6.5 PRC

Well, since Berger only has load info for a 6.5 CM with the 156, and 2750 +/-fps speeds, what is the worry? Probably get 2900 ish with proper load development in a PRC....or are you looking for 3k+, which in a PRC is difficult to come by even with a 147.
 
Something else to think about for the guys with the .130 freebore.
I was running low on my reloads today and wanted to go hunting so I took some factory precision hunter ammo with the 143 eldx and just seated them about .030 deeper so that I wouldn’t jam the bullets so far into the lands and it shot great!
This would even work for some of the guys that don’t reload but have a short free bore for some reason, a press and a seater and about 30 seconds to do a box of 20
This was the first and only group I shot before I rushed off to the deer stand
 

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Something else to think about for the guys with the .130 freebore.
I was running low on my reloads today and wanted to go hunting so I took some factory precision hunter ammo with the 143 eldx and just seated them about .030 deeper so that I wouldn’t jam the bullets so far into the lands and it shot great!
This would even work for some of the guys that don’t reload but have a short free bore for some reason, a press and a seater and about 30 seconds to do a box of 20
This was the first and only group I shot before I rushed off to the deer stand
Nice!
I do this with factory 6 creedmoor ammo when I need ammo in a hurry as I run a shorter freebore.
 
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Anyone have a load worked up the the Berger 156?

ADG brass. 156 bergers. With RL26. Cci 200. Between 54.5 and 55.3gr 5 round groups all under 1/2 moa. Some in the .3s for 5 rounds. 22 inch proof 7.5 twist with TB U7 can. TS customs spun up barrel with shorter freebore. Seated at the lands at 2.970. 2900 FPS pending your load in there. On the higher end of published max, but I didnt see any pressure or heavy bolt lift in MY rifle. Others may have issues? Start low and work up.

The 54.5 had the lowest SD in 5 rounds at 3.4. Average velocity for that load was 2870.
 
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ADG brass. 156 bergers. With RL26. Cci 200. Between 54.5 and 55.3gr 5 round groups all under 1/2 moa. Some in the .3s for 5 rounds. 22 inch proof 7.5 twist with TB U7 can. TS customs spun up barrel with shorter freebore. Seated at the lands at 2.970. 2900 FPS pending your load in there. On the higher end of published max, but I didnt see any pressure or heavy bolt lift in MY rifle. Others may have issues? Start low and work up.

The 54.5 had the lowest SD in 5 rounds at 3.4. Average velocity for that load was 2870.
Thank you. Got one for the 147s too? Have you used any of the other reloader powder or just the R26? I got some R16 I just got.
 
Anyone have a load worked up the the Berger 156?
Actually i have a ton of load data for that specific rifle you now own. Did you lose my data?

RL-26, H-1000, Retumbo, RL-25, RL-33 are good powders for the 6.5 PRC. I don't think RL-16 will work w heavy weights in the 6.5 PRC
 
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Actually i have a ton of load data for that specific rifle you now own. Did you lose my data?

RL-26, H-1000, Retumbo, RL-25, RL-33 are good powders for the 6.5 PRC. I don't think RL-16 will work w heavy weights in the 6.5 PRC

Still got it, I’m sure those numbers are perfect but figured I’d see what recipes others had. I know you had the 147 numbers I wasn’t sure there was 156.
 
I’ll be getting my supplies TODAY for reloading my WTO switch barrel prc!!!!

26” Krieger 1-7” twist 4 groove on an origin SA, krg brovo stock, timney Calvin elite 2 stage, night force extreme lite 4 screw rings, Athlon Cronus BTR

500- 147eldms
Forester sizer and micrometer seater
200pcs- Gunwerks brass
Re26 and IMR8133
Quickload estimates to go along, I’ll start low....bout 10% down from where I want to be and work up from there.

Really excited!!
 
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Actually i have a ton of load data for that specific rifle you now own. Did you lose my data?

RL-26, H-1000, Retumbo, RL-25, RL-33 are good powders for the 6.5 PRC. I don't think RL-16 will work w heavy weights in the 6.5 PRC

That's strange that you have RL-33 as a good powder for 6.5 PRC. I don't doubt you...because you have put in the work and gathered the data.....However, I found it really sub-optimal on the 300PRC with a 28" barrel and with 225 ELD-M's, 230 and 250 gr A-Tips...I just couldn't get near the velocity of a Retumbo or N565 ...and even still I was having pressure signs. It is a very slow burning powder with very large kernels.
 
I played w Flatline 123 w RL-26.
I believe Berger has load data for RL-33 w the 156 and actually gets higher velocity than RL-26 w that combo.
 
