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6.5 PRC Reamer & Seating Depth Considerations
- Thread starter orkan
- Start date
Southern Precision has a .130 reamer. They quoted me six to eight week lead time on a bugnut prefit but shipped in two.
Straight jacket did mine with a .133, I think they have moved to .150 recently but may still have a .133 reamer. IIRC GAP was using a .135
I’ve got a proof with a .188 and can not get the hybrids /EH to shoot at mag length (.050-.080 jump ) they shoot great at .020-.035 but that doesn’t do me any good on a hunting rifle. I may give the vld’s A try since they will get me to the lands ..... I will say that the hybrids at 2.950 are about perfect for the bearing surface being right at the neck/shoulder junction, I wish proof made the prefit with a .130-.140 FB
Anyone chamber a 6.5 PRC for the 156gr Berger's yet? Was looking to send one off next week. The .188 will be a crazy jump and I believe I read somewhere that folks are going really short to .125 or abouts. Can't find that info or where I read it. That would put me only shooting the 153 a tips and 156 Bergers unless I seated others even deeper. In a short action at mag length of 2.950 is what I'm looking at. Thinking the .130 ish would be a little better and if the heavies didn't shoot it would still allow me to run the 140 Berger's.
Anyone have any more info now these 156s came out. What are people seeing for COAL to the lands in existing Chambers with what reamers?
Anyone have any more info now these 156s came out. What are people seeing for COAL to the lands in existing Chambers with what reamers?
I have a relatively new 6.5 PRC. After trying a bunch of different bullets, I think I will go with something in the range of .140-.150 for the next barrel.
I'm sure you are but eventually the throat is going to move and you'll have nowhere to go. Even with a .130 throat the A-Tip runs into the magazine.
Yep, that's probably true. But I'm going to shoot the existing barrel until it's time for a new one.
Getting ready to order a reamer, I'm still unclear on the best direction.
I am planning to hand load 143 ELDX out of a SA DBM. So maybe .130?
I am planning to hand load 143 ELDX out of a SA DBM. So maybe .130?
If you plan on shooting ELDM and ELDX you don't really need to worry about a super short throat. .130 to .150 is probably fine. .130 is short enough that factory Hornady ammo is in the lands.
I ordered a reamer today from PTG. I talked to the owner Dave Kiff about this issue and my concerns with freebore. Dave probably has more exposure to these specific issues then anyone I have access to call in the industry. Moreover, Dave takes the time to talk through things on the front end. Here's what I learned:
The .130 FB is specified by GAP for their rifle's. It has a tighter neck and shorter FB then what became SAMMI. This was in part learned through the 4s and developed into the PRC. Its downsides are almost all related to factory ammo. Some SAMMI offerings (Hornady 147 ELD) jam into the rifling by about .015-.020" at the current SAMMI COAL. For the hand loader this is all but a non issue. This FB allows a short action running a DBM, the most flexibility over the life of the barrel. Initially it may require deeper seating depths but ensures a good fit in DBM. This same freebore about 500 rounds in is in the .145 - .150" ish zone, which is regarded as a sweet spot for the PRC in a short action. By this point any current factory ammo works flawlessly at peak accuracy. Bullet choices are plenty for DBM Length.
.150 FB. PTG makes a custom reamer which is modified from SAMMI. little bit looser neck, .150 FB. This is a great choice if factory ammo is your sole goal. The same chamber 500 rounds in is very close to current SAMMI. Many rifle's perform great with this freebore. Its downsides are found in using some Berger bullets that need less jump and create COAL issues in DBM's after the first 500ish rounds. It was mentioned the new Sierra SMK may have similar problems, he wasn't sure.
.188" FB, SAMMI spec. This is what has been adopted as a standard industry wide. Shoots all known factory ammo period. Most of the Hornady offerings are jumping around .050" + on a fresh chamber and seem to shoot very well. For bullets thst like alot of jump this is a no brainier. Fast forward 500ish rounds and your .080"+. The downsides are you will never load touching or near the lands in all but the early stages at DBM length. The upsides are for those running a long action in picking up some case capacity by running at beyond SAMMI COAL. Although that has its issues too.
