6.5 PRC in a WSM Action?

highdrum said:

Brent, in most cases if read, the eld line likes a lot of jump, as in why the saami chamber is 188 freebore and cases are loaded to 2.9xx from factory by Hornady, they did their homework prior. The 147 has a long bearing surface and with it being close to lands may be why you're getting pressure signs. What velocity and charge of what powder?

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I am not running them close to the lands. I am running mag length for a AICS short action. I run all my ELD 6.5 140, 143, 147's at .020 off in my other rifles and they all shoot well. Can't do that with the PRS due to mag length issues.

Currently I am running retumbo, cause I have 8 lbs I need to use, but going to retest RL26. Retumbo starts seeing pressure signs at 58 grains. Book max is 59.3 which is about right since they use light Hornady brass and I am using ADG. I am seeing roughly 2920-30 with 140s, 2880-2900 with 143, 2850-2860 with 147's. I haven't finalized a load yet. from 57-58 grains both the 140 and 143 had a sd of 13.4. I am retesting the top of the powder charge and expect the 143 to be running 2860 to 2890. That is about 100 fps slower than I expected.

BrentM said:

I am not running them close to the lands. I am running mag length for a AICS short action. I run all my ELD 6.5 140, 143, 147's at .020 off in my other rifles and they all shoot well. Can't do that with the PRS due to mag length issues.

Currently I am running retumbo, cause I have 8 lbs I need to use, but going to retest RL26. Retumbo starts seeing pressure signs at 58 grains. Book max is 59.3 which is about right since they use light Hornady brass and I am using ADG. I am seeing roughly 2920-30 with 140s, 2880-2900 with 143, 2850-2860 with 147's. I haven't finalized a load yet. from 57-58 grains both the 140 and 143 had a sd of 13.4. I am retesting the top of the powder charge and expect the 143 to be running 2860 to 2890. That is about 100 fps slower than I expected.

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Have you checked the H2O capacity of the ADG brass vs. Hornady? I suspect that the ADG brass is more substantial than the Hornady brass thus has less space in it for powder which can cause higher pressure with the same loads compared to the other brass. I had the same issue with Nosler vs. Remington with a different cartridge. The Remington brass I was using had more H2O space thus I could add more powder before I saw pressure signs with Remington versus Nosler.

BoatTail said:

Have you checked the H2O capacity of the ADG brass vs. Hornady? I suspect that the ADG brass is more substantial than the Hornady brass thus has less space in it for powder which can cause higher pressure with the same loads compared to the other brass. I had the same issue with Nosler vs. Remington with a different cartridge. The Remington brass I was using had more H2O space thus I could add more powder before I saw pressure signs with Remington versus Nosler.

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Yes volume is different but I was not expecting the FPS to be much less than a higher volume case. I have not tested back to back with Hornady just figured I'd reduce the charge and still see close to expected velocities.

BrentM said:

Yes volume is different but I was not expecting the FPS to be much less than a higher volume case. I have not tested back to back with Hornady just figured I'd reduce the charge and still see close to expected velocities.

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Is the loaded neck diameter the same with Hornady brass vs adg? The adg should hold pressure longer than soft Hornady, however I've heard the prc brass from them is a fair bit better than their other offerings. Beings you're running a 22" pipe, I'd still expect north of 2900 with the 147s. Carbon ring perhaps? Retumbo has a reputation for being somewhat dirty. Beings it's a prs rifle and run long shot strings that may cause some problems.

highdrum said:

Is the loaded neck diameter the same with Hornady brass vs adg? The adg should hold pressure longer than soft Hornady, however I've heard the prc brass from them is a fair bit better than their other offerings. Beings you're running a 22" pipe, I'd still expect north of 2900 with the 147s. Carbon ring perhaps? Retumbo has a reputation for being somewhat dirty. Beings it's a prs rifle and run long shot strings that may cause some problems.

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I have 100 rounds through it and running 1x fired brass for final load development. Neck diameter on Hornady is not known since I am not running Hornady brass. The adg brass has been neck turned and using bushing dies and mandrel to set to .002.

Pressure it tough to read on this brass. There is a swipe from the ejector but no moon. The biggest read for me is simply the last little bit to open the bolt and then extract. I am getting bit of click and if I have to put much pressure on the bolt handle to extract I call that max. Usually within .5 from that point I'll have to tap the bolt to extract.

Have you measured the web before FL sizing and after? Usually the click is from case expansion not being fully resized in the base area. I've observed it after 3 firings on Lapua 300 norma brass using whidden dies. I'd suspect it's not the problem beings it's only 1x fired but it's possible. Chamber could be tight to resizing specs of the dies.

highdrum said:

Have you measured the web before FL sizing and after? Usually the click is from case expansion not being fully resized in the base area. I've observed it after 3 firings on Lapua 300 norma brass using whidden dies. I'd suspect it's not the problem beings it's only 1x fired but it's possible. Chamber could be tight to resizing specs of the dies.

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I read about that and have not. I assumed I was good to go as the brass chambers without any issue after sizing. I didn't worry about the click so much as the extraction. I suppose those go hand in hand. My 6.5 creed Peterson brass does the same thing if the load is too hot. Get the click then if I go to far I have to smack the bolt with my palm. I am using Redding comp dies with PRC.

BoatTail said:

I have a Remington 700 short action in 270 WSM with a modified 3.01 inch magazine. I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on rebarreling it to a 6.5 / 300 WSM. Rather than going with the wildcat I was wondering if the 6.5 PRC would feed in a WSM action. My thoughts are that the feed rails maybe too wide. I was thinking that the 6.5 PRC's 2.950 COAL with the Hornady 143 ELD X bullets would work well with this Wyatt extended magazine. I was also thinking there would be some advantage of using a standard cartridge rather than a wildcat if I ever needed cartridges and could reload at the time. What are your thoughts, will the 6.5 PRC feed in a WSM action?

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I shot out the barrel of one of my 7RM's. I was left trying to decide what to build on this action so I called my smith Gre'tan rifles and talked to him. I told him I wanted another 7MM but was not sure which one. He suggested a 7SAUM and to use the remington detachable box magazine for the 7RM. He said I would never have seating depth issues with the longer action. This is the route I took and it is now my favorite hunting rifle.

As far as using a SA, yes it will work it just takes the right magazine components to make it work. My Gap 4S Non Typical ran 100% with their magazine system.

I wouldn't even worry about velocity until about 150 rounds down the pipe. My Bartlein barrels all speed up in that general range, don't know if Proof barrels take the same amount?

Kimber7man said:

I wouldn't even worry about velocity until about 150 rounds down the pipe. My Bartlein barrels all speed up in that general range, don't know if Proof barrels take the same amount?

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From a very reliable source who builds a ton of rifles with proof barrels, the barrels from the last 6 months have leveled off around 50-75 rounds.

highdrum said:

From a very reliable source who builds a ton of rifles with proof barrels, the barrels from the last 6 months have leveled off around 50-75 rounds.

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That's good to know, thanks!

If your considering a PRC or SAUM You need to look at the 6.5 sherman short.. ADG makes brass that needs to be fireformed, and i seen on the website that a company in SD is going to be making fully formed adg brass in the future.. Im pushing a 142smk @ 3285fps 10 firing on brass and only have lost 2 due to pockets opening up