Range Report 6.5 PRC or maybe just a stupid expensive 6.5 Creedmoor?

Walkalong said:
Sweet!

I wouldn't give up on the old chrono just yet though, folks are right, they'll do weird stuff sometimes if the conditions aren't favorable. Sun not right mostly.
Click to expand...
Yeah it's acted weird sometimes... Like once it was giving 3000fps readings consistently for a 55gr 5.56 then when I shot 52gr ammo it was error after error.
 
South Prairie Jim said:
What are you using to weigh powder ?
Click to expand...
RCBS Chargemaster. Paid full retail price $400.(actually a Christmas present from dad, lol) Was tired of hand dipping powder and using cheap pos scales. Has been basically dead nuts on the whole time we've had it. And I let it warm up a bit before dispensing powder. I also do a couple dry runs where I'll drop powder and put it back in the hopper a few times to get it settled in.
 
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270OKIE said:
RCBS Chargemaster. Paid full retail price $400. Has been basically dead nuts on the whole time we've had it. And I let it warm up a bit before dispensing powder. I also do a couple dry runs where I'll drop powder and put it back in the hopper a few times to get it settled in.
Click to expand...

Im not sure why you’re experiencing oddities but those CM are decent for what you’re doing, well when you get going again I suggest working up a charge in small sample increments and stop at signs of pressure.
Additional Q- how much bullet hold/neck tension are your applying when you seat the rounds ?
 
South Prairie Jim said:
Im not sure why you’re experiencing oddities but those CM are decent for what you’re doing, well when you get going again I suggest working up a charge in small sample increments and stop at signs of pressure.
Additional Q- how much bullet hold/neck tension are your applying when you seat the rounds ?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure about neck tension. I use a Redding standard non bushing neck sizing die.
 
A little off topic, but it seems we are straying a tad anyway...
Where does the old .264 Win Mag stack up against these new whipper snappers? lol
Seems like they keep re-creating old cartridges with a new spin... be it rifling twist, slightly steeper neck, an extra 100 fps, etc... and acting like they've re-invented the wheel.
I'm guessing a new paint job is good for sales? :)
 
n2omike said:
A little off topic, but it seems we are straying a tad anyway...
Where does the old .264 Win Mag stack up against these new whipper snappers? lol
Seems like they keep re-creating old cartridges with a new spin... be it rifling twist, slightly steeper neck, an extra 100 fps, etc... and acting like they've re-invented the wheel.
I'm guessing a new paint job is good for sales? :)
Click to expand...


Well
For starters it has better brass support no Annoying Belt :) proper Head height to seat longer VLD heavy for caliber bullets a Proper 1~8 twist not 1~9 and is Vastly More efficient but yes adding a new paint Job is what makes the 6.5 Prc wallop the old .264 Win Mag
 
Contact our Berger Technical Support Team and receive 6.5mm 156 grain Elite Hunter load data for your favorite cartridge. Unpublished data may only be given over the phone. To get this reloading data, please call our tech team at 660-460-2802. Unpublished data is readily available for the following:

  • 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser
  • 6.5 X 47 Lapua
  • .260 Remington
  • 6.5 Creedmoor
  • 6.5-284 Norma
  • 6.5-06 A-Square
  • .264 Winchester Magnum
  • 6.5 PRC
  • 26 Nosler
  • 6.5-.300 Weatherby
Look Here @270OKIE Straight from the bullet Manufacturer maybe give this a shot literally
 
JmacD said:
I’m looking at ball joints and possibly struts…
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Sounds like my last checkup.
@270OKIE there’s a lot going on in the combustion chamber. Starting at max is not working. Accept it and move on. Don’t defend a bad position. Starting low and working up is about more than just old guys who don’t like “recoil”. It’s the way to find the sweet spot for your rifle using your components. Trying to determine whether or not a load is reasonable by comparing recoil… I’ve never heard of that - probably with good reason.
Point being, your cases showed signs of gas cutting and scorching down to the body. That’s really bad, with a capitol B that rhymes with Boom!
If all you want is a big boom and lots of flame and recoil, keep going the way you are - but leave your Labradar to @Walkalong first.
One time advice then I’ll quit bugging you: do not start your load development with a chronograph! Start with a target at the range where the books and bullet makers predict stable flight. Once you have accuracy and stability at the intended use range, THEN use a chronograph to verify velocity - to predict deceleration and drop.
 
270OKIE said:
I'm sure he's just giving me a hard time lol. But yeah not much more will fit lol. I'm pretty sure 60 some odd grains is max capacity and that will be compressed. I think I'm just shy of compression at 59gr.
Click to expand...
Trying to save you from serious injury. If I wanted to give you a hard time I would let you keep going with max+ loads and comparing recoil between hand loads and factory ammo to find the sweet spot.
 
horsemen61 said:
Contact our Berger Technical Support Team and receive 6.5mm 156 grain Elite Hunter load data for your favorite cartridge. Unpublished data may only be given over the phone. To get this reloading data, please call our tech team at 660-460-2802. Unpublished data is readily available for the following:

