Norma 6.5 PRC 143gr Bondstrike

[HairyScandinavian]

My Franchi nailed the box numbers weirdly close. ELD-M & ELD-X were both a good 30fps slower if I recall.
I don't own a Tikka but I'm hearing a lot of reports of slow barrels in various chambers. Curious if true. It's possible the owner hasn't found the right cartridge, like you did, or that some barrels are oversized, or...?
Internet anecdotes are what they are though.
Those Normas are certainly priced right. I'm happy my rifle likes them.

2906 average in my 24" Vanguard so yeah 2775 out of the 24" Tikka may be just the barrel, but then his other rounds weren't slow so....

 

[ELKMO]

Tikka’s have ling throats is what I have read regarding lower velocities.

 

[Stocky]

I've shot the factory in 2 bergaras and 3 tikkas not s single one broke 2750. Most were 2690. Maybe the new stuffs better but the norma 143 in a creedmoor in a 19 inch barrel kimber is 2670.

 

[TaylorC]

I've shot the factory in 2 bergaras and 3 tikkas not s single one broke 2750. Most were 2690. Maybe the new stuffs better but the norma 143 in a creedmoor in a 19 inch barrel kimber is 2670.

I don't see where they name the barrel length, but if they're expecting the CM to do 2740 from a 22" barrel, 2670 from 19" sounds about right.

Were the Bergara and Tikka rifles also in 6.5CM? Barrel length?

 

[Stocky]

I don't see where they name the barrel length, but if they're expecting the CM to do 2740 from a 22" barrel, 2670 from 19" sounds about right.

Were the Bergara and Tikka rifles also in 6.5CM? Barrel length?

I expect they always mean a 24"barrel unless otherwise stated.

No the others are all 6.5prc what I'm saying is the 6.5PRC is slow and the creedmoor load is pretty much the same speed. I'd happily buy the creedmoor stuff and did. Through covid norma was way cheaper than anything else so I brought a bunch and was happy with the creed but the PRC ammo was pretty much just like buying light fireforming loads for the brass.

My chrono data was 2720 and 2740fps for the 2 24" bergaras. And 2680 for 2 of the 22inch tikkas and the 20 inch tikka was 2650 (slower than the creedmoor with a shorter barrel). All rifles topped out similarly around the 3k with 147 mark when reloaded. My brother still has one of the bergaras and is still burning through the last 150 odd rounds of the factory.

 

[TaylorC]

I expect they always mean a 24"barrel unless otherwise stated.

No the others are all 6.5prc what I'm saying is the 6.5PRC is slow and the creedmoor load is pretty much the same speed. I'd happily buy the creedmoor stuff and did. Through covid norma was way cheaper than anything else so I brought a bunch and was happy with the creed but the PRC ammo was pretty much just like buying light fireforming loads for the brass.

My chrono data was 2720 and 2740fps for the 2 24" bergaras. And 2680 for 2 of the 22inch tikkas and the 20 inch tikka was 2650 (slower than the creedmoor with a shorter barrel). All rifles topped out similarly around the 3k with 147 mark when reloaded. My brother still has one of the bergaras and is still burning through the last 150 odd rounds of the factory.

You're making me wonder which of us got the odd boxes. Hopefully yours were the fluke. The bullets seems well-made and shoots great from my rifle. Regardless I bought them more for the brass though I'll likely run them on this Fall's deer hunt.

 

[Stocky]

You're making me wonder which of us got the odd boxes. Hopefully yours were the fluke. The bullets seems well-made and shoots great from my rifle. Regardless I bought them more for the brass though I'll likely run them on this Fall's deer hunt.

I brought 20 boxes all the same lot and back in 2023 I think.

 

[TaylorC]

I brought 20 boxes all the same lot and back in 2023 I think.

Interestingly I bought mine Spring '23. Only two boxes.

 

[NMJM]

I bought a pile of the 143 Bondstrike for my 6.5 PRC because they were the most accurate factory loads I tried. I have shot one hog that weighed about 120 lbs with them. Shot was about 130 yards. It ran about 90 yards and piled up. Zero blood trail. A lot of internal damage. It did not pass through and the largest chunk of bullet I recovered was 64 grains. It is only 1 animal but I am a little hesitant to use them again. This was a relatively small animal at short range and no pass through.

