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6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results #8098902 12/22/20 05:01 AM
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TORNracer Offline OP
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Hey gang, could use some ladder test analysis from a few folks that have done them more than once, like I now have. I took JGs advice and loaded starting at 41.5g up to 43.0g of H4350 in 0.3g increments with once fired Hornady brass, CCI BR2 primers, and Hornady 143g ELD-X. First picture is 5 of the 41.5g to foul in the clean, cold barrel at 100 yards, about a 3/4 moa group. Next one is a ladder at 300 yards, next is the same ladder at 400 yards. Winds were variable from left to right.

Loads are:
1 - 41.5
2 - 41.8
3 - 42.1
4 - 42.4
5 - 42.7
6 - 43.0

There was a pretty distinct elevation difference between 1-3 and 4-6. Thinking that I load the #2 and shoot for groups, what are your thoughts?

Thanks for the help in advance!

Attached Files 03BE9ADB-237D-4B82-9F79-0F07D80F8DD2.jpeg8D387635-C34D-4E10-BD40-2792B2D42288.jpeg537558B4-7A78-42A0-A907-43F9EE147A30.jpeg
Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8098911 12/22/20 05:17 AM
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What gun is it? Just curious

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: patriot07] #8098921 12/22/20 05:40 AM
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I probably should have added that - Tikka T3X CTR 6.5 Creedmoor. 20 inch barrel with a Crux Ark Neo suppressor attached.

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8098933 12/22/20 06:04 AM
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Copy - well personally I'm not a fan of ladder testing. It requires lots of skill in shooting to be 100% valid. But that being said, my load for my Tikka CTR 6.5CM with a 140 ELD-M is at the very high end of the pressure range, right before she shows signs of being too hot. So I'd consider loading up a group in the 5-6 range and see what she does. Tikkas are slow enough without taking powder away unnecessarily. And 5-6 were right next to each other vertically in both groups.

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: patriot07] #8099320 12/22/20 04:17 PM
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Patriot- thanks for the insights, I hadn’t thought about going that high. At 43 grains I had a little primer just starting to flatten, but no hard bolt lift or ejector marks or anything - so max for this rifle is likely a few more .3 charges higher than I stopped.

Would love anyone else’s thoughts that shoot ladders fairly often too!

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8099345 12/22/20 04:33 PM
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Load two is your jam.

Loads 4 and 5 are the higher node. Load up 42.5 gr and see what you get.


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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8099350 12/22/20 04:35 PM
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2-3 is a node (they are flat on both ladders), there is another one higher but your 300y target shows it at 4-5 and your 400y target shows it at 5-6.

I’d load between 2-3 and shoot some groups.


Originally Posted by Phil Robertson
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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8099471 12/22/20 05:49 PM
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I am still relatively new to reloading and I do like this style of ladder testing. Basically agree with the two above, I'd load some of between 2 to 3 (like 10 rds for me) AND load a couple more above #6 to see. But then again, I'm just finding reasons to blow off additional rounds all the time.


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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8099544 12/22/20 06:48 PM
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I'd load around #2.


Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8099682 12/22/20 08:50 PM
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Thanks for all the help guys! I’m going to load up some 41.8 and 42, then a 42.5 for giggles and see what happens. I’d like to be in the higher node of possible as the lower node is around 2525-2550 vs over 2600 for the higher one. My Tikka is slow like most and the 20” barrel isn’t helping me much. Trying to use as few components as possible given the state of the world today!

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8099960 12/22/20 11:44 PM
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I wouldn't pass up a group @ 41.6 either. If you want more speed go down in bullet weight. This coming from an F=ma guy when transferring energy to a deer. However, I got talked into 129SSTd in my 20" gun. I've even used them in my 16" supressed Encore. I've been very impressed with the results.


Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: BarneyWho] #8100128 12/23/20 01:31 AM
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Thanks for that Barney! I was hoping to pick up more speed than I did vs factory ammo, picked up some, but probably not more than 50-100 fps depending on what node shoots best. I have been thinking about stepping down to the 130s as this is a 50/50 shooting steel to 500 and pig/deer hunting gun. What powder works for your 129 SSTs? Hoping the 8 lbs of H4350 that I have would work for that weight bullet too!

