18" 6.5 PRC Data?

[SkyScrapin]

Been talking with another member about building a shorter carbon everything 18" PRC, launching 127g LRX projectiles. The shorter length is to accommodate a can and also reduce snag factor. This isn't a range toy; it's fur huntin'.

Sifting through threads with XP100 types building shorter barreled systems appears to be the best route for data points to go off of, like powder charge, powder type, etc., but there just doesn't seem to be a ton of info out there.

Curious what projectile and powder combo gave you the best results.

Anyone have one with load data, even if not for the 127g LRX? 130 hybs or 140 hyb data would also be useful.

 

[SkyScrapin]

Another bump

 

[Crews]

It ain’t much help, but my Christensen MPR chopped to 19” shoots house load Unknown Munitions 140 ELD-X at 2780 with a suppressor. Right at 100 rounds down the pipe so may not have sped up all the way yet.

 

[godofthunder]

Interested in feedback on this, been considering something similar.

 

[SkyScrapin]

Thinking through powders…

For the 140+ grain projectiles, RL26, 4831sc.
For the 123-130 grain projectiles, probably RL16, Varget, H4350.

ideally the 18” barrel would push a 127-130 grained 2950 fps.

A 16.5” creed will sling a 123 grainer 2800 fps with 8208. This data point tells me 2950 fps should be too far fetched, but it could be on the higher side of the speed spectrum where pressure is typically higher.

 

[Jgunner]

Thinking through powders…

For the 140+ grain projectiles, RL26, 4831sc.
For the 123-130 grain projectiles, probably RL16, Varget, H4350.

ideally the 18” barrel would push a 127-130 grained 2950 fps.

A 16.5” creed will sling a 123 grainer 2800 fps with 8208. This data point tells me 2950 fps should be too far fetched, but it could be on the higher side of the speed spectrum where pressure is typically higher.

I know its super hard to find info on short barrel prc’s. Love to see what yours does. Lotta bad info from guys with 30” tubes saying short is a waste. Its not ideal, but neither is a long barrel for hunting.

 

[MOUNTIC]

Should be 3-4 weeks before I'll have a 18" in hand. 127s will be here next week. Hoping someone already has one and some data points.

I have 2 PRCs now. A 22" and a 24". Both shooting the 156s. After SkyScrapin and I went back and forth about what shorty 6.5 I should do... 260, 6.5cm, PRC, etc etc, I wanted to give one a go for my wife's rifle. 18" 8t proof carbon on a Defiance Anti-X. Should be a nice compact setup and like he mentioned hopefully 2900+ with the 127s. I have RL26, h4831, H1K and some others to try. Well see..

 

[White Mamba]

55.4 g of 4831 with a 147 eld shot great in a 16"

 

[MOUNTIC]

55.4 g of 4831 with a 147 eld shot great in a 16"

What kind of velocity were you getting?

 

[White Mamba]

What kind of velocity were you getting?

2633fps

 

[MOUNTIC]

Bumping this up. Anyone have some more data examples with shorty PRCs ?

 

[Wyfox]

Glen Seekins did a barrel chop test with a 6.5PRC Havak from 24" down every inch to 16" I believe. May be worth calling or emailing him.

 

[shields shtr]

I have an 18" proof carbon, lone peak fuzion ti, manners EH1, in 6.5 PRC being chambered up right now. I am also shooting a TBAC ultra 7 after confirming with TBAC an 18" is okay for a 6.5 PRC. I plan on shooting the 124 Hammer Hunters, I have RL16, 26, H1000, hopefully be able to get out and shoot a little to see how it does. I will post up when I get results, I had to order some custom ammo to get the ADG brass I have been looking for, but plan on reloading after a little barrel break in.

 

[6brshooter]

Faster powder like h4831sc/h4831 will help compensate speed in shorter barrels. Maybe something a bit faster yet. Slow powders like h1000 and rl26 get a complete burn(more pressure/velocity) in longer barrels. In a short tube, you'll just get more muzzle blast and flash from unburnt powder. I had a 21" 6.5prc, it did 2940 with 140eldm with h1000.

 

[Jeffbigwood]

18” Gunwerks 6.5 prc shoots factory precision hunter at 2738. Maybe 40rds through it heard it might speed up but I am happy with it.

Factory loads I have tried in it.
140gr Gunwerks was 2820
147 eldm 2760
140 nosler BT 2520

 

[SkyScrapin]

Up again. Anyone reloading got the shorty prc?

 

[SkyScrapin]

Last pass

 

[sodakhunter]

Ive been following this in hopes of getting some more info as well.

