6.5 Creedmoor being bought up

[crbutler]

It's based on the .30 TC, supposedly a relative of the .307 win with the rim removed and modified. The .30 TC was an attempt to get .30-06 performance out of a short action package. Since the .308 almost does that, and the .300 WSM does better than that, it's not exactly selling like hot cakes.

That's part of why you have so many steps in making it...

Rare original brass with too many close competitors.

[Bearcatrp]

I just got in my oder of 5 boxes of Hornady 143 ELD-X. Not cheap but after these are shot, should be close to 200 pieces of brass to start reloading. But since 6.5cm brass is almost non existent, will still have to buy more commercial ammo to build up. Hopefully more brass will be available down the road. 6.5 creedmoor seems to be picking up steam as the 308 replacement. Just have to wait for my rifle to come back from savage to get more range time.

[Seismic Sam]

I just got in my oder of 5 boxes of Hornady 143 ELD-X. Not cheap but after these are shot, should be close to 200 pieces of brass to start reloading. But since 6.5cm brass is almost non existent, will still have to buy more commercial ammo to build up. Hopefully more brass will be available down the road. 6.5 creedmoor seems to be picking up steam as the 308 replacement. Just have to wait for my rifle to come back from savage to get more range time.

IIRC, the 6.5 is supposed to be a tack driver, so you better make sure you get all the same headstamp brass. If you don't, you're out before you get to 1st base. Secondly, for a tack driver you want to get some good Redding benchrest dies to begin with if you want to get the most out of this caliber.

As far as a .308 replacement, no way!! There are 5 military calibers that can never be supplanted and only the .308 and .5.56 are less than a century old. The other 3 are 30-06, 45ACP, and 9mm. The 9mm is a particularly interesting lesson, as the 40 S&W did gain quite a following, and now with new bullet technology the 9mm is back on top and you can't sell used 40's (cases or guns) for very much at all.

Thanks for the explanation as to why this is an oddball and not something straightforward like the 25-06.

[Bearcatrp]

http://www.scout.com/military/snipers-h ... e-your-308
When this story came out, I said no friigin way. Never trust one sites opinion so started my research. Figured Hornady paid someone to push there round to increase sales. After researching over 6-8 months to see what was what, there is no doubt the 6.5 creedmoor is one hell of a ballistic round. I didn't think the energy at 1000 yards could beat the mighty 308. I love the 308. Enjoy reloading it. The data is clear. But until Ruger released the RPR, there wasn't much hype on the creedmoor. Now its in full swing and everyone who doesn't have a 6.5 creedmoor, wants one (at least most). Will I get rid of my 308, NEVER. Military is to political (no dam sense) to decide on leaving the 7.62x51 being a nato round. You look at last years top ten shooters to see what they are shooting for 1000 yard competition. 6mm, 6.5mm and a few 7mm. I took the low road buying my savage 10T being 600 bucks. RPR was tempting but you can't find one unless your willing to pay the price gougers price. Save will be releasing the stealth any time and there ashberry (RPR look a like) hits in the fall for around $1700 bucks. No word from remington or others yet. Shot show 2017 will tell the tale. For now, I will deal with what I got. See how it goes. Did splurge on a nice chassis. Was originally going on the 308. Being identical rifles minus caliber, it went on the creedmoor. Actually ordered the chassis for the 308 before grabbing the creedmoor. Didn't think it would be out for months. Disappointed it shoots like ****. Figured the 308 shoots great from the 1st shot, the creedmoor should to. Will let savage figure it out.
Here is a pic with the Cadex chassis I purchased for it.....

Here is a pic of the target that made me decide to send it in. Don't mind the writing next to targets. Used target for load development for 308 and Hornady 208 ELD-M. Top is with Hornady 140 ELD-M, bottom is Hornady 129 SST. Top left is cold bore/foul the barrel shots. Shot in factory chassis. Other target with Cadex chassis was worst. All shot were with bipod up front, sand bag in rear, around 3 minutes per shot, 5 round groups.

[crbutler]

If as it says on the targets that this was 100 yard shooting, you're right, I would not be happy...

But just because a cartridge is ballistically good doesn't make each rifle chambered for it accurate. One of my pet peeves is that so many folks go on about how a cartridge is accurate...they aren't, its the rifle that accurate. I would not be sure that the manufacturer will do anything... some say 2" at 100 meets spec.

Good luck! Hope you get it so that it shoots like it should.

[Bearcatrp]

Hoping when savage shoots it the groups are worst. One thing to mention. The 140 ELD-M is a match round. I measured OAL 2.860 to the lands. The ammo measured 2.812. So kind of figured they wouldn't be tight but the 129 SST should have been allot tighter. Thought about getting some dies and reload some to see if putting the 140's to 2.850 would make a difference but figured this being a new rifle I should send it in. Is the 2 inch group you mentioned a industry spec or are you assuming? Have never had to send in a rifle before so I don't know. When I sent a copy of the target to savage with my message of disappointment, would have thought they would have stated something about that instead of sending UPS to pick it up on there dime. Was surprised I got a response within 48 hours that they will look at it.

[Seismic Sam]

How are you measuring the distance to the lands?? Unless you have reloading dies (and the really good ones, as I said before) you are going to have to seat bullets until they touch the lands, and that's complicated by the fact that if the bullet in your test round is a couple of mils off the cartridge axis, that will affect the results.

[Bearcatrp]

How are you measuring the distance to the lands?? Unless you have reloading dies (and the really good ones, as I said before) you are going to have to seat bullets until they touch the lands, and that's complicated by the fact that if the bullet in your test round is a couple of mils off the cartridge axis, that will affect the results.

I use a dowel. Take 3 separate measurement per different bullet. Haven't purchased dies yet. Wanted to wait until I built up enough brass first. Looking at different ones to see how much I want to spend. Have had great success with 308 match rounds getting them 0.010 from the lands. Deciding if I want to get into the micrometer dies (spend the bucks). I don't shoot competition at this point. Just enjoying reloading with regular dies and see how I do. Some day I will take it to the next step if I decide I want to try a competition match. The creedmoor may be a good start to try though. Depending what savage does to the rifle will depend what I do next.

[crbutler]

Hoping when savage shoots it the groups are worst. One thing to mention. The 140 ELD-M is a match round. I measured OAL 2.860 to the lands. The ammo measured 2.812. So kind of figured they wouldn't be tight but the 129 SST should have been allot tighter. Thought about getting some dies and reload some to see if putting the 140's to 2.850 would make a difference but figured this being a new rifle I should send it in. Is the 2 inch group you mentioned a industry spec or are you assuming? Have never had to send in a rifle before so I don't know. When I sent a copy of the target to savage with my message of disappointment, would have thought they would have stated something about that instead of sending UPS to pick it up on there dime. Was surprised I got a response within 48 hours that they will look at it.

That was with a Remington 700 in .223 15 years ago. They had it come in, shot it, and the groups were worse than mine, and said it was within spec. If I recall correctly, they felt 2.5" at 100 for 5 shots made spec. At least in your case, they can't tell you to use a different brand of ammo!

[Bearcatrp]

2.5 inch is just nuts. If mine comes back without anything done, will have to decide on a rebarrel or sell it and move on. Just turned down a RPR in 243. Wanted one so bad when they came out. If I didn't purchase the savage in 6.5cm, would have bought the RPR. Was in 243 but plenty of after market barrels to choose from.