6.5 creedmoor 120gr and leverevolution

[N555]

Because why not?
I bought a keg last year one of the few available at retail price and in stock. I'll only need about 4 or 5 pounds max to load 30-30 over about the next 10 years so I'm trying it out in 6.5 creedmoor for sighting/fouling shots.
I tried W748 and was getting bad hang fires with small primer shells. Used large primer this time. Everything I could find was that leverevolution would burn a bit slower than W748.
So I took the start load for 748 and went +1gr for a total load of 38gr of leverevolution, used Privi 120gr HPBT, they're likely match bullets. Loaded up my 2 winchester cases I found at the range, large primer of course. Those cases have been fires 2 times assuming they were once fired when I found them. Sized to about +7 thousands on rcbs dies and rcbs shell holder, trimmed to 1.91''. Coal was 2.79 to 2.793'', I have the seating die set for my Sierra game changer load and I'm not bothering to move them, the bullets look like they are sitting about right.
Rifle is a bergara hmr with 24 inch barrel.

First 2 shots were 2,759 and 2,773 fps. The bolt turned nice and easy as if the chamber was empty.
I'll load up those winchester cases again and bump the charge to 39gr. Rifle has a rebel 4 baffle 30 cal silencer. Shots were nice and quiet, didn't heat up the barrel hardly at all as I figured faster powders like 748 would make good silencer loads if they didn't hang fire.
Off to reload them again to 39gr, might take a while if the cases need to be trimmed.

 

[N555]

Cases did need to be turned but the trimmer was still set up for 6.5 creedmoor from last time. I'm pretty sure I trimmed them last time. Anything over 1.912 gets trimmed. Cases were 1.917 after sizing. So they grew 5 or 7 thousands. Seems like a lot. Primer went in with medium force, no different than last time.
39gr of leverevolution made 2,848 and 2,832.
Bolt still turned as if it was on an empty chamber.
Those velocity numbers are in line with W748 so I'm going to say that leverevolution even though it appears to be slower than 748 in leverevolution appropriate rounds like the 30-30, but in a high pressure over bored rounds like 6.5cm leverevolution is very much in line with a W748 burn.
These 39gr shots were much more lively.
Yes of course I'll push it to 40gr.

 

[N555]

Primers went in with medium force from that last shot. Seemed no different from when I started.
40gr of leverevolution gave 2,886 and 2,898fps
Bolt still turns like it's on an empty chamber.
I'm thinking leverevolution is definitely an acceptable 6.5 creedmoor powder at least for up to 120gr bullets.
I think 40gr is about max.
But I should go to 41gr just to make sure.

 

[N555]

Looks like the cases are growing 6 or 7 thousands per firing.
41gr gave 2,957 and 2,889fps
You can tell it's not an empty chamber now, bolt rotates like on factory fired ammo.
That's a pretty dramatic increase in v spread. I'm going to say 40 is the max. I don't think 41gr made dangerous pressure or much if any over pressure but that spread would make horrible longer range accuracy.

 

[JCSC]

You’ll want to watch that Lever as things warm up. I found down here that my loads got awful hot in my grendel.

it’s a good powder but not great for temperature sensitivity.

Never tried to use it in the creedmoor and I have about 8 pounds, so may give this a run for hunting ammo.

 

[N555]

Oh yeah leverevolution is definitely not temperature stabile.
With 30-30 if I let one sit in a hot chamber too long it will send them at least an inch high at 150 yards.

 

[Blue68f100]

I tried W748 and was getting bad hang fires with small primer shells.

Normally a Mag primer is recommended for ball powders, particularly in cold temps.

 

[Chuck R.]

Slightly off topic, but I just tried some of those PPU 120 HPBTs in my 20" 260Rem. I was looking for a practice load and still doing some barrel break in. Loaded up some with 46.0 H4350 which was a middle of the road load:



The 1st 4 rounds went into .467", then I gacked on the 5th round, but even with the flyer it came in at .935". Not too shabby for an 8x scope at 100. I then had zero issues at 200 and 300 on a 8" swinger. Velocity was a little lower than I normally like at 2830 FPS, but trajectory mimics my 130 NAB load due to the higher BC.

I was actually very impressed for what I considered to be a budget bullet. I've got another 30 practice loads done, once they're used up I'm going to do some actual load development with these. Definitely going to order more and save my NABs and NBTs for hunting.

 

[bluetopper]

Use CFE 223 data.

 

[N555]

Use CFE 223 data.

Yeah I saw your post. I didn't know they were so close.