Master engineering reference for the 6.5 Creedmoor rifle and cartridge compendiums. Each Technical Note (TN) is a stand-alone, source-based page; chapters in both compendiums cite these notes by code (TN-01, TN-08, TN-23, and so on).
I. Geometry & Pressure Behavior
TN-01 — Case Geometry Blueprint
Case shape, shoulder angle, neck length, freebore and how they interact with pressure behavior, throat life, and bullet seating in real rifles.
#tn-case-taper#tn-shoulder-angle#tn-neck-length#tn-freebore
TN-02 — Pressure Curve Characteristics
How 6.5 Creedmoor’s pressure curve develops from ignition to peak and decay, and how that translates into bolt thrust, receiver stress, and barrel life.
#tn-pressure-rise#tn-bolt-thrust#tn-powder-burn-profile
TN-03 — COAL, Jump, and Seating Depth Dynamics
Relationships between cartridge overall length, ogive jump, magazine length limits, and practical accuracy in both bolt guns and large-frame gas guns.
#tn-ogive-jump#tn-coal-limitations#tn-mag-length
II. Barrel Science & Rifle Behavior
TN-04 — Barrel Harmonics & Whip Frequency
How barrel stiffness, contour, and node tuning affect group size, vertical spread, and stability across different firing strings.
#tn-harmonic-nodes#tn-stiffness-index
TN-05 — Twist Rate Optimization
Twist rate selection for modern 6.5 bullets, stability factors, and how bullet length, density, and velocity drive the math.
#tn-twist-vs-bullet-length#tn-stability-factor#tn-gyroscopic-stability
TN-06 — Throat Erosion in 6.5 Creedmoor
Heat cycles, round count, and how erosion shows up on target, in bore scope images, and in changing seating depth requirements.
#tn-barrel-erosion#tn-heat-cycles#tn-round-count-effects
TN-07 — Optimal Barrel Length (18–26 in)
Velocity gains vs. length, dwell time, handling characteristics, and where 6.5 Creedmoor sees diminishing returns.
#tn-length-vs-velocity#tn-length-vs-dwell-time
III. Ballistic Performance
TN-08 — External Ballistics Model for 6.5 Creedmoor
Ballistic coefficient behavior, supersonic range limits, and energy retention across realistic match and field distances.
#tn-bc-models#tn-supersonic-range#tn-energy-retention
TN-09 — Wind Drift Modeling
Practical wind brackets, full-value 10 mph drift behavior, and implications for hit probability in real match conditions.
#tn-10mph-full-value#tn-wind-bracket#tn-doppler-consistency
TN-10 — Terminal Ballistic Behavior
Impact velocity windows, expansion modes, and penetration characteristics of common match and hunting bullet types.
#tn-fragmentation#tn-mushrooming#tn-impact-velocity-window
IV. Factory Ammunition & Powder Behavior
TN-11 — Factory Ammo Consistency Studies
Extreme spread, standard deviation, and lot-to-lot differences in representative 6.5 Creedmoor factory loads.
#tn-es-sd#tn-lot-variance#tn-brass-metadata
TN-12 — Powder Selection & Burn Rate Logic
Why specific powders dominate in 6.5 Creedmoor, and how temperature stability and burn rate influence pressure and velocity behavior.
#tn-h4350#tn-varget#tn-reloader16#tn-temperature-stability
TN-13 — Primer Influence & Ignition Curve
Standard vs. magnum primers, cup hardness, and ignition consistency in typical Creedmoor charge weights.
#tn-magnum-vs-standard#tn-cup-hardness#tn-ignition-consistency
V. Mechanical & Platform Engineering
TN-14 — Action Strength & Bolt Lug Engagement
Lug contact patterns, receiver stiffness, and what “safe margin” really means with Creedmoor pressures in modern actions.
#tn-lug-contact#tn-receiver-stiffness
TN-15 — Magazine Geometry & Feeding Reliability
Feed lip design, follower behavior, and why Creedmoor can be more sensitive to magazine geometry than shorter cartridges.
#tn-feed-lip-angle#tn-follower-dynamics#tn-double-stack-constraints
TN-16 — Gas System Tuning (AR-10 Platforms)
Gas port size, buffer weights, carrier speed, and how Creedmoor behaves in large-frame gas guns across different load types.
#tn-gas-port-size#tn-buffer-weight#tn-bcg-speed
VI. Optics, Zeroing, and Shooter Interface
TN-17 — MIL/MOA Reticle Mechanics
Subtension accuracy, first vs. second focal plane behavior, and how to map Creedmoor dope into reticle holds.
#tn-reticle-subtensions#tn-first-vs-second-plane
TN-18 — Zero Philosophy (100 vs. 200 yd)
Choosing a working zero for mixed match and field use, and how it interacts with your chosen drop table and reticle strategy.
#tn-zero-shift#tn-reticle-holdovers#tn-dialing-theory
TN-19 — Recoil Impulse Dynamics
Recoil curve shape, stock geometry, muzzle devices, and how all of it affects spotting impacts and maintaining sight picture.
#tn-recoil-curve#tn-stock-geometry#tn-muzzle-device-influence
VII. Wear, Failures, and Diagnostics
TN-20 — Wandering Zero Diagnostics
Systematic checklist for diagnosing shifting point of impact in otherwise good Creedmoor rifles.
#tn-action-screws#tn-optic-shift#tn-thermal-flexion
TN-21 — Firing Cycle Failure Points
Light strikes, misfeeds, extraction issues, and how to map symptoms back to root causes in rifle, ammo, or shooter interface.
#tn-light-strikes#tn-feed-issues#tn-extraction-problems
TN-22 — Brass Life & Failure Patterns
How many firings are realistic, and what early warning signs look like in 6.5 Creedmoor brass across different load intensities.
#tn-head-separation#tn-crimp-split#tn-primer-pocket-looseness
VIII. Ballistic Data Tables & Engineering Sheets
TN-23 — Factory Velocity Table (18–26 in Barrels)
Velocity performance from representative factory ammunition across common barrel lengths, normalized and sourced.
#tn-velocity-table#tn-factory-dope
TN-24 — Drop & Drift Table (100–1,200 yd)
Normalized drop and wind drift tables for representative 6.5 Creedmoor loads, built strictly from public, traceable data.
#tn-drop-chart#tn-wind-chart
TN-25 — Handload Pressure/Tolerance Boundaries (Public Data Only)
Safe pressure envelopes and capacity considerations using publicly published data only; no proprietary or unpublished lab work.
#tn-safe-pressure-window#tn-brass-capacity-delta#tn-node-spread
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