Creedmoor Case Capacity

stevenedwards

Well-Known Member
Just collected my first Creedmoor, a tikka T3, and set about loading something for a ladder test. Using sierra data, 130 gr. HPBT game kings and RL 16 and starline brass, I ran out of case capacity 1.8 g grains short of the recommended max of 44.4. Ive not experienced this issue with 243 or 6.5x55 is it to be expected ?
 
I would post this on 65Creedmoor.com if I were you, it's a very interesting question that would get some scrutiny I am sure. One comment is that in our tests RL16 does not like compressed loads, in both Creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua the ES shot up as soon as the loaded exceeded 100% of case capacity.

Google Starline case water capacity, see if guys are reported it being significantly less than Lapua for example.
 
I would post this on 65Creedmoor.com if I were you, it's a very interesting question that would get some scrutiny I am sure. One comment is that in our tests RL16 does not like compressed loads, in both Creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua the ES shot up as soon as the loaded exceeded 100% of case capacity.

Google Starline case water capacity, see if guys are reported it being significantly less than Lapua for example.
thanks for the lead.
 
Just to add:-
I've found in several other calibres that the specialist case brands like Starline and Bertram Brass are heavier ... so thicker-walled?
The case necks are particularly tight & usually need expanding first to take the 'proper diameter' bullets .... rather than risk neck splits.:)
 
Just to add:-
I've found in several other calibres that the specialist case brands like Starline and Bertram Brass are heavier ... so thicker-walled?
The case necks are particularly tight & usually need expanding first to take the 'proper diameter' bullets .... rather than risk neck splits.:)
You are right about the necks, the first thing out of the bag was to expand and get the necks a consistent size. I think i will try and measure the case capacity. How do grains of H2o relate to powder capacity ?
 
Case capacity for a Creedmoor cartridge is approx 52.5gr water. Some cases are a little more, some a little less depending on manufacturer. I can seat a 139 or 140gr bullet for a full case at around 44.2gr RS62 which generates decent velocities (Lapua brass). The Creedmoor is quite an efficient case as compared with 260 Rem and 6.5 x 55, little of that case capacity is taken up by the bullet as the cartridge is designed with longer, higher BC projectiles in mind and the chambers throated accordingly. My 139 Scenar load is seated to the base of the (long) cartridge neck and I still get a healthy jump to the lands. This is one of the strengths of the design and what makes it so efficient. Whilst 260 Rem has a case capacity of 53.5gr H20, the bullets have to be seated deeper, meaning that the Creedmoor uses it's case volume more efficiently. The 6.5 x 55 holds significantly more powder at 57.5gr H20 but chambers are not designed with the 62,000 SAAMI chamber pressure of the CM. 6.5 x 55 in modern loadings are still a little below this, although well above the older Swedish chamber pressures (51,000PSI).

If you are running out of capacity well short of the desired loading, try another powder. Viht N150 or N160 will work with the 130gr bullet but my recommendation would be RS60 or RS62 which are optimal and should leave you with more than enough capacity. In LRP brass, 42.5 to 44gr RS62 will spit a 130gr bullet out at over 2800fps from a 22 to 24 inch barrel.
 
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