Alliant Powder 6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Data

[bowman3899]

How was the accuracy of the rl 26?

[graydigger525]

Dunno.  Haven't got enough reproducible ladder data get to start picking through what might really work. 

Abandoning RL 16; even at 42.0 gr, getting flat and slightly cratered primers. Too volatile for me.

With the RL 26 will be interested to see if I have any precision nodes at MVs I never thought my guns could reach.  Been borescoping to see if it's rough on the lands ...  fun little project, have a parallel one with RL26 with a 230 gr. 300 WM .

[bowfishn]

How was the accuracy of the rl 26?

Here is my first test with and 143gr ELDX bullets. 3 shots 100 yards.
It is the load I will be working around, no pressure signs.

[smokinjoe]

Here is my first test with and 143gr ELDX bullets. 3 shots 100 yards.
It is the load I will be working around, no pressure signs.

How many grains of the RL-26 ?

[bowfishn]

How many grains of the RL-26 ?

48 gr. RL26, 2.890" COAL , Nosler Brass 52.70 gr H2O, BR2 Primers. 143gr ELDX bullets.

[bowfishn]

I just loaded up a 20 at 48 gr. COAL of 2.895 with my new Forster Bench Rest Seater Die, will test them and also will load 48.1, 48.2, 48.3, 48.4 at same COAL 15 each so I can check out 5 shot groups at various Coal. Will bring Hand Press and Forster seating die with me to try different settings.
Also I am using my 1010 powder scale it is much more accurate than my digital scale I used before. The digital has to average out charge and calculate if it goes up or down 4/100 of a grain, so it can be off as much as 8/100 of a grain, that equals as much as 6 fps ES. My 1010 is set up so I can see the movement of 1 kernel of powder which should reduce ES a bit, as well as I have turned the necks so all brass has same neck tension. ( I could not anneal because I had already Primed cases before I got parts to set up annealer)

[bowfishn]

Was at the range, picked up some Hornady Factory Brass from Factory Ammo. It had signs of high pressure brass, flowing into ejector hole creating quite a raised round mark on base of brass. Funny that Factory ammo has been worked up using pressure equipment but has pressure signs I would say is way over pressure. No wonder they had problems with primer pockets.

[bowman3899]

I shot some factory superformance that was to hot.

[bowfishn]

New Lot of RL26 was 12fps slower with the 48 gr. on the 143 ELD-X bullets, have adjusted QL for the difference, will take 48.2 gr to equal same vel I was getting with the 48 with old lot. I did go down and bought the last 2 lbs of the same lot so I now have 5 lbs of the lot.
I am going to test out the Nosler 142 ABLR bullets with the RL26 next.

[pjogrinc]

HI, First post here, but on other boards as well.

Should call this a Too many coffees before the range report, but shot 9 loads of RL16 and 139 grain Scenars to obtain data.
So here it is, and if I can get a pic posted, I'll include that.
My gun will leave very minor cratering on Nosler 140 gr. factory match.

MPA 6.5BA 6.5 Creedmoor
Nosler brass, new, factory neck was .288 and brass was not resized prior to firing.
Lapua 139 grain Scenars
F210M primer
RL16 powder
2.777 COAL, ~.017 off of lands
Distance 100 Yards

          LABRADAR AVG                            Fired case
Load  Velocity @Muzzle    Group              Length        Base Diam.    Neck Diam.    Comments

41.0    2776 AVG,  no sd    1.175/ 0.572    1.907          0.471            0.295              TOO MUCH COFFEE!  threw 2, called  needs load area retested.  Length, base and neck diameters are for 5 round avg.
41.3    2800 AVG/ 5.8 SD    0.484                                                                                Pulled 1, called
41.6    2818 ACG/ 8.9 SD    0.805/0.387                                                                      Pulled 1, called
41.9    2837 AVG/ 12.4 SD  0.733
42.2    2861 AVG/ 6.6 SD    0.672                1.908          0.4715          0.4715              Couple of primers showed start of cratering.
42.5    2871 AVG/ 6.4 SD    0.722/0.436                                                                      Pulled 1, called
42.8    4893 AVG/ 5.7 SD    1.241/0.364                                                                      Pulled 2, called both
43.1    2912 AVG/ 6.8 SD    0.812H/0.175V                                                                  Spread right to left, but 0.175 verticle
43.3    2932 AVG/ 11.0 SD  0.492                1.909          0.472            0.2955              All primers should and measured 0.001-0.0015 primer cratering.

All loads had no marks on the case head/rims and all were unchambered with no noticeable difference in lift pressure and all rechambered with no effort.

Think I need to retest 41.0 and 43.1 area again.

http://s149.photobucket.com/user/pjogrinc/media/65CM-RL16-139-Scenars-web_zpsff5a3aa3.jpg.html

[Cold Trigger Finger]

HI, First post here, but on other boards as well.

