Reloading 6.5CM with RL16, compressed loads over 42 grns?

[MarikinaMan]

Hi,

I am loading charges for a ladder test of 140gn ELD-Ms with RL-16.

Im starting at 41.2 gr, all the way to 43.4 gr. At 41.8 gr, I'm already to the neck.

I expect to achieve my desired velocity around 42.5 gr. Over 42, its already a compressed load.

Anyone else loading this RL-16 for 6.5CM? Do you observe the same compressed load?

Checking to cross reference if I am missing anything. Thanks.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by MarikinaMan

Hi,

I am loading charges for a ladder test of 140gn ELD-Ms with RL-16.

Im starting at 41.2 gr, all the way to 43.4 gr. At 41.8 gr, I'm already to the neck.

I expect to achieve my desired velocity around 42.5 gr. Over 42, its already a compressed load.

Anyone else loading this RL-16 for 6.5CM? Do you observe the same compressed load?

Checking to cross reference if I am missing anything. Thanks.

What OAL?

Cartridge          : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet             : .264, 140, Hornady ELD-M 26331 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 47.039 grain H2O = 3.054 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-16 *C *T

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.465% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-04.7   97    41.00   2824    2479   54693   8733    100.0    1.300  ! Near Maximum !
-04.2   98    41.20   2836    2500   55506   8751    100.0    1.292  ! Near Maximum !
-03.7   98    41.40   2848    2521   56332   8769    100.0    1.283  ! Near Maximum !
-03.3   99    41.60   2860    2542   57171   8788    100.0    1.275  ! Near Maximum !
-02.8   99    41.80   2872    2564   58022   8805    100.0    1.267  ! Near Maximum !
-02.3   99    42.00   2884    2585   58886   8823    100.0    1.259  ! Near Maximum !
-01.9  100    42.20   2895    2606   59764   8841    100.0    1.251  ! Near Maximum !
-01.4  100    42.40   2907    2627   60650   8858    100.0    1.243  ! Near Maximum !
-00.9  101    42.60   2919    2648   61562   8876    100.0    1.235  ! Near Maximum !
-00.5  101    42.80   2931    2670   62480   8893    100.0    1.227  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0  102    43.00   2942    2691   63415   8910    100.0    1.220  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.5  102    43.20   2954    2713   64362   8927    100.0    1.212  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.9  103    43.40   2966    2734   65327   8944    100.0    1.204  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.4  103    43.60   2977    2755   66306   8961    100.0    1.197  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.9  104    43.80   2989    2777   67302   8977    100.0    1.189  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.3  104    44.00   3000    2798   68312   8994    100.0    1.182  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 3% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 3% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    102    43.00   2973    2748   67160   8791    100.0    1.194  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 3% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    102    43.00   2907    2627   59802   9045    100.0    1.248  ! Near Maximum !

[RideWest]

Originally Posted by MarikinaMan

Hi,

I am loading charges for a ladder test of 140gn ELD-Ms with RL-16.

Im starting at 41.2 gr, all the way to 43.4 gr. At 41.8 gr, I'm already to the neck.

I expect to achieve my desired velocity around 42.5 gr. Over 42, its already a compressed load.

Anyone else loading this RL-16 for 6.5CM? Do you observe the same compressed load?

Checking to cross reference if I am missing anything. Thanks.

I have run RL16, but with 140 gr Berger Hybrids, not ELD’s. Yeah the powder is close to the bottom of the neck at 41.8 grs. My COAL is 2.870”, with a BTO of 2.178”, but it’s not a compressed load in my rifle.

The Hornady bullets have a different shape to the ogive, so you should determine the max COAL for that bullet in your rifle. Depending on how deep you seat the ELDs it may be compressed.

[yacko]

Marik, let me know what your results are.

I just started testing r16 as well.

So far just 41.4, 41.7, 42.0 with 140 amax at 1.800 coal Have a bit of vertical stringing in each group which could be me... didnt run the steadiest bench....

Next time I'll chrono my loads and get 42.3 and 42.6 in the mix.

I still have 1k amax before I switch to the ELD M....

What is your COAL??

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by yacko

140 amax at 1.800 coal
Have a bit of vertical stringing in each group which could be me...

It's probably the long bullet jump.
Most people are around 2.8" cartridge overall length with those bullets.

[Fjold]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

It's probably the long bullet jump.
Most people are around 2.8" cartridge overall length with those bullets.

You need to put a smiley face after remarks like that.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Fjold

You need to put a smiley face after remarks like that.

no smileys for you.

[MarikinaMan]

I had heatstroke just before I shot the 6.5CM loads. I will delayed a few more weeks.

