Am asking too much of my 6.5 PRC?

[willfrye027]

Stock barrel with a short throat. The max COAL with he 147s is 2.909. Using Peterson brass.
At this point all loads have been shot at 100. I usually don't shoot longer ranges until I have a load worked out at 100.

The biggest rub is my 6.5 CM shooting 130s pretty much matches the PRC out to 700 based off of my ballistic app.

Your conclusion here is why I don’t own anything larger than a creedmoor.

I also shoot long barrels, can’t own a suppressor, and shoot enough to know that 700 is about max in perfect conditions.

 

[huntnful]

I agree, but do you think he has enough room to get 60gr of N570 in there with a SAAMI throat without being overly compressed? I think that would be pushing it..

I agree that you're asking too much, I have a factory Tikka barrel cut to ~21 1/2" touched up with an AW2 reamer and throated out for 143's, and suppressed I ran it up to about 3k fps on new ADG brass with N565 at 88°. Second firing I had to drop the charge to get out of pressure and it's now avg 2860 fps at 29°. If you're really wrapped up about maximizing speed I would suggest getting Lapua or ADG and opening the chamber and throating it out, or you'll likely be fighting pressure and clickers.

I put 61gr. N570 in my case for the 6PRC. You just pour it in, hold your finger over the neck and tap it on the table a couple times. Ends up about 1/2 way up the shoulder.

 

[wind gypsy]

Stock barrel with a short throat. The max COAL with he 147s is 2.909.

Odd that the throat is so short. They seem to go the opposite direction with Creedmoors. The 140, 144 hybrid, and 135 ATIP have all been over 3" COAL at the lands in the only one ive measured. Wild that a PRC might have that much less freebore.

Could probably add 0.100" or more and get more velocity out of it.

 

[Megalodon]

I haven't read 100% of the thread. But you're throat is going to hurt you some. Also if you want to run it fast it's either going to be N570 or RL26, good luck finding the latter. I was running 156s out of a Seekins Element at close to 3000 with RL26 and ADG brass. Probably wasn't "safe" but it sure shot.

 

[SloppyJ]

I put 61gr. N570 in my case for the 6PRC. You just pour it in, hold your finger over the neck and tap it on the table a couple times. Ends up about 1/2 way up the shoulder.

Use your wife's favorite vibratory enhancement device and get er settled down in there a little more!

 

[huntnful]

Use your wife's favorite vibratory enhancement device and get er settled down in there a little more!

Lmao that was the next step if I needed to fit 62gr

 

[Balderdash]

All this time I've been blissfully unaware of my Tikka OEM barrels being so slow.

IME, Tikka OEM barrels group as tight as most. I've bought several take offs through the years - including the one for a LH 6.5 PRC I'm running.

 

[JakeSCH]

I would say yes, you are asking to much of your 22" 6.5 PRC however RL26 might add on another 50 to 75 fps.

 

[JBahr]

I have a 22" throated properly for 156 EOL's, AW2 reamed and still get too many pressure signs(clickers) at 2950 with 56.6grains of H1000. Plenty of capacity left over, could easily fit 61grains.

 

[MHWASH]

Thanks for all the input. To clarify I WANT the extra 200 yards terminal performance over my Creed, that's why I went PRC.
I'm real close to opening the throat and doing the AW2 reamer, but at this point it's too close to bear season.
Also, even if I could find RL26, I wouldn't use it. Too many stories of temp instability.

Current round count is approx. 120-130.

 

[Shortschaf]

I have a 22" throated properly for 156 EOL's, AW2 reamed and still get too many pressure signs(clickers) at 2950 with 56.6grains of H1000. Plenty of capacity left over, could easily fit 61grains.

Factory tikka barrel or custom?

 

[Flyjunky]

Thanks for all the input. To clarify I WANT the extra 200 yards terminal performance over my Creed, that's why I went PRC.
I'm real close to opening the throat and doing the AW2 reamer, but at this point it's too close to bear season.
Also, even if I could find RL26, I wouldn't use it. Too many stories of temp instability.

Current round count is approx. 120-130.

Try N565, we had great luck with it and 156’s. Plus it’s easier on throats than 570.

As far as RL26 being temp sensitive, that’s a myth. We use it in 4 different rifles and haven’t seen that. Matter of fact, on a Hornady podcast they said their testing proved exactly opposite, one of the most temp stable powders out there.

 

[JBahr]

Factory tikka barrel or custom?

This is in a Curtis Long Action, its a Proof Barrel.

 

[Bater]

2915 w/ 147's is about tops out of both my 24" PRC's with H1000, Retumbo and H4831. N570 and Grand give me a little more

 

[FLHunter87]

If your barrel is new wait it out and keep shooting. Last year I was averaging 2835 with 142 ablr with a 24" barrel and had roughly 150 shots through the rifle. Now I'm sitting at 2879 and that was with a 10 shot group with a low of 2873 and high of 2886. Most were around the 2880 mark. I now have about 400ish shots through the rifle. I really wouldn't worry about velocity. A 50-100fps is not really going to make a huge impact as far as energy is concerned(maybe 100fps would). Everyone i know reloads and shoots for accuracy. A lot of people are going to claim this and that, I would take it with a grain of salt. I can shoot 1/2" 5 shot groups at 200 yards with my combo. I could care less about hitting the maximum velocity. Bullets today are made better and as long you have the velocity necessary at the yardage of target, the bullet will do it's job. All I need is 1300fps for my bullet too expand properly. That's what you really need to look at in my opinion. Most bullets perform with a 1600fps minimum. Accuracy over velocity. Another little tip if you don't know is to adjust your line of sight height, found this out recently while starting my long range introduction. Enjoy, have fun!

 

[Timberline001]

Odd that the throat is so short. They seem to go the opposite direction with Creedmoors. The 140, 144 hybrid, and 135 ATIP have all been over 3" COAL at the lands in the only one ive measured. Wild that a PRC might have that much less freebore.

Could probably add 0.100" or more and get more velocity out of it.

Yeah the throats on those tikka creedmoors is wild.