I’m in the process of convincing myself that I need a 300PRC barrel for my Desert Tech. Wanting to go with a 22.5” barrel to keep things compact and save a little weight. Thinking I should be able push a 210 VLD about 2850 to 2900 fps using RL26. Does that sound about right. Also thinking I could go with a heavier bullet if I want which should be fine for hunting. I have other barrels for the DT and other rifles to fill other needs so I’m not looking for the 300 PRC to cover all the bases. Any comments or suggestions would be welcomed.
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300 PRC update
- Thread starter DAVETOOLEY
- Start date
Im in South Texas. Biggest temp swing I’ve shot in all winter was only 30 degrees high and low so far this winter. Also using H1000 for the PRC so I wouldn’t expect it to be that temp sensitive. Maybe 10 fps over 30 degrees at worst. Most of the days I’ve shot have been in the 60 or 70’s. Gotta love Texas. ?
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I paid the price for the RL26, Bruno’s. I enjoy tinkering with different powders and so impressed with RL16 I had to try the 26, guess it’s just a matter of time and it will be 33.
Comments?....yea....where you finding RL-26?
A 210VLD going 2850fps would wreck an elk....it should be a great little hunting gun.
I just went to Powder Valley and they said they were sold out...I'm down to less than 2lbs of N565 and 4lbs of Retumbo....ouchie
I should have my 22" 300prc hunting rifle done in a few weeks. 22 seems to be the compromise length between weight / length / being handy / speed. RL26 gets these pills moving quiet a bit faster then H1k without the pressure. I am going for 2850-2900 with the 215 berger. With the speeds I'm seeing in my 26 and 27 inch tubes I have very little doubt that it will get there. I will run the TB Ultra 7 or maybe the 5 on there also. So muzzle blast is something I'm not worried about.
I'll update the thread in a few weeks after I get some rounds through it and record the velocities. The 22" 6.5 PRC that I have shoots the 156 bergers at 2900 without issue, so I hope to get the same 2900 in the 300prc with the 215s. It will hammer elk if that's the case.
@Jmcmath is also building a shorty hunter. Think he doing 21" but he can correct me if I'm wrong.
I’m also building a 300 PRC hunting rifle. Almost an identical Remington sendero clone, with the exception its a bartlein 9 twist 5R fluted 28” barrel chambered with a custom shorter throat 300 PRC reamer by Dave Tooley
I like long barrels. I’ve always been fond of the old Kentucky rifles!
Awesome! Dave does a great job. You will be very pleased.
Yep 21” Hunting rig. If I can get 2800 with a 215 I’ll be fine. If I can’t I’ll move to the 200.20x or just shoot 181 Hammers through it.
I'll share my results with a 21" barrel. It's a 1:8.5" twist.
I get 2708 fps with factory 225 ELD-M ammo.
My Hornady 208gr A-MAX reloads got to 2839 fps, but the accuracy is at 2780 fps. Took those hunting last October but didn't get a chance to use any.
I just recently received a few hundred 230gr A-Tips, and I am awaiting an order of Berger 230gr Hybrids. I'll post the results of those if no one else does, but it might be a while.
I get 2708 fps with factory 225 ELD-M ammo.
My Hornady 208gr A-MAX reloads got to 2839 fps, but the accuracy is at 2780 fps. Took those hunting last October but didn't get a chance to use any.
I just recently received a few hundred 230gr A-Tips, and I am awaiting an order of Berger 230gr Hybrids. I'll post the results of those if no one else does, but it might be a while.
Try some RL26 if you need the speed. New barrel also? Mine sped up 30+ fps after about 80 rounds through it. So it would put you in the ballpark with H1k. Hornady brass is soft so if your getting sign from the brass and not any bolt lift or super flat primers, I tend to push it a little harder with hornady and sacrifice the primer pockets to get it where I wanted with H1k. Once I started using RL26 everything changed for the positive. With that 28" tube and H1k I would have expected you to be in the 2900+ though. What does the factory 225s do in your rifle?
i would have expected close to 3k FPS with a 28” but not the case for me. I’m deployed right now so I can’t test new bullets or powders. Not like the powders would be in-stock anyways.
I’m using RCC brass. Some of the hardest brass on the market. Period. I go off bolt lift for pressure.
Thanks all for the replies. That would be awesome, i also run a Ultra 7. I happen to have a 22.5" 6.5 creed barrel, so now i think i might try a heavier bullet and RL 26, typically shoot 140 VLD's with H4350 or RL16.
Anyway i look forward to everyones results with the short barrels.
