Preferred bullet weight for 6.5 CM

[Lefty7mmstw]

43 grains of StaBall 6.5 and 140 grain Match Burners in my Bergara 6.5 Creed with a 1:8 twist shoots 1/4 MOA groups at 100 yds. Am just now developing a Hammer hunting load for it.

I can't get sta-ball to be accurate in the creed we have... I've blown some down range with a 7-08 pistol and 150 nosler bt's, but I am probably not buying more of that powder, unless I find another cartridge it likes...

 

[hesse]

I have found that the Hornady SST in 140 shoot lights out for the little ladies gun

 

[AudentesFortunaJuvat]

130VLDH and RL16

 

[badbull]

My son is getting to the age that it's time to start transitioning to a larger rifle so I bought a 6.5 CM off of here to get him started. The rifle has a 1:8!so most any bullet is in play and I would prefer to avoid monos due to the sedate velocities of the CM but could be swayed.


I have a ton of lighter old 6.5 bullets in various makes and weights that I intend to download to get him started but want to work up a "standard" load as well.

I'm seeing everything from 120-147's in various posts. In playing with applied ballistics it seems to me that the 130ish may be best as the increased velocity over the 140 class gives it an advantage on elevation with just a slight wind penalty to about 1000 yds which is farther then I plan to shoot.

I have 200 virgin Lapua brass, federal 210's and cci 250's, RL16, RL17, RL26, 4350 and a few other viable candidates for powder.

My question is where did you settle for your 6.5 CM loads?

No experience myself, but 2 hunting buddies use the Winchester Deer Season 125 gr and it works really well for them. From Ga, so most shots are under 250 yds.

 

[Csbc4fun]

Beware of the dreaded 147ELDMs, H4350 &CCI 450s. Three shot groups at 100 and 550 yards with 147 ELDMs behind H4350. Can't seem to get it to shoot any better with 2200 rounds on this barrel.

 

[Rick Richard]

It's been covered, but I will say it again "H4350 and 130 or 140 grain Berger's"

 

[Csbc4fun]

Beware of the dreaded 147ELDMs, H4350 &CCI 450s. Three shot groups at 100 and 550 yards with 147 ELDMs behind H4350. Can't seem to get it to shoot any better with 2200 rounds on this barrel.

 

[bassassassin104]

130 VLD (with tips cleaned out) has been a good performer for me and my hunting buddy from two different .260's on both steel and deer. Never loaded one in a 65 CM but I'm sure it will shoot well and perform well on game. 41.6 grains of H4350 behind a 143 ELDX is a fairly well known load and was the easiest load work up I've ever done for any rifle. FYI. It is a bit over max load so please work up to it. My father in law had killed a few does with that load and we have been happy with the performance.

 

[Greyfox]

I have had good success with the 143 ELDX for hunting, and the 142 SMK's for targets/competition.

 

[BEEMAN]

130 vldh and 124 HH out of my 6.5x47's have been great with H4350. So I'm in agreement with others to stay in the 130 gr range.

 

[bowhunter123456789]

143 gr ELD-X with 41gr H4350 .0025 off the lands gives me 1 moa at 925yds

 

[TENHunter]

My particular rifle really likes the 143gr Hornady ELDX. Once I confirmed that I didn't look any further. Daughter shoots it great as well.

 

[kfreeze]

My son is getting to the age that it's time to start transitioning to a larger rifle so I bought a 6.5 CM off of here to get him started. The rifle has a 1:8!so most any bullet is in play and I would prefer to avoid monos due to the sedate velocities of the CM but could be swayed.


I have a ton of lighter old 6.5 bullets in various makes and weights that I intend to download to get him started but want to work up a "standard" load as well.

I'm seeing everything from 120-147's in various posts. In playing with applied ballistics it seems to me that the 130ish may be best as the increased velocity over the 140 class gives it an advantage on elevation with just a slight wind penalty to about 1000 yds which is farther then I plan to shoot.

I have 200 virgin Lapua brass, federal 210's and cci 250's, RL16, RL17, RL26, 4350 and a few other viable candidates for powder.

My question is where did you settle for your 6.5 CM loads?

Of you want to see some amazing ballistics, get some 156 berger bullets and rl26 powder. If the chamber lets you have a coal of 2.900 or a little better, you can see 2800-2860 fps. Run the ballistics on that. 2830 hit a node that hammers in a friends factory tikka 24" barrel. Try it and realize that a 162 eld-x in a 7 mag gets beat at about 600 yds by a needmore...

 

[Justice1327]

Of you want to see some amazing ballistics, get some 156 berger bullets and rl26 powder. If the chamber lets you have a coal of 2.900 or a little better, you can see 2800-2860 fps. Run the ballistics on that. 2830 hit a node that hammers in a friends factory tikka 24" barrel. Try it and realize that a 162 eld-x in a 7 mag gets beat at about 600 yds by a needmore...

2860fps…156gr pill…from a 6.5 creedmoor???