156 berger in 8" twist 6.5 stability

[Okanogan]

My 6.5 SAUM shoots 156EH well with an 8" twist and I'm at about 1200 ft elevation. If you want a 7.5 twist and can get it, great but if you need to go with 8" twist I don't think you should lose any sleep over it. As pointed out above, lots of people report good results with an 8" twist.

 

[TriggerTime426]

Agreed, just don't wanna kick myself for making the wrong choice, and who knows mabey they 7.5 twist would end up shooting worse in my situation

 

[Yotekiller]

We're you using the 156? That's kinda my worry not being able to take long shots due to inconsistency...Im tring to stay under 350 400 bucks for a prefit barrel and some of the barrel company's that fit that price range didn't make a 7.5 twist(shilen, er shaw, ragged holes, Columbia river) now it looks like McGowen makes it in 7.5" anyone using one of theirs?

Yes. 140s out of the same gun are extremely predictable. 156 is not up to my standards for shooting at anything other than targets.

 

[P7M13]

So ur saying that it should be fine, but am I doing the bullet nd me a disservice by not shooting it out of a 7.5

If you bought your 1:8 and didn't *try* to shoot the Bergers, you'd be doing yourself a disservice.

McGowen makes it in 7.5" anyone using one of theirs?

I have made to order barrels from them in 6.5mm 1:8, 7mm 1:8, and 338 1:9.5. Two I bought directly, one on a 2nd hand custom gun. Both transactions were superb, and all three barrels shoot accurately.

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

So I live at an elevation of about a whopping (39) FEET at the Jersey shore. I am wanting to get built a 6.5 and was figuring at my nose bleed elevation I should get a 1.75 twist barrel? Is this correct? Most of my hunting is along the eastern shore of USA maybe PA at times. Just dont want to mess this up.

Thx to the OP and hope me asking doesnt take away from your post as I am in the same situation sort of. If so my apologies

Brian

 

[BrentM]

Run it man. Don't limit yourself to the 156. There are other bullets known to perform if the 156 doesn't work. I run a 7.5 in a 22" and it throws every bullet I have tried just fine and would not hesitate to run a 8 twist. It's just what proof offered for a prefit.

 

[rockwallraider]

im at 500 elevation. my 1/8 shoots great out to 1500 yds.

 

[vancewalker007]

I'm looking to put a 6.5 prc barrel on my savage and plan to shoot the 156 berger for big game purposes but alot of the barrel company's that i was interested in don't make lower than 8" twist, and berger states the 156 is marginally stabil in a 8" has anyone had really good results or really bad with a 8" twist

I'm using them in my 6.5 PRC with great redults. First off, I have a long mag and a long lead in my chamber so I can avoid the bullet taking up a bunch of powder space. So the performance data I have may not match your rifle. With a 1:8 26in barrel, 58.2gr of H1000 I am getting 1/2 MOA sometimes better and an average velocity of 3044fps. I have shot them on steel from 300 yards to 1000 yards. I have shot 2 deer with them, one at 743 yards and one at 448 yards.

All that being said all this shooting was done at 2000-4000 ft elevation. If you are shooting at a lower elevation results may vary.

 

[TriggerTime426]

Thanks for the replies guys, I feel alot better about going with a 8" if it turns out it don't like the 156s I'll shoot a lighter bullet or sell the barrel

 

[Greyfox]

I'm running 1:8 in my 6.5x284's at 500ft Alt. At 2950MV, I get exceptional accuracy out to 1000+ yards using stated BC for the Berger 156's. If there is any loss in BC due to the border line stability doesn't make a difference in ballistic settings at lower elevation. My hunting areas are at higher elevations(2500-5000ft) elevation which will put me above 150 stability factor even at the typically lower temperatures.
As an aside, having shot dozens of game animals with the 140/142 VLD's with excellent results, unless you are shooting larger game(elk) or medium game at 1000-1200 yards where the retained energy of the 156 offers a benefit, for 1000 yards and under, the ballistic difference(elevation/windage) is a push between the two bullets. The higher velocity possible with the lighter 140 class bullets brings it very close to the 156 ballistics. IMO

 

[Ron Milby]

I shoot @ 600 ft above sea level and I have 2 6.5 PRC with 8 twist running @ 2980 fps and both shoot lights out. Here's a 0.25 MOA group @ 952 yards with a PRS style rifle. The 3 shots are part of the way up the flipper.

 

[6.5x300 WBY]

I shoot @ 600 ft above sea level and I have 2 6.5 PRC with 8 twist running @ 2980 fps and both shoot lights out. Here's a 0.25 MOA group @ 952 yards with a PRS style rifle. The 3 shots are part of the way up the flipper.

Impressive Ron nice shooting

 

[Ron Milby]

Impressive Ron nice shooting

Thanks! I am really impressed with the 6.5 PRC cartridge. Very easy to tune in both rifles.

 

[KurtB]

My 8 twist Benchmark shoots the 156 quite good, but I am at 5,300 or higher. I'd happily run the 140 vld if they didn't though.