Berger 156 @ 3050' +/- with 20-22" barrel

jk_minn

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Jul 6, 2020
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The title is the goal. The cartridges I am looking at right now are:

1) SAUM IMP
2) WSM
3) MAX

Any one able to confirm if 3050ish FPS is doable with the 156 Berger in the cartridges listed, and a 20-22" barrel? Would like to stick to ADG/Lapua brass. Have thought about the 6.5 - 7 PRC IMP that UM is doing, but I feel the ones listed are overbore enough - but maybe that is what is needed? Also, would like to avoid doing +P...

Thanks for the feedback.
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2023
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I have a 6.5/7 PRC with a 22" barrel. I'm getting 3100 fps with 147 ELD-M"s and H1000. When weather warms a little I'm going to work with the 156"s and Ramshot Grand powder. Pretty sure it's doable. I'll let you know what I find out.
 
Joined
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Tikka Veil something, it’s my brother’s but I’m the loader. 6.5 PRC, 2934 fps using R26 and 156 EOL.

Edit to ask, what’s the practical difference (not absolute, we can do math) between 3050 and 2934? What does 116 fps get you?





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Last edited:

sniper20

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Aug 8, 2024
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South Dakota
Can I ask why you are wanting to get a certain velocity? An accurate 2950FPS is better than an inaccurate 3100FPS load. I have a 6.5PRC, shooting 59.0gr of N570 getting 2950FPS out of a 24" Browning barrel. If I shoot it enough, I might be able to loosen it up and get up to 3000FPS, but I doubt much more. I could press it faster, but accuracy goes down the drain. I would rather hit slow than miss fast.
 
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I'm doing 6.5 WSM. My goal is to hit as close as I can to 3,000 MV in a 20" barrel with the 147 ELDM if possible, and this is to reduce overall length with my suppressor. I have an 18" 7-08 and a 22" 25-284, and my can is 7.3". The 7-08 handles noticeable better than the 22" rifle with the can attached. So, the shorter the better for me and you can't get there with the 6.5 PRC.

From a reloading perpective, making brass for the 6.5 WSM is a simple one step neck down from 270 WSM brass.

I'm getting a Tikka 6.5 PRC donor rifle and will swap out with L mags if I can't get 3.094" COL. My 6.5 PRC barrel is at the smith getting rechambered in 6.5 WSM, and the donor rifle barrel will be next. I've read barrel life isn't great, so it will be good to have another one laying around, and once I'm finished with load dev, I'll be able to determine how much I can cut off from the factory 24.3".

For all intents and purposes, I agree the 6.5 PRC is the easy button, but I like the process and doing something a little different.
 

inkedspot

Lil-Rokslider
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Sep 21, 2022
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Texas
My 156 load in a 24” 6.5 SAUM was 3000 fps with H1000 and it was too spicy in warm or warm wet weather.

They were very effective, just too hot for my particular rifle. I would’ve needed to back off to closer to 2900 with the 156 to be safe in all conditions
 
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My 156 load in a 24” 6.5 SAUM was 3000 fps with H1000 and it was too spicy in warm or warm wet weather.

They were very effective, just too hot for my particular rifle. I would’ve needed to back off to closer to 2900 with the 156 to be safe in all conditions
Roger that and with more usable case capacity, the 6.5 WSM can get you there easier, especially in a 24" barrel if not looking to run a shorter barrel.
 
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I've got a 25" barrel, H1000, what do you think the load would have to be to be above or at 3K?
For the 147 EDLM in the 6.5 WSM? According to Gordon's, which has medium-low calibration (accuracy) for H1000, 68.5 grains would get approximately 3,052 MV at around 53,700 PSI. That's with predicted 100% case fill at 3.094" COL. From a pressure standpoint, you'd have a long ways to go, and you could push it further depending on how much H1000 you could stuff in the case.

Based on guys success with H1000 in the PRC and SAUM, I plan to test H1000 when my build is finished. I'm getting 2,828 MV in my 22" 25-284 with 54.5 grains of H1000 and 134 ELDM for comparison.

70 grains of N565 theoretically delivers 3,195 MV at around 62,284 PSI with 99.6% case fill in a 25" tube.
 
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