OK, I have read and seen on multiple forums reports of pierced primers, cratering and hard extraction issues with the Norma Whitetail 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. I decided it's time to put a thread together with the positive and negative feedback on the Norma Whitetail 6.5 Creedmoor.(Mainly I was bored sitting at the house)
Yesterday while in town I made a few stops specifically looking for this particular ammunition, ironically, I found quite a bit of everything but the Norma. Finally, I resorted to going to Academy and they had 2 boxes, I left one and at $35 a box plus tax, I am glad I did.
I will start this goat roping
Set up:
Range 107yds, moderate right to left wind, custom steel and composite decking shooting bench, Rock BR competition front rest, standard rear bag, Labradar Sat below and behind the Muzzle Brake,
The rifle:
Browning X-Bolt Long Range Stalker 26" heavy steel barrel with the Recoil Hawg Muzzle Brake in place, wearing a Swarovski Z6 2.5 - 15 x 56mm BT BRH reticle scope, Mcarbo trigger spring adjusted to 2lbs 2.4oz ten pull average.
Rifle's abilities are pretty good even with me behind it
5rds of Barnes Precision Match 140gr OTM at the same 107yds
Now onto the results
I fired 10rds using the barrel cooler between every other round, fire 2, cool for 8 minutes, fire 2 repeat.
I didn't experience any pierced primers, extraction issues, extractor marks or any cratering, but what I did experience was horrible accuracy, average velocity below published specifications even with the longer barrel and an ES of 42fps. The accuracy maybe related to my rifle not liking this particular ammunition, but 1 1/2" - 1 3/4" diameter groups are unacceptable regardless.
The accuracy alone would prevent me from purchasing it in the future, the Barnes Precision Match was cheaper per box locally than the Norma Whitetail, so that cancels out the thought of using it for fire formed brass.
Primers and brass prior to the test:
Primers and brass after the test:
Labradar setup:
Labradar results:
I don't know why it didn't record two rounds, I think maybe it went to sleep or I didn't awaken it correctly after the cool down period.
Target:
Those larger squares are 1" and the small squares are 1/4"
Trigger pull average after the test
I didn't bother to measure the group, 5 of those rounds will hunt, the other 5 will loose you an animal outside of 100yds.
I am curious to see and hear about others experience with the Norma Whitetail 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, because there sure seems to be a lot of squawking lately about issues related to this ammo.
Yesterday while in town I made a few stops specifically looking for this particular ammunition, ironically, I found quite a bit of everything but the Norma. Finally, I resorted to going to Academy and they had 2 boxes, I left one and at $35 a box plus tax, I am glad I did.
I will start this goat roping
Set up:
Range 107yds, moderate right to left wind, custom steel and composite decking shooting bench, Rock BR competition front rest, standard rear bag, Labradar Sat below and behind the Muzzle Brake,
The rifle:
Browning X-Bolt Long Range Stalker 26" heavy steel barrel with the Recoil Hawg Muzzle Brake in place, wearing a Swarovski Z6 2.5 - 15 x 56mm BT BRH reticle scope, Mcarbo trigger spring adjusted to 2lbs 2.4oz ten pull average.
Rifle's abilities are pretty good even with me behind it
5rds of Barnes Precision Match 140gr OTM at the same 107yds
Now onto the results
I fired 10rds using the barrel cooler between every other round, fire 2, cool for 8 minutes, fire 2 repeat.
I didn't experience any pierced primers, extraction issues, extractor marks or any cratering, but what I did experience was horrible accuracy, average velocity below published specifications even with the longer barrel and an ES of 42fps. The accuracy maybe related to my rifle not liking this particular ammunition, but 1 1/2" - 1 3/4" diameter groups are unacceptable regardless.
The accuracy alone would prevent me from purchasing it in the future, the Barnes Precision Match was cheaper per box locally than the Norma Whitetail, so that cancels out the thought of using it for fire formed brass.
Primers and brass prior to the test:
Primers and brass after the test:
Labradar setup:
Labradar results:
I don't know why it didn't record two rounds, I think maybe it went to sleep or I didn't awaken it correctly after the cool down period.
Target:
Those larger squares are 1" and the small squares are 1/4"
Trigger pull average after the test
I didn't bother to measure the group, 5 of those rounds will hunt, the other 5 will loose you an animal outside of 100yds.
I am curious to see and hear about others experience with the Norma Whitetail 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, because there sure seems to be a lot of squawking lately about issues related to this ammo.
