6.5 Needmoor

Sgt_Mike

Sgt_Mike

Active member
(yes I'm picking on the creedmoor , because I own one and the Hype is just over the top, it's not a bad round about same cap as the 6mm Rem in a shorter case)
Picked one of these up years ago, The Remington Rep gave me a smoking deal on it. I've put maybe 20 rounds down the barrel. The thought came to me that maybe it might work ok for a LR varmint gun when the 722 in 6mm Rem warms up.
I do have some Sierria 100gr Varminters on hand. Just looking to see whom else has went down this path and can give some pointers on powder selection.

I was considering RE-15 ... but just found out about the production suspension. The other was IMR 8208XBR
 

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I load my AR10 6.5CM with 95gr vamx over Varget. It's very accurate and drops coyotes. There's definitely nothing wrong with the 6.5CM. The hate/controversy should be geared towards the dummies trying to shoot elk with it at 800+ yards, not the round.
 
I think the hate comes with popularity. One thing that no one can argue with is the amount of long range shooters that use it now and their main reason is usually "it's just so easy to shoot".

As for hunting. I've shot coyotes and deer with it. I have zero complains with either. The coyotes it blew apart and the deer put a beautiful hole in and out right where I aimed.
 
DoubleLungRage said:
I think the hate comes with popularity. One thing that no one can argue with is the amount of long range shooters that use it now and their main reason is usually "it's just so easy to shoot".
Click to expand...
personally for me it's the hype. But I still think it's viable cartridge, the bore size I've always liked. I really like the 6mm Remington, .223, 222, 221, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, .308, 45-70, etc etc. and each has their usages. And yep I am old enough to remember when it was the .308 vs 30-06 with the LR shooters, the same was said of the .308. Recoil and shooter fatigue.

But the comments of it blew yotes apart does get my interest up as that is the goal.... just for gophers, PD and other small vermin.

Moving on towards to powder / light bullet selection.
1 vote thus far for Varget with 95gr V-maxs ok I'll check around for some of the v-max's (I do have a partial Lb of varget on the shelf enough for load testing).

Just checked Midsouth and Powder Valley for the V-max's seems PV has some in stock
 
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We just finished working up a coyote load for my brother's Ruger SFAR in 6.5CM. Our prior load in an AR-10 6.5 was the 95gr V-Max with W760 which I had on hand. His SFAR way out shot the AR-10 using the 90gr Nosler Varmageddon with H4895. There was about a two grain spread on powder charges where we got groups of 0.5-0.8 @100yds. There were other powders that had accurate enough loads but they wouldn't reliably operate the gas guns.
 
Did load up the following for the Rem 700 PCR 6.5 Creedmoor:
COAL 2.650" 2.686"
Sierria 100gr #1710 (this one is the FB version, plus I have 400+ on hand)
WLR primer
RE-15@42.8grs
IMR 8208XBR @ 40.3 grs (although looks Like I could stretch her legs 1.9grs more if need be)
I do have Hodgden and IMR 4895, 4064, IMR4350, RE-15,IMR 8208XBR, Varget on hand. No W760 (although I'll check the local haunts to see if I can scare up a pound if the others don't work).

I don't have 90gr Nosler Varmageddon, 90gr Speer TnT, 105gr Sierria #1785 Blitzking , Hornady 95gr V-max on hand /shelf, just debating between buying sample packs (midsouth might have a sample pack of these) or just a box. ( guess they quit the sample packs didn't see a listing... box it is)

In the .22 and 6mm bore the Nosler Varmageddon, and Speer TnT, have usually been a really good accuracy and explosive effects in my AR's as well as the 6mm Rem.
I'm hoping to achieve the same results in the 6.5 bore while keeping bullet cost per round to reasonable level for PD's (specifically Richardson Ground Squirrels aka Gophers per the local's in the Montana / Wy/ SD region).
At some point soon I'll get off my fifth point of contact and test the loads that I have loaded up. Which I'm sure will need some adjustments.

Although I'll start with the Sierria 100grs because I have them on hand. I'll move to some of the lighter weight offerings, as has been suggested in order to keep projectile cost down. After all my goal is to just kill a rodent. I would like to be in the 90gr range.
 
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As I noted in the other post (ladder test effective Range) which I'm now skirting away from and letting that thread die hopefully.

As my actual question was pretty much confirmed my thoughts on the matter.

So thank you @alf @hm1996 @crapshoot @Hunter55 @Antgrit for your input and knowledge it is greatly appreciated and noted and last but not least @DAA whom just hit the like button aggressively when he agreed with others input.

The RL-15 shot decent for a deer load (honest 1" outside to outside 5 -shot group / .736"center to center)
The IMR 8208 XBR slightly better (again honest 1" actual 0.980" outside to outside / .716" center to center 5 - shot group)
Which honestly it (IMR 8208 XBR) "Might" have done better if I had paid better attention to Sierra's load data, I should have tried 41.3grs vs the 1 gr less that I loaded.

Did another check on Powder Valley stock age to see RL-15 availability, still none, so that said. I'll abandon the powder only because I can't get more at the present time online or locally it seems.

