Finding the sweet spot

bdbrown66

Handloader
May 16, 2016
999
718
Here's a good example of the benefits of reloading, and how quickly the group can tighten up when you find the sweet spot that your rifle likes. In this case, a Browning X-Bolt Medallion in 6.5CM.

These 3 groups were part of a load development ladder that I shot yesterday. Bullet is 140gr Hornady ELD-M. Powder is H4350. There is .5gr difference between each group, going up. The last group is at the top of the published load data, so I don't really want to push beyond that. Will probably play with seating depth a bit and then call it good. As you can see, the group size literally shrunk in half in that 1gr between the first and third groups, roughly .25" per .5gr.

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IMG_20220620_102358.jpg

IMG_20220620_102416.jpg

Now to shoot some more of that last load to verify accuracy and velocity, and adjust seating depth if necessary.

Cheers,
Brian
 
Nicely done. I agree that a little tweaking with the COL and you are good to go. H4350 is a great powder in the 6.5 Creedmoor..

JD338
 
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4350 is no longer available over here.
Some stupid EU regulations...
I have good results with reload Swiss and rumor has it that some RL powders are made by them.
Though RS60 is said to burn through barrels rather quickly.
Well - it is a hunting rifle. So the barrel will still last some years
 
As I remember 2 tight 1 out, seat deeper.
That's what the next round is for. Those are currently seated at .020 off the lands. I loaded another test at that depth, another batch at .045 off the lands, and a third batch at .070. Hope to shoot them soon.
 
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