6.5 156 EOL

[codyadams]

Not sure if i missed this in the thread, but wondering how much of an improvement is the 156 Berger over the 160 Matrix. Bearing surface & BC primarily. Sorry if this was already discussed.

Berger has less bearing surface and more bc. And is also still in production. It is a significant improvement as far as long range design is concerned over the matrix.

 

[SnakeRiverEric]

Checking if anyone has tried Retumbo yet with the 156 and 6.5x284? Next week I will
be trying them. Hope to try RL23,RL26,Retumbo. My Cooper m92 has 24" barrel and it like RL23 with the 140 EHs. Did anyone get Berger's load data for this bullet and the 6.5x284. They never responded to my request, first time.

 

[jasonco]

I love this bullet! Gave up trying to make them work in my short throat 6.5x284N (im over this barrel!), but for about 180-200fps lower velocity, with excellent accuracy, they're pretty awesome in a 26" Creedmoor barrel, with Peterson SRP, Fed AR Match primer and settled on 40gn of H4350. Found a few seating depths I like today, (cbto)@2.184"-2690fps, @2.164"-2680fps, @2.159"-2684fps. They're all a light "sticky" in 80F temps, but should be fine when 2nd deer comes in late October. Time to test at distance now, to see if they hold up?!

 

[KurtB]

Was wondering how they would do in a 6.5 creedmoor. Thanks for posting that up. That speed will take you a long way at altitude.

 

[jasonco]

 

[jasonco]

Was wondering how they would do in a 6.5 creedmoor. Thanks for posting that up. That speed will take you a long way at altitude.

I did RL17 also, it was more velocity, but it was even more "sticky". got some RL16 and H4831sc, to try out also.

 

[KurtB]

Think I'd take that 2.184 load out to 600 yards and see what you have there.

 

[swd]

I have a 6.5x55 Ackley I built for F Open. I won our 1K Open match last weekend with the 156's. I haven't finalized a load yet but they are very easy to work with and insensitive to seating depth. I'm using RL23 for the temp stability and the burn rate is very appropriate for the case. 7.5" Brux. Here's rough 100 yard development.

 

[Greyfox]

I have a 6.5x55 Ackley I built for F Open. I won our 1K Open match last weekend with the 156's. I haven't finalized a load yet but they are very easy to work with and insensitive to seating depth. I'm using RL23 for the temp stability and the burn rate is very appropriate for the case. 7.5" Brux. Here's rough 100 yard development.

What velocity were you running.
Thanks

 

[swd]

What velocity were you running.
Thanks

2845fps. I get sticky lift at 2960 which is right where another node starts to tighten up. The throat is a little on the short side. I could easily take it out another .150" and probably shoot that node. In two weeks I'm going to try another load at about 2890 which showed promise and see how that does at 1K.

 

[Nomad8961]

Grey

I did some additional testing trying to see the effects of R26 in 85F temperature. Overall, shots from a barrel chamber at ambient temperatures tested from 65F to 85F were running at a consistent velocity of 2990, SD 5(5 shots). At 85F the other day, I purposely fired an additional 10 shots with less then 1 minute of cooling with the barrel "hot to the touch", velocity jumped to 3010FPS, SD 9(5 shots). When ai let the rifle/ammo sit for an hour(out of the sun) and retested, I was back to 2990FPS. This was a 20FPS increase due to a hot chamber, and not much different from similar tests I've done with my PRS load(6.5x47@2891FPS) at these hot summer temperatures using H4350, well established for being a very temperature stabile powder. However, my heavy barreled PRS rifle(MTU) with a lower intensity load, the % increase in velocity is less, and takes longer. All velocity work was done using my Lab Radar.
Overall, I think I've settled on a load for the Berger 156 Elite Hunter in my 6.5x284. For my hunting, rarely exceeding 75F I think any of the temperature effects seen with R26 will not be an issue. While I believe I could have run this bullet well at an additional 20-30FPS in my rifle, I was quite happy with the ballistics, and lower pressure with a velocity in the 3000FPS range. At this velocity, the 156gr Berger is very accurate with low SD's. It buys me an 20% increase in energy, getting me to 1000FPE at 1200 yards compared 1000 yards with the 140 class bullets. At this point, I'm anxious test this bullet at long range, and understand how this bullet performs on game. Shown:200 yard performance.

