6.5 PRC with Berger 144 Hybrid

[WYO300RUM]

I too have a Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC. I have some 144"s and 153.5's I haven't tried yet. I have tried 156 and 140's. RL26 and H1000 have worked well. Retumbo and 8133 not much luck with. I also have but haven't tried N565, 7977 ,H4831, RL23, RL33 and N570. I think BrentM is probably correct about RL33 and possibly Retumbo and 8133. N570 for sure. I have hopes for N565 , RL23 and 7977. Going through same testing with a Copper 52 in 6.5x284. same bullets and powders.

 

[Pete H]

My PRC with a 24" barrel really likes Retumbo. It seems that every bullet I have tried, Retumbo has been easy to work with, but Ive heard good things about the Reloader 26. Only reason I haven't tried 26, it' has not been available.

 

[BrentM]

I too have a Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC. I have some 144"s and 153.5's I haven't tried yet. I have tried 156 and 140's. RL26 and H1000 have worked well. Retumbo and 8133 not much luck with. I also have but haven't tried N565, 7977 ,H4831, RL23, RL33 and N570. I think BrentM is probably correct about RL33 and possibly Retumbo and 8133. N570 for sure. I have hopes for N565 , RL23 and 7977. Going through same testing with a Copper 52 in 6.5x284. same bullets and powders.

I have 565 and 560. 560 actually works better for me in the lighter bullets. I've not tried the 565 with the 156 yet tho. 560 with a 135-144 is right there with 26. Didn't get 570 to test because I figured it's to slow with the lighter bullets and shorter barrel.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I hunt Coues in AZ and WT in MO. I have shot numerous with the 140 Berger VLD Hunting bullet from my 6.5-284, 6.5-47 Lapua and my 6.5 Creedmoor and have never had a issue. I would consider running the 140 VLD hunting or the 140 VLD Elite Hunter. Witnessed a 1 shot kill with the 140 elite hunter on a 350 bull at 500 plus yards from a 6.5-284 in N Az, using the H1000. I'm waiting for my 6.5 PRC, 1-7.5 twist, to arrive next week from Kampfeld Customs and will probably be running the 156 Berger. You could also test out the 156 and see how it goes, some have complained about the 156 not performing so well out of a 1-8 twist but I've got a friend that runs them with no issues at all. I run H4350 in my 6.5-47, H1000 in my 6.5-284, and RL-26 in my 6.5 Creed. I plan on starting with RL-26 and ADG brass in the PRC development since I have 20+ pounds and see how it goes. Good luck with whatever you choose but I would switch to a different bullet for hunting. Keep us informed on your results. Best!

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

I would go with the H1000. Don't understand the comment about these being a poor choice. As far as I know, they haven't been out long enough to shoot an animal with them yet. But, I did read that they are more pointed (smaller meplat) and that would make me want to do some testing before I shot an animal with them. Just because they are marked "Target" doesn't mean they won't work. The 215gr. .30 cal bullet is a "target hybrid" and they've taken hundreds of animals just fine. Let us know your testing results. I'm thinking about them too as I don't want to jump all the way to the 156 and my 140VLD's shoot really well already.

and the 156 has already taken a lot of game out of the 6.5PRC

 

[WYO300RUM]

I have 565 and 560. 560 actually works better for me in the lighter bullets. I've not tried the 565 with the 156 yet tho. 560 with a 135-144 is right there with 26. Didn't get 570 to test because I figured it's to slow with the lighter bullets and shorter barrel.

Thank you for the info Brent. I think N570 will be too slow also. Works great in my 300 RUM with 215 Berger's. I'm think N565 and maybe RL23 also with 156. Both RL26 and H1000 sure did. 53.0 and 54.0 grs. RL26 Shot good. This was unfired ADG case.
EXUSE ME ! ISent a snap shot of somebody else's load ! Sorry ! I'll post one with 156 and RL26 when I find it.

 

[Ron Milby]

Everyone's rifle is different. I have developed a load for my 6.5 PRC with the 144s and another guy's 6.5 PRC with the 144s with H1000. Start at 57.5 and work up to 59 grains. Both of ours liked the 58.8 grain charge. My COAL was 2.950 and his was 2.930. We were using ADG brass and Fed 210M primers.

Remember to start low.

 

[BrentM]

Thank you for the info Brent. I think N570 will be too slow also. Works great in my 300 RUM with 215 Berger's. I'm think N565 and maybe RL23 also with 156. Both RL26 and H1000 sure did. 53.0 and 54.0 grs. RL26 Shot good. This was unfired ADG case.

I've not tried 23. hmmmmm

 

[IHFarmer07]

I've not tried 23. hmmmmm

Re23 is about my go to when Re26 was hard to find.....excellent powder.....just don't spread it around too much. I have loads worked up with both powders with the 147eldm, got a load worked up with the fed terminal ascent using Re23, about to start with the 156 Berger's and Badlands's Bulldozer with both powders.....don't have h1000, or retumbo bc its hard to find and Re23/Re26 works just fine for me.....I did buy a lb of h4831sc....haven't even opened it yet as the Re23/26 have done so good for me.....if you can't find loads with those two powders, try a different primer and I've had best luck with cci200 and fed210.

 

[BrentM]

Re23 is about my go to when Re26 was hard to find.....excellent powder.....just don't spread it around too much. I have loads worked up with both powders with the 147eldm, got a load worked up with the fed terminal ascent using Re23, about to start with the 156 Berger's and Badlands's Bulldozer with both powders.....don't have h1000, or retumbo bc its hard to find and Re23/Re26 works just fine for me.....I did buy a lb of h4831sc....haven't even opened it yet as the Re23/26 have done so good for me.....if you can't loads with those two powders, try a different primer and I've had best luck with cci200 and fed210.

My PRC shoots everything well. It's weird. It's the easiest to tune rifle I've ever owned. Every combo of powder and bullet work fine. I run 210m and 215m, prefer the 210 with the lighter bullets. I have a load with rl 26, 215m, and 156 that is really nice. If I hunt big game i'll run it. For wolf and yote the 135 has fantastic.

 

[JAYgs8163]

My PRC shoots everything well. It's weird. It's the easiest to tune rifle I've ever owned. Every combo of powder and bullet work fine. I run 210m and 215m, prefer the 210 with the lighter bullets. I have a load with rl 26, 215m, and 156 that is really nice. If I hunt big game i'll run it. For wolf and yote the 135 has fantastic.

What's your load with the 156 and what barrel twist and length if you don't mind sharing.

 

[BrentM]

What's your load with the 156 and what barrel twist and length if you don't mind sharing.

Proof 22", 7.5. 55 rl26 215 or 55.5 rl26 with 210. Both run 2900-2920 with sd under 10. The 144 with 215 and 56.5 rl26 shot a 4 shot 1.5" group at 600 a couple weekends ago. 2980.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I've not tried 23. hmmmmm

I only have 1 lb. Hard time finding . Heard works great in 6.6x284. I've been using Fed 210 match mostly. Some CCI BR2. The group in photo was 215 mag match.

 

[WYO300RUM]

This is the pic I meant to post not one with RL23 in previous post.
Sorry !