 

[Roor]

Ive shot the Norma Whitetail out of a 6.5CM and it killed fine.

 

[BoatsNGoats]

Own a pile of them because my 6.5 PRC absolutely loves them, but have only taken one WT with them, which isn't the best test. Haven't been ultra thrilled with 143 ELD-X on deer or elk, so wanted to try something different. The 143 ELD-X, while a perfect bullet in the CM for which it was designed, is maybe a little lightly constructed for 6.5PRC, IME. Still effective by the animal-is-dead measure, just not as much penetration as I'd like to see on broadside chest shots without any major bone contact.

What has been your issues with the ELD-X?

 

[floridajpr]

I don't see where they name the barrel length, but if they're expecting the CM to do 2740 from a 22" barrel, 2670 from 19" sounds about right.

Were the Bergara and Tikka rifles also in 6.5CM? Barrel length?

Says right on the Norma site, *This product data is zeroed with a 24 inch barrel

 

[nebhunt]

I shot 4 different brands of PRC ammo over the chronograph the last two weeks. I have a 24" proof carbon barrel. Hornady 143 gr ELD-x 2950 fps, Norma Bondstrike 143 gr 2930 fps, Nosler 142 ABLR 2900 fps and Berger 156 gr EOL 2875. All shot under 1 moa with the Berger and Nosler tied for the best group.

 

[kickemall]

I shot 4 different brands of PRC ammo over the chronograph the last two weeks. I have a 24" proof carbon barrel. Hornady 143 gr ELD-x 2950 fps, Norma Bondstrike 143 gr 2930 fps, Nosler 142 ABLR 2900 fps and Berger 156 gr EOL 2875. All shot under 1 moa with the Berger and Nosler tied for the best group.

Thats a fast barrel. Thanks for the info.

 

[Sako76]

My GA Precision in 6.5 PRC likes the 139 Scenar at 3075 fps. No game kills, very accurate.

 

[Mackadoodle]

Own a pile of them because my 6.5 PRC absolutely loves them, but have only taken one WT with them, which isn't the best test. Haven't been ultra thrilled with 143 ELD-X on deer or elk, so wanted to try something different. The 143 ELD-X, while a perfect bullet in the CM for which it was designed, is maybe a little lightly constructed for 6.5PRC, IME. Still effective by the animal-is-dead measure, just not as much penetration as I'd like to see on broadside chest shots without any major bone contact.

I agree with your eld x statement . Shot a medium sized WT - at 50 yards - bugger snuck up on me and it was second to last day on a piece of pressured public - the bullet just penciled thru never found him till February. He ran into the swamp. Hornady engineers advised me to switch to CX for white tail .

 

[Balderdash]

I agree with your eld x statement . Shot a medium sized WT - at 50 yards - bugger snuck up on me and it was second to last day on a piece of pressured public - the bullet just penciled thru never found him till February. He ran into the swamp. Hornady engineers advised me to switch to CX for white tail .

I'm not tge biggest fan of the CX, or any mono, really. One has to keep impact velocities above 2200 or so. Much prefer a cup and core; just have to match jacket thickness/bonding or other expansion limiters to velocities.

 

[Mudtracker]

6.5 works but 300 PRC works better in my opinion. More mass against more muscle mass

 

[Balderdash]

6.5 works but 300 PRC works better in my opinion. More mass against more muscle mass

I don't disagree. I also run a 1:8 300 WM with 212's. It's on the heavy side, though.

 

[Jhconnected]

I agree with your eld x statement . Shot a medium sized WT - at 50 yards - bugger snuck up on me and it was second to last day on a piece of pressured public - the bullet just penciled thru never found him till February. He ran into the swamp. Hornady engineers advised me to switch to CX for white tail .

I have shot a number of whitetail with the 143 out of a PRC. All of them dropped right there.

I’m surprised they told you to go with the CX when they say the 143 is good to go on elk.