HELP Please - 6.5 CM Nosler E-Tip load data

[Raven'sWolf]

Hello, I'm trying to make up a load for my first hunting trip in Sept but I've been running into some issues developing my load.

Projectile: 0.264 120gr Nosler E-Tip (solid copper)
Powder: H4350
Brass: Lapua, small primer
Primer: CCI 450 small magnum primer

I've been hearing anything from 50.5 to 52.35 gr H20 for the brass capacity and that's really messing with my modeling using GordonsReloadingTool. Does anyone have some experience backed advice for me?

[Elgatodeacero]

I suggest referring to Nosler’s load data before you hurt yourself.

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/65-creedmoor/

[pacrat]

Elgatodeacero has a good point. Since Hornady lists 41 gr start and 45 gr MAX.

Does anyone have some experience backed advice for me?

Yes, my own experience is that E-tips experience BIG PRESSURE jumps with TINY powder increases.

On the ladder. They go from NO case pressure signs. To flattened primers and beat the bolt open, within a few 10ths of a grain.

I will stick with Barnes copper. The circumferential grooves on the bearing surface. Greatly reduce bearing surface contact and allow higher velocity.

JM2c

[MongooseV8]

I agree with pacrat. But if you must use the Noslers I would only use Nosler published data myself. A tip for accuracy though is most rifles shoot lead fee better with a jump to the lands around 0.030-0.060". Just be sure to follow min oal and powder charge carefully.

[MongooseV8]

Just looked up my Nosler 7th Edition and they list:

120gr Etip min oal 2.775"
H4350 starting load 41.0gr max load 45.0gr
Case Hornady 48.4 H2O fed210 primer
They also preface starting at min loads with an Etip. But use your own manual in your own hands. Dont listen to a stranger on the internet when reloading.

[Raven'sWolf]

The issue with using Nosler load data is they use Nosler brass which has more internal volume than Lapua.

When I put in the following data in GRT I get a dangerous over pressure warning of 66571 psi
41gr H4350
50.5gr case volume
70.6mm COL
90F ambient temp

So according to this even Nosler's starting load is dangerous

[ar15barrels]

Hello, I'm trying to make up a load for my first hunting trip in Sept but I've been running into some issues developing my load.

Projectile: 0.264 120gr Nosler E-Tip (solid copper)
Powder: H4350
Brass: Lapua, small primer
Primer: CCI 450 small magnum primer

I've been hearing anything from 50.5 to 52.35 gr H20 for the brass capacity and that's really messing with my modeling using GordonsReloadingTool. Does anyone have some experience backed advice for me?

I don't know what gordon's reloading tool does but is it subtracting the volume of the seated bullet from the usable case volume?

Here is a quickload pass with a 120gr Barnes X bullet and the case capacity moved down to 50.5gr of water and the powder temp run up to 90f.
I don't have the 120gr E tip in my quickload library so I don't have a way to model it but compare your bullet length to the X bullet and if they are similar, the results should be similar.

Cartridge          : 6.5 Creedmoor Hornady
Bullet             : .264, 120, Barnes 'X' S 26402
Useable Case Capaci: 45.927 grain H2O = 2.982 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon H4350 *T ?, Temperature: 90 °F

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.471% 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   98    40.50   2830    2133   52309   8059     96.8    1.252
-04.2   98    40.70   2842    2153   53025   8094     97.0    1.245
-03.8   99    40.90   2855    2172   53750   8128     97.1    1.239  ! Near Maximum !
-03.3   99    41.10   2868    2192   54487   8162     97.3    1.233  ! Near Maximum !
-02.8  100    41.30   2881    2211   55234   8196     97.4    1.226  ! Near Maximum !
-02.4  100    41.50   2894    2231   55994   8228     97.6    1.220  ! Near Maximum !
-01.9  101    41.70   2906    2251   56764   8261     97.7    1.214  ! Near Maximum !
-01.4  101    41.90   2919    2271   57547   8293     97.8    1.207  ! Near Maximum !
-00.9  102    42.10   2932    2291   58342   8324     97.9    1.201  ! Near Maximum !
-00.5  102    42.30   2945    2311   59149   8355     98.1    1.195  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  103    42.50   2957    2331   59968   8385     98.2    1.189  ! Near Maximum !
+00.5  103    42.70   2970    2351   60800   8414     98.3    1.182  ! Near Maximum !
+00.9  104    42.90   2983    2371   61646   8443     98.4    1.176  ! Near Maximum !
+01.4  104    43.10   2996    2391   62504   8472     98.5    1.170  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.9  105    43.30   3008    2412   63376   8500     98.6    1.164  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.4  105    43.50   3021    2432   64262   8527     98.7    1.158  !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    103    42.50   2998    2395   62923   8374     99.1    1.168  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 3% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    103    42.50   2913    2261   57043   8361     96.9    1.211  ! Near Maximum !

[MongooseV8]

The issue with using Nosler load data is they use Nosler brass which has more internal volume than Lapua.

When I put in the following data in GRT I get a dangerous over pressure warning of 66571 psi
41gr H4350
50.5gr case volume
70.6mm COL
90F ambient temp

So according to this even Nosler's starting load is dangerous

No they dont use Nosler brass read it again. Also wtf is a 70.6mm col? If your load data isnt in inches find different data.

[ar15barrels]

Also wtf is a 70.6mm col?

2.78"

[MongooseV8]

Lol yeah I know

[ar15barrels]

Lol yeah I know

I got your back on metric system conversions!

[MongooseV8]

😎👍

Dirty metric system anyway

[Raven'sWolf]

I guess the tech support at Nosler was lying when he said they use Nosler brass in their reloading data *shrug*

[ar15barrels]

I guess the tech support at Nosler was lying when he said they use Nosler brass in their reloading data *shrug*

It probably depends on WHEN the specific data in question was developed.
There was a time when there was no 6.5 creedmoor brass made by Nosler, but they had published load data.
That would probably be different than AFTER they started producing nosler headstamped 6.5 creedmoor cases as they would want to use their own cases in the newer data.

The headstamp does not matter of course.
What matters is the internal volume which you can measure with a spent casing fired in your gun BEFORE you resize or deprime it because ultimately, your gun matters to the load too.
A looser chamber will have more internal case volume than a tighter chamber.
The case volume that matters is the expanded case, not the sized case.

[Spyder]

I was never able to get 6.5 e tips to shoot well enough that I was happy with them. Barnes 120s shoot great. If you really like the e tip, I'll sell ya the (i think) couple hundred I've got.