6.5CM 120-130 bullets for 16” and speeds

[trob_205]

Got a 16.5” PVA barrel coming for my AIAX. Planning on running some 120-130 class bullets. Right now specifically looking at the 123 offerings from Hornady, Lapua, and Sierra. I have some H4350 and some 2000-MR. Was wondering if anyone has found anything worth sharing with those combos and can share their speeds. Or if there’s something else I should be looking at bullet wise. Thanks in advance!

 

[Gustav7]

Heres a blog article on it: http://dmr-llc.com/?s=6.5+shorty

Here's the youtube video:

May help a little bit. Honestly its worth calling them. Guys do good work there.

 

[sheepdog697]

Heres a blog article on it: http://dmr-llc.com/?s=6.5+shorty

Here's the youtube video:

May help a little bit. Honestly its worth calling them. Guys do good work there.

Nice video. 2850 is Cooking out of a 16.5.

 

[Gustav7]

Nice video. 2850 is Cooling out of a 16.5.

Ya it is. The power of Varget in a bigger case than it’s used to lol.

Id think of a shorty 6.5cm as basically, a hot 6.5Grendel.

The 120’s and 123’s at around 2800ish. Really cool to see how minor variations and untraditional powder can make a platform like that work well.

 

[trob_205]

Thanks! Good stuff. My exact thoughts on the shorties! I might have to find some varget after I try to find some 123s lol

 

[sheepdog697]

Ya it is. The power of Varget in a bigger case than it’s used to lol.

Id think of a shorty 6.5cm as basically, a hot 6.5Grendel.

The 120’s and 123’s at around 2800ish. Really cool to see how minor variations and untraditional powder can make a platform like that work well.

Ive got a bunch of 123smks, and plan on loading them with varget. I got lucky and was able to find quite a bit recently.

 

[bobke]

If you have AR Comp in your inventory, consider it with 120-123’s. I’m shooting 2845ish with 39.3 Varget and 120 Scenars in Prime brass-about 50 FPS less with Hornady brass, in a 20” Krieger. ARC should be close, but look for pressure in lower 37gr range. Accuracy with both has been very good.

 

[trob_205]

Ive got a bunch of 123smks, and plan on loading them with varget. I got lucky and was able to find quite a bit recently.

I stared at a couple of boxes of them about 2 months ago and talked myself out of it. Kicking myself after deciding to do the 16.5”

 

[Gustav7]

Thanks! Good stuff. My exact thoughts on the shorties! I might have to find some varget after I try to find some 123s lol

You gotta re-wire your thought process for it. Its no longer a 6.5cm lol.

My buddy has a 6.5G and he loves its. VERY capable cartridge and round, and you can most definitely push faster and have more options with the 6.5cm. I was sold on a long barrel for my next 6.5cm barrel, but I'm headed more and more towards a 16.5 every day lol

 

[trob_205]

You gotta re-wire your thought process for it. Its no longer a 6.5cm lol.

My buddy has a 6.5G and he loves its. VERY capable cartridge and round, and you can most definitely push faster and have more options with the 6.5cm. I was sold on a long barrel for my next 6.5cm barrel, but I'm headed more and more towards a 16.5 every day lol

Definitely for the most part. I thinks it definitely still inside the 6.5CM rule of shoot whatever bullet gets you north of 2750. That rifleshooter article on 6.5cm barrel length was very interesting to still see a 16” 6.5cm still shoot inside a 22” 175 308 lol. That was the biggest eye opener for me and validates the want. All my shooting is 600-900 yards anyway with a couple opportunities now and then to hit a 1000yard range.

 

[Gustav7]

Definitely for the most part. I thinks it definitely still inside the 6.5CM rule of shoot whatever bullet gets you north of 2750. That rifleshooter article on 6.5cm barrel length was very interesting to still see a 16” 6.5cm still shoot inside a 22” 175 308 lol. That was the biggest eye opener for me and validates the want. All my shooting is 600-900 yards anyway with a couple opportunities now and then to hit a 1000yard range.

