156 Bergers or 150 Noslers in a short action PRC?

[Snyderite]

I built a 6.5 PRC on a Bighorn Origin. I've been shooting the factory Hornady 143 ELDX. They just barely fit in the AICS mag.

I do handload though I just moved and my stuff is still boxed up. I plan on working on loads this winter.

I have a box of 140 vlds already. But if I can find a box of 156's or 150 Noslers will they fit in my magazine? And if so will they shoot good (obviously there's a lot of factors).

Almost should have gotten a long action but I really like a short action from too many years with a 308. And I originally was going to build a 6.5 Sherman Short Tactical but ran out of time to reload by the time the parts I'd ordered last Christmas showed up.

 

[bassassassin104]

You might consider staying with 143 ELDX or some other 130 to 140 class bullet. I haven't messed with the 150 Nosler, but that 156 EOL is going to take up a lot of room in the shell casing if it is being loaded to mag length In a short action.

 

[HuntnPack]

Run some numbers on several bullet options based on intended use, game animal, shot distance, bullet design, & equipment setup, ie barrel twist, barrel length, Chamber specs, magazine length, etc:
You may find a 130 or 140 or lighter mono
as a better option in your setup.

I'd look at several;
140 vld, 140 Elite, 130 Scenar, 124 HH,
123 AH, or even a lighter mono ran FAST,
to name a few.

 

[Snyderite]

Yep be for prairie hunting.
Looking at the Barnes and Hammers too.

 

[whirlwindjml]

Id stay with the 143 in that set up. I use the bergers in my 26 and like them but ive used the 143 in my prc and think it's one of the best all around bullets there is. For hunting purposes the prc can push the 143 to a lethal range that's further than I personally like to hunt at. The 143 has done quite a bit of elk smacking in my circle with nobody regretting it.

All my opinions/experience of course. The mag length on the prc is why I set out to build a long action prc but it ended up 26 nosler.

 

[Seabeeken]

I left Barnes because they are so hard to get at times. Might want to consider that. Another issue I found with Barnes was the plastic tips wobbled when rolled on the table so I went to TSX which seem even harder to get. Went to Hammers and haven't looked back.

 

[Snyderite]

Good to know the eldx works. Did good on my lopers. But shot at a doe this weekend and could have sworn I saw two chest hits. But I probably just missed. No wind, prone and super steady. Validated my rifle the night before. She hopped both times. Probably was just low and it caused her to jump. I'm planning on shooting this Friday at 450 and double checking. The odds of it being bullet failure are low. But got dang the rifle was shooting great even in the wind the night before.

 

[parshal]

A buddy took a PRC I made him to Africa and shot nine animals with factory 143's. Largest was an Eland at a couple hundred yards. Nothing went more than 100 yards. I wouldn't change from that bullet if it you have it working well.

 

[BrentM]

I have loads from 135-156 for both PRC's. I am using a aics mag with 2.950 coal. Since you have an origin you will have 2.950 as well to work with. I run all the bullets at 2.950 and tweaked the charge for single digit sd and sub .5 moa accuracy. I absolutely do not feel I have given anything up and the whole point of the prc is to be used a SA. If not, I'd stuck my 6.5-284's.

 

[JAYgs8163]

What's your max COAL. You should be able to run the 156 Berger without any issues at all. I actually ended up choosing the 144 Berger and it performs great.

 

[jrock]

I saw a lot of velocity loss going from the 140s to the 156s. So much so that the 140s get almost the same wind call with a flatter trajectory. Unless I wanted more mass in a bullet on impact, I don't plan to use the rest of what I have.

 

[BrentM]

I saw a lot of velocity loss going from the 140s to the 156s. So much so that the 140s get almost the same wind call with a flatter trajectory. Unless I wanted more mass in a bullet on impact, I don't plan to use the rest of what I have.

Same for me since I run short barrels(18 and 22) . I run the 135A Tip due to the high for weight bc and increase in velocity. Recoil is noticeable too. Very similar wind hold and yet several MOA less vertical. I don't need the energy of the 156 generally speaking and out to 1000 the 2 are pretty similar.

Rule of thumb is 7-10 fps gain or loss for every 1 grain bullet weight. So a 156 vs a 140 should be 112 to 150 fps slower.

 

[Allen Kitts]

I have killed quite a few animal with the 175 grain ELDX in my 7mm LRM and never had a single issue. I am shooting the 124 grain Hammer Hunters in my 6.5 PRC and they are shooting lights out and don't seen to care much about the seating depth. Might give those a try.

 

[Squatch]

I built a 6.5 PRC on a Bighorn Origin. I've been shooting the factory Hornady 143 ELDX. They just barely fit in the AICS mag.

I do handload though I just moved and my stuff is still boxed up. I plan on working on loads this winter.

I have a box of 140 vlds already. But if I can find a box of 156's or 150 Noslers will they fit in my magazine? And if so will they shoot good (obviously there's a lot of factors).

Almost should have gotten a long action but I really like a short action from too many years with a 308. And I originally was going to build a 6.5 Sherman Short Tactical but ran out of time to reload by the time the parts I'd ordered last Christmas showed up.

I run a proof mtr with an aics mag. I have to seat the 156's a bit deeper but they still shoot 1/4-1/3 moa all day long. Everything I have read and experienced points to these bullets being very forgiving when it comes to seating depth.