25 prc? 25-7 prc? Experiences? Gotchas? Intangibles?

[Bluefish]

thats where you pressured out? or was that just your first load attempt? 15 rounds isnt a bunch

Not pressured out. Was the second load I tried. Started low as I didn’t have good data.

Have been working up other loads instead as they are for hunting and this one is just to play. 35 cal limit for deer and have a 6 arc for yotes.

 

[schmidty3]

Project is progressing....

Won a 40% off nightforce cert at an NRL. NX8 4-32 is in this guns future.

Going to try to win the 50% mdt hnt26 cert at the next match!

8lbs n565 and 1 lb n570 on the way. Figured id use the n565 as the bread and butter, then try the n570 for dedicated hunting loads and see if i can get up over 3200 fps out of the 23.25" barrel.

about out of fed 210s, not a lot of options out there. But found some cci 200s. Going to try those out in the 6.5 creed and 25 prc.

Im having bad luck with the 147 eldms in the creed. Bad batch of tips (they break way too easy....even just cycling up the feed ramp). Really turning me off on the eldms though.

the 140 hybrids won me money. So i'll probably be sticking with bergers.

Looks like the 133s might be a smidge cheaper. And i see a lot of kill photos on here with them and they look pretty devastating.

Those 135s are sexy asf though. That BC is awesome.

Anyone played with or shot creatures with both?

I dont suspect velocities would be any different between the 2. It looks like to 1000 yards the 135s might be better on drop and wind by .1 or .2 mils. Not really significant if the 133s work better terminally.

 

[willfrye027]

Project is progressing....

Won a 40% off nightforce cert at an NRL. NX8 4-32 is in this guns future.

Going to try to win the 50% mdt hnt26 cert at the next match!

8lbs n565 and 1 lb n570 on the way. Figured id use the n565 as the bread and butter, then try the n570 for dedicated hunting loads and see if i can get up over 3200 fps out of the 23.25" barrel.

about out of fed 210s, not a lot of options out there. But found some cci 200s. Going to try those out in the 6.5 creed and 25 prc.

Im having bad luck with the 147 eldms in the creed. Bad batch of tips (they break way too easy....even just cycling up the feed ramp). Really turning me off on the eldms though.

the 140 hybrids won me money. So i'll probably be sticking with bergers.

Looks like the 133s might be a smidge cheaper. And i see a lot of kill photos on here with them and they look pretty devastating.

Those 135s are sexy asf though. That BC is awesome.

Anyone played with or shot creatures with both?

I dont suspect velocities would be any different between the 2. It looks like to 1000 yards the 135s might be better on drop and wind by .1 or .2 mils. Not really significant if the 133s work better terminally.

I shot about a dozen animals with the 135s. Everything died, some of the wounds were devastating at closer ranges or if I hit some bone going in.

What I didn’t like was the long neck length—4-6” before opening meant the on side lung of a deer didn’t get a whole lot of damage if it was longer distance and behind the shoulder shots. Also some of the longer range kills in the 500-700 yard range and 2100-2300ish impact the internal damage was not super impressive.

Started shooting the 134s and I like the terminal performance much better..worthwhile trade off for me.

 

[schmidty3]

I shot about a dozen animals with the 135s. Everything died, some of the wounds were devastating at closer ranges or if I hit some bone going in.

What I didn’t like was the long neck length—4-6” before opening meant the on side lung of a deer didn’t get a whole lot of damage if it was longer distance and behind the shoulder shots. Also some of the longer range kills in the 500-700 yard range and 2100-2300ish impact the internal damage was not super impressive.

Started shooting the 134s and I like the terminal performance much better..worthwhile trade off for me.

Would you think the longer neck length would be beneficial for closer shots on elk?

 

[willfrye027]

Would you think the longer neck length would be beneficial for closer shots on elk?

Yeah especially if you are shooting them out of a hotrod. I killed one cow with them and my cousin killed a cow with a 25-284 that I build him. Good internal damage and dead elk. Also killed one with the 134s and it was devastating but that was 2500ish impact velocity not close range.

 

[Kimber7man]

I did a 22” 25-6.5 prc last fall. Maybe 15 rounds down range. I am about 2850 with 58.5g of H1000. Also have retumbo and rl26 to try if needed. I think I can hit 2900-2950 with 59.5g. Wasn’t quite as quick as I hoped, but both 25’s I built with prefits have been slow.

