I searched today for something else I had written here and stumbled across this post, and since necroposting seems to be all the rage these days, and since I was only about 8mos into the 6 creed at the time of original posting, and only 4 mos into my Seekins rifle, I thought I might offer an update on my journey with the 6 Creed.

I’ve since sold my RPR’s, but have burned through 4 barrels now chambered for 6 creedmoor - that original RPR (sold, not replaced), a Rock Creek Barrel which was original to my Seekins, my first of three Bartleins (so far) chambered to the Seekins, and my first of two Proof Research barrels for an LFAR (also so far) which I built for precision rifle matches. A touch over 5,000 rounds all told in 6 creed between those 4 barrels in the last ~2 years between matches, a little coyote calling, taking a couple nice whitetail bucks, and practice.

I’m still predominantly shooting the 105 Hybrids, and only shooting these for matches. I took my buck this past winter and the winter prior with my match loads - same result as any 243win or AI load I have used; near instant death, for a quick anchor and no blood trailing. I have shot about 500 108 ELDm’s in practice, trying to save a little money here and there. I’ve been happy to find H4350 I’m sufficient quantities, but also developed a Reloader 16 load in case I ever can’t find 4350.

I’m starting with the 105’s 8 thou off of the lands, but the leade eroded pretty quickly. I haven’t been chasing the lands, but for these last 3 barrels, I have started losing velocity by 1200 rounds, fast enough by 1400 that I have taken them off. Just can’t risk instability in my velocity at matches. The barrels still shoot under 3/4moa, but not reliably under 1/2 as they had in the early life. I expect I could chase the lands and pump powder to keep my velocity up, but it’s not a long term game. For all of my barrels, I have found two nodes between 40.0 and 42.4, such I can pick a low speed or high speed option which still fits under the PRS speed limit. I have not seen pressure signs even as high as 42.4, at least not when my ammo was dry (rain is a different story), and there does appear to be a node up there, but it’s high enough pressure to cause issues in the rain, and fast enough to break the speed limit, so I haven’t pursued it.

Lapua dropped 6 creed brass about a year and a half ago, so I no longer have to neck down Lapua 6.5 creed. I’ve been mostly using Hornady brass again, and even though that first batch went wonky at 3x firing, they were great after only annealing that one time. My second batch of Hornady held strong to 7 firings without annealing, and I’m planning to keep loading it for my second gas gun barrel. It’s notably harder than originally, with higher seating pressure, but the SD’s are still holding single digit, the groups are still very tiny, and the pockets aren’t yet loose. So I’m much more confident now I’m using hornady brass for my match loads - at discounted prices for the Hornady brass, I would need my Lapua batches to last around 30 firings or more, and I’m just not expecting that to pan out. Several other outlets now make 6 creed brass also, some in LRP and some in SRP. I still can’t pretend I shoot well enough to tell the difference on target, but I do know that’s a reason why Lapua brass lasts longer than LRP Hornady. I do have to trim my Hornady brass a bit more than I do Lapua, so I know it’s growing more.

I likely may never buy another 243win. The 6 creed has proven to be everything I have asked the 243win to be for years and years - no fireforming to 243AI, no unusual twist rates, no mag length issues with heavy/long bullets.