6.5 PRC 156 load development

[dargie12317]

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.

Try N565 with berg156 gr, you will be happy at 3000 FPS

 

[SteveBurton]

What is your barrel length, twist and elevation please.

 

[AlexJN]

156gr Berger with h1000 55.5gr

What kind of velocity are you at and what's your barrel length?

Haven't put the chrono on it yet, but 26 inch. Should be getting around 2900 I think

 

[AlexJN]

With n560 I did 56&57gr and I was getting heavy bolt and ejector marks and maybe 3/4-1moa, I'm sticking with h1000 for now

Try N565 with berg156 gr, you will be happy at 3000 FPS

 

[BrentM]

Haven't put the chrono on it yet, but 26 inch. Should be getting around 2900 I think

I am at 2915 with a 22". You should be close to 3k in the end. H1000, RL26, retumbo, and N565 are better choices than 560 it seems. 560 and RL26 work the same with light bullets but the 156 seems to like the lower pressure spike of the slower powders. With 560 and ADG type brass I'd expect you to be around 55.5 as your max safe.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Hitting the magic 3,000 ft/sec with the 156 EOL and RE26 (6.5 PRC) proved to be a bit of a warm load in my 23.5" Proof barrel.

 

[BrentM]

Hitting the magic 3,000 ft/sec with the 156 EOL and RE26 (6.5 PRC) proved to be a bit of a warm load in my 23.5" Proof barrel.

Yeah I think it'll take hot load in a 24 it seems. A 26" should be fine on a normal load charge. Running a 156 at 2900-2950 in a 22-24 is still pretty **** good IMHO. My 6.5-284 running 24" was struggling past 2950 with 140's.

 

[SSG Graybush]

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

View attachment 144562

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.

View attachment 144569

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.

I would load 55.5 grs to 65.5 at .1 increments, really determine the node. And load the middle. If you can get a es of 20 accross .6 grs and load the middle the sd is usually 6 or 7. I would try shortening the coal by 3 thou and 6 thou. See if your on the long or short end of the accuracy/jump node. But thats looks real good.

 

[Kimber7man]

I would load 55.5 grs to 65.5 at .1 increments, really determine the node. And load the middle. If you can get a es of 20 accross .6 grs and load the middle the sd is usually 6 or 7. I would try shortening the coal by 3 thou and 6 thou. See if your on the long or short end of the accuracy/jump node. But thats looks real good.

That's 100 rounds down the barrel

 

[vancewalker007]

That's 100 rounds down the barrel

I doubt you'll get over 60gr before seeing pressure. I have a long lead throat in my rifle and 58.6gr of H1000 started showing pressure.

 

[HuntnPack]

My guess would be SSG meant 55.5-56.5

 

[Kimber7man]

My guess would be SSG meant 55.5-56.5

Agree

 

[AlexJN]

Has anyone had luck with federal 215 primers in their 6.5 prc? I have cci 200 and they work well but i also have a large quantity of the 215 primers.

 

[AlexJN]

156 Berger
59g H1000
3001 FPS
Defiance
Proof

Any pressure signs? How far back do you bump your shoulder. I think the further you push it back the less you will notice pressure signs. But i am not 100% on this idea, but have noticed some cases show no pressure and others do with the same load, i think pushing my shoulder back .002-.003 is the sweet spot for my rifle and lets me load a few more grains. If anyone has any knowledge on this please share