Best current powder for 6.5G?

[Remington Jim]

Well Jim, I have some H335 I have not tried yet from my rifle with a 18'' 1&8 twist, what rifle barrel length and twist are you running and what's your load for the H335? and what kind of numbers are you getting with what bullet? if you don't mind me asking, or anybody else who want to share

Howa mini 22” 1-8 6.5 G 31.5 grs H335 with Hornady 95 VMax CCI450 Shoots 5 into .750 always at 100 yds . 2925 Fps . Coal 2.260 “

[Mark611]

I do not remember what the Jam length was with the 120gn ELDM in my AR, the 120 and 123gn ELDM's I load to 2.260 or mag length, IIRC I still had plenty of jump to the lands, I believe it was over 20K+, nothing for me to worry about, I took the measurement from my 24'' Sanders upper, I have not done a OAL to the Jam on my 18'' barrel yet, but 2.260 is as far out as I can set the bullets out, this measurement is a safe length and works with all the different magazines I have and it's the OAL most used in the info I use to load in a AR plat from, I hope this helps

[Stugotz]

I've been using H335 with great effect.

[Sinclair]

I am curious, is anybody comparing OBT and the muzzle velocity that produce the smallest groups? I ask because something around 2409 theoretically should produce the best groups out of 24's inch barrels. Awhile back, a forum member sent to me a program that converted OBT to muzzle velocity. After running many variations, I came up with optimal MVs for my CZ 527 w/25.6 inch barrel at 2409, 2543, 2791, 2971 fps. I have not had an opportunity to verify any of these so I am asking the forum members what have they found to correspond between MV and small groups. If the concept of OBT is true, it would possibly simplify load development, especially when we have to substitute powders during this time of shortages. Anyone have comments on this?

[Mark611]

JMO here, accuracy nodes can be achieve at anywhere along the powder charge range, if you have a bullet and powder that your barrel likes? and have all your brass prep set up correctly and a seating depth that has a correct jump to the lands, Bolt actions can be tune easier IMO compared to a gas gun, the only thing that will restrict you is magazine length, My custom built 308win bolt gun I can seat the bullets out as long as I like it's a detachable AICS magazine, and the rifle likes the 175gn SMK's and they like to be 10k off the Jam length, My 6.5 Creedmoor bolt gun I can set the bullets out as long as I like, I started off at 10k off the Jam, but the accuracy node didn't start to come in until I set the 147gn ELDM at 29k off the Jam length, it's also a detachable AICS mag gun, IMO the longer 6.5mm bullets tend to like a longer jump to the lands, the 6.5mm 123gn ELDM's are longer then my .308 175gn SMK's, that said, IMO is why they like a longer jump in some rifles, the 6.5mm bullets, Powder charges are about barrel harmonics, when you figure out how to put a combination together of all these factors, then you should start seeing your accuracy, JMO

[Constitutionalist]

I've been using H335 with great effect.

I've been starting to work with it, too. 31.0gr with the 90gr Varm is a sweet spot in one of my rifles. Experimenting now with 126gr cast and and Sierra 120PHs. Not as fast as IMR8208 but much more available.

John

[cceckhoff58]

If I was shooting an AR I would favor TAC or X-Terminator. Lower cost, good performance and availability. For a target shooter which is a rare animal amongst Grendel shooters I want a short cut stick powder. 8208 has poor availability. N133 produces greater velocity.

[Mark611]

Yea, I have been loading a lot of ball powders lately for my 6.5Grr and 308win M1A, and I'll say it's not like loading stick powder, I just picked up an 8LB keg of AR comp to try, then I found another powder That's available the A2495, I'm looking for powders that will work for all the calibers I load for, the 2495 has good temp stability and will work in my 223/5.56 Wylde and 6.5GRR and my M1A 308/7.62nato NM rifle and my bolt gun in 308win, The 2495 looks to be promising for all, my pet powders are not around and if you find them their $375 or more for an 8LB keg, which has led me to look for other powders, The pet powders I have I will not use unless there's no other powders out there and then they will be used sparingly, just a bunch of BS for us reloaders

[Zinkin]

I never seem to be at the right place at the right time for 8208.

