6.5CM Range Data, help with next steps

[Reformedcitykid]

Hey all, was hoping you fine folks could help me take a look at some range data. To this point I've loaded a shot a whole bunch of rounds of different bullet/powder combos, and want to start fine-tuning what I have. For whatever reason, the next steps of load development eludes me, even after watching numerous videos and reading as much as I can on it. I've put too much emphasis on group size, but I know that velocity matters more, and groups can be adjusted based on seating depth. I'm a hands-on learner, and think that it'll click once I get some feedback on rounds that I've actually loaded and put downrange, as opposed to looking at numbers and charts of other people's data.

Below is the data for one of the reloads, based on your thoughts I'll extrapolate that to my other loads. Any guidance would be much appreciated, thanks in advance!

140gr Berger Hybrid Target
H4350
CCI BR2 primers
Hornady 1x fired brass
CBTO - 2.303"
Rifle - Tikka T3x CTR w/ 20" barrel

Grain Powder (gr)	37.8	38.1	38.4	38.7	39.0	39.3	39.6	39.9	40.2	40.5	40.8	41.1
Shot #
Group In	0.834"	0.514"	0.259"	0.444"	1.054"	0.628"	0.173"	0.630"	0.785"	0.738"	0.819"	0.895"
Group MOA	0.797	0.491	0.248	0.424	1.007	0.6	0.165	0.602	0.75	0.705	0.783	0.855
Shot 1	2364	2377	2397	2415	2446	2466	2484	2490	2528	2507	2569	2556
Shot 2	2335	2339	2415	2418	2476	2460	2465	2485	2513	2501	2559	2574
Shot 3	2328	2360	2411		2460	2458	2462	2492	2499	2548	2545
Sum	7027	7076	7223	4833	7382	7384	7411	7467	7540	7556	7673	5130
Mean:	2342.3	2358.7	2407.7	2416.5	2460.7	2461.3	2470.3	2489.0	2513.3	2518.7	2557.7	2565.0
Median:	2335.0	2360.0	2411.0	2416.5	2460.0	2460.0	2465.0	2490.0	2513.0	2507.0	2559.0	2565.0
Min:	2328.0	2339.0	2397.0	2415.0	2446.0	2458.0	2462.0	2485.0	2499.0	2501.0	2545.0	2556.0
Max:	2364.0	2377.0	2415.0	2418.0	2476.0	2466.0	2484.0	2492.0	2528.0	2548.0	2569.0	2574.0
Shot #	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A
Standard Deviation (SD):	15.6	15.5	7.7	1.5	12.3	3.4	9.7	2.9	11.8	20.9	9.8	9.0
Extreme Spread (ES):	36.0	38.0	18.0	3.0	30.0	8.0	22.0	7.0	29.0	47.0	24.0	18.0

 

[clcustom1911]

OK, so, I've been doing a 147 ELD-M and 142 SMK on top of 41.5gr H4350 in Hornady brass out of my Tikka T3x Tac A1 24" for many years.

That 41.5gr of H4350 is a very well known powder charge for 6.5 creed.

For statistics purposes, 3 shots isn't enough information to make a permanent decision. I do a 10 shot string to confirm velocity data, then another 10 shot string for a group. A proper, statistically-ish valid sample size would be 33 rounds so you could get 1⁰, 2⁰, and 3⁰ degree standard deviations, etc.

Top velocity is not the goal. Safety First. A couple clicks up on your scope is easy to do. I tune my loads by doing a load ladder like you for velocity statistics. Then, for group size, I tune the seating depth. You'd be shocked how a change in seating depth will shrink/open groups.