The Creedmoor Forum

Just scratching the surface on trying this fairly new "easy metering" powder.  Burning rate is between H4350 and H4831.  I loaded some 140 gr. A-Max bullets in some spare cases I had that were "formed from IMI .308 brass" with 40.9 grs. of Hybrid 100V which Hogdons 2011 manual lists as maximum...velocity 2736 fps. Hornadys 8th edition manual lists 42.8 grs. as Max ...velocity 2725 fps.  Confusing...... so I called Hornady and asked "there is almost a 2 grain difference using the same barrel length and twist...which info is correct"?  The answer I got was "BOTH".  Any way the reason I loaded them with 40.9 grs. is that the IMI .308 cases made into 6.5 Creedmoor cases are about 20 grains heavier so one would assume they would hold less powder, so I decided to work up from there.  Getting to the point.. they produced just under .5 MOA  in my friends DPMS LR 6.5 Creedmoor at 200 yards.  Have not tried a ladder for the loads yet.  Has anyone on the forum tried this powder with the 140's or heavier bullets yet; like 42.5grs. of H100V in "Hornady" 6.5 cases w/140 A-Max?  Preferably in a 26" or 28" barrel?  YMMV

Loading for competition.....Redding suggests subtracting .002" from the smallest average neck diameter of several loaded rounds, and that diameter bushing is the one to use to create the proper press fit for the bullet.   My question for the forum is.....Should a person go ahead and seat the bullets (after charging with powder) or......should he use the furnished sizing button (expander ball) and pull the expander thru the neck after sizing with the recommended bushing?  Example..... a .2925" neck diameter of a loaded round  (Hornady 140gr. A-Max ammo) subtracting .002" results would be .2905"......so say we use a .290 bushing (numbers down)...would you/should you pull the supplied expander (sizing button) thru the neck and why?  The argument is the expander will insure that each cartridge has the same bullet grip.  But if the necks of the cases are uniform in thickness isn't that a moot point?  If the expander is not of the "floating" (carbide size button) type, isn't it possible to affect the concentricity of the case by pulling it off center?   So is it really necessary to size more than .002" in the first place to get the proper press fit for the bullet?   I believe in using a bronze bore brush to run thru the case neck before sizing to remove carbon build up can't hurt either.    YMMV

Lapua .260 Remington brass cases are now available and I will be re-forming them into 6.5 Creedmoor cases this week.  Supposedly the "New" Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass is harder than their previous cases (in the head area) I have not found this to be the case.  I also have experienced some abrasiveness in the neck interior of the newer (annealed) Hornady cases even though I brushed them with a  nylon "neck" brush and chamfered them with a "Holland's" 14 degree chamfer tool and sized with a Redding .288TN bushing "S" die prior to loading.  If I pull a bullet from a re-loaded round (140 A-Max) abrasions appear on the sides of the bullet that were below the mouth of the case (not from the collet of the puller & neck thickness is the same as their earlier cases).  These (abrasions) did not appear on their earlier manufactured brass.  Maybe Hornady should to go back to polishing its cases after annealing the neck?

Product report.....I have been using a  LaRue Tactical SPR 1.5 (LT-104) on my DPMS LR 6.5 Creedmoor and recently found that LaRue's SPR-S mount LT-158 is a BETTER CHOICE for this platform.  It has 10 MOA of down angle to allow for longer ranges (more available elevation is good) and it places the centerline of the optic 1.44" above the top of the rail.  It should arrive next week along with my Geissle DMR trigger, (going to put my LT-104 and SSA in my 6.8 SPC II) so as soon as I put them in and re-zero, after a short trigger break in period I will post the results/findings. 

It took me a while.... but I finally got a decent day to chrono my "Black Mamba" 24" barreled  DPMS LR 6.5 Creedmoor.  The load was with NEW factory annealed Hornady brass, Federal GM210M match primers and 41.9 grs. of H4350 using 140 gr. A-Max bullets loaded to 2.810".   Oehler 35P chrono/printer with screens spaced 10 feet from the muzzle.  Average muzzle velocity was  2704 fps... e.s. 0021 .....s.d.  0008...  Elevation 875.... Temperature 55..... wind 8-10mph.   No surprises here.....  primers are still rounded and feeding, extraction, and ejection have had zero problems...NADA.   Next time I will load a few at 42.5 grs and see if a half grain more creates enough of a velocity gain to make it worthwhile.  Shooting for 2750 fps with a 24" barrel with a 140 A-Max which I feel is do-able in a gas gun.  Today's mirage at 600 yards made it difficult but... the "Black Mamba" still continues to print small groups aside from the occasional error on the part of the shooter who doesent always have his $hit together.

