Hammer load work up help

[MT257]

Went and shot to 2 different powders with 124 hammers in the 6.5 prc. Both seemed slower compared to what other have seen. Just curious what some of you would do. I like overall group size of the staball. Not sure what to think of the 560. What would you guys suggest next?

First up N560
1)54- 3088
2)54.5 -3082
3)55- 3136
4)55.5-3144
5)56-3146
6)56.5-3151
7)57-3178
8)57.5-no read
9)58 no read
10) 58.5-3219
11)59-3284 felt resistance in bolt
12)59.5 3299 heavy bolt

Staball 6.5
All seemed to have resistance in bolt lift got heavy the higher the charge.
1)55-3160
2)55.5-3188
3)56-3213
4)56.5-3264
5)57-3264
6)57.5-3303
7)58-3321
8)58.5-3399

 

[RB II]

Staball 6.5 #5, 6 & 7 look like best group and velocity from those two ladders.
IME, Hammer Hunters are not very seating depth sensitive. But 5-7 don't look like they need to change.
I would Shoot 3 or 5 shot groups for each of those powder charges, same seating depth.

VihtaVouri loading page shows max loads for N560
120 gr Sako Blade 647 H bullet at 57.9
129 gr Hornady Interlock bullet 52.9.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I would load (10) of 6 and call it good.

Five for the chrono and five to ensure scope is zeroed. Done

 

[MT257]

Staball 6.5 #5, 6 & 7 look like best group and velocity from those two ladders.
IME, Hammer Hunters are not very seating depth sensitive. But 5-7 don't look like they need to change.
I would Shoot 3 or 5 shot groups for each of those powder charges, same seating depth.

VihtaVouri loading page shows max loads for N560
120 gr Sako Blade 647 H bullet at 57.9
129 gr Hornady Interlock bullet 52.9.

Only downfall with the staball is every shot had some sort of a sticky bolt.

 

[MT257]

I would load (10) of 6 and call it good.

Five for the chrono and five to ensure scope is zeroed. Done

Of n560 or staball

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Of n560 or staball

Sorry, Stabal. But if you are having a stickly bolt, maybe not so much. Was the brass fireformed or virgin? If already fired and you were getting it on your lower powder charges, how was chambering? Kind of stiff, like you had to cam over? Curious if not sizing enough.

 

[RB II]

If the StaBall 6.5 load falls apart, these might be other options.

Looks like N555 is a good load for the 123 ELD-M. It shows 56.5 as max on that.
H-4831 could be good.
IMR 4831 looks a little better than the H4831
IMR 7828 SSC might be ok.
N565 might be good also. A little slower than the others. So would be a case full of it.
Staball looks like it will produce the highest velocity with the loads you are showing here. But 56.5 appears to be max recommended load. That may be where the sticky bolt is coming from.

My reference program doesn't have the 6.5 124 gr Hammer bullets.

 

[MT257]

Sorry, Stabal. But if you are having a stickly bolt, maybe not so much. Was the brass fireformed or virgin? If already fired and you were getting it on your lower powder charges, how was chambering? Kind of stiff, like you had to cam over? Curious if not sizing enough.

This would be the second firing on the brass. Closing bolt seemed fine.

 

[Bob Wright]

How many rounds down the barrel now?

 

[MT257]

How many rounds down the barrel now?

No idea. Bought if from a guy who didn't keep track. It shoots dime to nickel size groups with accubond and bergers.

 

[dogz]

This would be the second firing on the brass. Closing bolt seemed fine.

Both firings in this chamber? Are they getting jammed into the lands?

 

[dogz]

No idea. Bought if from a guy who didn't keep track. It shoots dime to nickel size groups with accubond and bergers.

this is just me, but if I was getting dime to nickel sized groups with those two I'd not be dicking around trying tog et some other bullet to shoot..........just a thought

What powder were you using with the Bergs and Accubond's?

 

[Bob Wright]

No idea. Bought if from a guy who didn't keep track. It shoots dime to nickel size groups with accubond and bergers.

The pressure is going up since the brass is getting fire formed. I'm thinking it doesn't care for the Staball at the higher pressures since you report heavy bolt. If you report good stuff with cup and core, what speeds do they run at and is it with Staball?

 

[MT257]

Both firings in this chamber? Are they getting jammed into the lands?

Yes. No I backed them off 0.050 from lans