6.5 Creedmoor 130gr VLD

I

Ike666

New member
So, I'm using two different vld bullets in 6.5 C: the Sierra TMK and the Hornady ELD Match.

Sierra's data reports a G1 BC of .518 @ >2200 fps. Curiously it is .535 between 1625 and 2200 fps - when it gets way out there it gets better.

Hornady (10th Edition) reports a G1 BC of .549 at 800 yards via Doppler.

I conclude from that the profiles are slightly different and I assume so is the bearing surface.

I'm experimenting with 3 different powders: Varget, IMR 4350, and H4350.

For Varget at 2700 I get 37.3 grains in the TMK and the ELD; but at 2600 the TMK calls for 35.8 and the ELD for 36.4.

For IMR at 2700 the TMK calls for 42.0 and the ELD for 41.4; at 2600 the TMK wants 40.5 and the ELD 39.8.

For the H4350 the TMK calls for 41.3 at 2700 and the ELD 42.8 (max load); at 2600 the TMK wants 39.7 and the ELD 41.1.

I was curious that there was that much difference in loadings for the two bullets.

I will use the respective tables for bullet type since I've got them. I was wondering if any of you have experience with these bullet/powder combinations and what worked for you. I'm shooting this out of a 26-inch barrelled Savage Model 12. For the time being I'm restricted to a max range of 500 yards.
 
The Sierra TMK and the Hornady ELD Match are totally different bullets. 'VLD' is just a Berger name for a bullet design. Isn't a type of bullet.
IMR4350 isn't listed by Hodgdon. Isn't the same thing as H4350 either. Mind you, that doesn't mean a bullet maker like Sierra didn't run any tests. The 2 powders are very close, but the data is not interchangeable.
Anyway, the H4350 and Varget difference is due to the size of the powder. With the same bullet weight, it takes more H4350 to get similar velocities with similar pressures. The only part that matters is the bullet weight. Who made it or its shape makes no difference.
"...For Varget at 2700 I get 37.3 grains..." It's with 37.3 grain of Varget I get 2700 fps.
 
Actually, vld is in common parlance and stands for very low drag. There is a whole new class of bullet designs available now that generally fall into the vld class - among which are the TMK and ELD-M. Its a bit like people calling any tissue a Kleenex.

I am fully aware that the two bullets are different. However, given the same bullet weight and basic design (long bearing surface) I was interested in the differences in the load data.

I'm not comparing the three powders to one another, I am comparing the respective loads to each other within bullet type.

The Hornady Manual 10th Edition does indeed have all three powders, as does the Sierra data available on the Sierra site.

I appreciate that you have my safety in mind. I do know that the two 4350s are different powders and not interchangeable.

What I am trying to do is tune a powder/bullet combination for the 130 gr 6.5 Creedmoor in either TMK or ELD-M. What I am hoping for is to tap the collective wisdom here to see what other's experiences have been.
 
The powder charges aren't that far off. Those are just the numbers the technicians got using their testing equipment on the day they tested the loads. In your rifles things could be different.

There is very little difference between those 2 bullets, I'd use starting data interchangeably and work up. You may well find best accuracy and max charges at slightly different charge weights. This is why a chronograph is important.

Two things. I'd eliminate Varget from my testing. It is a good powder, but for this application either 4350 should be a better option and H4350 seems to be the go-to powder for the 6.5 Creedmoor. I've been hearing good things about RL17 as well.

I wouldn't waste powder or time with anything lighter than 140 gr either. The 143 gr ELD-X hunting bullets have a BC of .623, the 147 gr match bullets have a BC of .697. The whole point of choosing 6.5 Creedmoor over 260 is to be able to shoot the heavier bullets. The 260 is somewhat at a disadvantage with them.

I'm getting just under 2700 fps with 41.5 gr of H4350 and 143 ELD-X's from my 22" barrel with sub MOA accuracy. This hand load duplicates their factory load. I didn't find data for the Hornady bullet, but used data for 142 gr Sierra bullets. I started low and worked up.
 
Ive been testing IMR 4451 with Berger 130 VLD Hunting bullets, as well as 143 ELD-X, and h4350. The h4350 with the eld-x has been promising but the IMR 4451 and Berger 130 VLD has been really decent, Im still working the bugs out of this rifle so my testing isnt concluded with all the above components...
 
Trouble down the road for bullet maker's. What ever will they do when everybody are putting all their bullet's in the same hole?
 
jmr40, your point is well taken and indeed I'd prefer heavier bullets. Trouble is, the online resellers have been out of stock and all I could get locally was the 130s.

Varget would not be my first choice either but it was one I had stock. I thought I'd see how it'd do. It was okay with 1/2 MOA at 200 yards.

I've got 200 140 ELD-M on back order. As soon as they come in I plan to use them to run an OCW ladder. I had not thought about the 143s - just overlooked them. I'm on a hunt as we speak.
 
I load and shoot the 140 ELD-M bullets over 40.5 grains of H4350. I find these to be very accurate. Availability is hit or miss, so when I find some, I stock up. I tried Varget when I initially got my RPR and it was OK, but other loaders recommended the H4350 and it has worked very well for me.
 
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