Should call this a Too many coffees before the range report, but shot 9 loads of RL16 and 139 grain Scenars to obtain data.
So here it is, and if I can get a pic posted, I'll include that.
My gun will leave very minor cratering on Nosler 140 gr. factory match.

MPA 6.5BA 6.5 Creedmoor
Nosler brass, new, factory neck was .288 and brass was not resized prior to firing.
Lapua 139 grain Scenars
F210M primer
RL16 powder
2.777 COAL, ~.017 off of lands
Distance 100 Yards

          LABRADAR AVG                            Fired case
Load  Velocity @Muzzle    Group              Length        Base Diam.    Neck Diam.    Comments

41.0    2776 AVG,  no sd    1.175/ 0.572    1.907          0.471            0.295              TOO MUCH COFFEE!  threw 2, called  needs load area retested.  Length, base and neck diameters are for 5 round avg.
41.3    2800 AVG/ 5.8 SD    0.484                                                                                Pulled 1, called
41.6    2818 ACG/ 8.9 SD    0.805/0.387                                                                      Pulled 1, called
41.9    2837 AVG/ 12.4 SD  0.733
42.2    2861 AVG/ 6.6 SD    0.672                1.908          0.4715          0.4715              Couple of primers showed start of cratering.
42.5    2871 AVG/ 6.4 SD    0.722/0.436                                                                      Pulled 1, called
42.8    4893 AVG/ 5.7 SD    1.241/0.364                                                                      Pulled 2, called both
43.1    2912 AVG/ 6.8 SD    0.812H/0.175V                                                                  Spread right to left, but 0.175 verticle
43.3    2932 AVG/ 11.0 SD  0.492                1.909          0.472            0.2955              All primers should and measured 0.001-0.0015 primer cratering.

All loads had no marks on the case head/rims and all were unchambered with no noticeable difference in lift pressure and all rechambered with no effort.

Think I need to retest 41.0 and 43.1 area again.

http://s149.photobucket.com/user/pjogrinc/media/65CM-RL16-139-Scenars-web_zpsff5a3aa3.jpg.html

 There, I hope this is the right pic.

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Pjogrinc; Welcome to the Creedmoor forum !
 Ya, I always enjoy getting good and coffeed up before I go to the range or start reloading too.  :-)
 Posting pics is easy from Pbuck . go to a pic, click the share tab. Click the Get Links tab .Click the IMG bar then copy that. The IMG bar . Then go to your post and paste the IMG in your post. When you post your reply it will come up as the picture , for all to see in your reply.
 Easy pie.

[bowfishn]

Did a little more testing with RL26 using 143 ELD-X bullets, this time treated withy HBN. It took about .5 gr more powder to equal velocities but I worked it around the test I had done that showed 48 gr to give me 2999 fps.
Using HBN the results were, 48.4 gr Coal of 2.890" 5 shots @ 100 yards .490" ctc including the shot I pulled, av vel 2986 fps ES of 10 fps SD of 4.5 fps
48.5 gr Coal of 2.885" 5 shots @ 100 yards ..376" ctc av vel 2990 fps ES fps of 10 SD of 5 fps

[graydigger525]

Hello Bowman3899

I apologize for taking so long to reply regarding the precision of RL-26 compared to H4350.(I abandoned investigation of RL-16 due to pressures as previously reported). 

Bottom line: for me, RL-26 is extremely promising and provides MVs that I could not dream of with H4350. 

Precision (with my rifles) is equivalent to H4350, despite a gain of ~150 fps MV.  Calibrated QL solutions support reasonable pressures developed during combustion, and I found only the very slightest evidence of primer flattening at the upper end of my ladders (48.1 gr = 2980 fps). Again, these are just what I got - standard disclaimer for folks to work up their own loads at their own risk.

Boring details:
Loading data:
Brass: 6.5 Creedmoor Nosler (between 3 and 10 firings weighing 157-158 gr, annealed after each firing), lot 4140271. Necks turned to 0.0130 thickness, CL 1.913", neck sized to 0.285". H20 capacity 52.6gr
Primers: Federal Match 210M, lot FG217
Bullets: Berger 140gr VLD-Hunting, pointed, lot 6454
BTO: 2.182" (0.048" jump), COL: 2.8440" [the jump this bullet likes for H4350 and this gun]
Gun: sweetened 24" Benchmark 7 contour 5 groove 1:8 twist with Miller Brake, Deviant Tactical small pin, Manners T6-A over-bedded mini-chassis, Jewell, Mk4 ER/T 8.5-25 on Mk 4 rings, Atlas bipod.