Really, I should probably just stop trying to chase velocity, etc. With a 335-based SST load I had no problems killing a large doe at over 300 yards last month. It only chrono'd 2400 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel, but when the bullet hit the chest cavity she went down on the spot like she had been struck by lightning. I have good loads with TAC and 335 and these bullets. Maybe that is good enough.

Unless you are benchrest/long range shooting, there is no need to chase velocity only repeatable accuracy, even if you are doing that, slowing it down will often times give you stellar performance. When I am getting weird grouping I slow it down and can often times get them into a ragged hole. That doe you shot at 300 is the proof....What else do you need?

[Zinkin]

One of the problems of getting a steady supply of 8208 is because it is mfg. in Australia, then packaged here in the states....

[Zeneffect]

staball match is not bad for the 123s. not the fastest, def not the slowest either. decent accuracy, powder availability, temp stability.

[Remington Jim]

There is NO “ BEST Powder “ :p. but there are multiple GOOD ?? powders depending on the bullet and the rifle. That’s the REAL answer . JMO RJ

THERE may be a BEST powder for you and your load in your rifle BUT even that varies once you change bullets often .

[Fess]

If I was shooting an AR I would favor TAC or X-Terminator. Lower cost, good performance and availability. For a target shooter which is a rare animal amongst Grendel shooters I want a short cut stick powder. 8208 has poor availability. N133 produces greater velocity.

FWIW, ancient Grendel History: "On March 6, 2006, Arne Brennan achieved a witnessed 1.198 inch 5 shot group at 660 yards using the Lapua 108 Scenar Projectile with N133 powder... no voodoo or black magic powder / bullets there."
It must be noted though, that Arne was using a custom bolt gun and running at well above SAAMI pressures.

[Mark611]

This an old post, but I will say since its original posting I have learned a few things about loading for my AR Grendel's, I started off with a 24'' 1&8 barrel, my goal was to have a target/longer ranger shooter, then I purchased an 18'' 1&8 upper, shooting Factory ammo for me was not my goal, I'm a hand loader, I struggled with getting good performance with velocity and accuracy from my 2 at the time uppers, I tried to get at least 2450fps with decent accuracy, I tried about 9 different powders and tried to make the Hornady 120 and 123gn ELDM's to shoot, no luck, so I purchased some 120gn SMK's with 27.1gn of AR Comp, Bingo! I found what I was looking for, my 18'' 2495 ave, SDs in the 7's 2545 ave out of my 24'' SDs of 7's 3/4'' groups @200m 1.5'' form my 18'' and could be better with a reticule that's not a horseshoe dot that cover up my bull's eye @200m. also IMO the 24'' tube is not worth the 50fps difference in velocity compared to the nimble ness of my 18'' rifle! I recently purchased a few new 18'' 1&8 barrels so I'll probably making my 24'' to an 18'',

[treed]

8208 for me also. Like the temp stability and i have a boatload which helps too.

[trubulator]

Unless you are benchrest/long range shooting, there is no need to chase velocity only repeatable accuracy, even if you are doing that, slowing it down will often times give you stellar performance. When I am getting weird grouping I slow it down and can often times get them into a ragged hole. That doe you shot at 300 is the proof....What else do you need?

Well, the two I shot with Grendel last month were with an ABLR chrono'd at just over 2200 FPS, so clearly velocity is not everything.

[tdbru]

Zeneffect,
I was going to ask if anyone here had given Winchester StaBall Match a try. Just a bit faster burning than CFE223 and supposed to have a copper reducing agent and be temp stable. Looks like a reasonable burn rate for 120 - 130 gr. in the Gr. How extensively have you worked with StaBall Match?
-tdbru

[grendelnubi]

FWIW, ancient Grendel History: "On March 6, 2006, Arne Brennan achieved a witnessed 1.198 inch 5 shot group at 660 yards using the Lapua 108 Scenar Projectile with N133 powder... no voodoo or black magic powder / bullets there."
It must be noted though, that Arne was using a custom bolt gun and running at well above SAAMI pressures.

We have our own Arne Brennan, we call her Diane..... :o Like to see what she could do at 660 yards.....

[G34]

H335 does it all.

Agree.

[VASCAR2]

Here is a thread on Staball Match powder results. Not much discussion on Staball Match as it was only released in 2022-2023.



https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthre...ball-Match