View attachment 142795 View attachment 142796 View attachment 142797

thanks for the info. You can't wait to try some 156s and RL-26 in my 6.5x284

 

[codyadams]

Found something interesting with my .260 AI.

After my initial OCW load workup, I took them out to the desert for some practice at range and noticed some significant verticle stringing at 1100 yards, about 12" up and down, but less than 2" of windage, as it was a dead calm morning. Shot a 5 shot string through the magnetospeed, and 50 fps ES. DANGIT. So I did what I should have in the first place, and ran a ladder test, going up in .2 grain increments across a charge range that it seemed to like

When I did load developement with the 147 eld-m, and first switched over to Peterson small rifle primer brass, I did a primer test. I got the most consistent velocity with CCI BR-4 primers, so naturally that is what I started with.

In my ladder test though, I decided in addition to the workup with the BR-4's, I would throw in the same load workup using cci small rifle magnum primers. I thought, just maybe, the heavier bullet needs more ignition.

Well when I chronoed these loads, sure enough, the mag primers made a huge difference. Velocity was much more stable, and for some reason, loads with the BR-4 primers of similar velocity would exhibit some pressure signs where the mag primers would not. Just overall much better with the mag primers.

From 48.6 to 49.4, there was only 16 fps extreme spread, an S.D. of 7 and the average was 2920 fps and showed no pressure. So, I loaded up 6 of those and went to the range to see if they would also group well, as my ladder testing was inconclusive as far as groups, the magnetospeed bayonet kills accuracy in my rifle. They grouped under half MOA, and I wasn't the steadiest, so I called it good and loaded up 20 of them, opened up the tips with a .030" wire drill bit, and later today I am going to go test them on pronghorn, as it is opening day of doe/fawn season!!!

 

[Greyfox]

Found something interesting with my .260 AI.

After my initial OCW load workup, I took them out to the desert for some practice at range and noticed some significant verticle stringing at 1100 yards, about 12" up and down, but less than 2" of windage, as it was a dead calm morning. Shot a 5 shot string through the magnetospeed, and 50 fps ES. DANGIT. So I did what I should have in the first place, and ran a ladder test, going up in .2 grain increments across a charge range that it seemed to like

When I did load developement with the 147 eld-m, and first switched over to Peterson small rifle primer brass, I did a primer test. I got the most consistent velocity with CCI BR-4 primers, so naturally that is what I started with.

In my ladder test though, I decided in addition to the workup with the BR-4's, I would throw in the same load workup using cci small rifle magnum primers. I thought, just maybe, the heavier bullet needs more ignition.

Well when I chronoed these loads, sure enough, the mag primers made a huge difference. Velocity was much more stable, and for some reason, loads with the BR-4 primers of similar velocity would exhibit some pressure signs where the mag primers would not. Just overall much better with the mag primers.

From 48.6 to 49.4, there was only 16 fps extreme spread, an S.D. of 7 and the average was 2920 fps and showed no pressure. So, I loaded up 6 of those and went to the range to see if they would also group well, as my ladder testing was inconclusive as far as groups, the magnetospeed bayonet kills accuracy in my rifle. They grouped under half MOA, and I wasn't the steadiest, so I called it good and loaded up 20 of them, opened up the tips with a .030" wire drill bit, and later today I am going to go test them on pronghorn, as it is opening day of doe/fawn season!!!View attachment 145281

I have seen similar effects switching to the hotter 450's, particularly when temperatures are running lower. The thicker cup is also less prone to cratering at the higher pressures. Apologies if it was mentioned in a previous post, but what twist rate are you running?
I will be very anxious to hear of your results on game. Have you noted any differences in POI(BC) at the longer ranges when drilling the tips?

 

[lancetkenyon]

I hope to have a report of the 156 from my 6.5SS on pronghorn in the next 5 days as well....
If they work half as good as the 150 SMK did last year....I will be very happy. I am sure they will work just as well though.