6.5 PRC and heavy Berger's

Johnnyjeepster said:
I’m interested in this as well for getting some heavy Bergers out of my 6.5 prc build. Found a few lbs of alliant 26 to test out some of the reloading data out there on the inter web. But will be interesting to see how it really does pushing a 156 around 3000fps at some distance like the internet is claiming.
Click to expand...


pushing a 156gr Berger at 3000fps out of a 6.5 PRC would be a stretch, realistically 2850 would/should be in the ball park.
 
vv565 and R26 can get the Berger to 3000 and above in the PRC. I am no where near max and am at 2950-70 in a 24" barrel.
Actually, r26 and the 156 in the Creed can darn near hit 2800 - but they are long
 
Last edited:
Weatherby Fan said:
pushing a 156gr Berger at 3000fps out of a 6.5 PRC would be a stretch, realistically 2850 would/should be in the ball park.
Click to expand...

I'm @ 2870 fps in my 24" PRC with the 156gr EOL & Retumbo. Last trip out 0.86moa 5 shot group at 327 yards, 4/5 landed in 0.6moa. I will revisit the load in the spring when I can stretch out the distance. I'm happy with this load from a fairly lightweight hunting rifle with a 10x scope. Pressures are moderate, I won't be nuking my ADG brass
 
Weatherby Fan said:
pushing a 156gr Berger at 3000fps out of a 6.5 PRC would be a stretch, realistically 2850 would/should be in the ball park.
Click to expand...

Well...I have gathered the mythical creatures needed to make an effort... so only time will tell now lol
Will post my findings of what I am getting from my ladder load and test this weekend if the weather holds
Up in my neck of the woods.
2800-2900 FPS and I will be ultra happy with it as a hunting rifle.
 
RL 26 ladder load from 50gr to 56gr 2685fps-3008fps
2950-2980fps seemed to be the hot spot in my rifle with no pressure signs till 55.5-56 gr
I guess the next test will be hunting season on how these Berger’s do
 
After putting a few rounds downrange, and everything stabilizing, the 156 in my rifle shoots best at 2940-2960fps with both R26 and N565, edge to n565. 80 or 120 jump.
However, for ####s & giggles, I loaded some 142 ABLR and found a repeatable 1/2moa at 200yds load right at 3050 using R26 - 50 thou jump. Neither shot good with 20 thou jump
Sure wish we could get that Norma Bondstrike 143 - seems like it would be a great bullet for this cartridge.

CA Ridgeline 24"
 
if you're pushing 3000+ fps from a 24" 6.5 PRC with the 156gr EOL, brass life will be comprimised as pressures will be high

Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 PRC
Bullet             : .264, 156, Berger EOL
Useable Case Capaci: 61.748 grain H2O = 4.009 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.000 inch = 76.20 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
[COLOR=#ff0000]Matching Muzzle Velocity: 3000 fps[/COLOR] or 914 m/s
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