That's strange that you have RL-33 as a good powder for 6.5 PRC. I don't doubt you...because you have put in the work and gathered the data.....However, I found it really sub-optimal on the 300PRC with a 28" barrel and with 225 ELD-M's, 230 and 250 gr A-Tips...I just couldn't get near the velocity of a Retumbo or N565 ...and even still I was having pressure signs. It is a very slow burning powder with very large kernels.
RL-33 is all i use in my 338 LM AI. Good accuracy, single digit numbers w high velocity. No pressure issues.

I never got a chance to map out the 156 w RL-33. My 156 load was w RL-26 @ 3060 FPS.
 
Just got off the phone w Berger. RL-33 gave higher velocity over RL-26 w the 156

Berger 156 w RL-26
Starting Load 52.0
Max 57.8


Berger 156 w RL-33
Starting Load 60.5
Max 67.1
 
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I personally found Hornady's load data w the 147 ELD to be very conservative. I think it had something to do w marketing. Keep the pressures under 54-55K Psi and round count goes up. Run them at 63-65k Psi and your around 1k -1400 rounds.
 
I'm having a hard time believing the 57.8 is max with the 156gr bergers and RL26. That is over two grains more then hornady book data for the 147-153 pills.

The guys I know who are shooting the 156 bergers all hit pressure well before that.

I haven't seen anything published officially yet but I would be surprised if that is actually the correct number.
 

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I had no problem running the 156 Berger at 57.8 w RL-26. Again i ran Hornady 147 way over their book max. Im my findings, IN MY RIFLE HORNADYS LOAD DATA WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE.

6.5 PRC had 3 reamers that i know of. I ran a .188 FB and never jammed the lands allowing for higher pressures towards the top end.
 
I had no problem running the 156 Berger at 57.8 w RL-26. Again i ran Hornady 147 way over their book max. Im my findings, IN MY RIFLE HORNADYS LOAD DATA WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE.

6.5 PRC had 3 reamers that i know of. I ran a .188 FB and never jammed the lands allowing for higher pressures towards the top end.

Nice! What's your COAL?

Edit.. what brass are you using. I missed it if you mentioned it before.
 
Berger 156 ran them at 2.970 from a Accurate 300 WSM mag. I think the load i settled on w the 156 was 57.6 RL-26




That was safe in my rifle w weight sorted brass. USE W CAUTION AND ALWAYS WORK UP>
 
What has everyone found out what the 147 eldms liked as far as jump from the lands?

Weather: 41*F, 29.55inHg, 62%H.
Shot some loads to see if I can find pressure and see what velocity I can get today with Rel26 and IMR8133 all at a CBTO of 2.264 which is .010” off. Rel26 seemed the best between 55.3 at 2990-55.6 at 3016 with virgin Gunwerks brass and cci200 LR primers using a MS V3.

Quick Load predictions using ADG’s average H2O weight of 66.9gr yielded a 2950 for 55.3 and 2965 for 55.6. At 56g of reloader 26 I got 3022, but to be nice to the barrel I’m going to stay around 3000fps, so I didn’t need to shoot the 56.5g re26, I did not see any pressure signs of any sort.

It shot the 55.3, 55.6, 55.9 into a 1.44” group at 300. Probably be playing with 55.3-55.6gr loads at differing cbto’s.

IMR8133 didn’t do as well as I thought it would, shot 57gr to 60gr in .5gr increments and at 60gr only got 2938fps and was getting a pretty full case
 
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What has everyone found out what the 147 eldms liked as far as jump from the lands?

Weather: 41*F, 29.55inHg, 62%H.
Shot some loads to see if I can find pressure and see what velocity I can get today with Rel26 and IMR8133 all at a CBTO of 2.264 which is .010” off. Rel26 seemed the best between 55.3 at 2990-55.6 at 3016 with virgin Gunwerks brass and cci200 LR primers using a MS V3.

Quick Load predictions using ADG’s average H2O weight of 66.9gr yielded a 2950 for 55.3 and 2965 for 55.6. At 56g of reloader 26 I got 3022, but to be nice to the barrel I’m going to stay around 3000fps, so I didn’t need to shoot the 56.5g re26, I did not see any pressure signs of any sort.

It shot the 55.3, 55.6, 55.9 into a 1.44” group at 300. Probably be playing with 55.3-55.6gr loads at differing cbto’s.

IMR8133 didn’t do as well as I thought it would, shot 57gr to 60gr in .5gr increments and at 60gr only got 2938fps and was getting a pretty full case
Sounds great! Have you recently found r26?
 
