6.5 Creedmoor- RL-26

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kilotanker22

New member
Hello everyone,

I am buying a Browning X-Bolt Hell's Canyon Long range McMillan in 6.5 Creedmoor.

Now I have found load data before using RL 26 with 130 grain projectiles. I Really would like to find some data for heavier pills. Specifically I would like to use the 143 grain Hornady Eld-X. I figure with the Slow burning RL 26, and the longer 26 inch barrel.I should be able to see some pretty impressive velocities for this cartridge.

Have any of y'all used this bullet with that Powder? Would appreciate some input on starting weights... As I cant seem to find any info.
 
There’s a huge thread somewhere, long range hunting maybe? Pages and pages of load info. My personal experience has been great. 2900+ from a Tikka 24” barrel with 143 ELD-X. Measured over a Magnetospeed. Load work up was done with the ten shot method, then tuned OAL.


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I prefer to run Reloader15 with 130 grain bullets. It gives a great accuracy node at the top end of velocity. I have not chronograph tested any yet. Cold weather, and a career change have cut into range time a bit. I also am working on getting a membership at the local club. So testing will continue once I have access to a range that is not 130 miles away.
 
oofftopic of the main discussion but my .260's love H4350, 4831SC, and Varget.

H4350 and 4831 seem to be tailor made for the 6.5 caliber. 260 and a 6.5 CM cases have almost identical case volume. RE 16 has it's fans also but I have never tried it. If the RE 26 does not work out try the H4350. For me it has worked in a 24 inch barrel with 123gn bullets up to 142's in a 30 inch barrel. Varget also gave sub .5 groups with a lighter bullet.
 
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It would seem that rl26 would be too slow for a 6.5 creedmoor. Not that it wouldn't push a bullet out the other end but its likely giving up some velocity.
 
My Savage 12 LRP with a 26 inch barrel shoots 143 ELD-X bullets accurately with IMR4350.
I have had better results with 140 and 147 ELD-M, 142 SMK and 130 TMK bullets with IMR4451 powder than with IMR4350 powder but I have never tried it with 143 ELD-X bullets.
This rifle shoots the 142 SMKs and 147 grain ELD-M bullets best.

My Savage 10T-SR with a 24 inch barrel shoots IMR4350 slightly better than IMR4451 with the 140 ELD-M and 130 TMK bullets but shoots IMR4451 better with the 147 ELD-M bullets. It shoots 143 ELD-X bullets accurately with IMR4350 as well.
This rifle shoots the 130 and 140 grain bullets best.

The choice of powder bullet combinations is rifle specific based upon my experience. I think you will just have to experiment a bit to find out what your rifle shoots best. Both rifles shoot very accurately with any powder and bullet combination I have tried, but they do have individual preferences.

If I had declared victory and stuck with the first combination I tried, I would have been pleased but I would have missed the best performers for each rifle.
 
According to QuickLOAD, for my 26 inch barrel 6.5mm CM, RL-26 will get just above 3000 fps muzzle velocity as you approach PMax.

However, RL-26 is very temperature sensitive.
For 2.810 O.A.L. and trim length of 1.910:
PMax at 70 deg F. is 49.2 grains
PMax at 50 deg F. is 49.8 grains.
PMax at 30 deg F. is 50.3 grains.

Adjustments to O.A.L and trim length will also change the velocity and pressure.
Seating deeper by 0.005 will increase pressure and exceed PMax.
Trimming cases longer by 0.005 will increase pressure and exceed PMax.

I would suggest you be cautious in your quest for velocity since you will be flirting with temperature sensitivity.
The 143 ELD-X will still do lots of damage if you stay around 2800 fps MV and you will have lots of room for temperature, seating and trim length variations.
You can achieve 2800 fps by dropping the RL-26 charge by about 3 grains and still have room for an unexpected rise in temperature while you are out hunting.
 
I've been reading up on 6.5 / 147 ELD-M's and seems the new "flavor of the month" powder is RL26. The burn speed in theory just seems way too slow but there is some really good feedback that this combo works very well.
 
Rimfire5,

Thats good solid advice. I have also thought about Moving to a 129 grain sst or a 130 grain Sierra Game Changer. And using RL 17. Maybe 7828 ssc If I can find some load data
 
RL 26 shines with the 147 ELD and heavier pills for Creedmoor. It burns slow and keeps pressure down so with the 24+ barrels you can get the 147s moving 2900ish....and that my friends is going to give you some serious performance down range. My RPR handles them at 2890 with a SD of 4 ES of 9 and that's not even max load for my rifle. Superformance powder is in the burn rate of RL 22 which is the low end of magnum powders which is what sparked the interest. Some caveats: DO NOT use SRP brass. Most have flash holes that will not facilitated a good burn even if you use small magnum primers. That said....MAGNUM primer. Depending on your chamber expect a slightly compressed load. Its OK! As long as you properly develop and pay attention to any signs that may occur, things should be just fine. Now that said...these are my experiences with this combo and therefore my data will not reflect whats best for you. Send me a PM and I can suggest a starting point based on how I did it but when going off book for loads I do not think posting load data is prudent. Others may but I will ensure we talk first and discuss the safety concerns before embarking on that route.

This said...it works well for heavy 6mm Creedmoors as well...115s and 110s to be precise.....
 
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