Reloading 6.5 Creedmoor

[charlie b]

At least I don't have to deal with high humidity here :) The good news for me are the morning temps are finally dropping. That's the only time the wind calms down a bit around here.

FWIW, I've spent the past few months going further down the rabbit hole :) Getting smaller groups is addicting. Started with that darn 6BR. Now even my cast bullets are getting smaller groups and fewer fliers. Have to go out and prep the brass again today :)

[Ernest T]

Well, cooler weather is here and I've been doing a little shooting. Rifle season is like motorcycle season here, its from October to May. I started by using the IMR 4350 powder and the Berger VLD bullets I had left over from my experimentation last year. I think I've settled on H4350 and RL-16 along with Barnes Burner and Nosler RDF bullets going forward, so I just want to shoot these up.



I shot this load at 500 yards at my gun club and had consistently good results. They only have two steel targets, a full size ISPC target and a 4" gong so I decided to make my own setup and ordered 1/2" gongs from 3" to 12". I'll use 1" EMT as a stand and will need two.





I also went out to the Holley Gun Range and shot out to 950 yards. Since its deer season, the longer ranges are closed. I have not been back to the Reveille Peak Ranch since last spring. I can shoot out to 1700 yards there, but I need a spotter for that distance. I'm looking forward to the next few months.

[charlie b]

Looks like you've got it in hand.

Your target stand looks like mine :) I also use the EMT. I put longer hooks on mine so I would be sure to not hit the crossbar with a high shot. It is for 1000yd so a bit larger target (10"). I have a smaller 5" target I use at 600. The frame for it is 1/2" bar stock.

[Ernest T]

Looks like you've got it in hand.

Your target stand looks like mine :) I also use the EMT. I put longer hooks on mine so I would be sure to not hit the crossbar with a high shot. It is for 1000yd so a bit larger target (10"). I have a smaller 5" target I use at 600. The frame for it is 1/2" bar stock.

I've ordered a 11" hook to see how it works. These are the ones that came with the frame hardware.

[South Prairie jim]

We’re getting things together for some creedmoor load work, I may want to ask a couple things if maybe have something to add.

[Ernest T]

We’re getting things together for some creedmoor load work, I may want to ask a couple things if maybe have something to add.

Sure.

[Ernest T]

I took my 8 and 6" gongs to the range today for some long range shooting and the hooks didn't fit!!?? They fit the 3/8" thick gongs, but these 1/2" thick gongs are just thick enough so the hooks won't go through the holes. I have to find a little thinner hooks. I should have tried them out before driving all the way out there! I had to rig something up so I didn't waste the trip and ended up using small bungees to hook the gongs onto the AR500 hooks which didn't turn out to be a great idea. I hit the 6" target one time and blew it off the hook! The 8" lasted a little longer, but it too eventually succumbed to the mighty 6.5 CM! I wasn't prepared to make multiple 500 yard trips to the targets so I packed it up and called it a day.

[charlie b]

Still pretty good.

I found out about hanging 'straps' the hard way. The splash from the bullet cuts across anything soft. I used the rubber conveyor belt stuff and the splash would cut through it as well. I ended up with chains and carabiners (the cheap ones since they bend easy when shot).

[Ernest T]

I tried to drill out the holes so the hooks would fit better and went through one drill bit for three holes. That's some tough steel.

[charlie b]

LOL yeah it is. To compare I have some softer steel I use for pistols and cast bullets. I hit it a few times with my .223 (Sierra Match Kings) at 300yd and it left big craters. The AR steel it just takes off the paint.

[Ernest T]

I bought a 4" gong because the 6" wasn't much of a challenge from 500 yards. I hit it four out of five times the first time I shot at it -- I'm guessing the miss was low and left. I'm going to get a 2" and 3" gong to up the challenge.

[charlie b]

I use a 5" at 600. On a calm day it seems a bit 'easy' so I will also set up some soda cans.

My 3" is soft steel so it gets used with my cast bullet loads at 300yd.