6.5cm discovery

I developed an accurate handload for my 6.5CM Weatherby Vanguard 24" barrel. 39.8gr H4350 shooting 140gr Nosler Accubonds. Gave great accuracy and produced 3 one shot kills this past season at varying ranges. A hunting buddy handed me a box of Hornady Precision Hunters with 143 ELDx bullets to try out. They shot a clover group at 200yds all 5 holes touching. Shot another 5 after things cooled down with the same results. I think I will stock up on those Hornady factory rounds since I don't think I can easily match this accuracy with handloads, actually why bother.

Load the same bullet to the same length and test mid 39's to mid 41.x grain charges of H4350, I would guess you will be at 41.2 or 41.3 when you see the same accuracy or maybe even a little better in brass that fits your rifle well after it's been fired 1 or 2 times. That load has shot best in every one that I have seen. I don't have a box to look at right now but I recall that being on the ammo early on, and yes they actually put the load data on the box for a while.

I'll always choose accuracy over velocity, but there's often more than one accuracy node in load development. I've developed several loads in 6.5 CM, and the powder charge you've settled on is a bit lower than what most loaders use for this cartridge.

My loads in H4350 (which is a great stable powder for the 6.5 CM) are in the 41.8 range, delivering 140-143 grain bullets in the 2750 fps range. You didn't state what your velocity is, but with that powder charge, I'd guess in the mid 2600s. These loads of mine are grouping 3-shot groups below .5 moa, so I'm not giving up any accuracy.

Most powders are around 50 fps per grain, so you're leaving about 100 fps velocity on the table. That's not a ton of speed, but if you wanted to continue the load development, I'd bet a pastrami sandwich you'd find a good accurate load in the upper 41 grain range. It will give you better terminal energy and better wind compensation.

I'm shooting a CA Mesa with a 22" barrel, so I'm giving up about 20 fps with the shorter barrel too.

There's nothing wrong with shooting factory ammo from your man bun rifle. That's the allure of the cartridge. Anyone can grab a rifle and some box ammo and it will shoot decently…for the most part.
Box ammo will not shoot consistently lot to lot though. So, you better be ready to drop some coin if you want you rifle to shoot the same over time…

My 6.5 CM has probably been the easiest rifle to work up a load with. I purchased my CM to shoot instead of shooting my hunting rifles all the time.
I have loaded 2 different 140 grain bullets (eldm / BT) using 4 different powder's and all have been good.
If you are only going to shoot a half box a year then you may as well just buy a few boxes of the same lot but as was mentioned above the next time you buy the results may not be the same. I'd just buy some bullets and load em up and then you know that they will shoot but I enjoy working up loads.
Top pic 140 eldm. Bottom 140 BT

It might be that your rifle likes those bullets better. 41.5 gr H 4350 and a 210m with the 140 eld was the original factory load.

emp1953 said:

I developed an accurate handload for my 6.5CM Weatherby Vanguard 24" barrel. 39.8gr H4350 shooting 140gr Nosler Accubonds. Gave great accuracy and produced 3 one shot kills this past season at varying ranges. A hunting buddy handed me a box of Hornady Precision Hunters with 143 ELDx bullets to try out. They shot a clover group at 200yds all 5 holes touching. Shot another 5 after things cooled down with the same results. I think I will stock up on those Hornady factory rounds since I don't think I can easily match this accuracy with handloads, actually why bother.

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Buy a case or two of that exact lot and you'll be set!

The Creedmoor gets bashed on the forum pretty good at times, but its one of the best selling cartridges made at this time. Its very easy to shoot with low recoil and great accuracy in most everything its loaded in.
I've owned four of them, but none at the moment. All sold or given away to friends and relatives. Twelve year old little girl kills her first buck and grand dad must buy that rifle for her. My niece killed her first buck with a CA Mesa in 6.5 CM. Now its in Ohio with her.
I'm afraid to buy another one, I may not get to shoot it.

Rosebud said:

The Creedmoor gets bashed on the forum pretty good at times

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Boy is that a understatement!
I used to be a basher until another member convinced me to buy one and now I love the cartridge.
Just like any tool it has limitations and as long as you stay within the limits you will be happy with the results. I know I am.

emp1953 said:

I developed an accurate handload for my 6.5CM Weatherby Vanguard 24" barrel. 39.8gr H4350 shooting 140gr Nosler Accubonds. Gave great accuracy and produced 3 one shot kills this past season at varying ranges. A hunting buddy handed me a box of Hornady Precision Hunters with 143 ELDx bullets to try out. They shot a clover group at 200yds all 5 holes touching. Shot another 5 after things cooled down with the same results. I think I will stock up on those Hornady factory rounds since I don't think I can easily match this accuracy with handloads, actually why bother.

Click to expand...

The accubond is a better bullet IMO so I would personally keep loading.

My friends son had a bull elk hunt this year so I loaded some Barnes TTSX for him in his 6.5cm. I loaded a test load of I think 42gr of H4350. His 11yr old shot 3 rounds in the same hole at 100 yards. He dumped a nice bull at 80yrds with it in September. 1 shot, the bull ran 30yrd.

What got me into a Creedmoor was when my favorite deer rifle had the barrel die.CZ550 in 6.5x55. I'd hunted with it and shot paper for two decades. This happened when the ammo crisis was in full bloom and my GS said two years for him to get to replacing the barrel. I saw the ballistics on the CM and the Sweed were almost identical. That's when I bought a JP Sauer 6.5 CM and hunted with it two years until best friends grand daughter shot a 8 PT with it.

Reason for hand loads is more than just accuracy for this group or page. Having low velocity dispersion with accuracy at long range is key. Repeatability is another important part of the process for long range success. For normal hunting situations, accuracy is definitely a worthy goal alone.

It is such a great round. Gets a bad rep form guys buying them and target ammo and sending lead farther than they should after game. Keep it at any distance that you would a 7mm-08 and it will be a great little round. It won me I've ran I do most of my hunting with that pushing the 123gr hammer. Taken several elk at 600. I keep it under 650 and take into account wind and conditions and it's always been a great rifle.

Mine is so accurate and easy to load for. I have my HMR stock 4.25lb I put on it in spring to fall for target shooting and a Grayboe 23oz hunting stock for fall/winter for hunting. Its just a wonder round, despite the internet's hate/jealousy. It refuses to not shoot well.