N560 would probably get you there, it ran about 100 fps faster than H1000 in my 20" 6.5PRC with the 140 elite.

 

[Bluefish]

N560 would probably get you there, it ran about 100 fps faster than H1000 in my 20" 6.5PRC with the 140 elite.

I have retumbo and RL26 to try, no n560.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Has anyone heard of necking the 6.5RPM to 25? Would that fit in a tikka? Seems like it would be a rocket.

 

[wind gypsy]

Has anyone heard of necking the 6.5RPM to 25? Would that fit in a tikka? Seems like it would be a rocket.

Seems like neck/shoulder would be just short of 2.3"? Berger 133/135 start of boat tail to tip is roughly 1.20" which gives you 3.50"+ COAL if you want to keep bearing surface in front of the shoulder.

Basically same capacity as 7 PRC but the PRC would allow shorter COAL.

 

[schmidty3]

Next step complete.

I'm getting pretty fortunate at these NRL shoots....

Got a nightforce cert in oklahoma, and just pulled a peak 44 cert in Lubbock. So stock and optic are sorted.

200 pieces of adg 6.5 brass are here.

Also had some UM medium rings and level delivered today.

Now that I've got a stock on the way need to figure out how I want to feed it.

I think my standard issue 300 win 3 rd mag will work for hunting. But I'd like to try this out at an NRL (meaning i nee dmore capacity). Having more speed would've been beneficial in the wind this weekend.

I don't think ive shot more then 6 rounds in a stage. I'd like at least 6.

I'm not in love with the AICS mags. They've always seemed fidgety and rattlely and I've got to fight them on occasion to get that first round to feed in my creed.

Anyone played with the waters 8 rd mag in a 6.5 prc?

Pricey. But probably worth it if it gets me reduced stress on the clock. It be great to not have to do mag changes.

WR TIKKA T3 TIKKA T3x MAGAZINES 223 243 Win 6.5CM 308 Win

WATERS RIFLEMAN Precision metal magazines for the competitive, sporting and hunter shooter. Tikka T3, Tikka T3x 223 243 Win 6.5CM 243 Win 308 Win

www.watersrifleman.com

Ive seen another metal 5 rd mag. That plus a couple SAP 2 round holders on the side could work.

Any other options?

 

[cal30_sniper]

Not yet. I'll probably have it in hand early summer based on their lead times. I can definitely post some chrono'd load results as I start into ladders. I've got both N570 and Retumbo that should be good matches based on the GRT data that I've run, which puts either of them right at 3000fps with a 134gr ELDM from a 20" barrel within SAAMI pressure limits.

Barrel got here today @T_Widdy. 20” .750 taperless with 1-12” helical fluting and a 7.5” twist. 2lbs 3.6oz.

Tikka build action for it should be here next week, and a Rokstok any day. Time to start load dev.

 

[TX_Diver]

Next step complete.

I'm getting pretty fortunate at these NRL shoots....

Got a nightforce cert in oklahoma, and just pulled a peak 44 cert in Lubbock. So stock and optic are sorted.

200 pieces of adg 6.5 brass are here.

Also had some UM medium rings and level delivered today.

Now that I've got a stock on the way need to figure out how I want to feed it.

I think my standard issue 300 win 3 rd mag will work for hunting. But I'd like to try this out at an NRL (meaning i nee dmore capacity). Having more speed would've been beneficial in the wind this weekend.

I don't think ive shot more then 6 rounds in a stage. I'd like at least 6.

I'm not in love with the AICS mags. They've always seemed fidgety and rattlely and I've got to fight them on occasion to get that first round to feed in my creed.

Anyone played with the waters 8 rd mag in a 6.5 prc?

Pricey. But probably worth it if it gets me reduced stress on the clock. It be great to not have to do mag changes.

WR TIKKA T3 TIKKA T3x MAGAZINES 223 243 Win 6.5CM 308 Win

WATERS RIFLEMAN Precision metal magazines for the competitive, sporting and hunter shooter. Tikka T3, Tikka T3x 223 243 Win 6.5CM 243 Win 308 Win

www.watersrifleman.com

Ive seen another metal 5 rd mag. That plus a couple SAP 2 round holders on the side could work.

Any other options?

If you were at the brownfield NRL you were at what I understand to be the home of the 25-7PRC.

I have no need for one but want an 25saw or 25-7prc after chatting with WTO for a bit about them. I am determined to get this 6.5cm barrel to at least 3k rounds before I switch to something different though. I still benefit much more from shooting than I will from any external ballistic improvements.