[yacko]

Hey. You chambered it 3 weeks ago Randall...... Aint my fault its so far outta spec!

I hate my new laptop that doesnt have backlit keys....

Yeah... 2.8 coal. LOL

And, thanks for the quick load data.

[Tommy Gun]

Also need to realize 6.5 has a terrible barrel life. Now not saying it's like 2k rounds but around that mark is where the throat might start its degradation. Especially if loading hot, <2800 FPS with 140s. YMMV, of course.

[yacko]

Tommy.....

ya gotta pay to play.....

If you want barrel life shoot a 22lr.

Decent barrel life in a centerfire rifle.... go 308 to about 6k rounds.

Want performance? Suck it up and get the performance- and pay for it.

Dont put cheap tires on a Ferrari, or complain about the gas mileage.

Want to see short barrel life? look at the 243..... or any 6mm wildcat for really short life....

I'm looking at probably around 2900 fps ish when I find a node I like. Just have to see the groups and the velocity and the pressure signs to decide what I settle on.

[RideWest]

Originally Posted by yacko

Hey. You chambered it 3 weeks ago Randall...... Aint my fault its so far outta spec!

I hate my new laptop that doesnt have backlit keys....

Yeah... 2.8 coal. LOL

And, thanks for the quick load data.

It’s not just COAL that you should consider, it’s understanding the max length your chamber will allow for a given secant or tangent ogive, also consider the length of the bullet and how deep it’s seated.

You may prioritize a given length to feed out of you magazine, but it’s important to understand jump so that if you choose different bullets or want to fine tune later you have a reference point.

[Bink57]

Using Hornady 140 gr ELD Match bullets in Hornady cases, CCI 200 primers and RL16 in a Savage Model 16 w/24" barrel.

The distance from the bottom of the case to bullet ogive is 2.216" leaving .020" distance to lands. The bullet base to ogive in this lot of bullets is .785". The COAL is 2.830" so these could not be loaded in the magazine. There were no signs of excessive pressure.

Below are the following results using a Labradar:

40.0 - 2699 FPS
40.2 - 2718 FPS
40.4 - 2720 FPS
40.6 - 2739 FPS
40.8 - 2743 FPS
41.0 - 2781 FPS
41.2 - 2780 FPS
41.4 - 2787 FPS
41.6 - 2801 FPS
41.8 - 2824 FPS
42.0 - 2812 FPS

As there were a couple of nodes with acceptable velocity I settled on 41.0/41.2 as my go-to load for this 6.5 CM rifle.

[baih777]

get one of these mags. extended length. no binder plate.
https://accurate-mag.com/shop/magazi...dssf-magazine/

Originally Posted by Bink57

Using Hornady 140 gr ELD Match bullets in Hornady cases, CCI 200 primers and RL16 in a Savage Model 16 w/24" barrel.

The distance from the bottom of the case to bullet ogive is 2.216" leaving .020" distance to lands. The bullet base to ogive in this lot of bullets is .785". The COAL is 2.830" so these could not be loaded in the magazine. There were no signs of excessive pressure.

Below are the following results using a Labradar:

40.0 - 2699 FPS
40.2 - 2718 FPS
40.4 - 2720 FPS
40.6 - 2739 FPS
40.8 - 2743 FPS
41.0 - 2781 FPS
41.2 - 2780 FPS
41.4 - 2787 FPS
41.6 - 2801 FPS
41.8 - 2824 FPS
42.0 - 2812 FPS

As there were a couple of nodes with acceptable velocity I settled on 41.0/41.2 as my go-to load for this 6.5 CM rifle.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by baih777

get one of these mags. extended length. no binder plate.
https://accurate-mag.com/shop/magazi...dssf-magazine/

Keep in mind that a lot of actions need to be modified to feed from AI magazines without the binder plate.
So it's not as simple as just buying the mags without the plate in them.

[RideWest]

Originally Posted by Bink57

Using Hornady 140 gr ELD Match bullets in Hornady cases, CCI 200 primers and RL16 in a Savage Model 16 w/24" barrel.

The distance from the bottom of the case to bullet ogive is 2.216" leaving .020" distance to lands. The bullet base to ogive in this lot of bullets is .785". The COAL is 2.830" so these could not be loaded in the magazine. There were no signs of excessive pressure.

As there were a couple of nodes with acceptable velocity I settled on 41.0/41.2 as my go-to load for this 6.5 CM rifle.

My rifle uses AICS magazines and I can run COALs longer than 2.830”, I typically load to 2.875” with no issues feeding from the magazine.