Slow 6.5 PRC

[Sliverslinger]

Love to hear some thoughts from folks on here: my new Seekins PH2 is seems very slow compared to what I was expecting.

It’s a new rifle so I expect it to speed up, but it’s way under what I thought it would be at this stage.

6.5 PRC Norma brass Federal 210s.

N565 156 EOL 2.320 base to ogive (almost max magazine length).

Magneto speed chrono.

Plan to get through the first 100-120 for barrel speed up before serious load development but I did a OCW today from 54.5-58.8

Not going to list them all but here’s the gist:

54.5 avg 2597
55.4 avg 2642
56.3 (there’s a node here) avg 2682
57.3 avg 2732
58.2 avg 2795 (node here)
58.5 avg 2797
58.8 2816 (best es/sd all day. faint ejector marks, no other pressure signs - was expecting way more velocity at this level).

Went back and shot 56.3 for ten shots to fire form more brass and because it was a very good node and es/sd. New avg of 2701 vs 2682 after the 33 other shots from when I shot this charge before so it’s slowly speeding up.

Tomorrow I plan to continue working up, but I’m already over VVs max and less than a grain from Bergers recommended max, I’d love to find a node anywhere over 2,900 so that I can have 2,000+ impact velocoties at 700, but unless this barrel speeds way up between rounds 70-100, I don’t see it happening.

Does this ring slow compared to what most of you are seeing?

 

[The Guide]

I'm getting 2730 fps in a 22" barrel and 2770 in a 24" barrel using the Berger Factory 156 loads. Both loads will get me to 850 - 900 yards at the DA where I hunt at.

Jay

 

[JF_Idaho]

Interesting.

Also have a PH2 . First range trip got 2770 avg from 147 eld m factory. Slightly concerning, but wasn't going to worry about it until I got to do some more testing and got a hundred or two rounds on it. Haven't been able to get out with the holiday and getting sick. Also wouldn't be the first time I got some low velocities with Hornady factory ammo so want to test a different lot #. Did measure some brass and had some peculiar numbers. .002 - .003 over max chamber diameter right below the shoulder. Going to keep an eye on that.

Accuracy was great so far.

 

[Article 4]

Love to hear some thoughts from folks on here: my new Seekins PH2 is seems very slow compared to what I was expecting.

It’s a new rifle so I expect it to speed up, but it’s way under what I thought it would be at this stage.

6.5 PRC Norma brass Federal 210s.

N565 156 EOL 2.320 base to ogive (almost max magazine length).

Magneto speed chrono.

Plan to get through the first 100-120 for barrel speed up before serious load development but I did a OCW today from 54.5-58.8

Not going to list them all but here’s the gist:

54.5 avg 2597
55.4 avg 2642
56.3 (there’s a node here) avg 2682
57.3 avg 2732
58.2 avg 2795 (node here)
58.5 avg 2797
58.8 2816 (best es/sd all day. faint ejector marks, no other pressure signs - was expecting way more velocity at this level).

Went back and shot 56.3 for ten shots to fire form more brass and because it was a very good node and es/sd. New avg of 2701 vs 2682 after the 33 other shots from when I shot this charge before so it’s slowly speeding up.

Tomorrow I plan to continue working up, but I’m already over VVs max and less than a grain from Bergers recommended max, I’d love to find a node anywhere over 2,900 so that I can have 2,000+ impact velocoties at 700, but unless this barrel speeds way up between rounds 70-100, I don’t see it happening.

Does this ring slow compared to what most of you are seeing?

Guess my first question would be how fast were you expecting to go. You have a large bullet for that caliber. You are only at 37% ratio of powder to bullet, were you expecting 2900?

 

[Dioni A]

Seems normal. The only powder I’ve been able to get impressive speed with is reloader 26.
You’d probably get more speed out of h4831sc. 565 was quite a bit slower than both of those in the multiple rifles I’ve loaded for I’ve also seen them speed up over 100 ft./s from new to 200 rounds. Break in is usually around 100 rounds but I’ve seen them go much higher than that.

 

[justin davis]

Seems slow to me. How long is the barrel?

I’m getting 2930 out of the 156’s using N565 powder.

 

[bluetick78]

I've been developing a new load for a Seekins PH2 in 6.5 PRC with H1000.
Norma brass
CCI BR2 primer
58.7 grains of H1000 is where I'm at right now. Average velocity is 2897, SD of 4, ES of 11. Primers are not flattened, no bolt swipe or ejector prints.
The rifle is about 2 years old, and has around 300 rounds through it.
I always have a can on it (Harvester Evo 30), so that might add a few fps. Like Dioni A said, N565 hasn't shown the speed like some other powders have. H4831sc and Ramshot Magnum are a few others that have given good velocity and accuracy in the PH2 for me.

 

[SloppyJ]

Think I saw this on FB too. I mean it is what it is. Sounds like you need to try a different powder. There's some speed to be gained finalizing break in.

 

[Flyjunky]

I’ve been shooting those bullets in several different 6.5’s, mostly 6.5-284 and prc. After several thousand rounds so far and doing load work using h1000, 565, 568, rl26, and Retumbo the best overall was 565. 26 gave best velocity and great accuracy but we’re saving that powder for other rifles. In 5 different barrels the speeds have ranged from 2940 - 3025fps.

From my experience anything under 2900fps for a barrel 24”+ seems slow. I’m sure you’ll speed up but it just might be a slow barrel.

 

[wind gypsy]

When 6.5x284 was a benchrest and f class darling it seems like guys were all running 140 class bullets in the 2900s with 28”+ barrels. To me that is a sign that 156s in the 2900s with the very similar PRC case in a shorter barrel is hot.

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[Flyjunky]

When 6.5x284 was a benchrest and f class darling it seems like guys were all running 140 class bullets in the 2900s with 28”+ barrels. To me that is a sign that 156s in the 2900s with the very similar PRC case in a shorter barrel is hot.

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F-class and benchrest are usually running loads on the more mild side. Pretty sure they weren’t using 26 or 565 either. I’m shooting a 27” barrel chambered for the 156/lapua brass and I’m on my 8th loading in lapua brass for this particular rifle. No primer issues, sticky bolt, or pressure signs of any kind.