Post some more updates as it comes together

 

[schmidty3]

Yep!

I talked to Sloan a bit about it. He was in the squad behind me.

Im in the same boat. My tikka ctr has ~1200+ rounds on it at this point (i should do the math and figure out the mileage on her). When/IF i ever need a new barrel, that 25 saw is interesting.

Ive currently got a GEN 1 KRG bravo, that i've bubba'd up by hot melt gluing on ~14 oz of lead bars i cast and this weekend i just bubba'd on a arca rail (i didnt want to spend $70 on a rail for a chassis im liking going to part from).... Anyway... i'll probably move to a lighter chassis, and do a longer heavier profile 25 cal barrel, or just try to get into open light. Now that 25 creed is saami approved its tempting to go that way. I imagine horneydy is going to come out with loaded ammo. I also have bushing dies for the creed.


I just ordered a High dessert bottom metal. And am looking into getting a 8rd waters mag that would work for the prc. I may get the HCA mag too. It be great to have this thing ready for the clovis NRL, but have no actionable updates yet.

The 25 prc barrel should be ready within a month. Scope should be a few weeks. Stock likely june ish. If the stock isnt in, the barrel may fit into my current stockys or factory stock. And i may just run it like that.

Still needs dies and bullets. Still thinking of doing the SAC sizing die (need to measure my brass and figure out what bushing i need). Not sure on seating dies yet. And I keep waffling on the bullets.

(rhethorical conversation in my head...)

"Do i just get a 1000 133 gr bergers and be done with it...? (hunting/target)"

"Do i buy a mess of ATIPS to play with for NRL? The extra $30 per match may be worth it if i place higher. Load those with N565 fairly mild, then get some 133 bergers and do a separate hot load with n570 for hunting....but is the .1 mil wind drift really going to make the difference with ATIPS? Im already doubling my wind performance"

"do i get a few hundred ELDM for fire forming?"

I dont know. I was going to likely just go all ELDMs if they shot well. But my last batch of 6.5 147s really turned me off. Didnt shoot as good as bergers (still adequate)... but the tips SUCKED. Out of 500, maybe 20 were already broken. They were fragile too. Id break tips on feed ramps. Heck last weekend at a prs i pulled one out of my ammo box to load into a magazine and as i was starting to load it, the tip sheared off. Probably just a bad batch, but makes me worried. I dont know if i want to waste a shot of barrel life with them.

 

[schmidty3]

Waters mag is in. Shipped from OZ in 4 days. Crazy.

Seems to hold and feed 8x 300 mags without issue.

Ordered a high desert bottom metal before that, and it hasn't even shipped!

Nx8 is also in!

6.5 on top of 300 mag

 

[schmidty3]

Seems pretty legit.

Not any more obnoxious then a 12 rd aics.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Barrel got here today @T_Widdy. 20” .750 taperless with 1-12” helical fluting and a 7.5” twist. 2lbs 3.6oz.

Tikka build action for it should be here next week, and a Rokstok any day. Time to start load dev.

View attachment 866518
View attachment 866519

What velocity are you expecting to get out of it?

 

[Ucsdryder]

What size neck bushing are people using with Lapua brass in their dies? I see .282 and .283 mentioned.

 

[eoperator]

What size neck bushing are people using with Lapua brass in their dies? I see .282 and .283 mentioned.

Sac .283 bushing .255 mandrel for me lapua brass

 

[Kscoggins]

Sac .283 bushing .255 mandrel for me lapua brass

I just used the SAC Calculator recommendation for bushing and mandrel size based off a loaded round with 134eldm and lapua 6.5prc brass (.2875”) and got a .282 bushing with .2555 mandrel. I chose 2 thou neck tension in the pulldown but my math says a .2555 mandrel will only give 1.5 thou. Is there spring back to account for?

I’m wondering if I should have ordered a .2550 or .2545 mandrel?

 

[eoperator]

I just used the SAC Calculator recommendation for bushing and mandrel size based off a loaded round with 134eldm and lapua 6.5prc brass (.2875”) and got a .282 bushing with .2555 mandrel. I chose 2 thou neck tension in the pulldown but my math says a .2555 mandrel will only give 1.5 thou. Is there spring back to account for?

I’m wondering if I should have ordered a .2550 or .2545 mandrel?

You will be moving your brass a tiny bit more but not likely noticeable.