7-6.5PRCW load data

[tvaught]

Hello Tvaught,
Just slightly off the subject but WHEN is N555 ever going to be seen in OZstralia...???
Vihtavuori powder has been "Un-obtainiun for some years now...
Tigershark Ballistics has done some direct import apparently but are currently sold out of everything and Q Store has not had stock for years nor NIOA who was your major importer and distributor.
Tigershark had an 8lb of N110 listed at $1,110 and is sold out!!!
Pistol shooters here are even more desperate than the rifle shooters and don't get me started about Lg rifle primers...
Some White River & Indian military are sporadically available as are Remington... Currently I can only find some RWS for $269 per 1,000...

Component shortages every where are real for sure. I know many many competitors (as I'm sure you do as well) are having to substitute or ration there shooting, not using favored combinations, or making do with less than ideal. Regret to say I think this new normal is here to stay, as it's tied to global political unrest, and those effects on global supply chain resources.

Short succinct answer is I don't know the answers to your specific questions about Viht powder availability.

 

[Fire Dog]

Component shortages every where are real for sure. I know many many competitors (as I'm sure you do as well) are having to substitute or ration there shooting, not using favored combinations, or making do with less than ideal. Regret to say I think this new normal is here to stay, as it's tied to global political unrest, and those effects on global supply chain resources.

Short succinct answer is I don't know the answers to your specific questions about Viht powder availability.

AH! When I saw "Team Vihtavuori" I thought you might be directly working for the company and be able to give some sort of answer. Ah, well.... {:~/ Have to stick with the AR2213SC {4831SC when relabeled in the USA} or the AR2209 = H4350/H414 in the USA

 

[Jim Ziegler]

I've been using the Cortina expander mandrel die (without the mandrel) followed by the Bullet Central sizing die and haven't had any problems with clickers. The first Bullet Central die I had was out of spec and I was getting clickers after 2 firings.

 

[Sandstorm]

As others have said, you need to find the right combination of dies to go with your Reamer-Spec.
Im using SAC die's and a Cortina mandrel die and so far so good unless I push it over 2950.
However 2910 is working extremely well with N555.

 

[Ruger15151]

I just shot with ErikC a few weeks ago, and he had no clickers, and lots of Xs.

He sells dies, and will get you fixed up, I would reach out to him and ask again.

He didn't have clickers because he is using a Rollsizer to resize the base every time he sizes his fired cases. He made a video and posted it on his forum. Its about $1,000.

 

[G7BC]

He didn't have clickers because he is using a Rollsizer to resize the base every time he sizes his fired cases. He made a video and posted it on his forum. Its about $1,000.

Go with a .535 chamber at the .200 line and use his prcw #1 die. It works like a champ.
Crude illustration included of my measurements using this method.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You got to squeeze this brass hard. Its not like a 284. Theres gonna be a lot more sizing force. I squeeze my 300 Norma imp and 338 Lapua imp even more so it wont click. Get pin gauges to measure your die and work with your smith to get it right. Its really no different than any other cartridge, but if your not used to working with the bigger magnums it may seem like a lot. But also, a lot of guys are running too hot which is problematic. Because this cartridge will let you do it without any signs.

 

[EdHarley]

You got to squeeze this brass hard. Its not like a 284. Theres gonna be a lot more sizing force. I squeeze my 300 Norma imp and 338 Lapua imp even more so it wont click. Get pin gauges to measure your die and work with your smith to get it right. Its really no different than any other cartridge, but if your not used to working with the bigger magnums it may seem like a lot. But also, a lot of guys are running too hot which is problematic. Because this cartridge will let you do it without any signs.

By squeeze the brass, do you mean with a standard die like the SAC dies or with the rollsizer?

 

[Sandstorm]

By squeeze the brass, do you mean with a standard die like the SAC dies or with the rollsizer?

Its trial and error here Ed..You need to foremost not overpressure your cases. Its a fine line here. You need to use the right dies for your reamer spec with dwell time in you sizing process...or get the roll sizer and carry on. Im not using the roll sizer nor pushing my brass very hard and im not having issues at the moment.

