Favorite 6.5 Cartridge

[65WSM]

SuperPerformance is Ball powder and Retumbo is stick. Retumbo is made by ADI Australian Defense Industries and SuperPerformance is made in USA (St Marks of Florida) These two powders could not be more different. I suspect that SuperPerformance is the definition of temperature sensitive like the other St Marks powders (748 and 760 are the poster children) and Retumbo is less so.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

SuperPerformance is Ball powder and Retumbo is stick. Retumbo is made by ADI Australian Defense Industries and SuperPerformance is made in USA (St Marks of Florida) These two powders could not be more different. I suspect that SuperPerformance is the definition of temperature sensitive like the other St Marks powders (748 and 760 are the poster children) and Retumbo is less so.

I've got 8 lbs of SP on the way so I guess I'll be finding out. I wouldn't think that an ammo manufacturer would be using sensitive powder for commercial ammo, especially their high performance ammo. Interesting

 

[limige]

6.5 creedmoor, can't believe it ain't on the list. Designed from the ground up as a short action cartridge that works well in ARs and bolt guns. Stock rifles shooting fairly well out of box out to 600-1000 yrds.

Berger VLDs traveling 2750-2850 fps seem to be the ticket.

Brass and barrel life are good with a mild kick and only 41-43 gr needed to achieve long range accuracy.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

6.5 creedmoor, can't believe it ain't on the list. Designed from the ground up as a short action cartridge that works well in ARs and bolt guns. Stock rifles shooting fairly well out of box out to 600-1000 yrds.

Berger VLDs traveling 2750-2850 fps seem to be the ticket.

Brass and barrel life are good with a mild kick and only 41-43 gr needed to achieve long range accuracy.

Yeah, what a knucklehead... I can't believe it isn't on the list either!

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Yup, you have been getting great results for sure with N-570. I have had some great results with RL17 in a couple of cartridges and when it works, it gives me 200 fps more velocity than next fastest powders which would be H4350 in the 300 WSM and Retumbo in the 25-06. I think that nitriding my barrel will reduce the pressure curve allowing me to use a faster burning powder like RL17. like I've mentioned in other posts, this is just a theory so we will see. If RL17, SP, or Retumbo don't deliver good velocities, I might try N5-70 but if your getting 100% capicity without a nitrided barrel, I suspect it may be too slow for a nitrded barrel.

Did you try 215's at all? Maybe I'll try 215's and 210's. I like the idea of using 215's in case of extreme cold temps.
...

I agree, RL-17 does amazing things in my Patriot, like 168 TTSX' at near 3400 amazing gun) I need to verify that again but the initial test was jaw dropping. I haven't used a single primer except the 210 in my 6.5. LTLR recommended them (where did he go anyway?) So that's where I started.

Awesome. Thanks!

That software is pretty cool. The first couple times I used it I got a little frustrated trying to convert to JPG but I got'er done. Glad I could help you guys out.


t

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I haven't seen any ad that Superformance is temp stable. However I did chronograph Hornady 129 gr SST Superformance ammo at 40 below and it was close to advertised velocity. So maybe it is temp stable.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

6.5 creedmoor, can't believe it ain't on the list. Designed from the ground up as a short action cartridge that works well in ARs and bolt guns. Stock rifles shooting fairly well out of box out to 600-1000 yrds.

Berger VLDs traveling 2750-2850 fps seem to be the ticket.

Brass and barrel life are good with a mild kick and only 41-43 gr needed to achieve long range accuracy.

I was pretty surprised also. I mean how many rifles are made in 6.5 Lapua? ?
Not knocking that round. But it doesn't seem to have a huge following. ,

 

[Outlaw6.0]

I was pretty surprised also. I mean how many rifles are made in 6.5 Lapua? ?
Not knocking that round. But it doesn't seem to have a huge following. ,

The 6.5x47 has been out WAY longer than the 6.5 creed. It has a pretty large following in the tactical crowd. There are a lot more rifles out there than you'd think. They just aren't on the "hot" list anymore as newer & newer cartridges that do essentially the same thing are introduced.


t

 

[limige]

Personally I think the most popular are
Grendel
creedmoor
6.5x55
6.5x284
6.5x47 L
.260 rem
.260 win mag

These seem to be the most widely accepted here in the states.

 

[65WSM]

Re: Favorite5 Cartridge

Coldfinger

Was that "Ammo" you chronographed at 40 below any particular cartridge or just "Ammo".

What was your Standard Deviation and Extreme Spread? You missed your chance to really understand the powder primer combination because you did not have a control for comparison. Loaded ammo is not that instructive to handloaders because of the dozen or so blends that the manufacturers use. We have only one "canister grade" to work with. Often ball powder like H870 and H450 and other surplus St Marks is so loaded up with retardant that it is hard to light. We used 1.5 gr of Red Dot over the F215s to get H-870 lit in the .264 Winchester Magnum. What do you think happened in cold weather?

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Personally I think the most popular are
Grendel
creedmoor
6.5x55
6.5x284
6.5x47 L
.260 rem
.260 win mag

These seem to be the most widely accepted here in the states.

So far, the results of this poll show

6.5x284
264 WM
260 Rem
6.5-06
6.5x47 L
6.5 WSM

The 6.5x 264 is way out in front which doesn't surprise me. Unfortunately the Swede, CM and Grendel are not on the list. If they were I suspect the Swede and CM would probably fall somewhere between the top two coming in 2nd and 3rd.

 

[Jumpalot]

So far, the results of this poll show

6.5x284
264 WM
260 Rem
6.5-06
6.5x47 L
6.5 WSM

The 6.5x 264 is way out in front which doesn't surprise me. Unfortunately the Swede, CM and Grendel are not on the list. If they were I suspect the Swede and CM would probably fall somewhere between the top two coming in 2nd and 3rd.

Umm...Where is the 260 listed in the poll??

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Umm...Where is the 260 listed in the poll??

As noted in post #2, the 6.5 Rem = 260 Rem. It was a typo

 

[hhack]

You know I'm more of a BC and mild velocity guy but I've been thinking about trying to get a 130 into the velocity range your looking. I've loaded very few 130 gr bullets in my 270 WSM but my buddy got me some 130 BT's so I though I would try them to see if it would be worth trying some of the 130 CE's in the 270WSM. I was able to hit 3470fps with Superformance powder and the 130BT, the 130 CE's would yield a bit higher velocity with less bearing surface and with a BC close to the 130 6.5 CE I think I can hit the velocity your looking for without pushing overly hard and with a standard twist rate.

I too have been using superformance for my 270 wsm with good results. would you consider comparing notes. I have shot 130gr berger hunting vld and 130 nosler accubonds. My col has been limited short magazine length but I have been getting from 3410fps with noslers and the bergers at 3320. I was using 67gr with the nosler and 66.2 gr with the bergers. This was with a 24" barrel.