6.5 Creedmoor with Alliant Reloder 16 in the Savage Stealth Evolution: Insane Results!

Full video here:   / 17858841  

My usual method worked pretty well when I started working up 6.5 Creedmoor. But I knew the cartridge held more potential. I made a handful of tweaks and came up with some phenomenally good loads for the 140-grain Hornady BTHP Match bullet.

Let's start with the initial load workup. I prepped my cases, primed them with CCI BR-2 Benchrest Primers, then loaded up with Alliant Reloder 16. The 140-grain Speer Hot-Cor bullets grouped better than I expected. Here's the sticking point: I seated the my match bullets (Hornady BTHP Match and Hornady ELD-M) bullets [redacted]. The results that I got back after firing groups over a chronograph were OK, but not exactly what I was looking for. 0.5 MOA at best, with velocity standard deviations no lower than 12 fps.

Unsatisfied, I returned to the bench and loaded up with the Hornady BTHP bullet seated at exactly [redacted]. I figured out my maximum powder charge using Quickload software and got back out on the range. This time the smallest group measured 0.39" and none of the velocity SDs exceeded 10 feet per second. The lowest SD was a staggering 2.0 fps!

Needless to say, I had found my perfect load, and future 6.5 Creedmoor videos and challenges will feature this load. I'll be testing it in the CMMG Mk3 DTR2 AR-10 that you'll be seeing soon.

Here's the equipment and material I used to prep my cases:
1. Lyman Lube Pad with RCBS-2 Lube
2. RCBS Full Length Sizer Die
3. RCBS Trim Pro 2 Case Trimmer
4. Lee Chamfer & Deburring Tool
5. CCI BR-2 Primers in the Lee Hand Priming Tool
6. Alliant Reloder 16 Powder measured by the RCBS Chargemaster Lite (Review:    • RCBS Chargemaster Lite Review: The as...  )
7. RCBS Bullet Seater Die

I shot all of these groups over a chronograph. The rifle was a stock Savage Stealth Evolution in 6.5 Creedmoor, including the muzzle brake. For stability, I shot from a Champion Premium Rest, previously reviewed here:    • Champion Premium Rest: Budget Machine...  .

Kyle Broderick, The Social Regressive