For sure. I guess I meant mindset with load development and powder/bullet interaction. The 123 ELD-X's have been hammers in my friends 6.5G. He hunts mainly with it though, so may not be demanding quite the precision you are after.

 

[trob_205]

For sure. I guess I meant mindset with load development and powder/bullet interaction. The 123 ELD-X's have been hammers in my friends 6.5G. He hunts mainly with it though, so may not be demanding quite the precision you are after.

Ahh yea I get it now. I’m sure I can find something that’ll shoot good enough. That is if I can actually find components lol

 

[Gustav7]

Ahh yea I get it now. I’m sure I can find something that’ll shoot good enough. That is if I can actually find components lol

The harder you try, the luckier you'll get....about the components that is.

 

[B_w.]

How would varget perform with a 140g? Barely topping 2500 with 140 eldms and 4350. Would varget help gain some speed? 16 in barrel.

 

[RanchhandTCR]

I didn't read all the comments.

I run an 18" with a tbac 9. Get 2780 with 130s and H4350 ans 2850 with RL26.

140s net me 2690fps with h 4350

Buddies 17" and Silencer co gets 2830 with sierras 130s and Rl26.

 

[trob_205]

How would varget perform with a 140g? Barely topping 2500 with 140 eldms and 4350. Would varget help gain some speed? 16 in barrel.

No personal experiences with Varget but I don’t think that’s the powder you’re looking for and you’ll never really get it to where you “want” the 140s anyway. It’s all a give and take when trying to make up speed with short barrels, but slow AF 140s is the reason I’m going to try the 123s. I sent an email to the DMR-LLC guys. Hopefully the respond.

 

[trob_205]

I didn't read all the comments.

I run an 18" with a tbac 9. Get 2780 with 130s and H4350 ans 2850 with RL26.

140s net me 2690fps with h 4350

Buddies 17" and Silencer co gets 2830 with sierras 130s and Rl26.

What are your charge weights for ea if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[spife7980]

How would varget perform with a 140g? Barely topping 2500 with 140 eldms and 4350. Would varget help gain some speed? 16 in barrel.

Varget would be even slower. 2500 isn’t bad for only a 16” barrel. I wouldn’t trust some of the claims, if I tried to get 2850 in my 20” I’d have to hammer the bolt open with a sledge.

 

[RanchhandTCR]

What are your charge weights for ea if you don’t mind me asking?

43gn with H4350 with 130s 42.1gn h4350 for 140s

47.2gn with RL26.

 

[B_w.]

Have a bunch of r26 could try too...gave a pretty good boost on my 24 inch 6.5 compared to 4350.

 

[Gustav7]

How would varget perform with a 140g? Barely topping 2500 with 140 eldms and 4350. Would varget help gain some speed? 16 in barrel.

I'd switch bullets, but thats just me. With those shorter barrels, I think velocity is going to be your goal, not necessarily bullet weight. The new 130smk's or the 123 class seems to be the ticket there. Trying to get to that 2750-2800fps spot

Varget COULD be helpful with the 120ish class bullets out of a 16". Definitely worth trying.

 

[trob_205]

Got a reply back from DMR-LLC. Maybe not exactly what I wanted to hear lol but good info. I’m not too interested in finding and shooting box ammo at this point. I got 500 123 SMKs coming from a SH member that I still plan on putting through its paces. Around here I have 600-900 yards most range days anything else in regards on coyotes, wood chucks, etc most fields are sub 500 yards. Here in Southern MI don’t have “real wind” and when we do we just don’t shoot those 10-15 days a year lol. My 140 eld load with my 24” is 41.5 gr H4350 so maybe I can find the next node up in powder charge and hopefully have a universal 140 ELD node for my two barrels as well. Who knows if I can get lucky and hit that 2650 mark with the 140 that could be the ticket. Anyway here’s the email reply.

“Travis,

Thank you for reaching out to us. Since that video was made some things have changed, if we have the chance to update it we will.

