Good day fellow reloaders. Does anybody have problems with Retumbo. Ive used it know for the first time on my 6.5 PRC. But I run into some trouble. The speed is way down. Running at Hornadys max load of 59.3 gr with both a fed 210 and 215 primers over a 142gr sierra MK it is running at 100fps slower than what the manual claims at 2910fps. Im using hornady fire formed brass(68.2 gr of H20) bumped to .002". Im not getting any pressure signs at the max load but I do not like going over indicated max loads. Anybody running retumbo on the 6.5 PRC? And what is the general feeling over Retumbo
100 feet is within normal, your barrel will speed up after a few hundred rounds, believe hornady used a 26" barrel for there testing. Have to ask @LoonWulf since I think he loaded retumbo in the prc with 147s and he went well over book max, think he hit 3100 with the 24" barrel. I've been using h1000 and Accuracy has been great but haven't had a chance to run over the chrono.
Ive got 70 rounds down the barrel at this stage. Hoping it will speed up but nothing yet. The 147 factory ammo got about 3000fps with sub moa groups in my 24" barrel. Pulled couple of bullets and found there is 56gr of powder in the case. Dont know what powder they are running though I will appreciate @LoonWulf input. Everybody have been telling me to make the change to Rl26 telling me that Retumbo is burning to slow for the 6.5 PRC
You'll have better luck wining lotto then finding rl-26 that's very fast for factory 147 probably by 150 fps from what most get.
Hornady claimed 2910fps on the box. The 5 shots I ran over the chrono averaged 2970 with the fasted going at 3010fps. This made me very excited to start reloading. So you could imagin the disappointment when I couldnt get close to that with a lighter bullet. And actually here in South Africa we do have some rl 26 in stock
I was way over book max with Retumbo to get to expected velocity, but it got there and then some. My experience is that Retumbo in those size cases will usually be compressed to some degree. As to other powders i tried, only RL-25 came close before hitting pressure signs. Most of what i tried were the IMR Endurons tho, and from my experience they arnt stupendous in the velocity department. RL-26 is unobtanium out here also.
@LoonWulf 59gr of Retumbo was already a compressed load. I dont have a big issue as long as it shoots. I will work my way up with Retumbo and see what I get. Seems like thats the only way. Have you tried the 150 SMK?
Ill go look and see what i got to, but it was in the 60s.... I haven't used the 150 smks, heaviest ive gone were thr 147elds.
Thanks. I will just work up a ladder in .2 grains and se where I hit pressure. If I can get close to 3000fps id be happy
I would start your load development after a 150 shots or so, you can fire form your brass and get a idea what bullets at what coal it likes. think loons load was 63 something maybe more I have it written down somewhere I think. There's a very good accuracy node with h1000 with about 56.5-58 or so, many guys online seem to settle with round 57.0-57.5 with 140-147s
I was going in 1gr increment and got to just under 3100 before seating the bullet go crunchier than i liked, and i got some resistance on bolt lift. My brass was a fairly early lot of Hornady, and soft. Might be different now.
Well if that is the case I will try it and see where I end up. Maybe my barrel also needs to speed up but atleast know I know the powder works
I will keep that in mind. Thinking of getting some H1000 aswell. With the current situation it would be a good idea to have 2 loads with 2 powders. Maybe running some lighter bullets on the H1000 and something like a 150 gr on the Retumbo. But for now I just need to get the gun to shoot
@MCMXI posted some h1000 data and one of my old threads, I'll look it up when I'm sitting at the computer next.
Ok nice I haven't seen anyone with a prc howa yet, expect on your 3-4 firing to get bolt click, most sizing dies don't size the web as much as it should. Adg brass seems to be the worst since its the hardest brass, you may not have a problem with the hornady brass.
We dont get Adg brass in south africa at all for any caliber. In 6.5 PRC the only new brass was Hornady and Lapua. There is rumours about Peterson brass that will be here middel of the year but currently there is no factory ammo or brass of any kind in stock for the 6.5PRC in any shop.
Sps has blem nosler sometimes but don't think that will help you, I have some work up loads for the 50 nosler I have, seems every similar to hornady. Wish I could get 100 lapua to try but I don't have the powder or primers anyway.
Im hopning for some hornady factory ammo to come my way again. They run great in my rifle and the brass is great in my opinion.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/6-5prc-and-6-5-284-oddness.856803/ Datas about 1/2 way down this thread. Its funny i was looking at Howa options in thr 6.5prc today.....keep coming back around to.wanting another one....
Thanks for the link. Seems like H1000 is running a little better than Retumbo. Just dont understand how its possible to be that much lower in velocity. Sierra gives load data and is already hitting 2900fps at 56gr of retumbo under a 142 MK. Im just about at that velocity around 59gr. Im impressed with Howa. Just wish the heavy barrel came in 26". I could only fine one in 24" With hornady factory ammo i ran 3 shots just under 4" at 500m. Around 550 yards
All depends on the gun, some barrels run few some not as fast. There are a few guys hitting 3000 with the 156 Berger and 24" barrels which is quite impressive . Your gun may speed up a 100 or more fps, 3000 with any weight bullet is a nice goal tho.
Im looking for 3000 fps. Im going to get some H1000 later today. Seems like im getting about the same speeds as loonwulf. Ive got some decent accuracy around 2900fps. Hoping I can push it up just a little more to around 3000fps
