hornady interlock 6.5 creedmoor advice

[Kyte]

hi all,

im just entering the 6.5 creedmoor rabbit hole and working up a affordable all round cartridge , i have a lot of ramshot hunter left from .243 loading and would like to use it up with the 6.5, here's where I've got to so far :

hornady brass
federal primers
ramshot hunter powder
hornady interlock 6.5 140gr sp
c.o.l = 2.680

results so far:
38gr hunter V: 2298 ( didn't load any to test group at this speed)
40gr hunter V: error on chrony. 5 shot group size 1.045 " @100 yrds
42gr hunter V: 2366 5 shot group size 1.864 " @100 yrds
43gr hunter V: 2584 5 shot group size 2.328 " @100 yrds

so there seems to be a fairly obvious pattern here , the faster the get then the group sizes soon get terrible. i know this is early in the development but i have a few questions if anyone could help ?
1: am i wasting my time with the hunter ?
2: does anyone have any good experience with hunter + 6.5 creedmoor hunting bullet ? which one?
3: could some one recommend a few good powders for the 6.5 cm ( im bit limited in choice here in the west of cornwall)
id appreciate any info / guidance .
cheers
kyte

 

[Muir]

FL size, or Neck Size? Are you cleaning the barrel in between groups? ~Muir

 

[Kyte]

FL size, or Neck Size? Are you cleaning the barrel in between groups? ~Muir

I seated one of the bullets to the lands giving 2.756 so hornady recommended c.o.l of 2.680 leaves it 76 thou off the lands, quite a jump??
I always used to put a wet then dry patch through and let rifle cool completely between groups.
But havnt been doing with this rifle, though just to confuse things a little I shot the (43gr) group first through clean barrel .( I’d already done speed and pressure tests
Cheers

 

[Muir]

I seated one of the bullets to the lands giving 2.756 so hornady recommended c.o.l of 2.680 leaves it 76 thou off the lands, quite a jump??
I always used to put a wet then dry patch through and let rifle cool completely between groups.
But havnt been doing with this rifle, though just to confuse things a little I shot the (43gr) group first through clean barrel .( I’d already done speed and pressure tests
Cheers

Stop cleaning it, for sure.
Are you FL sizing the brass? Don't worry about the 'jump' and load to Hornady's specified OAL regardless of there the lands lie.
(I never seat to any specific distance from the lands.) Additionally, your loads are on the light side. I think the max is 45 point something.
Curiosity: what rifle?~Muir

 

[Kyte]

Stop cleaning it, for sure.
Are you FL sizing the brass? Don't worry about the 'jump' and load to Hornady's specified OAL regardless of there the lands lie.
(I never seat to any specific distance from the lands.) Additionally, your loads are on the light side. I think the max is 45 point something.
Curiosity: what rifle?~Muir

New brass so full length sized , and chamfered, will load powder charge up more , speed and pressure test then shoot some more groups see if they tighten up again.
The rifle s a how’s 1500 varmint 24” barrel grs stock , and shoots sub moa with sako deer head 156gr , only other Ammo I’ve tried with it is s&b 140sp, they didn’t shoot too good.

 

[Muir]

I have found S&B brass to be suspect.
So stop cleaning it. Throttle up, and load 20 rounds of a chosen charge weight. Shoot them for group -nothing else. No chrono. Nothing but putting them into a small hole.
Later on consider getting a Lee Factory Crimp Die. ~Muir