6CM Load Data

[Cjwise5]

Going to start reloading for 6CM. Will be running Hornady brass, Hornady 108gr ELD, H4350.
Anyone have a good load for this combo? What’s a good place to start? 42.0 grains?

 

[stello1001]

Please do not start at 42 grains. That may actually be where you and up. There's a saying, it's "load/work your way up" so that should tell you something...

 

[Ranger188]

That might be a little warm to start with. Depending on other factors.
Make sure you have at least 120 rounds down the tube, for it to be settled down.
Hornady bullets aren't to sensitive to jump, so start at 20 thousand off and 40.0g
and go up by .2 powder. Should find a couple of good shooting nodes.
If you don't like the H4350, try RL16.

 

[Cjwise5]

Ha. Yes agree. This is why I’m asking. I’m not new to reloading by a long shot. But I am new to reloading for 6CM.

 

[Cjwise5]

Thanks Ranger

 

[Ranger188]

Sorry, you never know who your dealing with.
I preferred the RL16, it gives a little more fps than H4350 with less pressure
and 42.0 is about max. (3100 fps) I ran the 107 smk's
It's a shooter but gives up alot on barrel life. Went thru 3 barrels. Must have liked it.

 

[tlsmith22]

I use H4350 for 105 Bergers in my 6CM and have tried both Hornady and Lapua brass. You will notice that the Hornady brass is quite a bit slower than Lapua but shoots just as good. I ended up at 42 for both brands of brass with abt 60 FPS difference in the two. The Berger, like the Hornady 108 isn’t very jump sensitive either.

 

[Cjwise5]

Excellent thanks dudes. I don’t have very much RL16 so I’ll probably use the H4350.
You think starting at 40.0gr is good? I’ve heard most people find their nodes closer to 42.
Also, I’m way more interested in small SD/ES, and groups than I am speed.
6CM should absolutely be over 3000fps though, right?

 

[tlsmith22]

The factory Berger 105/Lapua combo runs right at 2970 out of my 26” Bartlein barrel. Handloads using Hornady brass run 3090-3100 and the Lapua brass runs about 3150.

FYI- The factory Berger 105/Lapua shoots really good also

 

[Doc68]

When I was shooting the 108gr eld I was shooting around 40.8, at 41.2 accuracy was off and was showing pressure signs. I was using H4350.

I settled on shooting the 95gr Sierra TMKs however. Rifle loved them a lot more in the end.

 

[Ranger188]

You will find a couple good nodes, and will depend on the brass
it will vary only a .1 or .2 of powder.
Never used Hornady brass, only Lapua and Alpha.
Used Lapua first and necked down 6.5 brass before they started producing it.
Then went to Alpha,. First company to come out with 6 creed brass. It wouldn't take the pressures that the Lapua would
blew primers at 3100 fps + Then Lapua made 6 brass and stayed with them and never had a problem.
Heard that Alpha problem from others too.
If you have a 26+ inch barrel and it's fast, might get to the 3150 fps, but thats cooking. Short barrel life
The 6 creed case seems to have a node about every .6g of powder.
Since you are not looking for a lot of speed, try and start at the 40.0 and go up from there and find what
fits your needs.

 

[Cjwise5]

@Ranger188 thank you that's helpful. Got a really good deal on Starline brass, which I know is a cheap brand, but I've been hearing good things about it this past year. I'll give it a try during load development and see what happens. If it turns out to be crap, I'll just go with Lapua which is my usual go-to.

 

[tlsmith22]

I just finished loading up 20 rounds of 105 Bergers and RL26 to test tomorrow, weather permitting. Gonna do the Satterlee method and see how it goes. Most people were finding the node around 45 grains so I loaded up a few extra of those to shoot at 1000 and see how they group.

 

[LawnMM]

What’s a good place to start? 42.0 grains?

If you want 1100rds of barrel life, sure.

A buddy is breaking in a 6cm barrel, he's at about 38gr and a bit over 2900fps. I'd start at 38gr and aim for 2950.

 

[Cjwise5]

I'm definitely not looking for blazing fast speed. I started at 40 grains and loaded by .2 up to 42. Doing Satterlee method with that tomorrow morning. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Sincerd]

What's everyone's too 5 powders? I know H4350 and I've heard imr 4350 mentioned. What else is a safe bet?

 

[Dschapp44]

I would give R16 or R23 if I didn’t want to use H4350

 

[Sincerd]

Wouldnt mind using it, if it wasent out of stock everywhere!

 

[Cjwise5]

Results from today's load test. I'll probably load .6 - .9 by ones, and look for best consistency. Then play with seating depth.
What do you guys think?

 

[LawnMM]

I think your barrel life will be commensurate with being a half grain under pressure signs buddy. ?

 

[Cjwise5]

I'm sure. I'm not really worried about barrel life...yet. We'll see how many matches I shoot this year.

 

[6brshooter]

It's just a barrel, no point in having a hot rodded 383 stroker and putting a 2 barrel on it. 41.8gr h4350, lapua brass cci450 and 105hybrids were good for 3090 in a 26" criterion. 41.4 gr rl16 and same components ran 3130fps

5rds rl16 load.