So....just received an update....my ADG brass will be shipped out Tuesday or Wednesday....If I receive Friday...that gives me 1 day to do a load development if I want to shoot anywhere on Saturday....heh...oh well...atleast I'll have some soon.
Anyone have any experience with
theses three cartridges:
300PRC, 30 Sherman Mag, and 300Norma
I’m thinking about building a 300Norma but that requires a new action. The 30 Sherman Mag is an easy improvement over the 300PRC.
theses three cartridges:
300PRC, 30 Sherman Mag, and 300Norma
I’m thinking about building a 300Norma but that requires a new action. The 30 Sherman Mag is an easy improvement over the 300PRC.
On these short barreled hunting rigs don't over look 4831SC. Faster powders will provide a wider tune range than slower powders. I run 72 grs. w/212's in my hunting rifle. Loafing along at 2825 in 25" barrel. No signs of pressure.
Has anyone tried 7828SSC? It always worked well in 7STW's. There's RL22, N560.
Personally I wouldn't go any slower than 7828.
Has anyone tried 7828SSC? It always worked well in 7STW's. There's RL22, N560.
Personally I wouldn't go any slower than 7828.
Before you decide the PRC isn't what you want, here is my short story that may help...
I have been all over the place going from Win mags to a 300 Norma and thought I should have been getting way faster velocity. Sold it and said why do I need the XL bolt face and tons of powder for not the crazy gain I was hoping for.. Then I went to multiple 300 PRC rifles and disappointed initially with them and the velocity I was seeing. My goal was 3000 with a 215 in a 26" tube and many folks said nope, need something else. Then I was going to spin up a 29" barrel instead of the 26" I had, and try for 3000 fps with the 230s. I again was told that it was a NO GO by many on here. Sold 2 of my PRCs but kept one Cadex rifle with Tooley barrel. Then I thought that I wold give the 300 NM another chance and bought another AXMC in 300 Norma. I had Tooley send me and an additional PRC barrel also. So now I have two 27" barrels for the AXMC. Norma and PRC. Lets just say at this point Ive spend 50k in rifles going back and forth chasing velocity in a moderate length barrel. 26-28" area.
Having said all that.... The main factor I am seeing here and the difference between me being happy with one and not another is POWDER type. H1k in the Norma I have worse results then the PRC with H1k. H1k in the PRC I have worse results then Retumbo in the Norma. PRC with RL26 I have about identical results to the Norma with Retumbo. All 215gr pills mind you.
All rifles below had cans on them. TB Ultra 7 and TB Ultra 338s
26" SAC PRC barrel: 215s
78.5gr H1k 2965
26 inch Tooley PRC Barrel: 215s
RL26 215s and 76.6 and 76.9 gr in Hornady Brass were 3000/3008 FPS.
H1k in that same 26 inch tube with 79.26 gr of H1k was 2980. Started at 2947 until the barrel speed up to that 2980.
27 inch Tooley AXMC Barrel; 215s
H1k was identical to above at 2980 New barrel so it may still speed up.
RL26 with same 76.9gr as above at 3038! Wouldn't go higher as just on the verge of pressure.
27 inch 300 Norma Win Tac AXMC Barrel: 215s
H1k had pressure at 82gr. Didnt do much after this.
Retumbo at 86gr was 3005 and at 87gr was 3047. Wouldnt go higher here as starting to pressure at 87.
Moral of the story... The new fancy powders in the PRC are making a difference. I do not have any of the N565 or 570 to try in the PRC or the Norma. Maybe the Norma with one of these will really walk away from the PRC and RL26. Maybe not. I plan on using the Norma to shoot the 230s and the PRC for the 215s. I believe the Norma with the heavies will push them a little faster.
No idea on the Sherman Mag. Maybe it gets the same as Norma Velocity with the heavies and less powder, I don't know. Seems like an easy improvement over the PRC, but with all I have been through, I have just found that RL26 has made a big enough difference in the PRC to not want to even go down that road at this point. Too much time and money invested chasing velocity out of the 30s in mag fed rifles.
And in reality, what is this doing for us at any practical distance? Couple tenths at most? Whats the dope difference to a mile? Can we get the 230s fast enough to shoot better then the 215s in these guns through a mile? 2000? I'm guilty as sin and will be the first to admit I get caught up in the FPS game. Few guys on here have told me time and time again to not get caught up in the speed. If something shoots really really well and is 50fps slower, who cares, dial a few more tenths and shoot the thing. Thanks @MACHTECH
Obviously I don't listen very well, but after all this switching and chasing numbers and spending all this money, I should have just listened to them from the start. So for folks that aren't super happy with h1k in the PRC. Try some RL26 before throwing in the towel. Or N565, if its temp stable enough for your application. Guys here are getting good numbers with these new powders.