23 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt [COLOR=#ff0000]P max[/COLOR]  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       [COLOR=#ff0000]psi [/COLOR]    psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hodgdon Retumbo                    106.3     60.8     3.94    3000   100.0    65956   13305   1.171  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Ramshot Magnum                      97.3     60.3     3.91    3000   100.0    73855   12576   1.144  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Norma MRP 2                        103.0     58.7     3.80    3000   100.0    69682   13669   1.172  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Accurate MAGPRO                     96.1     58.2     3.77    3000    99.5    70061   14057   1.168  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N570                    101.7     61.0     3.95    3000    97.8    64636   15190   1.207  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H4831 SC                    98.1     56.4     3.66    3000   100.0    75811   12887   1.130  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H4831                      102.1     56.4     3.66    3000   100.0    75811   12887   1.130  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828 SSC                        95.1     55.6     3.60    3000   100.0    70480   13344   1.154  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828                           100.5     55.6     3.60    3000   100.0    70480   13344   1.154  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-33                 103.8     64.1     4.15    3000    98.2    65037   15094   1.202  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N560                     95.8     55.7     3.61    3000    99.9    69714   13810   1.166  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 4831                            99.1     54.0     3.50    3000   100.0    81757   11650   1.124  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H1000                      105.5     59.4     3.85    3000   100.0    70577   13063   1.143  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 4955 Enduron                   101.4     56.1     3.64    3000   100.0    77949   12667   1.121  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-23                 101.6     56.5     3.66    3000   100.0    77463   11959   1.139  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-19                  96.4     54.9     3.56    3000   100.0    74701   12777   1.140  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-22                  97.2     55.9     3.62    3000   100.0    71948   13184   1.159  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-26                  92.2     56.4     3.66    3000   100.0    70274   12899   1.174  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-25                 101.6     57.5     3.73    3000   100.0    70661   12688   1.160  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7977 Enduron                   107.0     60.3     3.90    3000    97.3    81181   12970   1.101  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
 
I did load testing with the 155 gr Lapua Mega in the 6.5-06 which has about the same case capacity as the 6.5 PRC, so the results can be instructive. Re33 really shined.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...907-Seven-155-gr-Bullet-Loads-for-the-6-5-06?

6.5-06
3.390"
Win Brass
155 gr Lapua Mega
22" 1:8 twist barrel

1. H1000 - 55.0 grs - 2480 fps, 56.0 grs - 2525 fps, 57.0 grs - 2590 fps
2. Magnum - 55.0 grs - 2430 fps, 56.0 grs - 2490 fps, 57.0 grs - 2540 fps
3. Norma 217 - 56.0 grs - 2450 fps
4. Retumbo - 58.0 grs - 2650 fps
5. Reloder 33 - 63.0 grs - 2620 fps, 65.0 grs - 2700 fps, 66.0 grs (Compressed) - 2725 fps
6. H870 - 63.0 grs - 2560 fps
7. US869 - 67.0 grs - 2700 fps, 70.0 grs (Compressed) - 2825 fps

In my application, case capacity with the bullet loaded (OAL 3.390") was about 70.0 grs of H2O, which suggests that I had about 5% more effective case capacity as you did with the Berger.

I chose not to exceed 2825 fps (with a 22" barrel).

You want a slow powder - in fact a dense slow powder to maxmize MV's. Re33 is in fact very dense:

Slow-Burning Powder Bulk-Densities
Percent
Water100.0
US 86998.1
Magnum98.1
AA 870096.7
VV N17092.9
H4831SC91.5
H100090.5
Reloder 33
Reloder 22		90.5
90.5
Reloder 2590.5
Retumbo90.0
H483189.6
H50BMG89.6
VV 20N2989.0
IMR-782888.7
 
Last edited:
todbartell said:
if you're pushing 3000+ fps from a 24" 6.5 PRC with the 156gr EOL, brass life will be comprimised as pressures will be high

Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 PRC
Bullet             : .264, 156, Berger EOL
Useable Case Capaci: 61.748 grain H2O = 4.009 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.000 inch = 76.20 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
[COLOR=#ff0000]Matching Muzzle Velocity: 3000 fps[/COLOR] or 914 m/s
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