Sounds great! Have you recently found r26?
Yes I did about a month ago at a local store.....got 2lbs at that time and their supposed to get more in.....the wife and I have to go to the doc the day it’s supposed to come in so I’ll be dropping by to hopefully pick up more. Otherwise the bit I’ve been researching H4831sc and reloader 23 looks to have worked good for others and I plan to see if that is available also. I plugged those powders in to QL and they look to be just as good as reloader 26 on the computer.....not real world experience but.

I guess because of all the new magnums that came out magnum powder is like pixie dust rare.

Heres the first outing on seating depth test on a powder charge that I thought would be close to my goals for velocity.
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Not sure but for now I’m going to try the 2.264” cbto 55.4gr load(top right) again to see if that flyer wasn’t a fluke and then 55.5 and 55.6 at 2.264” cbto to see if I can shrink the group maybe, idk. If that don’t pan out I may retry the 2.224” cbto and 2.234” cbto(top two on the left) with a tenth or two more of a grain on those and see what that gets me. Idk hopefully I can find something without using up too much of the pixie dust powder!
 
It really is like pixie dust. I want to get some but only have r19 now I plan to use for my 6.5cm and maybe the .308. Your groups look really promising especially the .43”. Have you tried anything besides the 147?
 
It really is like pixie dust. I want to get some but only have r19 now I plan to use for my 6.5cm and maybe the .308. Your groups look really promising especially the .43”. Have you tried anything besides the 147?
Ya the .43” group does look good but the es/sd is definitely not going to cut it.....unless I play with the charge weight to possibly get it down. Lol I don’t know what is best....guess I’ll play around and find out, all part of reloading, trial and error, most time error for me haha.

No sir I haven’t....I was wanting to use these for a multi purpose usage between steel/targets and hunting. I’d really like to get the federal terminal ascent bullets, very intriguing bullet. Looking at the price on federals website I’ll wait till midway or someone similar has them as they’re as much as the good monos.
I think I’d like to try the 156 Berger’s if the 147eldms don’t work out for some reason. Maybe the accubond LR.
As for a mono I’d like to try the cutting edge single feed 130 MTH, 125 rifle Maximus.....if I really wanted to spend some $$$$ the 125 lazers are pretty good.
Barber Creek Shooting tested the lazers and the 147 eldms and the lazers did very very well in the ballistics gel. They still prefer the eldms and the Berger’s the most I believe.

So many good bullets out there!!
 
I’m looking at getting a 20 incher spun up for my covert. Shooting 127 lrx. How do you think it would perform. Hunting deer mainly!
Don’t know, maybe someone else that has used monos more than I have can answer. This year was the first time shooting Barnes bullets or monos ever. In my 30-06 I used the 150 ttsx on two deer from ~30yrds to ~100yrds.....I liked them quite a bit, all drt, the 30yrd one was purposely shot in the shoulder area to see the damage done, wasn’t bad at all. The other was a neck hit. The thing I look for is the minimum expansion velocity in a bullet for hunting.
Clarification a bit, for the minimum velocity for the Barnes I’m using in my 30-06, I don’t plan to use it much past 200yrds, it became my woods gun and my 6.5prc is my bean field/open field rifle so minimum velocity matters to me a little more on that one.

@Snipe260 not sure how far you plan to shoot but, keep minimum velocity in mind.
 
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Barnes TSX and TTSX has always been a killer for me. I have used them in .223, .308, .323 and .375. Keep the velocity up and they will expand. If its a far shot and you expect low impact velocity, aim for the shoulder forcing bullet expansion...I have had pedals break off and create additional wound channels. Have also shot length wise through 200LB plus deer.
 
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Welp today was great after work, went out to confirm a load and to possibly better it.....not only did I confirm the load from before but a tenth of powder more didn’t seem to faze it....
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On this one I know I pulled the last two, but it is what it is.

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Pulled the last one here too, just couldn’t catch a break, might have been too excited about how I was able to find a load in under 50rnds that checked out, around a half inch or less, good es and sd numbers!!!!! Ready to test out at 600 then a grand and then maybe 1760yrds???!!!

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Barnes TSX and TTSX has always been a killer for me. I have used them in .223, .308, .323 and .375. Keep the velocity up and they will expand. If its a far shot and you expect low impact velocity, aim for the shoulder forcing bullet expansion...I have had pedals break off and create additional wound channels. Have also shot length wise through 200LB plus deer.
Good to know @BCX, very much appreciate your findings and advice!
 
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