• If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here

6.5 PRC, N565 OR H1000 that is the question

A

A guy named Bob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2021
Messages
229
Location
Dundee
I have a new 6.5PRC with 24'' barrel shooting lights out with both H1000 and N565. My question to the LRH members. What powder is better? My groups are about the same, my ES is the same. I can get a little more speed with the N565, but happy with 3k FPS shooting a 156 Berger. I will be using the rifle for hunting so temp and elevation differences will be a concern.
I have plenty of both, so its not a what ever I can get issue. Not sure, so figured I would ask.
Thanks for any advice.
 
Elk Hunter 338 said:
H1000.. end of discussion!
Its that powder all others are measured by!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. I was leaning towards VV565 at first, but then I spoke with a pro reloader. I was told that VV isnt that great and has issues with temperatures. Im too new at this to know for sure so figured I would ask.
Thanks again for the input. H1000 it is.
 
Last edited:
Rhett Crider said:
565 is temp stable. I run 560 in mine w/ 156 and it's great too. But not as stable as 565. Check your ES.
Click to expand...
60g H1000 @ sd 4.3, es 10
58.5 N565 @ sd 5.2, es 12
I do have a FX120i that should be here tmro or very soon. I will/should have ideal powder weights then, I hope. Do you feel the N565 has better ES?
 
Not neccesarily. Both are great powders. Just pointing out that N565 along w/ N555 and the new 568 are temp stable. Missed the part of your ES being the same. I would use the one that you don't use loading other cartridges you have to conserve.
www.vihtavuori.com

Litz Loads Vihtavuori N565 Powder for Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge Win - Vihtavuori

Congratulations to Bryan Litz for winning the 2021 Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge. Litz outshot 200+ competitors engaging both stationary and moving steel targets ranging from 700 yards to over 1.2 miles (2,100+ yards). Litz’s winning firearm platform consisted of a stock Barrett MRAD chambered...
www.vihtavuori.com www.vihtavuori.com
 
Rhett Crider said:
Not neccesarily. Both are great powders. Just pointing out that N565 along w/ N555 and the new 568 are temp stable. Missed the part of your ES being the same. I would use the one that you don't use loading other cartridges you have to conserve.
www.vihtavuori.com

Litz Loads Vihtavuori N565 Powder for Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge Win - Vihtavuori

Congratulations to Bryan Litz for winning the 2021 Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge. Litz outshot 200+ competitors engaging both stationary and moving steel targets ranging from 700 yards to over 1.2 miles (2,100+ yards). Litz’s winning firearm platform consisted of a stock Barrett MRAD chambered...
www.vihtavuori.com www.vihtavuori.com
Click to expand...
Thats interesting as I always thought N570 was the goto powder for 300 NM, especially with 245g Berger's.
 
H1000 is pretty hard to beat but VV560-565 have been solid for me too. Personally, I don't see any powder being totally insensitive to temp. There is a reason why there is chart for powder fps per degree. The issue with the charts is that is also dependent on the burn characteristics of your specific application. A short fat case vs a long skinny case, a magnum primer vs non, amount of powder.....


A really simple test is easy to do. Take 3-5 rounds of each, pop them in the freezer. Transfer to a cooler. Go to the range. Conduct a quick test of the FPS of each cold compared to hot and you have minor basic math to conduct. One thing to remember is to NOT let a cold case sit in a hot chamber. Pop it in and send it as fast as possible.

Hornady 4dof claims H1000 is .46 fps/degree. Independent data shows .21.
 
BrentM said:
H1000 is pretty hard to beat but VV560-565 have been solid for me too. Personally, I don't see any powder being totally insensitive to temp. There is a reason why there is chart for powder fps per degree. The issue with the charts is that is also dependent on the burn characteristics of your specific application. A short fat case vs a long skinny case, a magnum primer vs non, amount of powder.....


A really simple test is easy to do. Take 3-5 rounds of each, pop them in the freezer. Transfer to a cooler. Go to the range. Conduct a quick test of the FPS of each cold compared to hot and you have minor basic math to conduct. One thing to remember is to NOT let a cold case sit in a hot chamber. Pop it in and send it as fast as possible.

Hornady 4dof claims H1000 is .46 fps/degree. Independent data shows .21.
Click to expand...
If you had to choose one powder for the 6.5PRC 156g berger. What would it be and why?
Thanks for the help.
 
Congratulations, sounds like you have two really good loads that will work interchangeably in your rifle. I would just pick one and roll with it till you're out of powder then switch to the other one to keep you going. That is of course if you don't burn out the barrel first. If you really have to know which one is better, shoot 10 rounds of each at the longest distance you have access to and see which holds the tightest with the least vertical at that distance, preferably 800-1000 yards. Do this on a light wind day if possible to mostly rule out the wind as a factor to group size; but those 156's at 3000 buck it pretty good. Let your rifle tell you what it wants. The simple temp stability test is a good idea too. I've found VV 565 to be very stable between 30 and 85 degrees but have seen a 30 FPS jump on a 95+ degree day. Never tried H1000 but most everyone seems to agree it is one of the most stable available.
 
A guy named Bob said:
If you had to choose one powder for the 6.5PRC 156g berger. What would it be and why?
Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
565 likely. It worked well with the 156 for me. A little more speed and less observed pressure. It's a little more like retumbo. Both are good. I use rl26 mainly tho.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

ohiohunter
  • Poll
Proper barrel break in or not? That is the question
2
Replies
17
Views
4K
lewwetzel
L
Danehunter
The 6.5 PRC, "The one that got away"
2 3
Replies
39
Views
15K
JAYgs8163
JAYgs8163
B
6.5 prc velocity question
2 3
Replies
31
Views
26K
CMP70306
C
S
Christensen Arms 6.5 PRC question
4 5 6
Replies
83
Views
21K
Steiger
S
L
6.5 prc, h1000 retumbo n570 Berger 156 eol
Replies
13
Views
3K
Eman1982
E

Recent Posts

Top