23 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt [COLOR=#ff0000]P max[/COLOR]  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       [COLOR=#ff0000]psi [/COLOR]    psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hodgdon Retumbo                    106.3     60.8     3.94    3000   100.0    65956   13305   1.171  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Ramshot Magnum                      97.3     60.3     3.91    3000   100.0    73855   12576   1.144  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Norma MRP 2                        103.0     58.7     3.80    3000   100.0    69682   13669   1.172  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Accurate MAGPRO                     96.1     58.2     3.77    3000    99.5    70061   14057   1.168  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N570                    101.7     61.0     3.95    3000    97.8    64636   15190   1.207  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H4831 SC                    98.1     56.4     3.66    3000   100.0    75811   12887   1.130  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H4831                      102.1     56.4     3.66    3000   100.0    75811   12887   1.130  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828 SSC                        95.1     55.6     3.60    3000   100.0    70480   13344   1.154  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828                           100.5     55.6     3.60    3000   100.0    70480   13344   1.154  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-33                 103.8     64.1     4.15    3000    98.2    65037   15094   1.202  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N560                     95.8     55.7     3.61    3000    99.9    69714   13810   1.166  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 4831                            99.1     54.0     3.50    3000   100.0    81757   11650   1.124  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H1000                      105.5     59.4     3.85    3000   100.0    70577   13063   1.143  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 4955 Enduron                   101.4     56.1     3.64    3000   100.0    77949   12667   1.121  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-23                 101.6     56.5     3.66    3000   100.0    77463   11959   1.139  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-19                  96.4     54.9     3.56    3000   100.0    74701   12777   1.140  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-22                  97.2     55.9     3.62    3000   100.0    71948   13184   1.159  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-26                  92.2     56.4     3.66    3000   100.0    70274   12899   1.174  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-25                 101.6     57.5     3.73    3000   100.0    70661   12688   1.160  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7977 Enduron                   107.0     60.3     3.90    3000    97.3    81181   12970   1.101  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Click to expand...

WOW ! a lot of loads in the 70000 + range and a couple hit 80000 ! Could you run that same data but at 2900 fps Please Mark ! Thxs RJ
 
remington jim said:
WOW ! a lot of loads in the 70000 + range and a couple hit 80000 ! Could you run that same data but at 2900 fps Please Mark ! Thxs RJ
Click to expand...

Code: 
Cartridge          : 6.5 PRC
Bullet             : .264, 156, Berger EOL
Useable Case Capaci: 61.743 grain H2O = 4.009 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.000 inch = 76.20 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Muzzle Velocity: 2900 fps or 883 m/s
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

47 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hodgdon Retumbo                    102.4     58.6     3.80    2900   100.0    59082   13056   1.221  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                      93.9     58.2     3.77    2900   100.0    65950   12369   1.194  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N560                     92.3     53.7     3.48    2900    99.6    63107   13469   1.213  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Vihtavuori N570                     98.5     59.1     3.83    2900    96.7    58628   14741   1.257  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                            94.8     51.7     3.35    2900   100.0    72825   11339   1.176  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 4955 Enduron                    97.5     54.0     3.50    2900    99.9    70139   12370   1.170  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Accurate MAGPRO                     92.8     56.1     3.64    2900    98.9    63477   13692   1.214  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H4831                       98.3     54.4     3.52    2900    99.8    68243   12596   1.179  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H4831 SC                    94.5     54.4     3.52    2900    99.8    68243   12596   1.179  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-19                  92.6     52.7     3.42    2900   100.0    67219   12481   1.189  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-22                  93.5     53.8     3.49    2900   100.0    64826   12901   1.206  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-23                  97.3     54.2     3.51    2900   100.0    68833   11649   1.191  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon H1000                      101.8     57.3     3.71    2900    99.9    63320   12842   1.192  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-26                  88.6     54.2     3.51    2900   100.0    62868   12599   1.224  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Alliant Reloder-25                  97.6     55.3     3.58    2900   100.0    62951   12395   1.210  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828 SSC                        91.6     53.6     3.47    2900    99.8    63440   13058   1.201  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7828                            96.9     53.6     3.47    2900    99.8    63440   13058   1.201  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Hodgdon US 869                     110.3     66.9     4.33    2900    92.7    64932   14086   1.208  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
IMR 7977 Enduron                   103.5     58.3     3.78    2900    96.3    73164   12591   1.148  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
 
58 grs of Retumbo late last fall with 156 EOL gave me 2934 fps with a magneto speed...24" Fierce Carbon Edge
 
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