 

[MOUNTIC]

Will be a couple more weeks if I can make my timeline work with bowhunting in a month so it may be pushed out a bit. But for the 18" barrels coming I have 127 LRXs and then RL26, H1k, RL23, Retumbo, 8133, varget. Not sure what I'm going to start with here but RL23 may be the best one here as its closest to h4831 out of the bunch. Running the .188 freebore reamer. If anyone has any other powder in Denver Metro that could spare half a pound or even less for some testing, RL16 may be a good one also.

 

[lou400a]

Any updates on this? Have a Tikka 16" barrel and Hammer 124gr HH on the way

 

[MOUNTIC]

Nothing yet on my end. Not sure I'll get anything done til after archery season.

 

[lou400a]

Well, I've had a chance to shoot my 16.5" PRC on Friday for the first time. I don't have any factory ammo to compare it to, but here is what I have so far. I've started on the safe side:

52.0gr H4831, Nosler 123gr CC, new Hornady brass, CCI 200 - 2,452 to sight in and try out my new Magnetospeed

I got to 55.5 @ 2,661 - was pretty accurate combo, will go higher

Now I've switched to 124gr Hammer Hunter bullets for ladder test in the tables below. These are solid core bullets and I've used Lee crimp die (light crimp)

I'm going to increase the charge weight of H4831 as it didn't show any pressure signs and hopefully get better velocity and accuracy.

Superformace was lot faster but started getting heavier bolt lift at 57.0 and I've stopped at 58.0, but looks like a nice node around 57.5gr

H1000 was disappointingly slow even at 59.5gr (compressed) at 2,689 - that was a waste of time and components

Looks like 124 HH is about 94' faster with H4831 compared to Nosler 123 CC

I should be able to get close to 2,800" safely with H4831 or load down Superformance even though its not temp stable, but should be safe as I've tested it at 93 deg F.

I'm going to try H4350 and Leverution next, according to QuicLoad it should work as well or hopefully better than H4831 (don't have other powders on hand to try)

The last charge of 56.4gr had a tighter crimp (I've grabbed it by mistake when I was setting up my Lee crimp die and wasn't going to shoot it, but I didn't see any pressure signs so I've send it and it resulted in higher velocity than the previous round with same charge and lighter crimp)

Tikka T3, 16.5" Carbon Six, 1/8 barrel, Vortex LHT 4.5-22x50 right at 8lbs 9oz w/CTR BM and mag

 

[samson7x]

20" Proof barrel
140 VLD
2952 fps with 58.7gr RL25
2883 fps Factory Hornady 143eld-x

Have not played with greater powder charges as the rifle really liked that charge with 3 shot 1/4" groups and I'm out of time before my hunt. There were no pressure signs, no stiff bolt, etc. so I'm sure I could squeeze more out of it.

 

[Wrangler13]

20” proof barrel about 100 rounds through it.
6.5 prc adg brass, cci 200 primer, 124 hammer hunter, 58.5grn h1000, 2900fps. Seemed good enough for me in a nice compact package.

 

[MOUNTIC]

6.5 PRC. 18" Proof carbon 8 twist. ADG brass. CCI200. 127 LRX. Sammi spec reamer. 2.920 COAL. About 10 thou off lands. Reloder 23. Brand new barrel. So this is the first rounds through it besides two rounds before the ones below.

Gr. FPS
53.0 2877
53.5. 2899
54.0 2936
54.5 2955
55.0. 3000
55.5 3030
56.0 3048

Started to see very slight ejector mark at 56. No heavy bolt. Loading 54-55.5 and will head to the range in the next few days.

 

[Huskydriver]

6.5 PRC. 18" Proof carbon 8 twist. ADG brass. CCI200. 127 LRX. Sammi spec reamer. 2.920 COAL. About 10 thou off lands. Reloder 23. Brand new barrel. So this is the first rounds through it besides two rounds before the ones below.

Gr. FPS
53.0 2877
53.5. 2899
54.0 2936
54.5 2955
55.0. 3000
55.5 3030
56.0 3048

Started to see very slight ejector mark at 56. No heavy bolt. Loading 54-55.5 and will head to the range in the next few days.

@Mr. F

 

[MOUNTIC]

55.0 gr of RL 23 seemed to be the best. Rolling with that. Lab radar didn't work today so need to get some more numbers with magnetospeed instead. Was shooting 3 round groups initially. So here ya go.

