Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Precision Hunter 143 grain ELDX

[stokesrj]

I spent some time yesterday at the Manatee Range field trialing the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Precision Hunter 143 grain ELD-X factory load from my Blaser R8 Standard contour barrel. I see very little difference between the 6.5X55 Swede and the 6.5 Creedmoor in my handloads they both shoot the same bullet at the same speed and basically the same accuracy. Perhaps the Creedmoor is just a tad more accurate but nothing meaningful to be sure. But one goal I had hoped to achieve is to find factory loads that I can use when my reloading equipment is not accessible and with this goal in mind the 6.5 Creedmoor pulls way ahead.
The Precision Hunter load proved very accurate at 100 yards from this 6.5 Creedmoor barrel and I was hopeful I could reuse a Personal Ballistics Turret that I had made for use with my 6.5X55 K95 so I shot a 3 shot group at 200 yards, 300 yards, and 400 yards. The conditions were very good, for the first group at 200 yards the wind was very calm and it produced a well centered group of less than 1/2 MOA, fantastic for a factory hunting load.

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moving to 300 yards the temperature had risen from 85 degrees F. to 91 degrees and the wind had picked up but was steady 1/2 value, 3-4 MPH left to right and the group was a nicely formed triangle of less than 1/2 MOA again. The group was perhaps one click high as you can see in the pic but very usable. It was also drifted by the wind just about the amount predicted by the JBM calculator.

_DSF2132.JPG

Moving to 400 yards I repeated the exercise and it had again grown warmer at 95 degrees F. but the wind had dropped a little to 2-3 mph but holding steady and again a nice group appeared just a little high, perhaps two clicks worth and drifted the expected amount to the right by the wind. This group was a little bigger at about 3/4 MOA, very pleasing for a factory hunting load.

_DSF2133.JPG

Then just for fun I placed a single clay pigeon on the dirt berm behind the 400 yard targets which is 457 yards. I dialed the BT to 450 yards and held on the lower third of the pigeon and into the wind just a little. At the break of the shot I saw it turn to a puff of smoke as the rifle recoiled and resettled. I couldn't keep a smile from forming as the tree range office who had gathered behind me with their spotting scopes to watch the shot attempt cheered. I'll take that as impressive for a hunting weight rifle shooting a factory load. The combination is very pleasing.

So now, I have ordered a case of the ammo but would like to duplicate the load for lower cost practice ammo. To see how Hornady put it together I first measured the cartridge overall length (COL) and then the base to ogive (BTO) and then disassembled a round. I found the COL to measure 2.805" and BTO to measure 2.175". The powder appeared to be an extruded ADI powder very similar in shape, size and color to H4350 but I don't think it is as the charge weight was 41.0 grains and the velocity as measured by my lab radar was 2625 FPS. I know that 41.5 grains of H4350 produces only 2550 fps with this bullet. The primer is silver and appears to be a CCI BR2 from appearance and measurements.

_DSF2117.JPG

Some have speculated that Hornady uses Hybrid 100 for this load but under careful examination this is not the case. Hybrid 100 has rounded ends, at least the corners are rounded where as the powder used in this load is cut clean. In this pic the disassembled powder is on the left and the Hybrid 100 on the right.

_DSF2125.JPG

Anyone with any ideas of what ADI powder would produce 2625 fps with 40.0 grains in the 6.5 Creedmoor?

[SPEEDY]

That's pretty consistent, make a great LR Goat and Fallow load.

[7x57]

The ADI handbook lists loads for the 140 gr A-Max and 142gr Sierra.
Only powder coming close to your query is 2209 40gr compressed for 2660fps (Amax) and the same powder at 41.5 giving 2694 fps for the 142 gr Sierra. Both are listed as max loads.
Other powders are close in velocity but not with a load weight of 40grains. 2208 and 2206H are close to the velocity but less powder.

[SPEEDY]

I've actually found Benchmark 8208 an awesome replacement for AR2209 and AR2206H and I'm a big AR2206H fan.

[deerhunter338mag]

Nice write up. Great fun shooting clays. I reckon it more fun the skeet lol

[7x57]

I've actually found Benchmark 8208 an awesome replacement for AR2209 and AR2206H and I'm a big AR2206H fan.

Agree with you on 8208. Using it in the 223 AI and it is a great performer.

[SPEEDY]

I've actually found Benchmark 8208 an awesome replacement for AR2209 and AR2206H and I'm a big AR2206H fan.

Agree with you on 8208. Using it in the 223 AI and it is a great performer.

