6.5 PRC load

[TTT]

What kind of velocity is reasonably achievable for the self loader with 140 - 143 gr bullets?

With Retumbo pushing 143 ELD-X, I’m getting 200 fps less than what Hornady lists. Case trimmed to 2.015 & COAL 2.95 (max for my rifle’s mag). This may be moot since I’m getting low & can’t find Retumbo anywhere.

IMR8133 @ 59.8 gr which looks & feels full gives me 2900 fps.

Both are a bit of a let down since I’m getting 2940 fps with factory ammo.

 

[amassi]

What's your barrel length?

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[TTT]

24 in 1:8.

 

[amassi]

Might try a faster burn rate
8133 and retumbo are basically identical
See quite a few guys picking up velocity with rl26. Some of the vihta vuori powders might help too

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[1shotgear]

2900 fps seems pretty reasonable with that OAL. If it shoots well, you might as well run that load! There is only a three inch difference for wind drift in a 10 mph wind at 1000 yards between a 143 ELD-X at 2900 fps and a 143 ELD-X at 3000 fps.

 

[TTT]

My hope for this project is finding a load that gets north of 3100 fps. I’m still inexperienced at this, having only loaded 6.5 CM to any extent.

How do I know when I’m compressing the powder?
1. I heard a little crinkling sound when loading 59.8 gr of IMR8133.
2. Toward the higher amount of powders, the COAL drifted longer - not sure whether this is from powder amount or my seating die (Hornady custom grade die).

 

[Dhbwa]

Both those items says you are compressing. Pour slowly and then tap the case or use something to lightly vibrate the case prior to seating. I hate compressed loads......

 

[Swift]

I'm having good luck with H1000

 

[TTT]

I can remember taking a pass on rows of 8 lb H1000 & CCI BR2!!!!

I have IMR7977 on hand to try next. Also, I will have to look into using drop tube & tapping - currently using the RCBS funnel kit.

 

[amassi]

You can also use a cheap electric toothbrush to vibrate the case and more evenly stack the powder also swirl the powder at the top of the funnel dont drop it in the bottom and it will lay in the case better

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[.270]

If you want to get more then 3100 fps, I would use rl26. I have done it with H1000 and rl26 in 6.5 saum. Slightly more case capacity then the prc.

 

[CLP]

You need to try and find either H1000 or N565. I'm getting right at 2900 with the 143 in a 20" barrel with Retumbo and 2950 with a 140 Berger over 59.4 grains of H1000. I can get 2850 with the 156 Berger with N565.

For what's it worth, the N565 also gives me the best ES and SD I've ever had in my rifle using both H1000 and Retumbo as alternates.

 

[fatbacks]

I am getting 3050 FPS with retumbo shooting the 156 Berger in ADG brass. ADG has a little less case capacity. Compressed load for sure - I use a powder drop tube and then use a sonicare tooth brush to settle the powder.


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[TTT]

I have been looking hard for RL26 & H1000, but have not considered N565 before.

More generically, what parts of case prep/seating reduce muzzle velocity? I feel like I’m missing something, seeing everyone’s number. I used once-fired factory Hornady load, full-length resized, trimmed, chamfered.

 

[RumLover]

I'm getting 3080-3094 with 57.8gr Retumbo and 144 Berger Long Range Hybrids in a 26" proof 1/8. Accuracy is running consistently at 1/2 MOA, SD of 8 and ES of 14, sample size of 20 rounds. That's using Gunwerks (Alpha I think) brass, 0.294 neck bushing, lubed necks, Fed Gold Medal Match Mag primers and 0.050" jump.

With 135 A-Tips over 59.4 gr Retumbo, I'm getting 3160-3169 and 1/4 MOA, SD of 3, ES of 9, same brass and components as the Berger load. I've pushed the 135's to 3215 but accuracy suffered and I got extractor marks, that was around 60-60.8 gr of Retumbo and was the Hornady listed max load.

59.4 gr IMR 8133 under a Hornady 140 ELD-M seated at the lands is getting me 3060-3065 fps. SD of 2, ES of 5 over 20 rounds. It's also producing 1/4 MOA but I don't like the ELD-M for hunting. I tried RE26 and did get increased velocities like others have mentioned, but I couldn't get the accuracy I was looking for. It wasn't bad, some groups got to 1/2 MOA, but the SD's were in the low teens. Once I got my hands on 6 lbs of Retumbo, I stopped messing with RE26. The IMR 8133 loads are promising, but I'm not sure of the temperature stability of that powder yet. Retumbo has consistently proven to be temp stable over the decades, so I tend to gravitate back to it.

Hope that helps with finding a starting point. I'm taking the 135's to the field next month.

 

[ytsheephnter]

I'm getting 3080-3094 with 57.8gr Retumbo and 144 Berger Long Range Hybrids in a 26" proof 1/8. Accuracy is running consistently at 1/2 MOA, SD of 8 and ES of 14, sample size of 20 rounds. That's using Gunwerks (Alpha I think) brass, 0.294 neck bushing, lubed necks, Fed Gold Medal Match Mag primers and 0.050" jump.

With 135 A-Tips over 59.4 gr Retumbo, I'm getting 3160-3169 and 1/4 MOA, SD of 3, ES of 9, same brass and components as the Berger load. I've pushed the 135's to 3215 but accuracy suffered and I got extractor marks, that was around 60-60.8 gr of Retumbo and was the Hornady listed max load.

59.4 gr IMR 8133 under a Hornady 140 ELD-M seated at the lands is getting me 3060-3065 fps. SD of 2, ES of 5 over 20 rounds. It's also producing 1/4 MOA but I don't like the ELD-M for hunting. I tried RE26 and did get increased velocities like others have mentioned, but I couldn't get the accuracy I was looking for. It wasn't bad, some groups got to 1/2 MOA, but the SD's were in the low teens. Once I got my hands on 6 lbs of Retumbo, I stopped messing with RE26. The IMR 8133 loads are promising, but I'm not sure of the temperature stability of that powder yet. Retumbo has consistently proven to be temp stable over the decades, so I tend to gravitate back to it.

Hope that helps with finding a starting point. I'm taking the 135's to the field next month.

Any luck with the 135’s?


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[bluetick78]

I've been using Ramshot Magnum powder with 143 Eld-x's. 61.6 grains gives me 3097 fps averaged using 15 5-shot groups in differing environmental conditions. SD of 6, ES of 18. Seems more temp stable than people think it is and shoots very accurately out to ~1000 yds. Killed 2 mulies with it this year, one at 106, the other at 513. Both one shot-bang flops. My son shot his Muley with it as well, 1 shot and done. I also worked up a good load with the 156 Berger. My brother shot a big bull elk in Wyoming at 664 with that load, 1 shot and done.

 

[ytsheephnter]

I’ve started my barrel break in today with 143 ELDX and will be doing load development with H-1000, Retumbo and Magnum to begin with.

Understanding that my velocities and pressures will change as I get more rounds down the tube, it is still a good opportunity to start gathering data.

I will post where I end up at.


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[RumLover]

Any luck with the 135’s?


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Got one whitetail with them. It was a close shot at 110 yards and rapid expansion was evident as the lungs were jelly. No exit wound. He went about 40 yards and piled up. I'm going to take it back out hog hunting later this month and see what happens.

 

[ytsheephnter]

Right on. Thanks for the feedback! Will for sure be interesting how they perform on hogs.

I have a fair supply of 143x, but the local stores have a pile of the A Tips.


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