Playing around with 6.5 Creedmoore...

[clm2112]

Hmm... as if I didn't have enough going on right now, the opportunity to pick up a take-off Savage Axis II barrel came along. Looks like it is more of a hunting rifle barrel, but we'll see when it shows up today. 22", 1-8 Twist. I currently have a Savage 10 in a MDT chassis with a heavy contour 308win barrel on it. That is what I'll be installing the 6.5 barrel on.

Been a while since I started from scratch with a new caliber and cartridge. Local Farm & Home store had Sellier & Bellot 142gr BTHP ammunition (bought a few boxes last night). Just need headspace gauges and a neck sizing die for reloading. Probably get them from Brownells.

Looking forward to seeing what the little bullet can do.

 

[clm2112]

The testing platform... pictures from a few years ago. This Savage 10 was another pawn shop rifle in 243 Win. Not nearly as ugly as the dumpster Remington 700 I picked up about the same time, but a bit rough. I picked up a used 308 Win barrel (factory Savage, 20" 1-10 twist), converted it to a chassis rifle, and have been using it mostly as a hunting rifle ever since.

That's the beauty of the way Savage chose to put the barrel on their rifles. It is a little ugly to look at, but it does make it easy to change calibers. (hence my adoption of "Remage" barrel nuts on my Rem 700 rifles too.)

The most basic test will be seeing if the stock Axis 6.5 Creedmoore barrel can match the basic accuracy of the 308 barrel. At which point the rifle is "usable" by my standards, and I can start dicking around with reloading the cartridge.

 

[Racer88]

If I got the target dimensions right (SR-21?) - the 10-ring is 2.12 inches... then here is your group:

The 3-shot group on the lower left:

Let's see if you can beat it with the 6.5 Creedmoor. My favorite 6.5 ammo is Hornady ELD-M 140-gr.

 

[clm2112]

You got the target dimensions right, the SR21 target (my usual practice target) at my 100yard range. The ammunition wasn't in any way optimized for the barrel, I only make it in on flavor for use in my M1A. Kinda a copy of M852 "Mexican Match" that I use in all of my 308Win rifles.

I would be happy for the 6.5 barrel to be capable of doing the same. Since it is the only 6.5, I can later play with the round as needed (no added constraints, it doesn't have to operate a gas gun or fit inside an M14 magazine.)

 

[Racer88]

You got the target dimensions right, the SR21 target (my usual practice target) at my 100yard range. The ammunition wasn't in any way optimized for the barrel, I only make it in on flavor for use in my M1A. Kinda a copy of M852 "Mexican Match" that I use in all of my 308Win rifles.

I would be happy for the 6.5 barrel to be capable of doing the same. Since it is the only 6.5, I can later play with the round as needed (no added constraints, it doesn't have to operate a gas gun or fit inside an M14 magazine.)

FWIW... My Ruger Precision Rifle barrel now has 4300 rounds through it. Way past it's normal "lifespan." And I'm still shooting sub-MOA and often 1/2-MOA with factory "match" ammo.

My daughter did this with my RPR 6.5 back in September. Five shot group at 100 yards. Hornady ELD-M 140-gr factory ammo.

 

[clm2112]

Barrel showed up today. Looks like it will be a few days before the headspace gauges get here. Still, I can get started.

Down to the basement and remove the 308 barrel from the Savage 10. Pretty easy. Action wrench is a modified Wheeler #2.. is has a section milled out to clear a scope mount on the receiver. The barrel nut wrench is Brownells. A little bit of Kroil soaking into the threads at the moment. About a half hour from now, a good smack with a mallet will break the nut loose and the barrel will just unscrew from the receiver.

 

[clm2112]

Ok, timer went "ding".. good smack with the rubber mallet, and off the 308Win barrel came. Really anti-climatic.

One of the best features of Savage rifles is how easy it is to swap barrels. Instead of a bunch of rifles, you can get away with one receiver and a stack of barrels. For most of calibers in the Savage 1x, 1xx, and Axis product line, they share the same barrel shank thread dimensions (1.055"-20 tpi) You can also change the head of the bolt from the standard to the small, so something like a Savage 110 in 30-06 could be reconfigured to shoot the 223 Rem if you wanted to.

Resting on the vice blocks are the old 308 barrel and the new 6.5 Creedmore barrel. On the wrench head is the recoil lug. Another good feature is the lug is keyed to the receiver, so you don't need a tool to hold the lug in place like on the Remington 700. (On Remage conversions, I machine the Rem 700 receiver to accept the Savage recoil lug.)

 

[Stephen G]

See now, that there is just cheating.
Kinda takes all the fun out of changing out calibers. No blood, no sweat, no tears,
no cursing the stars with a torch in 1 hand and a 35lb sledge in the other . Wheres the fun in that.
I traded out for 243 axisII awhile back. Interesting design. Buddy has 1 in 270. They both have preformed well. Been considering swapping barrel on 243 for a suppressor set up & heavy barrel. Coyote mitigation and all that.

 

[clm2112]

See now, that there is just cheating.

Yup, it is cheating

You still get the joy of taking the barrels off the first time, so you are not denied the pleasure of busting knuckes and wrists breaking loose threads at a gazillion ft-lbs.