I'm getting 100fps more from it then the ADI manual says I should and that's with about an inch less barrel.
2800fps with a 168gn pill, I'll never knock back free velocity

[stokesrj]

The ADI handbook lists loads for the 140 gr A-Max and 142gr Sierra.
Only powder coming close to your query is 2209 40gr compressed for 2660fps (Amax) and the same powder at 41.5 giving 2694 fps for the 142 gr Sierra. Both are listed as max loads.
Other powders are close in velocity but not with a load weight of 40grains. 2208 and 2206H are close to the velocity but less powder.

Reviewing my notes I made a typo it is 41.0 not 40.0 grains for the factory load. The factory spec is 2700 fps from a 24" barrel. My measured muzzle velocity is 2625 fps from the standard 58cm (22.85") barrel. Does that change anything in the search for the proper ADI powder?
Thanks,
Bob

[Corjack]

Bob, I have read more than once in the last year that the powder used in this load is very close to IMR4451.

[stokesrj]

Bob, I have read more than once in the last year that the powder used in this load is very close to IMR4451.

Thanks, I'll look into that and report back. I've read the powder used was Hybrid 100 but that clearly is not the powder by visual inspection.

[7x57]

The ADI handbook lists loads for the 140 gr A-Max and 142gr Sierra.
Only powder coming close to your query is 2209 40gr compressed for 2660fps (Amax) and the same powder at 41.5 giving 2694 fps for the 142 gr Sierra. Both are listed as max loads.
Other powders are close in velocity but not with a load weight of 40grains. 2208 and 2206H are close to the velocity but less powder.

Reviewing my notes I made a typo it is 41.0 not 40.0 grains for the factory load. The factory spec is 2700 fps from a 24" barrel. My measured muzzle velocity is 2625 fps from the standard 58cm (22.85") barrel. Does that change anything in the search for the proper ADI powder?
Thanks,
Bob

Factory spec is a little more than ADI max load for a 142 grain SierraHPBT. 2209 is the only powder listed by ADI with a 41 grain load . The next powder is 2206 - 36.3gr max.
I did see a comparison between H4350 (2209) and IMR4451. Visually very similar and with similar performance.
Info on UKVarminting suggests that folks are loading H4350 to 41.5 + and getting velocities close to your factory spec. out of longer barrels.
Can't find much else Bob.

[stokesrj]

Thanks, I also read that IMR4451 is virtually a replacement for H4350. The problem is that I'm getting far less velocity with a heavier charge of H4350. Perhaps I have a slow lot of H4350 which will be a shame if true since it is an 8 pound jug. I'll buy a pound of IMR4451 and test it alongside increasing charges of H4350 until I achieve the desired velocity of pressure signs.

The original H4350 factory load for the 6.5 Creedmoor and 140 grain A-Max was 41.5 grains and so stated on the box. Now the Hodgdon data lists 40.0 as a max load and notes it as compressed. With the lot of H4350 I have on hand it is nowhere near compressed at 40.0 grains and listed seating depth; Perhaps things have changed, my lot is probably five years old. I'll figure it out.

[7x57]

Thanks, I also read that IMR4451 is virtually a replacement for H4350. The problem is that I'm getting far less velocity with a heavier charge of H4350. Perhaps I have a slow lot of H4350 which will be a shame if true since it is an 8 pound jug. I'll buy a pound of IMR4451 and test it alongside increasing charges of H4350 until I achieve the desired velocity of pressure signs.

The original H4350 factory load for the 6.5 Creedmoor and 140 grain A-Max was 41.5 grains and so stated on the box. Now the Hodgdon data lists 40.0 as a max load and notes it as compressed. With the lot of H4350 I have on hand it is nowhere near compressed at 40.0 grains and listed seating depth; Perhaps things have changed, my lot is probably five years old. I'll figure it out.

Yes I read that as well and according to sources on a European forum powders will have to be compliant to new regs. From what I understand 4451 will meet new regs and has anti copper fouling properties.
Reports on the same forum are saying that 4350 is getting very hard to find . Those that have some left are claiming around 2800fps from 41.5 in barrels 27" and above. This is with 140/142 gr projectiles. Another shooter was using 44grains to push Lapua 139gr Scenars without pressure signs. No fps given.
The ADI book also lists 41.5 as max compressed. ADI don't do any load development but use data from others. Hence my dilemma when asking ADI for load day and for the 6.5x47 - according to ADI it was still a wild cat round and they did not have any data nor would supply any recommendations. Interesting that Berger has data on this calibre.
Hope you work it out Bob.

[stokesrj]

Sadly upon visual examination it isn't IMR4451 that Hornady uses in their Precision Hunter 143 ELD-X load either.

[Corjack]

Well that sucks