I'm typically partial to SMKs for 556 and 308.

But what do you guys recommend?  Do any bullets have a reputation for being easier to develop loads with?  I used to chase small groups, now I like to find a load that works well and shoot the piss out of it.

I can get out to just shy of 900 on my range, though most will be at 600.

Primary rifle is a Tikka T3x CTR.  I'll also be doing a bit of loading for a Savage.

I'd buy a box of everything in the 140-145 range and see how they shoot.  I am particular to Sierra too, so I just picked up some 142's and trying them out in a couple of guns.

Thank you both

Lots of manufacturers chambered/throated their barrels for the 140gr eldm.  Kreiger, MPA, bartlein use it as the standard unless otherwise specified.  Always a good place to start.

The Berger 140gr hybrids are great and they seem to be jump tolerant.  Same with the Berger 130gr hybrid.  Very consistent dimensionally.

I've been using the Sierra 142gr match king out of my gas gun and it's been a great performer.  Shoots like a laser loaded with 42.9gr of Reloder16 @ 2.81 COAL.

the 142smk is what I run in my 6.5's it's easy to tune for me.

Hard to ignore the ballistics of the 147 gr ELD M.

Lots of good choices.

I bought enough IMR4451 and 140 ELD-Ms to burn out my barrel.

No regrets so far.

I think almost every quality 140 class bullet will shoot pretty well with around 42.5gr h4350 seated at 2.23" base to ogive.

I like Hornady for the value but they do seem to have more lot to lot inconsistencies than other brands.

Be careful with bullet weight and BC in your selections.

Sometimes a lighter weight bullet going faster will have less drop than a heavier bullet with a higher BC.

For example, I got 3 bullets:

1. Hornady 130gr ELD. BC=.554 G1

2. Hornady 140gr BTHP BC= .580 G1

3. Nosler 140gr RDF BC= .658 G1!
In my rifle I can get the 130gr up to 2,815fps out of a 22” barrel.

In my rifle I can get the 140gr up to 2,550fps out of a 22” barrel.

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Both use R-17 powder.

I also have Nosler RDF IN 140gr and have yet to break 2,600fps with a decent group.

So punching in those numbers my 130gr Load will have less drop than the higher BC if heavier bullets. Get a 123gr bullet up to 2,950fps and it might have less drop than the heavier bullets. Find which bullets group best in your rifle. Then do the numbers and see which will maximize your shooting. Mine like 130gr. I still have some testing to do with the 140rdf. If I can get them up to 2650 then it will edge out the 130 eld’s

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So in running numbers, the 140gr Nosler RDF needs to be 2,680fps or faster to fly flatter than the 130gr ELd @ 2,815fps and it only edges the 130gr at 1,050m. It’s not unheard of to get 2,650 for a 140gr bullet just have not found a node yet.

Again, you need to see what your gun likes. Find the highest fps group for each bullet weight, then run the numbers and see which drops less. If you’re only shootingless than 800m then shoot lower fps groups. Problem with max loads is your primer pockets will fail sooner. Another benefit to heavier bullets is less powder charge.

On my rifle, my next barrel will be 24-26” and heavier. I’m using a cheap (surprisingly accurate) Ruger Predator.

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I don't personally load 6.5, but I know my dad is quite fond of 143gr ELD-Xs pushed by H4350

It looks like you're being pretty conservative with your loads. With a 26" barrel and 42.5 h4350 I push 140 amax at about 2820. Rl17 is a bit slower and gives even more speed normally so I'd think you should be able to get up to 43gr or so. Unless you're shooting a semi auto and I missed it.

I run the 142 smk in 2 guns over 40.8 and 40.7 grains of H4350. Both are single digit SDs and sub half moa loads.

I have a 22” barrel. On federal brass, 43gr shows pressure signs with 130 eld’s as in I full length size federal brass, trim etc.. and they won’t re chamber. I have to turn my die down another 1/2 rotation. Hornady brass is fine.

I have 500x 140gr RDF’s. I’m sure I’ll be able to experiment more late summer/Fall.

I've had really good results out of Hornady 140gr ELD Match and 140gr SST in Starline brass, WLR primer with 42.6gr W760 in my Ruger American Predator.

Don't forget Sierra's and Lapua's 123 grain bullets. They hammer on target and fly faster..

Good point on the 123 Lapua Scenars (.527) which are available in bulk. I'm getting 2990 fps from a 24" AR-10 and 3010 fps from a 24" Rem 700 with the same load, as well as 2825 from a 20" AR-10 using 45.5 grains of Hornady Superformance at 2.8" COAL. That powder is easier to come by than the H4350 I use for 140 Berger VLDs. The 123s shoot incredibly well and are fast. Loading the 140 Hunting VLD (.600) with H4350 with 2.8" COAL at 0.01" off the lands has been rewarding, to say the least. It comes out at 2880 fps in the REM 700 with 42.8 grains H4350. The Hornady brass has been surviving those loads just fine, and the primers aren't cratering or piercing with regular AR-10 bolts, though I'm making my own 6.5C brass now from an ostensibly tougher M118LR 308 case. Primers are CCI BR-2, but I forget at the moment which collet I'm using for neck tension.

If you go with the heavier Bergers be sure that you're able to load them long and just off the lands (0.01"). Your chamber may force you toward the 120-123 grain pills.

This. Push it with some Reloder 26 and you've got yourself a lethal combo