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Reloading 6.5 long ranger

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Me78569
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Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Me78569 » Sat Apr 13, 2019 2:31 pm

Is anyone else Reloading their 6.5 yet?


I've been working on 2 bullets so far.

1. Main purpose of my LR is to hunt elk and deer with so I have been working up some Hornady 143gr eld x rounds with h4350. Current specs are 41.6 gr with a coal of 2.8250 to feed nice. I can do up to 2.85 and fit in the mag but I found it wouldn't feed %100 so that won't do. Using cci 200 primers. I need to get crono on it before I go any higher but I am seeing no pressure signs, still below max for Hogdon data.

2. Wife has a Weatherby vanguard in 6.5 so I was working up a lighter load for her to plink with. I plan to plink with it too. Her rifle won't go much longer than 2.81 and still feed. 123gr eldm with 42gr of h4350. Not hugely concerned with velocity on this one. Something easy to shoot and easy on the barrel.



Hoping to hear from someone else with a 6.5 lr about their chamber. Mine seems to stretch a factory case at 1.910 to over 1.920 on first shot %60 of the time. I am also able to load the coal of the 143gr eld x to over 2.910. Saami max is 2.825 so I know the chamber isnt that tight. I can't feed reliably at over 2.825 so my jump is pretty big. Accuracy is darn good still, but I hear lots of Reloading talk about a .020" jump to start with which I can't do.

My 6.5 lr has a serial of 400 something so there aren't a ton of them out there yet.
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Ojaileveraction
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Ojaileveraction » Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:16 pm

Just saw your post very good info on the 6.5.
I don't have one yet but your data is what I've been interested in.
A .1 inch jump due to feeding issues.
How does that compare to your wife's Vangard.
How easy is it to single load?
Tim
Ps
Those ELD bullets are pretty long to start out aren't they?
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Me78569
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Me78569 » Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:36 pm

I need to spend more time looking at COAL vs feeding issue. I dont have issues ever at 2.825, but I did have some issues at 2.850; BUT I did not try and find absolute max COAL for reliable feeding. It is mainly a hunting gun so I am overly interested in finding out why 2.85 gave some issues. I might be able to clean up the mag or something to allow for better feeding at 2.85. In my short look at the issue it seems the issue is related to the bullet gets cockeyed and doesn't raise as expected. I can play some more with tihs and see where the limit is for me. I know the actual mag length is ~2.875 maybe a touch more, butthe bullets dont feed at all.

The vanguard's free bore is not as long as the henry. I think her max lenght is ~2.85 to the lands. Her gun does not stretch the cases as much as mine does.

I am not interested in single loading. it isn't hard to do but it isn't as easy as a bolt action either. The bullet can get jammed if you dont take care in getting the bullet started into the chamber. It is easier to single load if you tip the rifle on it's side. The Henry does feed really well, IF, you work the lever with authority.


The eld-x is a long bullet. The 143gr COAL is ~2.910 to the lands, the 123 gr eldm to the lands is ~2.85
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Mags
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Mags » Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:51 pm

.
I have the .223 LR and even when I work the lever with authority, I on a rare occasion get a cockeyed round jam. Otherwise it does feed well.
The bolt guide notch in the receiver has a good jam fit with the neck and bullet of the ammo facilitating the jamup.
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Me78569 wrote:...The Henry does feed really well, IF, you work the lever with authority. ...
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Me78569
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Me78569 » Tue Apr 23, 2019 9:59 pm

Mags wrote:.
I have the .223 LR and even when I work the lever with authority, I on a rare occasion get a cockeyed round jam. Otherwise it does feed well.
The bolt guide notch in the receiver has a good jam fit with the neck and bullet of the ammo facilitating the jamup.
The C.O.L for .223 is 2.260" whereas the 6.5 creed is 2.825

I think that extra ~half an inch makes the creed and 308 feed better than the .223.


At least thats my $0.02
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Mags
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Mags » Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:29 pm

.
Yup, I do believe the larger diameter ammo in neck/bullet is less likely to get jam cockeyed.
Me78569 wrote:
Mags wrote:.
I have the .223 LR and even when I work the lever with authority, I on a rare occasion get a cockeyed round jam. Otherwise it does feed well.
The bolt guide notch in the receiver has a good jam fit with the neck and bullet of the ammo facilitating the jamup.
The C.O.L for .223 is 2.260" whereas the 6.5 creed is 2.825

I think that extra ~half an inch makes the creed and 308 feed better than the .223.


At least thats my $0.02
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Me78569
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Me78569 » Fri May 03, 2019 10:15 pm

Spent a few minutes shooting today

Did some at 41.5 gr of h4350 and 41.8 gr of h4350 with the 143 gr eldx bullets.

Notice some very faint pressure signs with the 41.8gr load on the extractor mark on the butt of the case.

Have a picture but i cant upload now due to the site changes.

Not worried about the pressure signs but i dont think i will bother going above 41.5gr.

Cases are reliably stretching to 1.92+- .002 from 1.912
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Me78569
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Me78569 » Wed May 08, 2019 10:55 pm

Here are the images of the post fire cases.

Ejector mark
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Case gauge
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Me78569
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Me78569 » Fri May 17, 2019 1:40 pm

I got a little bored so I decided to try out some new bullets. I wanted to look at some all Copper rounds for hunting rather than the ELDX. I could have tried some of the GMX bullets or Barnes ttsx but I really liked the name of "hammer bullets" :lol: Dumb I know, but my wife just rolls her eyes and says " whatever you want honey". At least the guy that makes the bullets is a good dude so I don't feel bad supporting him.

Anyways the ballastics on the 124gr Hammer hunters at 2900-3000ftp is pretty much on par with the ELDX 2600-2700 fps out to 500yds then tapers slowly from there. The Damage the Hammer bullets do without peppering the animal with lead is pretty awesome.


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I took some time last night to figure out the max COAL until I hit the lands with some Hammer Hunter 124gr's. Looks like I could in theory load out to 2.8900" before hitting the lands. However I was having feeding issues above ~2.825" on only the last bullet in the mag. After looking closer I found that the nose of the bullet was not able to move foward enough to pop up before jamming into the reciever lug.



Easy Solution was to file off the corner of the right side of the mag. This allowed the bullet to pup up easier and it feeds like butter now all the way out to 2.89"

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Ended up giving .030" with a COAL of 2.86"
IMG_20190516_161332777.jpg
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Got my loads setup in .3 gr increments from 41.5 to 45 of h4350. I am guessing I will be pulling bullets at 44.7 and 45 gr, but we will see.
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Ojaileveraction
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Re: Reloading 6.5 long ranger

Post by Ojaileveraction » Fri May 17, 2019 6:33 pm

No problem with the length off the Cooper bullets. Can be a issue in smaller calibers.
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