Reloading 6.5 Creedmoor

[Ernest T]

I've reloaded 45 ACP, 9 MM and 223 Remington so far. I've not done any real precision reloading with those cartridges since I shoot them in multiple guns. My main goal is to make a round that fits into the cartridge gauge and magazine. I'm going to start reloading 6.5 for my Axis II Precision so this will be my first hands on experience tailoring the cartridge length to a chamber. I'm reusing Hornady brass fired in my gun and plan to work up loads for Hornady 140 grain ELD Match bullets using the data in the Hornady manual for RL-16 powder. Unfortunately, I'm still lacking large rifle primers, but I hope to be able to round up some soon.

[celltech]

Get some Lapua SRP, bush the bolt, and never look back.

[Robinhood]

Most started with Hornady because that is all there was then. Sub 1" groups at 400 yrds was easy with a couple of 140 class projectiles. Eventually Lapua did come out with the better brass and for both SRP and LRP. Like "Celtic" said, the small brass was the stuff to have. If you get a chance try the SMK 142 and Lapua 139s....If they still make them.

[rerun5]

Keep an eye on Natchez, they seem to have had primers available frequently lately.

[Ernest T]

I didn't know Lapua made small primer brass for 6.5 Creedmoor - I looked for some and not only is it twice as expensive as Hornady, it seems to be out of stock everywhere!

[Ernest T]

Keep an eye on Natchez, they seem to have had primers available frequently lately.

I check daily, I found all my primers at Natchez or Brownell's. They seem to be the only place besides Target Sports getting primers. Target Sports has them reliably, but they only sell in lots of 5000 and they want $599.95 for it!

[PhilC]

Keep an eye on Natchez, they seem to have had primers available frequently lately.

All but large rifle, which is fine by me since I have small rifle brass for my 6.5CM and 7BR.

In addition to Lapua, Peterson makes SRP brass for 6.5CM and I believe ADG does, or did, but no 6.5CM brass currrently shown on their website.

[CFJunkie]

I have three Savage 6.5mm CMs.

Two shoot most accurately with 140 ELD-M, 142 SMK, and 147 ELD-M, and almost as accurately with 143 ELD-Xs.
The other shoots most accurately with 130 TMKs and 130 ELD-Ms and 123 ELD-Ms. It shoots 140s and up to 147s OK well just not as accurately.
It also shoots 130 SGKs almost as accurately as the Match bullets.

Don't be afraid to try different weights - you may be surprised.
The good part is all three shoot the 140 ELD-Ms accurately so they are a good place to start.

One lesson learned. Berger 140 Match, 140 Long Range and 140 Hybrid bullets took lots of experimenting to find a seating depth they liked. I sent a lot of rounds down range before I figured them out.
Once I did, they shot accurately, but I spent a lot of money on expensive bullets trying to break the code.

Lapua SRP brass was the only Lapua 6.5mm available for the first few years I was reloading 6.5mm CM.
It shot better than Hornady, or Norma LRP brass and lasted longer. No brainer for me.
Actually, loading over 20 reloads with Lapua made it cheaper per reload than the cheaper Hornady brass and the more expensive Norma brass.

[charlie b]

I shoot a lot of cast bullets in my .308 so I made a throat cast. The throat on mine is exactly SAAMI spec. For my use that is a very short throat. But, if using bullets like the Berger 155's, the throat is almost too long. When seated to lightly jam (where these Bergers are best) then the bullets are seated out long.

IMHO, the reason throats seem 'long' is due to the extended range ogives used these days. Makes for a lot of bullet far into the throat.

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