6.5 PRC Discussion

DENRIK89 said:

My Christensen showed pressure signs with factory ammo so i switched to straight handloads. Settled on 57.5gr H1000 .4 moa @ 2980fps for the first 100ish rounds. Im at 130 rounds now and clocking them at 3045, same accuracy node slight primer flattening. 2.955" left me about 20k jump

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H1000 is my go to as well! 6.5 prc and 7 rem mag

DENRIK89 said:

My Christensen showed pressure signs with factory ammo so i switched to straight handloads. Settled on 57.5gr H1000 .4 moa @ 2980fps for the first 100ish rounds. Im at 130 rounds now and clocking them at 3045, same accuracy node slight primer flattening. 2.955" left me about 20k jump

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It appears to be an excellent load for your CA. I'm hoping this rifle will settle in after another 50 rounds....

N560 with a 135 Berger have me 3050-3188 with 56-58gr in .5gr increments. (Just quick test to see where I can play at) No pressure at all. That would get you over 3k no problem I would imagine. I have a 22" barrel also.

Running N560 w/ 156EOL in the 2900s . N565 was compressed. 1/2 MOA. 24" Bartlein.

Rhett Crider said:

Running N560 w/ 156EOL in the 2900s . N565 was compressed. 1/2 MOA. 24" Bartlein.

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I'm gonna have to try that with my 156s as well. Just have done the 135s so far.

I'm using Norma MRP with the 143 ELD's and it is the most accurate, I just loaded up a few more for testing but have not made it to the range yet. H1000 did not group well for me.

If it was me, I would start working on a seating depth test at the minimum powder charge. I would run the Berger seating test and find which COAL the barrel likes, then run the powder testing. Or, if you had any of the factory ammo left over measure COAL and seat at that length and run through the powder charges.

I too have a Christensen Mesa Ti in 6.5PRC with very sticky bolt with factory ammo. plan to handload. thanks for the suggestions.

I have browning MAX long range. RE 26, Hornady brass, cci250, @ 2.950" 3030fps using the 143 ELDX

DJ Fergus said:

RL26, Retumbo, or mentioned VV powders should be the ticket. The only rifle I've loaded for that preferred H1000 more than the other powders I mentioned was a 300 win mag.

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It does seem like the the .300 win mag with 200+ grain bullets and h1000 is one of those truly specific "'match made in heaven" combinations...

There's an interesting thread on LRO about the 6.5 PRC SAAMI spec'd chambers being a little tight.
Might not be relevant to the OP's issue, but may be to those reporting pressure signs with factory ammo.

FWIW, my CA Ridgeline exhibits heavy bolt lift with factory Precision Hunter 143 loads. It shoots about 2980 fps at 700 ft elevation around .5-.75 MOA.

coop2564 said:

I have browning MAX long range. RE 26, Hornady brass, cci250, @ 2.950" 3030fps using the 143 ELDX

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Coop...If you don't mind, what powder charge did the Browning like?

Did you Chrony the test loads?
Did you eliminate shooter error?