If you are following my writing on the 6.5 Creedmoor tests, I had great luck with more 100 yard tests reloading for third time with same Hornady brass which has stiffened some, making it easier to press the bullet into the cartridge.
Even thought the SAAMI Max Cartridge Overall Lenth (COL) is 2.825 this does not aid the reloader much in finding the best COL. I knew from previous tests with this particular rifle (every rifle is different) the 120 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter flat base bullet flies well at 2.53 inches COL (and poorly at 2.70 inches so I loaded two (three shot) groups today 6 rounds with 2.65 inches COL where the bullet was seated totally into the neck.Group 1 was 1.5 inches Group 2 was 3/4 inch. It is possible that one of group 1 shots was errant and due to a slight pull of the trigger. Group 3 and 4 was shot at COL of 2.60 and measured 1 inch for group 3 and 5/8′ for group 4. Based on this data, I am confident that best COL length is between 2.53 and 2.60 resulting in sub MOA performance. A bullet seated less than 2.53 is near to the curved o-give. I would perhaps settle on just less than 2.60, say 2.58 for future tests on the Sierra 120 grain. Speed is 2892 fps at the muzzle. Below is the calculation of performance to 300 yards on deer size game. Max Point blank range is 278 yards where the bullet stays within a 6 inch circle when zeroed at 238 yards. Bullet energy at 278 yards is 1322 ft lbs. Plenty nuff energy for a whitetail hit in the heart/lung area but must account some for a light 10 mph wind that can throw the bullet off course by 7 inches left or right. Vertical error is around 2 inches at max range from a bench rest. In the field you will need a good rest to take a shot at that range and practice, practice, practice. Check out the JBM Ballistics data below. http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi. A side note on the size of a bullseye with the Leupold VX-6 Scope. I ran out of preprinted targets so I used copy paper and scribbled a circle bull at 1/2 inch but the crosshairs filled the bull and the target center disapeared. Thus your bull should be larger than 1/2 inch (perhaps 1 to 1.5 inches) to be seen correctly so that the shooter knows that the crosshair is in the center of it. Shooting a fly at 100 yards would be difficult indeed, but since we are not shooting flies negates the matter. I do like the VX-6 bold crosshairs very much as they stand out clearly.