Ladder Details:
3 rounds each load tested over three separate days: ambient temp 53.0-63.5 F
Baro: 29.19-29.51
QL corrected Ba (RL26 lot #081516 Z 120916) = 0.3630
RL26 load (average MV three shots, LabRadar):
46.1 (2856)
46.3 (2875)
46.5 (2875)
46.9 (2928)
47.1 (2943)
47.3 (2961)
47.5 (2963)
47.7 (2975)

47.3 and 47.5 gr shot for group (5 shot groups x 2) on 5/20 and 5/21/17.
47.3 gr: MV 2961, SD 12
47.5 gr: MV 2977, SD 11

47.3 gr. presented as compiled overlay from two days of shooting.  POA was bottom of diamond.  Range 200 yds. Wind fishtailing, but predominantly right full value 3-6 mph. Shot prone off a mat on asphalt, Atlas bipod, Weibad rear bag. 

I think the vertical stringing is partially due to groups shot on two consecutive days.  Could also be some mirage lift/displacement (was strong this weekend) affecting POA, or simply me feeling a bit beat up after working up a new 230gr 300 WM load for six hours on that asphalt this weekend.  The horizontal stringing is consistent with wind.  The 47.5 gr. demonstrated a bit more vertical spread.

Sooooo.... I'm digging the potential of RL-26.  Looking forward to getting long range dope, testing temperature stability, and playing with some Berger 140 gr. Elite Hunters on this platform.

[bowfishn]

Hello Bowman3899

I apologize for taking so long to reply regarding the precision of RL-26 compared to H4350.(I abandoned investigation of RL-16 due to pressures as previously reported). 

Bottom line: for me, RL-26 is extremely promising and provides MVs that I could not dream of with H4350. 

Precision (with my rifles) is equivalent to H4350, despite a gain of ~150 fps MV.  Calibrated QL solutions support reasonable pressures developed during combustion, and I found only the very slightest evidence of primer flattening at the upper end of my ladders (48.1 gr = 2980 fps). Again, these are just what I got - standard disclaimer for folks to work up their own loads at their own risk.

Boring details:
Loading data:
Brass: 6.5 Creedmoor Nosler (between 3 and 10 firings weighing 157-158 gr, annealed after each firing), lot 4140271. Necks turned to 0.0130 thickness, CL 1.913", neck sized to 0.285". H20 capacity 52.6gr
Primers: Federal Match 210M, lot FG217
Bullets: Berger 140gr VLD-Hunting, pointed, lot 6454
BTO: 2.182" (0.048" jump), COL: 2.8440" [the jump this bullet likes for H4350 and this gun]
Gun: sweetened 24" Benchmark 7 contour 5 groove 1:8 twist with Miller Brake, Deviant Tactical small pin, Manners T6-A over-bedded mini-chassis, Jewell, Mk4 ER/T 8.5-25 on Mk 4 rings, Atlas bipod.

Ladder Details:
3 rounds each load tested over three separate days: ambient temp 53.0-63.5 F
Baro: 29.19-29.51
QL corrected Ba (RL26 lot #081516 Z 120916) = 0.3630
RL26 load (average MV three shots, LabRadar):
46.1 (2856)
46.3 (2875)
46.5 (2875)
46.9 (2928)
47.1 (2943)
47.3 (2961)
47.5 (2963)
47.7 (2975)

47.3 and 47.5 gr shot for group (5 shot groups x 2) on 5/20 and 5/21/17.
47.3 gr: MV 2961, SD 12
47.5 gr: MV 2977, SD 11

47.3 gr. presented as compiled overlay from two days of shooting.  POA was bottom of diamond.  Range 200 yds. Wind fishtailing, but predominantly right full value 3-6 mph. Shot prone off a mat on asphalt, Atlas bipod, Weibad rear bag. 

I think the vertical stringing is partially due to groups shot on two consecutive days.  Could also be some mirage lift/displacement (was strong this weekend) affecting POA, or simply me feeling a bit beat up after working up a new 230gr 300 WM load for six hours on that asphalt this weekend.  The horizontal stringing is consistent with wind.  The 47.5 gr. demonstrated a bit more vertical spread.

Sooooo.... I'm digging the potential of RL-26.  Looking forward to getting long range dope, testing temperature stability, and playing with some Berger 140 gr. Elite Hunters on this platform.

Nice to see your getting results with RL26 and you are getting good velocities as well and from a 24" tube.
It would appear you will be able to stretch it out to a mile with that set up.
Keep us up to speed on your results.
I have one other bullet I want to try, I ordered 100 of the JLK 130 vlds , they will have to shoot 3050 to 3100 fps with low ES and SD with tight groups or it looks like I will shoot the 143 ELD-Xs
I also have started coating with HBN, so far I am liking it, will see if it really makes for longer spells between cleaning. I tried to stretch it to 100 rounds before I started using HBN but started getting erratic high velocities and a couple extractor marks on my brass, but I was testing at 48.5 gr. @ 3029 fps. I had gone up to 49 gr of RL26 with the 143 with no pressure signs before the barrel was fouled, but according to my velocities 3054 fps the pressures were over . Because the dirty barrel caused pressure signs and because I was getting better SD and accuracy with 48 gr. I decided to keep it at the 3000 fps mark.