6.5 PRC, N565 OR H1000 that is the question

[Longtine88]

I also found no difference between 210M and 215M mag.i did with CCI BR2. tho.

I found the 210M were more consistent than the 215M's. Better ES/SD

 

[backwoodsshooter]

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.

i think in your situation, run with whatever you can replace.

both seem to be working good for you, work you loads for both, and then roll with one until you can get that powder

 

[A guy named Bob]

Looks as if I will be using N565. I found 59grains, 215M, ADG, 2 to 2.5 neck tension and a coal of 2.881 produced an 8 shot ES of 10 and a SD OF 2.92. I like the SD, however my 100 yard groups are over 1/2 min and not what I was hoping for. Only thing I can think is clean the rifle and start adjusting seating depth.
Any one have any other thoughts as to how to get the group under 1/2 min @100 yards?
Some of the inaccuracy is me the shooter. I shoot better some days than others but usually hit the mark if the rifle is capable.

 

[Longtine88]

What bullet Bob? Just make you sets of 4 or 5 and various COAL's from jamb all the way down to like .120" off. Or of those groups will shoot great and then just fine tune off that. You may have to play with you powder charge a little after. N565 throws some seriously low SD's for sure

 

[A guy named Bob]

156 Berger
saami spec rifle, so lands are a ways out there.

 

[Longtine88]

If it helps 3 of my prc's with Berger's liked it 0.065" off lands. All three were within 0.005" from each other. If you touching lands is longer than Mag chamber then load your mag chamber and work down. Where at did you start your ladder for your powder charge. Off land distance anyways

 

[A guy named Bob]

The Berger ogive is set a ways back so closes I can get with the short action factory mag box is about .245 off the lands. My mag box is 2.93, I loaded 2.88. The thought was to start shorter as its a hunting rifle and I have some concerns regarding field loading and concentricity.

 

[Longtine88]

Wow that's a long ways away

 

[Longtine88]

All of mine are long actions

 

[D$tring]

Looks as if I will be using N565. I found 59grains, 215M, ADG, 2 to 2.5 neck tension and a coal of 2.881 produced an 8 shot ES of 10 and a SD OF 2.92. I like the SD, however my 100 yard groups are over 1/2 min and not what I was hoping for. Only thing I can think is clean the rifle and start adjusting seating depth.
Any one have any other thoughts as to how to get the group under 1/2 min @100 yards?
Some of the inaccuracy is me the shooter. I shoot better some days than others but usually hit the mark if the rifle is capable.

I would try a group out at 200-600 yards. I have had a few Berger loads frustrate me at 100 and then pleasantly surprised me at 200+. Especially those loads that have some jump. A .6 group at 100 makes you worry, while a .75 inch group at 200 makes me you super happy. And a 2 inch group at 600, makes you puff your chest a bit. I have had several loads only shoot in the .5-.6 range at 100 and shoot .7-.8 at 200 and right at an inch at 300.
Now, I only focus on tight ES/SD at 100, and then test the accuracy at range before I junk a load. It has saved me some frustration and . Even though a single ragged hole at 100 is cool, I'm way more concerned with tight groups way out there.

FWIW— my tightest groups at 1000+ have mostly been with Berger's, but my tightest groups at 100 have been with ATips and eldms. And, those ATips typically have the .4 inch at 100 then .8 inch at 200 and 1.2 inches at 300 etc. profile, while the Berger's shoot their tightest at 200-300. What all of that means, I don't fully know. Just my observations. I think it must be something to do with bearing surface and jumping.

 

[A guy named Bob]

I would try a group out at 200-600 yards. I have had a few Berger loads frustrate me at 100 and then pleasantly surprised me at 200+. Especially those loads that have some jump. A .6 group at 100 makes you worry, while a .75 inch group at 200 makes me you super happy. And a 2 inch group at 600, makes you puff your chest a bit. I have had several loads only shoot in the .5-.6 range at 100 and shoot .7-.8 at 200 and right at an inch at 300.
Now, I only focus on tight ES/SD at 100, and then test the accuracy at range before I junk a load. It has saved me some frustration and . Even though a single ragged hole at 100 is cool, I'm way more concerned with tight groups way out there.

FWIW— my tightest groups at 1000+ have mostly been with Berger's, but my tightest groups at 100 have been with ATips and eldms. And, those ATips typically have the .4 inch at 100 then .8 inch at 200 and 1.2 inches at 300 etc. profile, while the Berger's shoot their tightest at 200-300. What all of that means, I don't fully know. Just my observations. I think it must be something to do with bearing surface and jumping.

Thanks for the advice.
I went back to the range first thing this morning and tested several seating depth 3 shot groups. Groups are still 1/2 or bigger. I will try the 300 yard range next week and see what happens. Yes, frustrating for sure.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

As you mentioned you were using virgin ADG cases. I would do as BrentM suggested and back off. I would suggest taking ten once fired cases, prep and load .8gr below where you had your happiness and see what happens.

You'll probably need to back off from virgin to once fired especially in ADG based on my findings.

Good luck

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I always look for consistency. Shoot both powders side by side over as many days as possible and see which one holds up better. One or two range trips doesnt mean much.

 

[A guy named Bob]

I havent had a chance to get out past 100 yards, my good friend with the membership is on vacation.
I did however run up to my 100 yard range this morning to test 6 different seating depth rounds. My goal was to find out which one has the best SD/ES and accuracy. I had planned to take the two best seating depth rounds to the 300 yard range later this week for final testing, in hopes they would stabilize at long range.

Well, that all changed this morning.
My groups were good(they have been crap and this is what was different this morning) and my velocity's were good as well. The only thing I changed, was, I used once fired brass and shot from the bench, not prone. I dont think the prone shots should have made that much of a difference as I shoot prone often with very good accuracy. So really, the major change was properly prepped once fired brass, im guessing. I have been using new brass.I will be back at the 100 tmro morning to do the final tests on seating depth, again. If everything goes well, (I pray it does) I should have two loads to test fire from 300 yards to 1000 yards.
After tmro's results I will load up some of the second best loads for testing as well. That way I have two to test just in case I need to have a backup. I sure hope tmro goes well, im getting tired and a little frustrated.
I wanted to say thanks for all the advice, its part of how I improve.
Some of the flyers are for sure the person pulling the trigger.
4 shots except 2.200 as it wasnt looking good so I stopped. Also 2.160, there was 5 as one for a fouler.