The 130 grain has taken over for the 123. We’ve shot a lot of Federal Premium 130 Berger and like it. All around we load the 140 grain Berger Elite Hunter with H4350. This combination isn’t as flat shooting as the 130 but does well in the wind, puts 1,000 ft/lbs energy on target out to ~700 yards and will get to 1,000 yards in under 9-10 MRAD. We’re typically seeing 2,650 FPS with a suppressor. We haven’t tried H4350 with the light bullets but it’s worth doing so you can find out!



Best regards,

JFComfort”

 

[65x55guy]

I didn't read all the comments.

I run an 18" with a tbac 9. Get 2780 with 130s and H4350 ans 2850 with RL26.

140s net me 2690fps with h 4350

Buddies 17" and Silencer co gets 2830 with sierras 130s and Rl26.

I literally just sent funds on a 18” 6.5 for my dta srs tonight. I also have an Ultra 9 CB.

I’ve got RL26 for my 26” with 147s, and I guess I assumed in an 18” there would be a ton of powder left. What’s your experience like? I’ve also got some Varget and Superformance.

 

[RanchhandTCR]

I literally just sent funds on a 18” 6.5 for my dta srs tonight. I also have an Ultra 9 CB.

I’ve got RL26 for my 26” with 147s, and I guess I assumed in an 18” there would be a ton of powder left. What’s your experience like? I’ve also got some Varget and Superformance.

Its burns pretty clean even at 18". Other than being unicorn powder i wouldn't mind useing it lol. Varget to hot for 130s and up and same for superformance. You can use it but pressure hits before you get any good velocity.

 

[65x55guy]

Its burns pretty clean even at 18". Other than being unicorn powder i wouldn't mind useing it lol. Varget to hot for 130s and up and same for superformance. You can use it but pressure hits before you get any good velocity.

I’m not swimming in RL26 but I’ve got a few lbs.

Are you saying to go 120/123 class for superformance or Varget? I had also considered some Barnes 120s for a straight hunting round for whitetail doe season.

 

[sboone]

Ive got some Norma 130 grain diamonds that Im gonna try out of my 20" IBI barrel. Starting at 42grain H4350, will top out at 43.4 grains at 2.171 CTO, 2.775 COAL. Have no idea how these will shoot but Ive got high hopes.

 

[RanchhandTCR]

I’m not swimming in RL26 but I’ve got a few lbs.

Are you saying to go 120/123 class for superformance or Varget? I had also considered some Barnes 120s for a straight hunting round for whitetail doe season.

Yes as those will be the top of getting acceptable velocity from that burn rate.

 

[skyrep]

Ive got some Norma 130 grain diamonds that Im gonna try out of my 20" IBI barrel. Starting at 42grain H4350, will top out at 43.4 grains at 2.171 CTO, 2.775 COAL. Have no idea how these will shoot but Ive got high hopes.

sboone, I've tried both H4350 and Varget - 39.6 of varget got me 2845 fps with sd: 6.4. 43.5 of H4350 got me more speed (2888 fps with SD: 3.3). Work up both powders. COAL: 2.765 for varget and 2.760 with H4380.
good luck.

 

[sboone]

sboone, I've tried both H4350 and Varget - 39.6 of varget got me 2845 fps with sd: 6.4. 43.5 of H4350 got me more speed (2888 fps with SD: 3.3). Work up both powders. COAL: 2.765 for varget and 2.760 with H4380.
good luck.

Thanks, I settled on 43.4 grains of H4350, ran a couple loads above that up to 44 and they started to fall apart and heavy bolt lift. 2.17" CTO still. Have shot about 50 rounds if this load so far, MV 2740 fps, SD is usually in the 5fps range, with federal brass and CCI 200. I was head shottinf a ground hog sillouhette at 350yds pretty easily, and at 600yds a head shot on 2/3 sillouhette was easy day too. 100 yd zero, drop dialed in was 3.7 mils for 600yds. Im happy with this load for sure.