6.5 PRC 156 load development

[8andbait]

all this talk about the 156 EOL got me inspired to try them.

Specs on barrel
.130 freebore
Bartlein 3, 7.5 twist 24"

Forgot my bipod so had to improvise

So my load for 143 eldx is 55.2 RL26
in Hornady brass with a CCIBR2 primer. This load is 3000 FPS

My 147 eldm load is 57.5 H1000, Hornady brass with a 210 primer. This load is 2975 FPS.

I decided to drop down 1.5 grains and use some Bertram brass I have Fired three times and neck turned due to extremely inconsistent neck thickness.

In my chamber the 156 EOL are 3.025 OAL to touch, and 2.320 BTO with my comparator.

I have to be at 2.975 to reliably feed from the Wyatt's box so that's where I seated them which was a .050 jump.

Loaded 4 each H1000, 210 primer, Bertram brass .050 jump.

56, 56.5, 57, 57.5 and 58, the plan was to shoot one each over the magnetospeed to get the speeds and foul the bore.

Fist shot 56 gr, clean cold bore was 2823.

Waited three minutes Fired 56.5, 2883
Slight pressure, felt on bolt lift.

Waited three minutes Fired 57, 2903
A little heavier bolt lift but not terrible. Decided to not go any higher.

Then I did a round robin OCW style test with 56, 56.5 and 57. Shoot a 56, wait three minutes, shoot a 56.5, wait three minutes etc.

This was done at 116 yards so 1 MOA is 1.21 inches.

Top target is with the magnetospeed and is why I don't do load development with it on the barrel.

Bottom three targets are three shots each and total .52 Moa for all nine shots across a full grain of H1000.

I'd say these are going to shoot. Not much gained ballistically over a 143 or 147 except I prefer bergers for hunting. I've had very mixed results with the Hornady bullets on game.

Also nice that I didn't have to move my scope at all, dialed down 1.25 from my 200 yard zero with the 143's.

 

[Buxndiverdux]

Nice work... Still waiting on my stock before I can get rolling...

 

[Lee D]

I'm curious about them but the data I've seen from both 140's and the 156's the 156's do not have any advantage

 

[Sykes]

With RL26 in Hornady brass I'm at 2980 fps with the 156. Because of my mag box at 2.975 I have to jump them about .09" so I havent found anything to shoot sub .5" yet but still getting .6-75" groups at 100 yards. I ordered some ADG and will try again and see if I can gain a little speed before pressure and better accuracy. 3000 fps is my goal so I'm close. My rifle is a Christensen Arms Ridgeline 24" barrel. I have an excellent load with the berger 140 vld and retumbo at 3030fps so I'm not too worried if the 156s dont work out

 

[8andbait]

I have some loaded with RL26 from 54-57.5 grains. I'll give them a try next time.

I'm thinking retumbo would create a little more speed than H1000 but I don't have any.

A 156 at 3000 would be terrific.

If rl26 doesn't get me over 2950 accurately I'll stick with H1000 at 2900.

 

[Sykes]

I'll be interested to see what your results are with RL26. I believe I started seeing pressure at 56.3 grains so that's where I stopped. Like you I was headed for 57.5 as max

Edit: I hit pressure and compressed load at 55.3 gr

 

[CVCOBRA1]

You guys chasing 3000fps with 156g bullets should have gone with the 26 Nosler. Sorry it just came in my mind.

 

[elkaholic]

You guys chasing 3000fps with 156g bullets should have gone with the 26 Nosler. Sorry it just came in my mind.

Better yet, a 6.5 sst ss at 2.9+" and 3100'

 

[Mach 1]

You guys chasing 3000fps with 156g bullets should have gone with the 26 Nosler. Sorry it just came in my mind.

I don't think so. I think the 26 nosler has to much powder capacity to bore size to be a great shooter on average, plus barrel life is horrible. The prc seems to do A good job at bridging the gap between the 260rem and the 264 win. Mag. IMO

 

[CVCOBRA1]

My 260 is 1-8, my 264 is 1-9.....can't reach what you are looking for.

 

[Deleted member 25294]

You guys chasing 3000fps with 156g bullets should have gone with the 26 Nosler. Sorry it just came in my mind.

Or a 6.5 SAUM
Ill bet it'd push the 156 3000 with H1000, I can run the 147's at 3100 with that powder in a 25" barrel.
Now that ADG is making brass I'll stay with the saum forever.

 

[BrentM]

Or a 6.5 SAUM
Ill bet it'd push the 156 3000 with H1000, I can run the 147's at 3100 with that powder in a 25" barrel.
Now that ADG is making brass I'll stay with the saum forever.

How much H1000 does the saum need to run 3100? I'm still working on my 6.5 PRC and testing 140-147, and 140 VLD.

 

[vancewalker007]

I haven't shot any for groups yet but here are some results with a 26in barrel using a medium action which allows the bullet to be seat out of the powder column. These we shot over the trusty Magneto Speed

This was Hornady brass and BR-2 Primers.

I think I'm going to try 58.2 for groups. I still have some case so I'm going to push the 8133 up through the 59s.

Still haven't hit pressure with either powder.

 

[Deleted member 25294]

How much H1000 does the saum need to run 3100? I'm still working on my 6.5 PRC and testing 140-147, and 140 VLD.

I believe it was 61.5 grains with Norma brass.
I settled in on 60.5 grains at 3050 because it shoots .25