 

[MOUNTIC]

Did some more testing and got some numbers for SD and ES. Let's just say that RL 23 so far is terrible in this rifle for SD and ES. I had 6 round SD of 26.4. So that is unacceptable. I couldn't duplicate my accuracy from previous day either. I loaded many different charge weights and tried seating depths and couldn't get it to a good range. Tried Magnum primers and that seemed to help slightly but still not where I would be comfortable with it.

 

[MOUNTIC]

Ended up just grabbing some 156 gr berger rounds that I loaded up for another rifle. Had 2790 FPS average with a 5.0 SD. 55.3gr of RL26. 18" 8twist. Shot some groups with those and they were pretty dang good. .3 ish moa groups consistently. Then I tried 54.9 and ended up single hole and low single digit SD. Went to 550 yards at 2.9 mils and thing was super consistent. I need to try a different powder with the 127lrx. I'll be trying h4350 and varget. If I can't get those SDs down and find an accurate load, I'll be sticking to the Bergers.

 

[lou400a]

Ended up just grabbing some 156 gr berger rounds that I loaded up for another rifle. Had 2790 FPS average with a 5.0 SD. 55.3gr of RL26. 18" 8twist. Shot some groups with those and they were pretty dang good. .3 ish moa groups consistently. Then I tried 54.9 and ended up single hole and low single digit SD. Went to 550 yards at 2.9 mils and thing was super consistent. I need to try a different powder with the 127lrx. I'll be trying h4350 and varget. If I can't get those SDs down and find an accurate load, I'll be sticking to the Bergers.

Looks great, have you tried H4831 with the lighter bullets?

 

[MOUNTIC]

Looks great, have you tried H4831 with the lighter bullets?

I've been looking for some but cant find any as of yet. If I find a pound Ill give it a go. Just working with what I have on hand so far. Already 120 rounds on this barrel all in load workup. Maybe by the time I hit 200 Ill have figured this shorty out. Here are some of the groups with the 156s.. SDs were 6.0, 6.5, 5.7, 4.7 in the 4 loads tested. Compared to 26-40sd with the 127s. Shooting all 3 round groups in this rifle for now.

 

[AccuSol-ERN]

I shoot h4831sc in my 6.5prc exclusively. It works great and I have quite the stockpile from back in the day shooting 260, 260ai, and 243win.

Ern

 

[XTREM HTR16]

I’ll be trying R23 in that 24” 6.5 PRC barrel…

FWIW I found that Fed 215M primers gave me lowest SD and ES with R23 in my 7 SAUM, vs Tula LRM and Fed 210’s. Haven’t tried 210M’s but also don’t want to waste primers.

 

[blksno]

i know it's an old thread, but with hunting season upon us, I had been looking for data of my own and stumbled on this. My load for 150 SMKs and 145 Match Burners in the 26" Proof barrel wasn't going to be ideal in my new 18" carbon fiber hunting barrel, so I figured I'd work up something new with 130 TGKs.
Tried RL26 and was in the low to mid 2900s but accuracy and spreads weren't all that great. Less than 1 MOA but nothing to write home about with extreme spreads of 35-40 fps for hunting doesn't work for me.

Decided to test RL16 based on SkyScrapin post up toward the top. (Like a dumb ass...I started WAY TO HOT)
I think with a 130gr bullet, starting at around 49gr of RL16 and working up is probably pretty safe. I'm likely running a little warmer than necessary, but this is where the numbers looked the best and with a hunting set up...It'll probably never be shot in temps warmer than 50-60.
The last volly...group 4 was adjusted .1 mil up and I think I'm just gonna gas up 20 or so, and head out for a hunt.

18" 6.5 PRC - RL16 - 130gr TGK	Group size	Velocity
Group 1	.85 MOA	2896 fps
Group 2	.58 MOA	2922 fps
Group 3	.31 MOA	2946 fps
Group 4	.29 MOA	2962 fps

 

[blksno]

took it out deer hunting this weekend and made a little optic adjustment to correct the eye relief, re-zeroed and to no surprise

...it's still stacking them.

 

[Wonderingmoose69]

took it out deer hunting this weekend and made a little optic adjustment to correct the eye relief, re-zeroed and to no surpriseView attachment 8272851...it's still stacking them.

Awesome post and setup.

I Just Ordered a 18" and was using google Bard before I found this to give me some ballparks (its disgustingly accurate and fast and simple to use) to get some idea of what factory loads would be. Curious if you shot any factory stuff in your gun as it sits? eldx or likewise ? would love to compare to Ai.

Also, Thank you for bumping this post and giving awesome insight!

I have a Grayboe Trekker Stock, Aero Solus action, and C6 18" in 1-7.5 coming in. I am hoping for an easy hiking gun for western Wa that kill smack anything inside 500 yards.