I guess im guilty of being a persistent contributer to this site.  If that has offended anyone I apologize.  My intent is only to help others when ever I can.  I realize I post more often then most members, but I only want the site to be a sucess and reach out to other 6.5 Creedmoor owners.  Thanks for all the excellent information and support from all the other members on this forum it has become a great source of information for new 6.5 Creedmoor owners.

Graf & Sons pt# HRN86281 going for $32.79... 50/BX if you buy 4 "IN STOCK" boxes.... shipping and handling is free.  Yes they are a dollar or 2 higher but when you figure it out without shiping and handling they are good to go.  Seems Midway, Midsouth and Natchez are out of stock.
Almost forgot...they have Loaded Hornady 140gr. A-Max in stock too....HRN81494 for $23.99

Im thinking about switching from vibratory case cleaning (using media) to an Ultra-Sonic cleaner for cleaning my brass cases.  The one I have in mind is the New Hornady #043340 "Magnum" version cleaner.  Have any other forum members had "hands on" experience using Sonic cleaners for cleaning brass?  I understand that they do a nice job of cleaning, not only the outside of the cases but the INSIDE carbon deposits are supposedly eliminated in addition to having the primer pockets cleaned in the  process. 

It gets confusing when Hornady prints on its Match 140gr A-Max factory loading info. (on the end) of the cartridge box that 41.5grs. of H4350 is their recommended load for the 6.5 Creedmoor and then in their 8th edition Handbook they show 40.9grs. of H4350 as a "MAXIMUM" load!!!!  Got to be a misprint?  Didn't the early Hornady factory load/recommend 41.9grs of H4350 when they first introduced the 140gr. A-Max load?  They did such a good job in the 6.5 Creedmoor intro page and then did they give us confusing data on the 140gr. loading info page?   Or are newer lots of H4350 that much faster in burn rate to suggest a NEW reduction in charge weight?   Will the current lot of A-Max 140gr. C.M. loads have the reduced charge printed on the end cap? 

Shot this six shot group the other day at 600yds.... 140gr A-Max 41.9grs. H4350 w/DPMS LR 6.5 C.M.  The photo is an example as to what kind of accuracy this platform can produce with proper loads.  YMMV

Here is my 16"x8.5"x1" steel plate I got from my son, drilled a couple of 3/4" holes in the corners added a couple of shackles and chain so I could have something to shoot besides targets at our clubs 600 yard range with my DPMS LR 6.5 Creedmoor.   Will be painting one side white.

FYI....Need 6.5 Creedmoor brass?   Natchez has it  item # HO86281  $33.01/50.  Need loaded ammo 140gr. Hornady A-Max?    Midsouth has it item # 003-81494   $23.48/20. 

FWIW......Its taking me a while but I am making progress in getting to know this rifle little by little.  First the chambering/feeding slide over problem.  If I use Hornady brass factory loads or their loading info (duplication) I dont experience the problem.   At first I was unable to find Hornady brass, or loaded Hornady ammo for my 6.5 CM.  So I had to form some .243 Win. cases (of Remington manufacture) into 6.5 CM cases.  Hornady 6.5CM brass is the lightest in weight (= increased volume), reformed .243 Win. Remington brass is next, then Winchester, with Federal being the heaviest of the reformed .243 Brass.  It is obvious that the heavier (WW & FC) cases were resulting in higher pressures than the lighter Hornady  brass, due to the reduced internal volume.  So when I was using the 41.5gr. of H4350 with the 140gr. A-Max I was getting higher pressures which resulted in the cycling problems I experienced.  It was 19 degrees the other day here and I had acquired some Hornady 6.5CM brass loaded and shot it for the first time in my DPMS....no swipes on the brass and no feeding problems were experienced and the fired brass remained in good shape.  Five shots to zero in off the bi-pod and then 5 shots fired on a seperate target resulted in hole in the target a 1/2" in diameter at 100yds.  Im sure under decent conditions (above freezing) the group would have been smaller but my right hand and trigger finger were getting awfully cold.  I remember reading somewhere that DPMS stated  that some brass (hardness could also be a factor) would cause feeding problems and I am now a firm believer.  I have my fingers crossed tha Lapua or Nosler/Norma starts making Match grade 6.5 Creedmoor brass.... soon.   

Has any of the forum members shot the Lapua 139gr. Scenar bullet at 1,000 yards out of their 6.5 Creedmoor?   Type of rifle, load and barrel length would be appreciated.  With its .615 B.C. it would I.M.H.O. be the best bullet to use for distance in the 6.5 Creedmoor if it could be pushed fast enough.  Maybe im wrong in saying the 6.5 Creedmoor would not be competitive at 1,000.