Berger 6.5 PRC loads, 153.5 grain hybrids and 156 elite hunters

[nakneker]

Hoping to not reinvent the wheel and burn through a bunch of components finding a load using Berger 153.5 Hybrids and or 156 grain Elite hunters. Any experience you may have is appreciated. Me and my brother have been shooting 140 Elite hunters and 143 ELDXs and were just wanting to try something with a high BC. The rifles are 6.5 PRC, 24”, sporter barrels, 1-8 twist. I also have the usual suspects, H4831SC, H1000, Retumbo, N570 and others but hopefully the N565 I have can be put to use.

Are you using a 1-8 twist for the 153.5/156s?

Disclaimer; Any load work will start off conservative and worked up

 

[wasskeet]

I found that 55 to 56gr of N565 with 156 was best accuracy-wise in a Bergara HMR Pro I had (Lapua brass). That was seating at .020" off. Many others have seemed to get to 58-59 before pressuring out. I started getting ejector marks at 57. I can tell to keep a check on the throat/seating depth running N565 as it is pretty hot stuff, especially in a factory barrel. YMMV

 

[Straightshooter1]

Hoping to not reinvent the wheel and burn through a bunch of components finding a load using Berger 153.5 Hybrids and or 156 grain Elite hunters. Any experience you may have is appreciated. Me and my brother have been shooting 140 Elite hunters and 143 ELDXs and were just wanting to try something with a high BC. The rifles are 6.5 PRC, 24”, sporter barrels, 1-8 twist. I also have the usual suspects, H4831SC, H1000, Retumbo, N570 and others but hopefully the N565 I have can be out to use.

For the 153.5 Hybrids in my rifle:

56.9 grs Retumbo with COAL at 3.056 - for this projectile, it's not as consistent as I strive for.

57.5 gr N-565 with COAL at 3.098 - this powder works really well and get good consistent results

53.3 gr H4831SC with COAL at 3.102 - just finished a OCW set for the first time with this powder and this was the load that performed the best out of charges running from 53.0 through 54.5 grs. I'm not confident that this 53.3 will be consistent due to the case only being ~90% filled. I've found that powders that work best typically will fill the case close to 100% I can reduce the seating depth, but doing so doesn't really get me where I like to be.

And BTW, temperatures I fired these in have all been >85°F.

I've ready good reports on H1000 for this cartridge, and it'll easily fill the case, but may need a compressed load to get the velocity one wants???

 

[Ranger188]

This isn't a 6.5 PRC but the 6.5 saum is close and the powders should
be close. This is from Berger. They said 153.3 and 156 EH
are interchangeable.

 

[JB10]

3 shots just done 2 weeks ago. N565 with 156 bergers 56.0gr, federal 210 primers Lapua brass. I was shooting 57.7 gr charge but it really fills the case up. This is out of a Christiansen armes mesa rifle. Might have been a little tighter but pulled last shot with a muzzle blast in side of my face from guy next to me at the range as i was about to squeeze trigger.

 

[nakneker]

3 shots just done 2 weeks ago. N565 with 156 bergers 56.0gr, federal 210 primers Lapua brass. I was shooting 57.7 gr charge but it really fills the case up. This is out of a Christiansen armes mesa rifle. Might have been a little tighter but pulled last shot with a muzzle blast in side of my face from guy next to me at the range as i was about to squeeze trigger.

Can’t get much tighter than that.

 

[nakneker]

Thanks for the input, the above gets me started. I’ll start at 52.0 and work my way up, I’m sure I’ll get up to 56-58 before backing off. Thanks again! Vihtavouri has always been very conservative with their load data……

Sounds like your Bergaras and Christiansens are stabilizing the 156, I’m assuming those have 1-8 twist rates.

 

[JB10]

Yes mine is a 1:8 twist

 

[Tucker65]

I've built quite a few of the 6.5 prc's and most of the guys that I built them for used Rl-26 pushing 156gr Bergers @ 3000 fps in them. They all seemed to like around 57.5gr with them seated .020 off the lands. I have one personally for myself and run 58.7gr of N565 in it with 156gr Bergers @2975 fps. All of these were built with 24" Proof carbon fiber barrels with a 7.5 twist.

All of these rifles were also built on medium length actions so the bullets could be seated without any restrictions from a short action magazine box.

 

[barefooter56]

Hoping to not reinvent the wheel and burn through a bunch of components finding a load using Berger 153.5 Hybrids and or 156 grain Elite hunters. Any experience you may have is appreciated. Me and my brother have been shooting 140 Elite hunters and 143 ELDXs and were just wanting to try something with a high BC. The rifles are 6.5 PRC, 24”, sporter barrels, 1-8 twist. I also have the usual suspects, H4831SC, H1000, Retumbo, N570 and others but hopefully the N565 I have can be put to use.