  • 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser
  • 6.5 X 47 Lapua
  • .260 Remington
  • 6.5 Creedmoor
  • 6.5-284 Norma
  • 6.5-06 A-Square
  • .264 Winchester Magnum
  • 6.5 PRC
  • 26 Nosler
  • 6.5-.300 Weatherby
Look Here @270OKIE Straight from the bullet Manufacturer maybe give this a shot literally
Click to expand...
I emailed them just now. I told them what I had loaded and the powder charges and they also list 2960fps out of a 26in barrel for their factory 156gr 6.5prc ammo.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Sounds like my last checkup.
@270OKIE there’s a lot going on in the combustion chamber. Starting at max is not working. Accept it and move on. Don’t defend a bad position. Starting low and working up is about more than just old guys who don’t like “recoil”. It’s the way to find the sweet spot for your rifle using your components. Trying to determine whether or not a load is reasonable by comparing recoil… I’ve never heard of that - probably with good reason.
Point being, your cases showed signs of gas cutting and scorching down to the body. That’s really bad, with a capitol B that rhymes with Boom!
If all you want is a big boom and lots of flame and recoil, keep going the way you are - but leave your Labradar to @Walkalong first.
One time advice then I’ll quit bugging you: do not start your load development with a chronograph! Start with a target at the range where the books and bullet makers predict stable flight. Once you have accuracy and stability at the intended use range, THEN use a chronograph to verify velocity - to predict deceleration and drop.
Click to expand...
Hmm yeah I noticed the factory Nosler ammo that I shot 5 rounds out of had a much smaller amount of junk on the outside. Hmmm.
 
n2omike said:
A little off topic, but it seems we are straying a tad anyway...
Where does the old .264 Win Mag stack up against these new whipper snappers? lol
Seems like they keep re-creating old cartridges with a new spin... be it rifling twist, slightly steeper neck, an extra 100 fps, etc... and acting like they've re-invented the wheel.
I'm guessing a new paint job is good for sales? :)
Click to expand...
Lapua makes brass for 6.5 PRC (I have 400pcs) and the factory twist rate is better. That's about the 2 biggest changes. Also it's a short stubby fat case that still has good powder capacity.
 
270OKIE said:
Hmm yeah I noticed the factory Nosler ammo that I shot 5 rounds out of had a much smaller amount of junk on the outside. Hmmm.
Click to expand...
Let me just add, not at all being an “intelligent Alexander”(smart Alec), or “piling on” but, IMG_1931.jpeg IMG_1932.jpeg borrowing a couple of your pics, I see a few things there that would definitely have me “running back down the ladder”…
 
JmacD said:
Let me just add, not at all being an “intelligent Alexander”(smart Alec), or “piling on” but,View attachment 1159718 View attachment 1159719 borrowing a couple of your pics, I see a few things there that would definitely have me “running back down the ladder”…
Click to expand...
Like this?
16883159057626806355001553044012.jpg
Odd thing was I only had one round exhibit hard bolt release and that was a FC case with a 140gr partition and 59gr of H1000. Everything else was just fine. But I do notice ejector marks on my Lapua brass as well.
 
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I got an email from Berger this morning!

Screenshot_20230703_090241_Gmail.jpg

156gr-Jul-03-2023-01-14-39-1951-PM.png

Interesting they list 56.1gr of H1000 as 106% case fill at 2.955 COAL... I'm loading shorter than that and using 57.4gr and did not notice any crunch or unusual resistance... And I'm also using Lapua brass. Weird. They do say that 153.5gr/156gr uses the same data so that makes me feel slightly better about using 153gr A-Tip data as a starting point.
 
270OKIE said:
Like this?
View attachment 1159724
Odd thing was I only had one round exhibit hard bolt release and that was a FC case with a 140gr partition and 59gr of H1000. Everything else was just fine. But I do notice ejector marks on my Lapua brass as well.
Click to expand...
I typed this over the weekend but hadn’t pushed reply,
Bolt lift resistance is a sign of pressure, expanding the case near the base (. 200 line)
I wonder if H 1000 is fast enough powder, anyway… ( fast forward) looks like you’re way over on powder charge.
 
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270OKIE said:
I got an email from Berger this morning!

Interesting they list 56.1gr of H1000 as 106% case fill at 2.955 COAL... I'm loading shorter than that and using 57.4gr and did not notice any crunch or unusual resistance... And I'm also using Lapua brass. Weird. They do say that 153.5gr/156gr uses the same data so that makes me feel slightly better about using 153gr A-Tip data as a starting point.
Click to expand...
Lesson number one in not ruining things is careful reading. Berger DID NOT SAY! "any bullet from any manufacturer in the 153.5/156gr weight range." Berger said, "Below is a copy of the load info we have for the 6.5PRC and our 153.5/156gr bullets..." OUR bullets, meaning Berger's, not Hornady's. Interpolation requires using good sense, NOT starting at MAX in an effort to see how locked up the bolt will get before the receiver lets loose.

You are dealing with pressures in excess of 62,000 PSI. Don't screw around.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Lesson number one in not ruining things is careful reading. Berger DID NOT SAY! "any bullet from any manufacturer in the 153.5/156gr weight range." Berger said, "Below is a copy of the load info we have for the 6.5PRC and our 153.5/156gr bullets..." OUR bullets, meaning Berger's, not Hornady's. Interpolation requires using good sense, NOT starting at MAX in an effort to see how locked up the bolt will get before the receiver lets loose.

You are dealing with pressures in excess of 62,000 PSI. Don't screw around.
Click to expand...
Ok I will try to get my COAL this afternoon and go from there. I wonder why I wasn't getting powder compression though... weird.
 
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