6.5 PRC Discussion

[AZHTR]

The problem is your chambering. The rear part of the chamber cut is .002 too small. Go check out long range only they have a good article on it regarding cases sticking. Also order a JGS AW2 reamer and it will fix the problem. I had some Hand loaded 135 ATips with all kinds of pressure issues with a new CA barrel and I honed the back of the chamber out and can now run them at 3080 with no pressure issues using H1000. I could not reproduce the same velocity as factory Hornady 147's (3000fps) with any loads until I fixed the rear of the chambering issue

I AGREE with you. The CA's are unbelievably tight. I measured a fired round at the base of the brass, it measured .5315. I also ran this brass through the reloading die, it measured .5315.........(too tight - new Redding dies on order)
Since this is not my rifle (friend's rifle), I'm not ready to have it reworked just yet. But I agree, it needs some honing

 

[Cutback]

AZHTR, When I first put my 6.5 PRC together, I could not get the accuracy w/speed, that this cartridge was designed for.
140 Bergers, 140/143 Hornadys, 140 Noslers, 124 Hammers and 140 Sierra's. Magnum and LG Rifle Primers.
All of the top most commonly used powders.
Hell, I was just looking for 2925-3000FPS.
The gun just hit pressure early...
It never occurred to me, that maybe, I hadn't got the barrel completely clean so, in an exercise of final desperation, I decided to clean the living hell out of it!
I thought I broke in the barrel properly but, turned out, I wasn't getting it perfectly clean...
Running a regimen of Butches Bore Shine, Kroil, Montana Extreme, and JB's Bore Paste, I got the barrel clean...
Night and day difference, in feel alone, running patches down the bore...
Don't know if it will help but, just sharing my experience with Dr. frustration.
She shoots great, has acceptable speed and is easy to clean. YMMV...

 

[JAYgs8163]

I may have missed this but have you tried any of the Hornady once fired brass from the factory ammo you shot. I've had great luck with 131 Hammer Hunters and 140 VLD Hunters behind RL26. Both shooting 1/2 MOA.

 

[Allen Kitts]

Shooting 124 Grain HH in mine with RL26 and it is a smoker. I am aslo shooting a stock CA Ridgeline, ADG Brass and FED 210M

 

[AZHTR]

I may have missed this but have you tried any of the Hornady once fired brass from the factory ammo you shot. I've had great luck with 131 Hammer Hunters and 140 VLD Hunters behind RL26. Both shooting 1/2 MOA.

I have not yet tried the Hornady brass, however, I certainly will when the new Redding dies get here. If I could find other brass ie ADG, Hornady etc. we would have already bought it.

Additionally, to CUTBACK, I picked up some N565

 

[AZHTR]

I believe I'm dealing with a few critical issues
1) CA tight chamber - short throat
2) crappy Dies
3) Potentially crappy brass

- I have Lots of various powder - H1000, IMR7977, IMR8133, IMR4831 and now N565 (need to try this one)
- I have Magnum primers and Large rifle primers

 

[JAYgs8163]

I have not yet tried the Hornady brass, however, I certainly will when the new Redding dies get here. If I could find other brass ie ADG, Hornady etc. we would have already bought it.

Additionally, to CUTBACK, I picked up some N565

Here's a group with the 131 HH with 56.8 RL26. Low shot was cold bore and clean. Then next 3. ADG Brass, CCI Magnum LRP. Rifle has less than 100 rounds so this will still settle in and I'm hoping to pick up some speed. Defiance tenacity, proof 7.5 twist. I may have a box of 50 ADG I'd be willing to part with to help a member out. PM me if interested. Not sure where in Az you are but I'm in the Tucson area.

 

[BrentM]

I AGREE with you. The CA's are unbelievably tight. I measured a fired round at the base of the brass, it measured .5315. I also ran this brass through the reloading die, it measured .5315.........(too tight - new Redding dies on order)
Since this is not my rifle (friend's rifle), I'm not ready to have it reworked just yet. But I agree, it needs some honing

This is the issue many of us had or have. I had whidden cut custom die for me and man my rifle is wicked accurate. I took 5x fired brass and brought them back to life instantly.

 

[JAYgs8163]

This is the issue many of us had or have. I had whidden cut custom die for me and man my rifle is wicked accurate. I took 5x fired brass and brought them back to life instantly.

Curious as to how they cut the die differently to resize the brass? Can you share some more info please? Did you send them your rifle, fired brass?

 

[lberman]

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.

I found factory Hornady Hunter 143gr at Fleet Farm for 42.00/box. I bought 8 boxes!!! This was just last week.

 

[jb981443]

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

After trying multitudes of powder and bullet types, the best load out of my Christensen Ridgeline so far has been 53.8 gn RL26, 210M, Hornady brass, 147 ELD-M. .020" off lands. 2940 FPS. .169" group at 100. 55gn of RL26 was too hot in my gun. It's unfortunate u can't get RL26. I think it's the best match for this cartridge. Berger 140's worked better than the 143 eldx in my gun as well. Sucks when you components are so limited right now.

 

[Zen Archery]

1) I did chronograph test loads - Magneto Speed
2) I believe I was rock solid off of shooting bags - in reality, I barely hold onto the rifle.

One thing I learned many years ago while trying to reload for a Model 70 Featherweight, barrel temperature was crucial on thinner type barrels. It's tough to shoot "multiple strings" AND control temperature. (Ultimately, my Model 70 now has a fluted Bartlein on it now)

If it were me I would find a load with the most consistent Velocity and then play with the depth of the bullet.

 

[BrentM]

Curious as to how they cut the die differently to resize the brass? Can you share some more info please? Did you send them your rifle, fired brass?

3 pieces of fired brass and the spec of .5295 is what I wanted for a sized brass base. All my brass was sizing down to .5315 no more. That's not enough for the proper expansion process on a magnum case. That spec gives me 2.5 thou case head expansion.

 

[WYO300RUM]

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

That looks like Hogdon Hybrid 100 powder . It's a blend like that .