Are you using a 1-8 twist for the 153.5/156s?

Disclaimer; Any load work will start off conservative and worked up

We have the load data AND load development info you need for this. Please email us at: support@capstonepg.com

 

[wasskeet]

Sounds like your Bergaras and Christiansens are stabilizing the 156, I’m assuming those have 1-8 twist rates.

Yep, 1:8" in the Bergara. Here's a little more 6.5 PRC data courtesy of orkan (Primal Rights):

Primal Rights

Primal Rights

www.primalrights.com

 

[nakneker]

Yep, 1:8" in the Bergara. Here's a little more 6.5 PRC data courtesy of orkan (Primal Rights):

Primal Rights

Primal Rights

www.primalrights.com

Thank you!

 

[wboggs]

Hoping to not reinvent the wheel and burn through a bunch of components finding a load using Berger 153.5 Hybrids and or 156 grain Elite hunters. Any experience you may have is appreciated. Me and my brother have been shooting 140 Elite hunters and 143 ELDXs and were just wanting to try something with a high BC. The rifles are 6.5 PRC, 24”, sporter barrels, 1-8 twist. I also have the usual suspects, H4831SC, H1000, Retumbo, N570 and others but hopefully the N565 I have can be put to use.

Are you using a 1-8 twist for the 153.5/156s?

Disclaimer; Any load work will start off conservative and worked up

The Berger 156 factory load is 2960 in my long throated rifle. Accuracy not great at 3/4" at 100. I could not obtain an adequate supply of bullets for loading tests but tried a few. Pressure at factory levels for 58gr H1000 with 3.05 oal. No velocity obtained

 

[nakneker]

The Berger 156 factory load is 2960 in my long throated rifle. Accuracy not great at 3/4" at 100. I could not obtain an adequate supply of bullets for loading tests but tried a few. Pressure at factory levels for 58gr H1000 with 3.05 oal. No velocity obtained

Just an FYI, mile high has both the 156 and the 153.5 in stock. Doesn’t sound like you’ll need more but I thought I’d mention it. Thanks for your input,

 

[wboggs]

Just an FYI, mile high has both the 156 and the 153.5 in stock. Doesn’t sound like you’ll need more but I thought I’d mention it. Thanks for your input,

Yea they have them now but I have already worked up a load with the 144s that is good.
57.5 H1000 at 3070fps and 0.25-.28 100 yd grps. No case head expansion using Peterson brass.
I'm just waiting for cooler weather since my long range is over potatoe fields and the heat is currently unbearable down here in FL

 

[nakneker]

Yea they have them now but I have already worked up a load with the 144s that is good.
57.5 H1000 at 3070fps and 0.25-.28 100 yd grps. No case head expansion using Peterson brass.
I'm just waiting for cooler weather since my long range is over potatoe fields and the heat is currently unbearable down here in FL

I used the same load for my Uncle’s rifle last year, working up some ammo for his sheep hunt. He connected on a beautiful Dall sheep just a few weeks ago, sheep dropped where it stood at just over 400 yards. Second slam at 70 years young. Shot a caribou with it too, same results. Very capable load!

 

[wboggs]

I used the same load for my Uncle’s rifle last year, working up some ammo for his sheep hunt. He connected on a beautiful Dall sheep just a few weeks ago, sheep dropped where it stood at just over 400 yards. Second slam at 70 years young. Shot a caribou with it too, same results. Very capable load!

Sheep hunting, my passion for 35 years before I got too old. Always carried a .300-.338 because we on combo hunts. I did take 4 sheep with the .280 rem using nosler 160s.
My hats off to your dad, give him my congradulations.
Bill

 

[nakneker]

Sheep hunting, my passion for 35 years before I got too old. Always carried a .300-.338 because we on combo hunts. I did take 4 sheep with the .280 rem using nosler 160s.
My hats off to your dad, give him my congradulations.
Bill

Congrats on four sheep Bill. I think we all dream of a sheep hunt! hope to go on a sheep hunt or two before my time passes, the hour glasses is emptying, got a few years left to get it done, just need to do it.

Sean

 

[wboggs]

Congrats on four sheep Bill. I think we all dream of a sheep hunt! hope to go on a sheep hunt or two before my time passes, the hour glasses is emptying, got a few years left to get it done, just need to do it.

Sean

I could keep up until I was about 65. After that the climbs took longer and my load lighter.

 

[nakneker]

I could keep up until I was about 65. After that the climbs took longer and my load lighter.

I’m 9 years off from 65, you did pretty good if you were still traversing sheep country at 65. Kudos to you!