Reloading 6.5 long ranger

[Me78569]

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.

[Ojaileveraction]

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?

[Me78569]

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

[Mags]

.
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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...The Henry does feed really well, IF, you work the lever with authority. ...

[Me78569]

.
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

[Mags]

.
Yup, I do believe the larger diameter ammo in neck/bullet is less likely to get jam cockeyed.

.
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

[Me78569]

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

[Me78569]

Here are the images of the post fire cases.

Ejector mark

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Case gauge

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IMG_20190508_205309054.jpg (56.63 KiB) Viewed 3971 times

[Me78569]

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" 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 (164.34 KiB) Viewed 3953 times

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.

IMG_20190516_220659554.jpg (98.96 KiB) Viewed 3953 times

[Ojaileveraction]

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

[Me78569]

They seem fine so far. We will see how they shoot.

[Me78569]

I was finally able to get out to the range a few times.

had rounds worked up with the 124 gr HH using h4350. Ended up running into pressure signs at 43.2 gr, velocity at 42.9 was 2939

next I loaded some ramshot hunter from 43 to 46 gr, ran into slight pressure issues at 45.1. 44.8 gr produced 2892 fps

I worked up some new loads with h4350 that I will try out next trip with h4350 from 42gr to 43 gr by .2 increments to try and find a good setup.

[JEBar]

tip of my cap for your methodical approach .... please keep us informed along the way

[Me78569]

It's kinda nice because it is methodical and mindless at the same time.

[Me78569]

Some load data shows that I should be able to hit 3000 fps wiht Reloader 26. I have #2 of it coming my way, but I am also out of bullets so I need to reorder some hammer hunters.


I switched to Mag primers on the advice from The guys over at hammer. I am also testing out some loads with Superformance powder.

I will report back with what I find, guessing I won't get back to the range for ~ a month though

[JEBar]

guessing I won't get back to the range for ~ a month though

bummmmmer

[Me78569]

Made it back tonight to try out some mag primers and h4350 and also superformance.

I noticed no real difference with the mag primers and h4350. Still hit pressure signs around 2900 fps.

The superformance however worked great. I was able to hit 2996 fps with the 124 gr hammer hunter bullets.

Later this week i will try out the rl26 i picked up. I expect to top 3000 fps with no pressure signs.

Interesting note on the henry lr, the velocity from my gun is ~ 75 fps faster than my wifes weatherby vanguard with a 20" barrel.

Groups with the superformance were awesome, right around 1 moa with my poor skills

[JEBar]

outstanding .... great to hear of the accuracy .... be safe .... looking forward to your continued reports

[Mags]

.
Matches my experience with the LR, no matter what is in the ammo. Still skill is involved even with the LR to get 1 moa. Good shooting!

... Groups with the superformance were awesome, right around 1 moa with my poor skills

[Me78569]

Well rl26 works pretty dang good in the 6.5 creed lr with 124 gr hammer hunter bullets.

Iwas able to top 3000 fps without a hint of pressure signs.


That gives me 2300 fps and 1500# of energy at 500 yards, which is my upper upper limit on a very good day.


Very happy.