 

[clm2112]

Ho Humm.... just waiting for the package from Brownells to get here. Currently sitting in the USPS mail facility in Pittsburgh. Trapped... so close but yet so far... Ahem, should be here tomorrow. The Savage is still set up in the wrench and vise, just waiting for the package with the headspace gauges.

I guess that means I have to do something more pedestrian this weekend. Hmmm... I can only get so excited about doing the laundry.

 

[clm2112]

Okie Dokie, package arrived, with the goodies inside...

Little trick for headspacing a rifle. Scotch tape is 0.002" thick. Take a piece and measure it to be sure. The headspace range between Go and No-Go on most cartridges is 0.004". Which means, if you take the GO gauge, add a piece of scotch tape to the breech end, then use it to hand tighten the barrel, you will likely end up with the barrel headspaced right in the middle of the Go to No-Go range. Take the tape off and confirm the headspace. (More cheating)

Done with headspace setting and tightening the barrel nut. Kinda nice that the roll stamp on the barrel ended up right side up and visible on the left side of the rifle. (Usually ends up in a different orientation, just got lucky this time around.)

 

[clm2112]

The first tests... Damn it is cold out there (about 30 degrees with a light wind)

The rifle and the 100 yard test range

 

[clm2112]

And the results... twelve shots fired, in three groups of four rounds each. First two targets were me adjusting the scope to bring the rounds to the center of the target, and the last target was an attempt at a group. Before my fingers got numb from the cold. For a pencil barrel, I'm not disappointed, it is well within the usable range of a hunting rifle. I can start looking around for reload recipes that it likes. When it warms up a bit outside, I'll drag the chronograph out to the range and see what the actual velocities are compared to the 2625fps on the box.

 

[Racer88]

I'd call that success! Which ammo did you use? (Or did I miss that?)

 

[clm2112]

I'd call that success! Which ammo did you use? (Or did I miss that?)

It is factory S&B 142 grain HPBT from the local Family Farm and Home Store. I was rather surprised anybody had anything for 6.5, but they had 20 boxes of it... so now they have 16.

That will hold me over while I get some decent target bullets for reloading.

 

[Racer88]

It is factory S&B 142 grain HPBT from the local Family Farm and Home Store. I was rather surprised anybody had anything for 6.5, but they had 20 boxes of it... so now they have 16.

That will hold me over while I get some decent target bullets for reloading.

Ah... if you're loading your own, it should be a lot better. My favorite factory "match" cartridges are Hornady ELD-M 140-gr and Berger Match Grade Target 140-gr (unicorn stuff - hasn't been available for years).

 

[clm2112]

Well, deer season is over and the weather was relatively nice... ahem 28 degrees and snow on the ground, but at least the sun is shining and no cross-wind. Up to the range to try and chronograph the last 8 rounds of the factory ammunition (out of the first box, still have four more boxes from the same lot I'm going to hang on to for future comparisons.)

Three shots in and the chronograph quit working. I think the sensors fogged over and it stopped seeing the bullets passing over. But, I did get a reading on two, 2609 fps and 2599 fps. Ok, in line with the advertised box spec of 2650 fps out of a 23" barrel. My barrel is an inch shorter, so I figured it would be a little low. The ammunition was room temp, so propellant temp isn't an issue.

Group for all 8: one in the 9 ring, four in the 10 ring, and three in the X ring. For a lightweight hunting rifle, yeah, I'll take it.

Next step is reloads, as soon as the box from Mid-South arrives. First to try are 123 grain Hornady SST bullets over Win 748 powder. Some 140grain SST are also coming from Brownells, but I don't have any suitable propellants for that. Oh, well, future testing. Meanwhile, I can at least generate a decent ground hog/ coyote/ white-tail load, which covers just about everything I'll be taking a shot at.

 

[clm2112]

First test session with reloads this morning. Ammunition: neck sized S&B cases, Remington 9-1/2 primers, 123gr Hornady SST, 37.0gr Win 748. Bullets seated to the cannelure and the mouths crimped

The chronograph (now with clean lenses) worked. five shots, 2553, 2544, 2565, 2583, and 2644 fps. Averaged 2578 fps.

I blew it on the target... most of the pasters I put on to cover last week's holes fell off when the second bullet impacted it today. Oh well, guess I'll need a clean target for the next session.

Time for some coffee and to make another batch of five rounds, with a 37.1gr charge. It is just below freezing out there.

 

[Racer88]

First test session with reloads this morning. Ammunition: neck sized Sellier & Belloit cases, Remington 7-1/2 primers, 123gr Hornady SST, 37.0gr Win 748.

The chronograph (now with clean lenses) worked. five shots, 2553, 2544, 2565, 2583, and 2644 fps. Averaged 2578 fps.

I blew it on the target... most of the pasters I put on to cover last week's holes fell off when the second bullet impacted it today. Oh well, guess I'll need a clean target for the next session.

Time for some coffee and to make another batch of five rounds, with a 37.1gr charge.

Target distance?

 

[clm2112]

Target distance?

Still at 100 yards. That's the only measured distance I have to work with (the range is built between two hills, with the shooting position on the slope of one hill and the target on the facing the slope of the other. It was handy in that it has a natural back-stop.)