According to Dave most shooters in a competitive environment are finding a loss in accuracy around the 1k mark but still stay sub MOA until around 1500-1800. Setting the barrel back can net around another 1500, but shes getting real tired by 2500. There's obviously alot of variables in all this.
He commented that every chamber has produced a very accurate gun. The tighter neck tolerances of the GAP would lead to longer brass life. It is well within the limits of never having to turn necks.
I chose the GAP inspired chamber reamer as it seems the best fit for my wants. Factory ammo is secondary but still very viable. It seems to be what SAMMI should have adopted for the best function in a short action with a DBM.
I'm building a light short hunting rig which will serve double duty recreational shooting. If I get to 2k I will both be happy I got that much time behind her and ready to spin up a new barrel.
Hope that helps add some insight for others
The .130 FB is specified by GAP for their rifle's. It has a tighter neck and shorter FB then what became SAMMI. This was in part learned through the 4s and developed into the PRC. Its downsides are almost all related to factory ammo. Some SAMMI offerings (Hornady 147 ELD) jam into the rifling by about .015-.020" at the current SAMMI COAL. For the hand loader this is all but a non issue. This FB allows a short action running a DBM, the most flexibility over the life of the barrel. Initially it may require deeper seating depths but ensures a good fit in DBM. This same freebore about 500 rounds in is in the .145 - .150" ish zone, which is regarded as a sweet spot for the PRC in a short action. By this point any current factory ammo works flawlessly at peak accuracy. Bullet choices are plenty for DBM Length.
.150 FB. PTG makes a custom reamer which is modified from SAMMI. little bit looser neck, .150 FB. This is a great choice if factory ammo is your sole goal. The same chamber 500 rounds in is very close to current SAMMI. Many rifle's perform great with this freebore. Its downsides are found in using some Berger bullets that need less jump and create COAL issues in DBM's after the first 500ish rounds. It was mentioned the new Sierra SMK may have similar problems, he wasn't sure.
.188" FB, SAMMI spec. This is what has been adopted as a standard industry wide. Shoots all known factory ammo period. Most of the Hornady offerings are jumping around .050" + on a fresh chamber and seem to shoot very well. For bullets thst like alot of jump this is a no brainier. Fast forward 500ish rounds and your .080"+. The downsides are you will never load touching or near the lands in all but the early stages at DBM length. The upsides are for those running a long action in picking up some case capacity by running at beyond SAMMI COAL. Although that has its issues too.
According to Dave most shooters in a competitive environment are finding a loss in accuracy around the 1k mark but still stay sub MOA until around 1500-1800. Setting the barrel back can net around another 1500, but shes getting real tired by 2500. There's obviously alot of variables in all this.
He commented that every chamber has produced a very accurate gun. The tighter neck tolerances of the GAP would lead to longer brass life. It is well within the limits of never having to turn necks.
I chose the GAP inspired chamber reamer as it seems the best fit for my wants. Factory ammo is secondary but still very viable. It seems to be what SAMMI should have adopted for the best function in a short action with a DBM.
I'm building a light short hunting rig which will serve double duty recreational shooting. If I get to 2k I will both be happy I got that much time behind her and ready to spin up a new barrel.
Hope that helps add some insight for others
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With .130 FB loaded to 2.955", 150gr SMK is .050"+ off the lands and 153gr A-Tip is a little under ,020 off new. Both of which the bearing surface is right at the bottom of the neck.
How did this work out? My origin will be here Friday. I haven't ordered my reamer, yet, as I want to make sure of which to order.
My intent is to reload 140 ELDm's out of a S/A AICS mag.
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I have not gotten it yet, the reamer has been out to get resharpened and that has been the hold up. Kind of disappointed in the wait but the end result of a sharp reamer weighs out the disappointment, should be at the ffl hopefully with in a week or two.
