I'm working up a load for my RPR 6.5 Creedmoor using small primer Alpha brass. I'm using H4350 and 142 Sierra HPBT and 450 primers. Tonight I worked up to 41.2 grains that gave me 2660 fps. The brass shows no pressure issues and I was planning on going on up .3 at a time. What is thought to be the max with this brass and powder? I would like to get up around 2700 or so. I got my best group to date at 40.6 around 2620 fps. What is everyone's experience with this load or similar. Thanks Sierra lists mx load at 42.3 but maybe not with Alpha brass?
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6.5 Creedmoor Load with Alpha Brass
- Thread starter rockywlw
- Start date
I’m using their LR primer brass, but at 40 grains of RL16 and a 140 ELDM, I’m in the mid 2700s. Not apples to apples, I know. If I remember correctly, Sierra’s testing was done with Hornady brass.
I had been shooting 130 Bergers with 42gr of h4350. Got a new lot of powder and now I'm 35fps faster and have some slight bolt resistance. Got to drop it down some now.
Muzzle velocity was in the mid 2,800's but after correcting the muzzle velocity down range. I had to adjust it up to about 2,950ish on my kestrel.
Muzzle velocity was in the mid 2,800's but after correcting the muzzle velocity down range. I had to adjust it up to about 2,950ish on my kestrel.
Shooting 130gr OTM Bergers, 40.6 gr of RL16 pushing 2830ish. SD of 7-8, really consistent and easy load. Sub MOA groups out to at least 500 yards- haven't tried to group past that. Love my Alpha Brass!
Hmmmm... maybe I need to go down to another node then. I was surely hoping to be in the 2750-2800fps range and be ok
I've found with the Alpha reduced case capacity I'm usually about 5% less powder & 5% less velocity than most other 6.5CM brass. (hornady, lupua, starline). I should note that my Alpha is from one of their first runs, I bought 400-500 pieces to play with before the Lapua was available. The brass is good quality & will last several firings but is a little more difficult doing load development and I don't care for the "early pressure signs"
I could be mistaken, but I don't think he means early pressure signs as in you'll see signs even at reasonable pressures for the brass, but that since Alpha has lower case capacity, you'll see pressure signs at lower charge weights when compared to other brass makers.
I would agree with him about being 5% lower in charge weights, which I don't mind, and while I'm not down 5% in velocity when compared to Hornady or Prime, I am around 2.5% to 3% slower. My Hornady load is 42.0 grains of Reloder 16. With a 140 grain projectile, I'm in the 2820 to 2840 fps range, depending on which projectile I'm using. With the Alpha brass, my load is 40.0 grains of Reloder 16, which puts me in the 2750 to 2770 range.
with 130 hybrids AR's I get a real heavy bolt lift @ 40.6 H4350 @ only 2750. I can easily push them past 2900 with the other brass.
Alpha Brass and Peterson's are very similar. I got pressure at 42.5gr of Re16 in Peterson's. 41.3 was the load I settled on at 2815 with a 140 in a 24" barrel.
My experience with the alpha brass is that you need to shoot it once before load devlopment. So need 2 loads, 1 for new brass, 1 for fireformed (shot once). Current load is 41.0 gr of RL16 with a 140 eldm at 2810fps. new brass start at 40.0.