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8101892 12/24/20 02:31 PM
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Not sure on powder. I bought these loaded from Cahd for my AR. I would think H4350 would work. I ran the 129s out to 600 in my AR no problem. I don't think Is shoot a deer past 450-500 with it though due to energy past that distance.


Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8102117 12/24/20 05:42 PM
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Short(er) barrel think faster powder....I’d use something in the Varget burn rate area


Originally Posted by Phil Robertson
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8102227 12/24/20 07:27 PM
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I'm not very ladder experienced, but why not try shooting groups with 5 and 6? After all, these are results of just one shot each and there is the possibility the shooter was not perfect.


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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8117979 01/06/21 08:42 PM
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There are different kinds of ladder tests depending on what you are trying to achieve. Your test since, you are shooting at 300 and 400 yards is not the traditional load ladder velocity test that people shoot at 100 yards and look for velocity nodes. The test you are kind of doing (and I say kind of bc it is generally at at least 660 yards) I see guys do that are shooting long distance and want to test and look for vertical nodes based on different powder loads. They are looking for, what load (s) give me the best vertical grouping. So just quickly based on your targets, I would say loads 1, 2 & 3 are your best loads bc they gave you the lowest vertical dispersion (basically along the same waterline) on both the 300 & 400 yard targets. Given that I would pick #2 41.8 since it is between 1 & 3 which would then give you leeway depending on changing environmental factors.
Google up Ryan Furman @ Long Range Only. He has a great video that explains this kind of ladder testing.

Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8117995 01/06/21 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by TORNracer
Thanks for all the help guys! I’m going to load up some 41.8 and 42, then a 42.5 for giggles and see what happens. I’d like to be in the higher node of possible as the lower node is around 2525-2550 vs over 2600 for the higher one. My Tikka is slow like most and the 20” barrel isn’t helping me much. Trying to use as few components as possible given the state of the world today!

I completely understand being a handloader and wanting to work towards a number you had in mind. That said 2500-2600 fps with cup and core bullets has been knocking deer/hogs dead for me for 20+ years. I wouldn't be concerned about the velocity unless your planning on shooting game at long range as well, then i'd want as much as i could get I suppose.


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Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8118419 01/07/21 02:20 AM
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Hey gang - quick update!

First: thank you all for chiming in with your thoughts and suggestions as they were really helpful. I very much appreciate everyone sharing their expertise.

Second: I loaded up two 3 round groups of 41.8, 42, and then 42.5 just to see what happened since that sorta seemed to be my lower node and higher node. Picture of the results below. I will admit this was not my best shooting as I was in a hurry.

The first group of 41.8 put the first two rounds out of the rifle almost in the same hole and the third a little higher. I thought maybe I pulled it, but then when I shot the second 3 round group of 41.8, the POI was almost exactly the same. My guess was that the barrel heated up a little after the first two rounds.

The 42.5 charge weight shot one really good group at the end - but what was strange is that I had a little harder bolt lift and ejector marks on all 6 of the cases. What made this strange was that I went all the way up to 43 grains a few days earlier with no signs of pressure. My guess there was the humidity difference. It was 20% humidity the first day, 90% humidity a few days later when I shot the 3 round groups. Temp was about 10 degrees lower on the high humidity day.

I haven’t had a chance to mess with seating depth yet. Would love everyone’s thoughts and reactions to what I found!


PS - I loaded up a handful of the 41.8 to hunt with after Christmas - the lower speed had me questioning the terminal effects, but pigs out to 380 yards didn’t seem to notice much!

Attached Files 19B92DD5-8D0A-49CD-B361-95EB48800AB0.jpeg
Re: 6.5 Creedmoor Ladder Test Results [Re: TORNracer] #8118465 01/07/21 02:54 AM
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With a short barrel Varget, and RL15, maybe even RL16 would be better velocity wise I bet.
I loaded some of the Sierra accuracy load 36.8 of Varget with a 142 SMK the other day and was like WOW it has some promise.. if you have some other powder to play with, don’t get hung up on only h4350..

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