Thanks for bringing that back up Dave. I remember you mentioned it early in this thread. I have 13 lbs of H4831 I will have to try some in the shorter hunter.
Didn't you take some big game with that hunting rig the last few years? How did the 212s hold up?
I did. I took it to S.Africa the summer before it was announced. The only thing that went more than 25 yds was an Eland. Front quartering shot through the lungs. We knew he was hurt bad. Managed to very slowly walk 150 yds. I knew but didn't realize just how big they are until I walked up to this one. Moose size. long legs and all.
About 130 yds. Unfortunately that was one animal I wasn't around for the autopsy. We had beef stroganoff the night before made with Spring Buck back strap. It was made in the morning and left out all day. Very good but it caused problems. It was a long day for the entire hunting party. We all had the two step. You had enough time to take two steps before disaster hit.
Ouch...been there...don't want the tshirt...dont' wanna go back to the Two Step Marathon. Years ago I was in the South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique area...and I only ate what I prepared myself....lost a lot of weight. Maybe I should go back...I've packed on a few pounds since then.
Just got an email from ADG that 300PRC brass is going to dealers
I got the same email, but when I checked, it said local pick up only. And the only store that had it was in AK...
I've still got 20lb+, and I wasn't going to buy any, but a friend uses it. I don't think he wants to drive to Alaska, though.
Creedmoor Sports has it in stock - just ordered 5 boxes.
Creedmoor Sports - Precision Reloading and Shooting Gear
Shoot and Reload with the Pros! Creedmoor Sports has served the Precision Shooting Community for over 40 years in Centerfire, Small-bore, Air Rifle and Pistol Disciplines.
www.creedmoorsports.com
Lol
I got that email but no way I’m going to Alaska.
im currently sitting pretty with R26 anyway.
Just talked to Creedmoor Sports - they got in 100 boxes of the ADG brass and only have 32 left.
Lol, They are shipping it to my local store for pickup.
Lol
I got that email but no way I’m going to Alaska.
im currently sitting pretty with R26 anyway.
I am running a 28" 8.75 twist. 230 bergers and RL 26 at 2985 (76.7) and 3007 (77.2). Both work well. Started showing pressure signs at 77.5.
Loading 230 A TIPS tonight. Going to start at 75 and work up in .02 increments. Looking at AB app the A tips will save me 2.2 Mils at 2000 over the Berger 230's.
Loading 230 A TIPS tonight. Going to start at 75 and work up in .02 increments. Looking at AB app the A tips will save me 2.2 Mils at 2000 over the Berger 230's.
This is my first box. I am going off Applied ballistics custom drag model. Maybe( B2lee) will jump in here. Pretty sure he has been through quite a few.
me?...nah...only a few hundred of the A-Tips. First time I plugged the data into 4DOF and shot at 1000 yards...I was pounding steel at exactly what the calc said.....first time I shot at 1 mile with them....vertically I was center.....horizontally I was off down wind by 1.5 targets or so....but I held center...wind call looked good in software..>I just forgot to hold....held wind...hit 3 in a row...maybe 4...couldn't see an impact or a splash.
Then I loaded some 250's....input the BC and MV....and bam....same dealio. Was quiet happy.
SO...as to what Hornady 4DOF expects and calculates according to the Hornady box listed BC...it likes what I gave it.
Then I loaded some 250's....input the BC and MV....and bam....same dealio. Was quiet happy.
SO...as to what Hornady 4DOF expects and calculates according to the Hornady box listed BC...it likes what I gave it.
while the A-Tips look sexy as hell....and shoot wonderfully....I think I'm learning that unless I'm regularly shooting past 1500yds....I may be better off....financially.....shooting the 225 ELD-M's...they work wonderfully too.....and don't hurt the wallet as much.
These are ready for Monday:
These are ready for Monday:
Book data max loads are right at 65ksi (SAAMI max avg. pressure). It's all the rage to go a few grains over max. The "lawyer" part of the reloading book is somewhere in the front where it says they're not responsible for you going full retard, not in the published loads. Max load with 225-230gr and RL-26 is 75.7. "Showing pressure signs at 77.5gr" is probably north of 73ksi if I had to guess.
Lot to lot powder variation and bullet to bullet (brand/model) variations can change this a little bit, but most people would be unpleasantly surprised if the ran their hand loads in a pressure test barrel.
Interesting. I haven't heard of anyone running two full grains over max with 225/230s and no pressure signs. 77.5 is HOT with RL26 and 230s.
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