6.5 PRC Help

[Ganderzone]

In your quest for velocity what brass are you running and how many loads are you getting from them? I've ran Hornady, Peterson, Lapua, the later two can definitely handle more pressure but there is a limit where brass life suffers even with those. I use to chase velocity but ultimately it's harder on components and throats. Never had a dead animal tell me it would be more dead with another 100 fps, I'm talking grendel speeds here....

 

[43.6N]

My final load ended up being 57.5gr of N565.
147 eldm, magnum primers, and oal of 2.955 due to magazine feeding limitations.

Out of 20” barrel my PRC was at 2850. Very similar to what OP was getting.

I went up to low 2900’s before I saw pressure on hot sunny days. Then backed down until I was happy with accuracy. ES and SD have been excellent with this powder fwiw.

 

[weaver]

My final load ended up being 57.5gr of N565.
147 eldm, magnum primers, and oal of 2.955 due to magazine feeding limitations.

Out of 20” barrel my PRC was at 2850. Very similar to what OP was getting.

I went up to low 2900’s before I saw pressure on hot sunny days. Then backed down until I was happy with accuracy. ES and SD have been excellent with this powder fwiw.

Very similar load here. Same bullet with 57.8 gr of N565. Was getting some pressure signs at 58.5 so backed off a little over half a gr which is how I ended up at 57.8. Averaging right at 2700 out of a 16” barrel.

 

[Kimber7man]

Finally seeing the rainbow. Few days a go with the 130 tmk Shot my 3rd group 1/2 moa at 3071 with 57.5 N-560
Had another using 57.5 N-565 but velocity was only 2878.
Wanted to try a 140 have some berger"s and sst's heard conflicting stories on performance so i thought i would go old school and get a box of Hornady 140 innerlock FB spitzer lead tip. H-1000 did not perform 2 night ago. Went out tonight 82 degree and humid. With the n-560 55 grains, .651 group @ 2886. With 56 grains n-560 group was .489 @ 2949 fps. 12.3 ES , This load there was a slight bolt lift feel and small mark on the case. Bit 82 degree humid i wont be hunting. Im thinking now of trying 55.5 grains next time out.
With n-565 started at 55.5 , 56.5, and 57.5 highest vel was 2859 bad group but es was 6.2. Is there a reason to shoot a bad group with a low ES or was it me?
Im thinking for the 140 if im 2925 ish that is pretty good velocity for a 20" pipe?
Ill be hunting anywhere from 20 yard shot to 450 yard shots which bullet of the 2 mentioned to go for. I do know from experience the hornady fb lead tip kills and destroys everything around here. I dont are to mess with any more bullets i now have 150 rounds down this thing with 2 bullets and 5 different powders. One of the most annoying guns i ever fooled with. It chokes on the wrong medicine you feed it.

My sample of one 6.5 PRC with 20” barrel:
Lapua brass, F210M primer
58.3 N560, 140 elite hunter, 2,950 fps but last session went up to 2,970-2,980
58.5 N565, 156 EOL, 2,825 then last session went up to 2,850.

Both bullets killed game very well.

 

[Bobcat 33]

On my C Arms I have a muzzle break from factory. Just ordered and received a cap . Never seen the need to have a brake on a 6.5 and not planning on using a suppressor. Has anyone taken there’s off and said the heck with it?

 

[DallyB09]

Quit chasing 3k. I’m shooting Berger 156s at 2820 out of mine w/ 56gr H1000. ES of 8. It’s a half min gun. The deer doesn’t care if it’s going 2820 or 2950, they’re dead.

 

[Bobcat 33]

Quit chasing 3k. I’m shooting Berger 156s at 2820 out of mine w/ 56gr H1000. ES of 8. It’s a half min gun. The deer doesn’t care if it’s going 2820 or 2950, they’re dead.

Ever have a low es and a bad group?

 

[sveltri]

Ever have a low es and a bad group?

I wouldn't call them "bad" groups, but usually not the best group. Often times I get the best groups with the worst velocity #'s in terms of consistency.

 

[Dan Carey]

Low ES and bad groups, yes. Its possible to get low ES with economic hunting bullets giving less than stellar groups.