The Creedmoor Forum

I know H4350 is out of the equation, due to availability or whether it will work with this bullet weight or not? I'm looking for a temp stable powder, I have a 24'' 1in8 twist barrel, a new Savage, I purchased a box of Hornady 147 ELDM that shoot extremely accurate from my rifle, I am a BC kind of guy! long range shooter, I have been a 308win shooter and new to the 6.5CM I'm only interested in powders for the 147gn ELDM, I'm also not looking for Max velocities, more like 2600 to 2700fps range, Factory Hornady 147's are listed @2695fps, I have been surfing the web on powders, and load data for this bullet weight but kind of con fused, due to conflicting info, I plan to turn my necks, find the OAL to the lands, body size the cases only and neck size the necks, ect , and tune the my loads to the rifle, as I do for all my bolt guns, I need sold info on powders for what I intend to do with out have to purchase a bunch of different powders, What say U

H4350 works just fine with the 147 ELDs. It's in and out of availability. IMR4451 will work also.

The last time I looked H4350 was the only one on the shelf. 

h 4350 or reloader 16 would be your 2 best choices in my opinion... a few others will work also.. but the first two I mentioned would be the gold standards... both powders are available most places you look right now...

What brand of cases are you using?

I have not decided on cases yet, I usually run Lapua brass, but I may try Hornady or Starline? Hornady brass can be purchased at reasonable prices, but is it any good?

Quote from: gman47564 on January 04, 2020, 05:36:55 PMh 4350 or reloader 16 would be your 2 best choices in my opinion... a few others will work also.. but the first two I mentioned would be the gold standards... both powders are available most places you look right now...

+1 for Reloader 16.  It's not temp sensitive either.

Quote from: Mark611 on January 05, 2020, 03:25:40 AMI have not decided on cases yet, I usually run Lapua brass, but I may try Hornady or Starline? Hornady brass can be purchased at reasonable prices, but is it any good?

I've given SIG brass a try and so far the accuracy results with it is every bit as good as Starline.  A bit cheaper too.

Quote from: Mark611 on January 05, 2020, 03:25:40 AMHornady brass can be purchased at reasonable prices, but is it any good?

No issues for me getting very accurate ammo with it. Have some with over 10 firings but depends on the rifle and load to how much the primer pockets open up.

Quote from: Mark611 on January 05, 2020, 03:25:40 AMI have not decided on cases yet, I usually run Lapua brass, but I may try Hornady or Starline? Hornady brass can be purchased at reasonable prices, but is it any good?

I used to complain about Hornady brass but learned if you hit it with a couple moderate firings then step up but don't go crazy the pockets seem to hold up better.

Years ago I had some factory ammo that the pockets were loose on after the original firing. Tight bore & chamber on the Savage barrel were tossed around as reasons. Maybe I don't know but I put over 1500 rounds on the barrel and most of those primer pockets that were too loose to hold a Winchester primer would hold a CCI or Federal primers just fine for 5 or 6 reloads.

Nothing wrong with Hornady brass. It is reasonably priced, has a good recycle "shelf life" if not abused, and is readily available. It will give good accuracy loads as is and will give you better accuracy if you sort and cull the case capacity outliers. If you are willing to pay more for brass that has less sort and cull expense, consider Peterson or Alpha. The Peterson brass has a more "traditional"  case capacity.

OK thanks guy's, I do have some questions about the small primer cases, as I do read it has longer case life? Also do they require magnum primers to work efficiently? 

Quote from: Mark611 on January 06, 2020, 03:01:22 PMOK thanks guy's, I do have some questions about the small primer cases, as I do read it has longer case life? Also do they require magnum primers to work efficiently?

I think the SP cases are stronger most notably in the head and pocket. I also think like LP brass they should be shot at a medium load the first firing or two to help increase life.

Primers should be tested but I've had good luck with regular, BR & magnum primers but if I were going to buy one SP primer only I'd buy the CCI 450s and run them in the 6.5 Creedmoor but they don't require it.

I have been using 147 eldm in starline small primer and wolf small rifle magnums. the ladder test was getting sticky bolt and ejector marks at 41 grains of h4350. gun is a 24 inch criterion and velocity was close to 2710. Anyone having problems with this combo and sticky bolt on so low of charge weight?

Try Peterson SP brass. I've found it slightly more consistent than Lapua and very tight pockets which hold up well. CCI450's work well with SP's.  H4350 and RE16 as mentioned.