That leaves me with IMR 4985/4064 and Varget to add to the mix. I'm "thinking" of the three Varget should be first up to go against IMR 8208XBR. Being a tad slower than 8208 XBR, "should" have better case fill as well. Not to mention several have touted the powder in this thread.

Just testing powders I have on hand before buying a LB of new powder to try. Win Staball 65 has my interest, but I'd have to buy a LB to try.

Yes I know the rate from fastest to slowest of the 4 powders is 8208XBR, IMR 4895, IMR 4064, followed by Varget .

Conventional wisdom says H4350 but the hype has drove the prices higher than the other powders. But in the end I may have to go that powder.
 
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here's a load I worked up for my wife's 6.5 CM with H4350, I've got another recipe for my Bergara, the 6.5's just plain shoot.

H4350 Donnas creedmoor.jpg
 
I found the data and target for my Bergara 6.5 CM with IMR4350 & 140gr. Hornady BTHP, and I'll also mention, an unheard of H4831 shoots well also. Looking for the target

39 half grs IMR4350 140 gr ELDM.jpg
 
@Hunter55
H4831 seems I've heard usage of that powder. In other postings on a different sites I think. Might be a option if nothing else works.

Last night while digging through the powder container here at the house looking for Varget to setup for the next testing.
I ran across a partial LB of IMR 4350 (left over from some 30-06 /7mm Rem Mag load testing). It burns a little different than H4350, yet very close :unsure: ).
Which the thought of it did cross my mind as an alternate to the often praised H4350 in the CM.
Your post is promising, will it be the bee knees with the lighter projectiles IDK. But could be worth a look

I did load up two small lots of Varget with the Sierra 100gr #1710's (10 rounds each charge weight, to check 5-shot groups). The upper loading are 0.4grs off (less) of Sierra's max data.
Fill was right at the shoulder junction (good sign as I had not done the math for case fill).

I'll revisit the data on the IMR 4350 with the light weights 100gr and less, just not much data out there (predominantly for the 120's, which I do have).

I just read over this thread and I noticed something that I failed to post, which is important. What my intended target is with the 100gr bullets.
Gophers and Prairie Dogs, NOT as the primary just a go to gun when I warm up the .223's. Does that mean I won't shoot a Yote with it? nope. but it does change the focus.
 
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St. Mike, reading Sierra 1710, that bullet should be a keeper when you find a powder and C.O.A.L. the rifle likes. Just looked at Hodgdon powders and Nosler, both have several recipes for a 100gr pill. My 6.5 CM book is upstairs, should I run upon an interesting recipe I'll post.
 
@Hunter55 (Dave)
Many thanks Sir. if uncomfortable about posting charge weight's ranges in the open a PM is welcomed.
I am sure that I'm long in the COAL (even with a 0.020" "jump") I suspect that it will like closer to 2.650" when it's time to dial in the COAL.
As I have a bit over 500 on hand, as well as the 120's (SMK) from Sierra ( a bit more)
The #1710's are at a acceptable price point per bullet to shoot rodents, the others such as Speer, and Nosler are right there with the Seirra cost wise.

MANY THANKS to you Hunter55 for the PM data you sent. Really appreciate you taking time out for this.
 
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I’ve had a 6.5 creed a while back. It loved H4350 and IMR4350. 41 grains was always my sweet spot and I loaded just a hair under mag length.

I still use H4350 in the 6 creedmoor. It shoo very well with the 80gr eldvt and 108 eldvt.
 
Just a update on the loading for the next session maybe Tuesday next week (july 22nd) weather and what not permitting.
I setup four lots of 10.
Lot 1 and 2 is Varget Staying at COAL of 2.686".

Lot 3 &4 is IMR 4350 both lots at same charge, Lot 3 is COAL 2.686" Lot 4 is COAL 2.650" (which is usually what Sierra quotes for that bullet)
The load charge in these two lots (3&4) is actually in the neck with a slight compression at the shorter COAL. Hopefully no hang fires with the longer COAL.
I did find some load data via Barnes, for a 100gr pill & IMR 4350 (start 42.5gr to 47.2C gr @COAL 2.700") so I should be GTG with the 44.3gr load for Lot 3 & 4. My reasoning for 44.3gr was based on Sierra's listing for IMR 4350 and the 120 grs (SMK) bullet, being 20grs lighter I should be able to run a tenth under max for a 120 gr listing without pressure signs.

now why the 100gr Sierra Varminter #1710 ? well 36 cents ea is about as much as I want to spend on vaporizing a rodent. As well as having several hundred on hand helps too. Other critters well that is different LOL

EDIT TO add july 23 2025:
made it to the range the first loads of Varget wasn't no where near what I would consider a group.
Before going I did shift the scope back in the rails to get the eye relief better for parallax adjustments, never would it focus correctly. So rater than waste resources I stopped after 10 rounds which I did to mostly to check pressures on the Varget Loads. Some time tomorrow I'll change the scope out (VX freedom). To the VX-3i then retry.
 
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