Am I the only person that can't get Berger 156 to shoot?

[NevadaMike]

I have a Seekins Element in 6.5 PRC and I just knew I would get the famous Berger 156 to shoot. The best average groups I am getting are between 1.25 and 1.5". I have done some fairly extensive load development with charge weights and seating depths. My rifle just came back from Seekins for something unrelated to Seekins and asked them to shoot it for accuracy for me. All three were touching with 143 ELD-X an the 147 were easily under .5. I am on my way out to buy a box of Precision hunter and see what happens.

 

[Smithb9841]

What powder are you using?

 

[NevadaMike]

I am using H1000.

 

[The_Whitetail_Kid]

Try H4831. My dads 6.5 PRC never would shoot just lights out with h1000. 54 grains h4831 ended up being the ticket

 

[Axlrod]

I would try 1 other powder, if you have any. But some barrels don't like some bullets.

 

[Smithb9841]

You probably won’t get as much speed but myself and quite a few that I know have had really good luck with 4831SC and load development was very easy to dial in with little work. The first load I tried was with 54 grains same as my buddys and I didn’t even try any other powder charges or seating depths just went with the first load it shot so well. I am getting 2935 fps out of a 24” barrel with this

 

[parshal]

I couldn't get them to shoot in two 65 PRCs both with 7.5 twist barrels. I used N560 and N565. Started at mag depth and went deeper all the way .150" off. No matter what I did they shot erratically. One good group and then bad.

I figured I was the only guy out there that had the issue.

 

[NevadaMike]

I couldn't get them to shoot in two 65 PRCs both with 7.5 twist barrels. I used N560 and N565. Started at mag depth and went deeper all the way .150" off. No matter what I did they shot erratically. One good group and then bad.

I figured I was the only guy out there that had the issue.

That is my experience. I Followed the Berger suggestion of seating depth first followed by powder charge. Twice I thought I was dialed in. I loaded up 20 at 56.5 and 3.0 COAL and went out today to verify at range. I shot the first 5 at 100 yards and had easily a 1.5" group so I put it back in the jeep. I was finalizing my Element in 7 PRC today also. I verified in close and dialed and had a first round hit on steel at 415 yards.

 

[The_Whitetail_Kid]

That is my experience. I Followed the Berger suggestion of seating depth first followed by powder charge. Twice I thought I was dialed in. I loaded up 20 at 56.5 and 3.0 COAL and went out today to verify at range. I shot the first 5 at 100 yards and had easily a 1.5" group so I put it back in the jeep. I was finalizing my Element in 7 PRC today also. I verified in close and dialed and had a first round hit on steel at 415 yards.

That is crazy. Both mine and my dads 6.5 PRC have both been very easy to load for. Mine with h1000 and his h4831sc.

 

[Maidenfan539]

Same for me with H1000 and 156's. I just couldn't get it to group as well as I wanted. I have a proof 22" 7.5 twist. After several tries I finally found a combo that works. 0.150" off lands was better than anything else. Although, I do not like having the bullet that far into the case, it shoots well. Now to work on my cold bore shots.

 

[bluetick78]

My wife's Seekins PH2 shoots the 156's about 5/8 average groups (some a tad bigger, some around 1/2") with H1000, but it likes the 143 eld-x better. Shoots them 3004 and 5 shots touching. My Christensen Mesa is the opposite. 3/4" groups with eld-x (great velocity of 3066), but the 156's are almost always touching. Maybe try the eld-x....or H4831 with the 156. Both good choices.

 

[digger]

My Christensen Mesa likes Retumbo with 156 Bergers

 

[CCooper]

N565 with the 156's is a winner in mine- although it likes 147 ELDM's even better.

 

[NevadaMike]

I will give them a try with the 4831. I will report back here.

 

[Pharmseller]

Find some Reloder 26.



P

 

[justin262]

I have a element in 6.5prc. Recently made the switch from 143 eld-x to 156 bergers. (143g eldx with H4831 shot incredible) With 156g eols I followed Berger's directions as well. Seemed to group a little better at .045 off the lands with minimum weight charge. Next, loaded up a ladder test from 56.5g of H1000 to 60.0g in .5g increments. Everything was 1", except 58 and 60 were .5", 59 was .375". It was strange that all the .5 grain loads between 58/58/59/60 all opened back up to 1". It was a pretty windy day that day, but consistently opened up on my .5g charges. Those were all 3 shot groups. Thinking of trying it with 5 again. A few of the 1" groups two holes would be touching and 1 hole would be 1.2" off.

 

[smithmtva]

H1000 will sometimes leave a carbon ring? I would think the barrel is ok if its shooting the ELD's

 

[Tumbleweed]

That is my experience. I Followed the Berger suggestion of seating depth first followed by powder charge. Twice I thought I was dialed in. I loaded up 20 at 56.5 and 3.0 COAL and went out today to verify at range. I shot the first 5 at 100 yards and had easily a 1.5" group so I put it back in the jeep. I was finalizing my Element in 7 PRC today also. I verified in close and dialed and had a first round hit on steel at 415 yards.

If you are following Berger's method you are likely jumping clear over seating depth nodes. Their increments are too big, especially with light contour barrels that are more sensitive to harmonics and tuning

 

[The_Whitetail_Kid]

Did you ever get a chance to try the 4831?

 

[NevadaMike]

Did you ever get a chance to try the 4831?

I have them loaded up but I have not gotten to the range yet.