New 6.5 PRC Loads

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Easyrider4590

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Hi
I recently bought a new rifle, a Tikka 6.5 PRC. Petty nice rifle, shoots well with the factory loads I got. I would like to start reloading for it, along with all the others, but my manuals were all written when Joe Clark was PM. Any recommendations for new ones? I will probably start shooting with 140 grain Hornadys, but that is likely to change, over time. Any recommendations for good reloading manuals? Pet loads? Thanks, my friends...⁸
 
Easyrider4590 said:
Hi
I recently bought a new rifle, a Tikka 6.5 PRC. Petty nice rifle, shoots well with the factory loads I got. I would like to start reloading for it, along with all the others, but my manuals were all written when Joe Clark was PM. Any recommendations for new ones? I will probably start shooting with 140 grain Hornadys, but that is likely to change, over time. Any recommendations for good reloading manuals? Pet loads? Thanks, my friends...⁸
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All the load data you will EVER need is on the Net ! RJ
 
Get the Hornady manual, it's up to date. Also track down some IMR 7828ssc, H1000, Retumbo, Magpro, N565, StaBALL HD, or Ramshot Magnum for powders
 
EasyRider...here's my couple pennies worth of personal observations...if it's any use to you at all..great ! Like all the books say...these results may vary in your rifle..start lower and work up !

I've been using only H-1000 in both my 6.5 PRCs( all I could find and results online were favorable)
one's a Tikka, other's a Browning LR Max. Got my Tikka last fall for a "hunter/plinker"..I love it so much I wanted a "plinker"...lol ...soooo, me bein me, I bought my Browning in February.

TIKKA...I've tested 120 Gr Nos BT's in my Tikka as well as 129 LRAB's and a few 143 ELDX's...have a great load for each one. All are worked up loads from start to max...with visual pressure checking along the way.
My Tikka loves anything I feed it. I'm using WIN LR primers...settled on loads 58.7 with my Nosler 120 gr BT's..group was .044 inches @ 100 yds.
My 129 gr LRAB's favorite fodder is 59.9 grains of H1000 which is basically max load according to the books and Hornady's downloaded manual. I've had ZERO..NONE ..no heavy bolt lifts...or Ej marks on the case head thru my testing...primers are just barely showing signs of being flattened ! I LOVE this caliber.

BROWNING LR MAX....friggen near identical results !! POI is a tiny bit off, running my worked up Tikka loads,..but the same, under moa groups are there !
I loaded a few extra plinking boxes of the 143 ELDX for this one for my next trip.
The ELDX group was 0.53 @ 100 yds with very minimal testing( 2 loads gave me this) 58.0 gr-SD's were 11.7 and 3002.9 fps....58.5 gr SD's were 7.2 and 3008.2 fps..both only 3 shot groups (only had so much brass) I now have my Lapua brass and got half of em loaded.

...the 120 Nosler BT's were in at .62 of an inch@ 100 yds..with out any testin...just recreated my Tikka's hunting load. I specifically want to shoot the 143 ELDX's outta this one. I just put together a few more of the same tested loads, BUT, with the new to me RWS LR primers. Want to put them down range to see what and IF there's any difference in the groups, velocity or SD's and spread.

Any excuse to pull the trigger and smell the powder is OK in my books !
 
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remington jim said:
RL26 is such a MAGIC powder in SO many Cartridges :p:d. Unfortunately not many people have it and NO stores have any to sell . It’s a WONDER if we will ever get any more here in a Canada . :rolleyes: It is so amazing ! RJ
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^I totally agree! But if it’s unobtainium, really what’s the point? My choice is N570 for the little fatty. Availability had a big influence on my choice. But I have used it before in a .338LM, so there’s some familiarity. And Hodgdon powders have been hard to get (in fairness, they’ve improved). But the biggest thing wrong with Hodgdon powders is their prices. I’ve found VV powders are available and cheaper. (Another reason I chose them.) N568 is another popular choice.
 
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I tried N568, H1000, Staball HD, and Retumbo in my 6.5 PRC.

I didn't have a chrony when I tried N568, but it was grouping great with the 127 gr Hammers. Stab HD was a flop in my barrel. The H1000 was good and was my go to until I tried Retumbo. I am now using retumbo and have sold off the rest. Pushing 2960 fps with a 156 EOL bergers.

22" proof carbon barrel, so you may get different in yours.

I would try N568 again to see the speeds, but I don't want to purchase 1kg to try, and haven't talked anyone into a smaller amount to try yet!
 
I want to say, of the top of my head as the books are at home, in the 57-58 gr range, cci 250, and I use lapua, and adg brass interchangeably. I'm set very near my mag max, and went with the hawkins alum mag, so I think its close to 2.97" OAL.

Again I don't recall my seating depth away from rifling, as I usually only measure that, then go by my ogive length and don't use that measurement again.

Retumbo is available at $75 retail if you look in the right places, i'll just leave it at that. I have 4 lbs, and 500 primers, so I'll be good for a few years now, and have 400 tips.
 
Vihtavuori N565 and H1000 are available and are excellent in the 6.5 PRC, I recently used the N565 and yes it’s my go to powder for the 6.5 PRC now.

Other great powders if you can get them R23, R26

Retumbo also is a great option which can be found.
 
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