Powder for both .243 AND 6.5 CM?

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Ranger 6006

Member

• Mar 19, 2026

• #1

Hi all,

I had a quick look and didn't see a similar thread already running.

I am looking for one powder that will fit both .243 85gr copper and 6.5 CM, 130gr copper, both 22" 1:8 twist barrels. This will be for hunting only. I don't need high top-end speed but need accuracy / consistency. I am considering Viht N150 or N555. Any suggestions and/or actual results, perhaps from someone who runs one powder across both these calibers?

Thanks

 

pablo.222

Well-Known Member

• Mar 19, 2026

• #2

N160 or staball 6.5 could work.

 

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NullMac

Well-Known Member

• Mar 19, 2026

• #3

N555 goes well in the Creed certainly

 

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NP435

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2026

• #4

Ranger 6006 said:

Hi all,

I had a quick look and didn't see a similar thread already running.

I am looking for one powder that will fit both .243 85gr copper and 6.5 CM, 130gr copper, both 22" 1:8 twist barrels. This will be for hunting only. I don't need high top-end speed but need accuracy / consistency. I am considering Viht N150 or N555. Any suggestions and/or actual results, perhaps from someone who runs one powder across both these calibers?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I think the solution is research in a few load manuals none of mine are handy or I might look.

 

2Ll’s

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2026

• #5

Ranger 6006 said:

Hi all,

I had a quick look and didn't see a similar thread already running.

I am looking for one powder that will fit both .243 85gr copper and 6.5 CM, 130gr copper, both 22" 1:8 twist barrels. This will be for hunting only. I don't need high top-end speed but need accuracy / consistency. I am considering Viht N150 or N555. Any suggestions and/or actual results, perhaps from someone who runs one powder across both these calibers?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I use N140 in both my 22-250 and 6.5 creed works well, would be ok for 243 if it works with my 22-250

 

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Stalker-of-the-deer

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2026

• #6

Use n160.

Can get good velocity and case fill out of both. And yiu can actually find the stuff

 

Heym SR20

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2026

• #7

It really depends on what bullets you want to use in each as there is significant variation in optimal powder in light for calibre bullets and fast for calibre bullets.

Barrel length comes into play. The ideal powder for a 16” barrelled rifle will be very different to that of a 24” barrelled.

If you look at Vhit powders there are loads for the 243 and 6.5 with powders from N140 right the way through to N165, plus lots in the double base 500 series.

Scroll through their online website and you will soon see that some powders suit light bullets whereas others suit heavier ones.

Don’t get fixated on using the same powder for both cartridges. Instead choose the powder that looks best for each cartridge and proposed bullet. If it happens to be the same thats great. If not then running a different powder for each cartridge ends up no more costly in the long run.

 

Last edited: Mar 20, 2026

Edinburgh Rifles

Well-Known Member

Trade Member

• Mar 20, 2026

• #8

RS60
Better than Cocaine
allegedly

 

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Scottb123

Well-Known Member

Trade Member

• Mar 20, 2026

• #9

I use rs60 in 243 6.5 prc and and 3006 it’s consistent low sds and just works I’ve recently gone to rs 52 in 22-250 and fro 70 grainers in the 243 im getting 3820 with a 50 grain nosler and sd over 6 shots of 3 really rate the rs powders

 

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Ranger 6006

Member

• Mar 23, 2026

• #10

Thank you all for your responses. I will have a look at what I can find in my area. I assume having powders and primers delivered are not allowed, which does limit the options!