I’m looking to start reloading for my 6CM and 6.5prc. Is there a powder that will work well for both? I happy for practice and hunting.
Powder to use with both 6CM and 6.5 PRC
- Thread starter bwp86
- Start date
If you really want to maximize the capabilities of both you’ll be hard pressed to find a single powder. However, if you went with a heavy 6mm bullet and a light-ish 6.5mm bullet you could probably use something like N560. The problem is that the 6.5PRC is just going to thrive on slower powders compared to the 6mmC.
Have a look at the load data from Hodgdon for both withH4350 H1000. That’s a great powder for 6mmC It’ll work with a heavy bullet like 110 A-Tips out of 6mmC and it might be slow enough in 6.5PRC with a 130-ish grain bullet. But honestly, with a 6.5PRC you should be aiming to get the heavy bullets going fast, otherwise what’s the point of a 6.5PRC over a 6.5 Creedmoor?
Some VV load data to check out
6.5PRC
www.vihtavuori.com
6mmC
www.vihtavuori.com
Have a look at the load data from Hodgdon for both with
Some VV load data to check out
6.5PRC
Rifle reloading data | Handloading | Rifle calibers | Centerfire Rifle bullets | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori
Vihtavuori offers rifle reloading data for numerous calibers and bullets for match and hunting purposes. Never exceed maximum loads.
www.vihtavuori.com
6mmC
Rifle reloading data | Handloading | Rifle calibers | Centerfire Rifle bullets | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori
Vihtavuori offers rifle reloading data for numerous calibers and bullets for match and hunting purposes. Never exceed maximum loads.
www.vihtavuori.com
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Sounds like I need to just go with two different powders. I’m shooting the 103gr 6mm and the 147gr in the prc
You can use 6.5staball for both, you can also use H4350 for both. They will both work very well for both if you are shooting weights that aren't too far from each other. I shoot a 108berger in 6cm and a 130 Berger in 6.5cm and can definitely use both of those powders with very good results. I got better ES with 4350 in the 6.5cm so I use staball in 6cm and 4350 in 6.5cm but I have used both in both loads and gotten excellent accuracy and pretty decent ES.
I use H4350 in my 6CM with 109gn and 110gn bullets, and H1000 in my 6.5 PRC with 153gn bullets. I do have a good load for the H1000 for 110gn bullets in my 6CM, but it compresses the powder a bit. If your barrel is shorter than 26”, you will be limited on velocity, but t works pretty well with a 26” barrel and just fine with a 28” barrel. You could also use H4350 in your 6.5 PRC, but it is really a bit too fast for the PRC, at least with heavy bullets. So you really are better off with 2 different powders, but depending on what compromises you are willing to accept, it could be done.
RL26 is a great powder, but you need to watch out for carbon rings. It can also be a little flaky when the temps get to 90F and above.
Meh, it's not worse than lots of other commonly used powders. I'd say the same exact thing about H4350.
@bwp86 I ran some numbers for you with both cartridges and kind of ideal bullet weights. Yep, it looks like RL26 (if you could find some) might be your best bet for a unified powder. RL19 might also work...
