6.5prc Load data and which powder for lighter weight bullets?

[Bigeclipse]

All,
I have decided to try out hammer bullets. I am looking to try out likely sledge hammers but might do hammer hunters. My main game animal is deer out to 400 yards with almost all shots likely being less than 250 yards so im trying to do a faster flat shooting round instead of higher BC heavier bullet. I will likely go for a bullet in the 117-130 grain weight. I will choose from the following: 117grain sledgehammer, 121grain heavy hammer, 124 grain hammer hunter or the 130 grain sledgehammer. The only load data I have found for 6.5prc is for the Hornady rounds which are 143 and 147 grain weights. I was going to buy some h1000 since that powder appears to be the best for 6.5prc but since im dropping a bit of bullet weight compared to the 143 eldx and 147 eldm, is there a different powder I should be using? Any ideas on where I should start my load as well and what velocities to expect in a 24inch barrel with the above 4 bullets? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[shinbone]

The data for the similar weight Barnes bullet is a very good place to start.

This is for a .264WM, but it shows the similarity between the TSX 120gn and the Sledge Hammer 117gn with IMR 7828SSC.

 

[Bigeclipse]

The data for the similar weight Barnes bullet is a very good place to start.

I'm not seeing any 6.5prc Barnes data for any Barnes bullets?

 

[can1010]

Steve at hammer bullets has recommended using nosler data with like weights in the past. H-1000 was not a good fit in my PRC with lighter bullets it took up to much space. RL-26 with the 130 accubonds was a better fit for mine. for the 117 -120 class I would look at H-4831sc or RL-23

 

[Quintus]

RL 26 is good. I used RL22 out of necessity with 130 Accubonds, VLDH, and Gamechangers with very good results. 3200FPS was easily attained. The Accubonds and VLDH have taken game this year at around 350 yards each with better results from the Accubonds. 125 Partitions are also a great option for the ranges you are talking about and RL22 starts to shine a little brighter.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

We just loaded a 6.5 PRC for a customer with the 124g Hammer Hunter. We used rl26, wlrm primers, and Bertram brass. Loaded them at 2.900" coal. We finished the load at 60g and a vel of 3235 fps. This is a stout load and should be worked up to. A good start would be 55g.

Hodgdon has some load data but not a lot.

 

[Bigeclipse]

We just loaded a 6.5 PRC for a customer with the 124g Hammer Hunter. We used rl26, wlrm primers, and Bertram brass. Loaded them at 2.900" coal. We finished the load at 60g and a vel of 3235 fps. This is a stout load and should be worked up to. A good start would be 55g.

Hodgdon has some load data but not a lot.

How do you feel about your hammer hunters at close range? I'm worried about bullet fragmentation. I prefer pass throughs. Distances on deer for me would be out to 400 but like 99% of my shots will be inside 200 yards.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

How do you feel about your hammer hunters at close range? I'm worried about bullet fragmentation. I prefer pass throughs. Distances on deer for me would be out to 400 but like 99% of my shots will be inside 200 yards.

We do not have any issues with bullets coming apart with high vel impacts. We have tested impacts over 4000 fps. They still retain the same weight, they just squish more.

 

[Geezer28]

All,
I have decided to try out hammer bullets. I am looking to try out likely sledge hammers but might do hammer hunters. My main game animal is deer out to 400 yards with almost all shots likely being less than 250 yards so im trying to do a faster flat shooting round instead of higher BC heavier bullet. I will likely go for a bullet in the 117-130 grain weight. I will choose from the following: 117grain sledgehammer, 121grain heavy hammer, 124 grain hammer hunter or the 130 grain sledgehammer. The only load data I have found for 6.5prc is for the Hornady rounds which are 143 and 147 grain weights. I was going to buy some h1000 since that powder appears to be the best for 6.5prc but since im dropping a bit of bullet weight compared to the 143 eldx and 147 eldm, is there a different powder I should be using? Any ideas on where I should start my load as well and what velocities to expect in a 24inch barrel with the above 4 bullets? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Bigeclipse]

What does this mean? You just copied my quote?

 

[Geezer28]

Worked up a pretty decent load. Using N565. RL26 is scarcer than unicorn poop. GM215m primers,, brass from Gunwerks. 124gr hammer hunters. Still need some tweaking.

 

[BrentM]

Running rl26 with 135a's. 58 grains at 2.950 coal, 3090 in a 22" proof. I can run it harder but it shoots well so I'm leaving it. I have n565 loaded up to test, but I know h1000 and 4831 work well with the lighter bullets too.

 

[22250imp]

So, just out of curiosity has anybody played with the 95 gr Vmax in the 6.5 PRC. Not wanting to rob the discussion here but kind of on the same line . Have some and was entertaining thoughts of loading some for whacking yotes.

 

[Hespco]

Since my 6.5-06 & the PRC are virtually identical powder capacity: In my 6.5-06 using IMR-4350 with the 120gr Barnes TSX gives me 3277 fps from my 24" 1/8 twist Bbl. This load performs well out to my 522 yd home range.