6.5 PRC - hunting loads

[drop_point]

Recently purchased a 6.5 PRC in a factory hunting rifle to compliment my custom long-range hunting rifle. I did so with the intention of using light all-copper bullets such as the 127 gr Barnes LRX. The rifle is a 1:7" twist. I grabbed some 140gr Nosler Partitions I pulled from 6.5-284 ammo ten years or more ago and loaded them 1.5 gr under the Hornady data for their 140/143 gr bullets. I'll be dipped...they shot under half an inch at 100 yards in virgin brass. I've been lukewarm to the Partitions in the past, but is there any reason not to just work with Partitions in a 0-400 yard deer rifle? Well, price maybe.

Anybody else using a 6.5 PRC for hunting? What kind of loads are you using? Anybody have any results to add to the discussion?

 

[Tucker65]

I've put together four 6.5 prc's all with 24" 7.5 twist proof carbon barrels. They all shot 1/2 moa or under at 500 yards with Rl-26 pushing a 156gr Berger @ 3000 fps.

John

 

[drop_point]

I've put together four 6.5 prc's all with 24" 7.5 twist proof carbon barrels. They all shot 1/2 moa or under at 500 yards with Rl-26 pushing a 156gr Berger @ 3000 fps.

John

Those 156s are impressive, and I've been trying to find some in stock for a good year for my long-range hunter. I'd love to find some. Currently, I've been playing with H4831SC and H1000.

 

[FeMan]

I have a 6.5 SAUM and have used it for hunting. The 156 EOL shot amazing and the load was running 3200 fps with N570. Unfortunately I shot an antelope at 805 with it and the bullet didn't expand. The follow up at 200 did but I wont be using them for hunting anymore.

The 127 LRX shoot bug holes and work great. I am running them around 3,300 with RL23.

 

[drop_point]

I have a 6.5 SAUM and have used it for hunting. The 156 EOL shot amazing and the load was running 3200 fps with N570. Unfortunately I shot an antelope at 805 with it and the bullet didn't expand. The follow up at 200 did but I wont be using them for hunting anymore.

The 127 LRX shoot bug holes and work great. I am running them around 3,300 with RL23.

Any increased copper fouling with that particular bullet/velocity?

 

[AZHTR]

Those 156s are impressive, and I've been trying to find some in stock for a good year for my long-range hunter. I'd love to find some. Currently, I've been playing with H4831SC and H1000.

I ended up settling on N565 for 140 VLD’s, 143 ELD-X’s and the 156 EOL’s. IMR4831 was super accurate but only could get to ~2850ish FPS before pressure signs in a CA Mesa.

 

[drop_point]

In my long range rifle, I've been shooting the 143s at about 3050 in a 24" barrel with H4831SC, but not killed with it.

 

[JB10]

I have a ca mesa that i plan on using 156 eol bergers with n565. I have tried a few different charges out but not spent enough time actually working on a load for it. Stuff has been hard to find but i now have a good supply and just need to sit down with it.

 

[FeMan]

Any increased copper fouling with that particular bullet/velocity?

I have not had a copper fouling issue. Its a hunting rifle so I don't shoot it a lot and the cleaning interval is probably 30 rounds or less. Total round count is just over 100 rounds. I also HBN-coated my LRXs.

 

[Geezedtee]

I ended up settling on N565 for 140 VLD’s, 143 ELD-X’s and the 156 EOL’s. IMR4831 was super accurate but only could get to ~2850ish FPS before pressure signs in a CA Mesa.

I'm using N656 and 140gr SST's with CCI BR2 primers in a Hornady case. They're going out at 2990fps out of a 24" Bergara. This seems to be as fast I can go before showing pressure signs on the case.