will have another.
back in the day I was running 140Amax factory, or clones. Ran 2700ish out of a 20" and shot 1/2moa.

 

[Smitty192]

Regrets? No, I've had 3... less recoil, higher BC bullets, higher velocity, better accuracy..

Thanks for the info.

 

[Smitty192]

Bought my first AR 10 last year , no regrets. Shoot it more often than my bolt gun, unless I'm hunting and having to hump the gun all over hill and dale!! If shooting past 1200 I'll pick the bolt gun.

Seekins 6.5 22 inch. Easy load development, handloads around .65 at 100 yards. 130 hybrid @ 2760 and 123 eld @2870 both single digit sd. Factory 123 eld 2920fps sd of 16 and .85 at 100. Pretty sure the weak link in the system is still the shooter.

i shoot the ar 10 marginally better than my bolt gun, Now that I've figured out the long reacoil impulse. Initially it helped me focus on fundamentals, especially highlighting the need to follow through and drive the gun through the whole recoil pulse. Learning the AR improved my skills.

Are you using H4350? Have you tried RL 17?

 

[lennyo3034]

Starting wish I had gone 6.5 CM on my AR instead of 6mm. Lot more data for 6.5.

 

[Roslyn]

I have a JP LRP-07, 22 inch barrel. It shoots commercial Prime 130 gr rounds at 2870 fps; Eagle Eye 130 gr rounds at 2875; and Hornady 140 gr ELD-M at 2775 -- all .5 MOA if I am steady behind the rig. My sense is that the barrel might be fast relative to others.

This is a five round group of Eagle Eye at 100 yards. Not quite .5 MOA but still pretty tight.

 

[Smitty192]

Very nice!!

 

[WYO09]

I just had my 6.5 semi out for the first time last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. The gun ran 100% less one round and I chalk that up to screwing around with the dwell time on the adjustable dracos barrel. As far as reliable that is yet to be seen but so far so good. The picture is a cherry picked 5 round group but was the best I had shooting some old Hornady 120 grain Amax match ammo I had sitting on the shelf. I will try to get a group picture of groups like Padom has above when I get some time. That format is a lot more informative

 

[Smitty192]

Looks good so far. Nice looking rifle!

 

[Timetoshoot]

Are you using H4350? Have you tried RL 17?

Using Varget for anything under 140grains, I have 24lbs of varget and am happy with both loads so no need to look at any other options. I shoot from -15 in winter to 100+ in summer and appreciate the temp stability of Varget/4350.