bronko22000

Finally got a chance to shoot this rifle after getting different mounts. Rifle is chambered in 6.5 CM. This was the first outing shooting the Hornady 140 gr ELD-X bullets and H4350 powder. Charges were 38.5 gr, 39 gr. 39.5 gr and 40 gr. i only shot at 100 yards today because I didn't have time to go to the range so I was shooting near my home. It's really hard to pick a winner out of these loads because they were all under an inch. Group size ran from 0.86" - 0.98". (That was without my glasses which I left at home) I'm still going to do some experimenting for a few reasons. 1; the OAL of these rounds were too long for my magazine; and 2. I was not seeing any pressure signs. And the 40 gr charge was the tightest group.
But boy is this rifle fun to shoot. The trigger is perfect for me and the recoil is like shooting a .223.

Nomercy448

bronko22000

Hey buddy I wish I would have read this a little sooner. I just loaded up some more rounds of H4350. I only went to 40.0 gr. I loaded 10 rds each of 41, 42 and 43 gr and I'm going to shoot tomorrow at 200 yds to get a better grasp on what it likes. I had just put new target dots on the poster board I was using to cover up the previous holes and masking tape on the ones it didn't cover. I was shooting both the HMR and the Model 70 at the same array of target dots.
I'll take pics tomorrow. I guarantee that the HMR will, at worse, shoot a 5 hole, 5 shot group at that distance.

Nomercy448

bronko22000

I am using the Bergara supplied magazine. I don't recall now the initial COAL because I was basing it off the Hornady Lock-n-Load gauge then .010" off the lands. These rounds now loaded are only short enough to clear the magazine. I would guess that I had to reduce their length by about .020". Current COAL is 2.83" which is still .03 longer than book max length and puts me about .030" off the lands.
I'm heading to the range now so pic to follow.

EDIT: Just came back from the range without even firing a shot! Got out of the truck and the wind was blowing really hard. Probably somewhere around 25-30 mph and almost 90* crosswind. Ain't no way I could get a good analysis of loads with that. Now with archery season opening tomorrow I don't know when I'm going to get out. Its going to be a while for sure.