6.5 PRC Discussion

[AZHTR]

I apologize in advance for the lengthy explanation!

I've read EVERYTHING on LRH regarding 6.5 PRC loads, BUT I'm reloading for my friend's 6.5 PRC (Christensen Arms) and have struggled helping him develop a good load. I tried talking him to a 7 MAG, but he had to go with the latest and greatest

Equipment - A&D scale, Wilson Bullet Seater, (borrowed some Lee Dies - Redding dies on order)
100 rounds down the tube so far
COAL: 2.940
Brass: Nosler (blems)
Bullet: Hornady 143 ELDX
Primer: FED 215M (also tried WIN LRP - no difference)
Powder: H1000 (55.0 to 57.0) no exceptional groups, developed pressure very early (~2880 FPS)
Powder: IMR8133 (56.0 to 57.5) .75/1.0 MOA, but FPS ~2800 range, loaded hotter but developed heavy bolt lift
Powder: IMR4831(47.5 to 49.5) at 49.0 shot 1/2" MOA ( AVG FPS @ 2841). Starting to develop heavy bolt lift

Side note - I shot 3 rounds of factory ammo (.7 MOA) and shot 1 round for velocity (3010 FPS). Hornady Precision Hunter 143 ELDX. I thought I could get close to duplicating this, but so far it's a no go. I'm sure I'm not the first to disassemble a factory load and find there is 54.84 to 54.86 of some type of powder, but it is definitely a mixture of powders. (Black powder with sprinkles of brown kernels, approx. 1 grain = .02)

Opinions/suggestions Welcomed. Should I just tell my friend to shoot factory ammo? He said he can't find any! I said there's plenty of it for sale on Gunbroker

 

[Levi8599]

Load them longer if he can and switch back to LRP not magnums.

 

[AZHTR]

Can't go longer, Christensen Arms doesn't leave any room to push the bullet out further. I was jamming the lands at 2.960, that's when I was really seeing pressure

I've tested the difference of LRP versus Mag Primers on this rifle as well as my two 7 mags.........No POI change, No FPS change (3 rifles doesn't make it conclusive, but I always try it)

 

[wasskeet]

Did you measure the OAL of the factory Hornady? Do you know how far you are off the lands vs. factory?
Sorry, I posted about the same time as you.

 

[Levi8599]

If you can get some N560 or 565 you could try that as well.

 

[AZHTR]

Picked up N565 today

 

[lunatic209]

If you want velocity go with RL26 but n565 is a good powder

 

[Northkill]

I apologize in advance for the lengthy explanation!

I've read EVERYTHING on LRH regarding 6.5 PRC loads, BUT I'm reloading for my friend's 6.5 PRC (Christensen Arms) and have struggled helping him develop a good load. I tried talking him to a 7 MAG, but he had to go with the latest and greatest

Equipment - A&D scale, Wilson Bullet Seater, (borrowed some Lee Dies - Redding dies on order)
100 rounds down the tube so far
COAL: 2.940
Brass: Nosler (blems)
Bullet: Hornady 143 ELDX
Primer: FED 215M (also tried WIN LRP - no difference)
Powder: H1000 (55.0 to 57.0) no exceptional groups, developed pressure very early (~2880 FPS)
Powder: IMR8133 (56.0 to 57.5) .75/1.0 MOA, but FPS ~2800 range, loaded hotter but developed heavy bolt lift
Powder: IMR4831(47.5 to 49.5) at 49.0 shot 1/2" MOA ( AVG FPS @ 2841). Starting to develop heavy bolt lift

Side note - I shot 3 rounds of factory ammo (.7 MOA) and shot 1 round for velocity (3010 FPS). Hornady Precision Hunter 143 ELDX. I thought I could get close to duplicating this, but so far it's a no go. I'm sure I'm not the first to disassemble a factory load and find there is 54.84 to 54.86 of some type of powder, but it is definitely a mixture of powders. (Black powder with sprinkles of brown kernels, approx. 1 grain = .02)

Opinions/suggestions Welcomed. Should I just tell my friend to shoot factory ammo? He said he can't find any! I said there's plenty of it for sale on Gunbroker

My son has a CA-6.5 PRC Summit Ti with the thumbhole stock. His was shooting very consistently under 1/2 moa with the factory 147 ELD-M's and often closer to 1/4 moa. Have you tried those? Hammer Hunters (124) would be another easy to tune projo to play with.

 

[AZHTR]

I have NOT tried anything other than the Hornady 143's for two reasons.
1) Factory ammo is impossible to find and expensive
2) We have slowly accumulated brass, powders, primers and bullets

The rifle shoots well and I don't want folks to think I'm chasing FPS, but what I've read here on LRH...........2900 to 3100 FPS is a reasonable expectation.

 

[Recon$$]

I'm shooting 140s at 3050 no pressure signs with 140 vld's, rl 25, 210's, .01 off the lands. I found eldx like .02 in mine. Additionally I tried to make h1000 the powder for this rifle but she didn't care for it. All I got.

Brass: Hornaday & Gunwerks

 

[Ckleeves]

The Nosler blems may be some of your problem. Your not the first guy to report early pressure signs with them. Might be worth trying to get some ADG (not easy) or putting some Lapua on back order. You could try a quick test with the fired Hornady brass and see if it does better. If you want speed get some RL26!

 

[DJ Fergus]

RL26, Retumbo, or mentioned VV powders should be the ticket. The only rifle I've loaded for that preferred H1000 more than the other powders I mentioned was a 300 win mag.

 

[AZHTR]

I shoot Nosler blems (and other brass too) out of my 7 Mags with no issues. I also shoot H1000 and IMR7977...........

"I thought H1000 would be the answer for everything"

 

[DENRIK89]

My Christensen showed pressure signs with factory ammo so i switched to straight handloads. Settled on 57.5gr H1000 .4 moa @ 2980fps for the first 100ish rounds. Im at 130 rounds now and clocking them at 3045, same accuracy node slight primer flattening. 2.955" left me about 20k jump