 

[Vin81]

54.6gr RL16
2920-2925fps

 

[Phys86]

Go with a .535 chamber at the .200 line and use his prcw #1 die. It works like a champ.
Crude illustration included of my measurements using this method.

Ate you really sizing your base 0.004 on each cycle? What's your case life like?

 

[G7BC]

Ate you really sizing your base 0.004 on each cycle? What's your case life like?

Most are on the 7th firing and holding up nicely so far, Necked up Lapua 6.5 PRC.

 

[Sandstorm]

Im at 10 firings on a few batches. The Lapua brass is solid and primer pockets are all good.
You do need to heed Franks pressure data numbers however. We are all near the upper limits on chamber pressures....even though the brass will let you go much further without issue except the clikkers that show up.

 

[Phys86]

Im at 10 firings on a few batches. The Lapua brass is solid and primer pockets are all good.
You do need to heed Franks pressure data numbers however. We are all near the upper limits on chamber pressures....even though the brass will let you go much further without issue except the clikkers that show up.

Are getting that much sizing on your base? I'm just wondering how many loads the case could go with thatuch movement before getting to head separation

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Are getting that much sizing on your base? I'm just wondering how many loads the case could go with thatuch movement before getting to head separation

Separation comes from stretch length wise not from squeezing the brass. Those of us that have designed and played with big magnums in the LR hunting world have been doing this for many years. Long before a prc existed. I know this seems very different to some but its nothing new. One of the reasons the 338 Lapua imp never caught on is that guys would get resize reamers made .003-.004 under like they do on a br or 308 case head. Then they fight clickers and give up on it. Same with the Norma imp, lot of them out there with badly designed dies. You have to work it out and find what works. But if your expanding the case head, no die can fix that.

 

[Phys86]

Separation comes from stretch length wise not from squeezing the brass. Those of us that have designed and played with big magnums in the LR hunting world have been doing this for many years. Long before a prc existed. I know this seems very different to some but its nothing new. One of the reasons the 338 Lapua imp never caught on is that guys would get resize reamers made .003-.004 under like they do on a br or 308 case head. Then they fight clickers and give up on it. Same with the Norma imp, lot of them out there with badly designed dies. You have to work it out and find what works. But if your expanding the case head, no die can fix that.

Yes but doesn't sizing the brass in any dimension cause brass flow towards the neck which would eventually cause head separation farther down the road after the web thins enough from many load cycles?

If you're just meaning to imply that sizing the base that much will still get you quite a few reloads (10+?) before the web thins too much to shoot the case safely, then I understand that. But it sounds like you're saying squeezing the case laterally does not contribute to brass flow and web thinning at all

 

[Jim Ziegler]

I just took 10 brand new Lapua cases and fired each one 10 times while doing some load testing. Went from 55.5 gr of N 555 to 56.9 and not one clicker.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Yes but doesn't sizing the brass in any dimension cause brass flow towards the neck which would eventually cause head separation farther down the road after the web thins enough from many load cycles?

If you're just meaning to imply that sizing the base that much will still get you quite a few reloads (10+?) before the web thins too much to shoot the case safely, then I understand that. But it sounds like you're saying squeezing the case laterally does not contribute to brass flow and web thinning at all.

Correct, I have never seen anything that would make me believe squeezing the base contributes to case head seperation. Otherwise we'd be blowing case heads off like crazy in the normas and lapuas, we squeeze them a lot.

 

[Sandstorm]

Are getting that much sizing on your base?

Like Alex said its not a concern..your case head separation comes from excessive shoulder bump and
not from squezing the base of the case. However If you shorten the case lengh't overly in your sizing.. your in for a big bummer.

 

[G7BC]

Ate you really sizing your base 0.004 on each cycle? What's your case life like?

7 firings on these in their second barrel
(same reamer) with no issues and I’m keeping an eye on them. I’m really only squeezing them an extra 1 or 2 thousandths. Erik’s smaller die works with the .535 chamber. I think he’s maybe running high 2900’s is why he’s exploring other methods. I’m right around 2900fps. This is Lapua brass we’re talking about also. I wouldn’t go trying to hammer on Hornady.