6.5 PRC powder selection for midweights

[Adam in WI]

What powders are you using for ~130 class bullets in the PRC? Im trying 135 Classic Hunters this year and would like to know how much zip people are getting out of them. Nosler claims ~3300 with 130s with RS Magnum (which I have). This seems optimistic to me. I also have a little bit of 7828, 4831SC, and RL 19. Curious to know what others have had success with. Is there another that I should seek out?

 

[B23]

Of the three powders you mentioned having on hand, with regard to velocity, they'll all be pretty close to one another. RL26 is generally the top performer in the velocity department but since it's one of those unobtanium powders there's not much point even talking about it.

Regular 7828 is kind of bulky so you'll likely run out of room in the case before you can get enough in there to pressure out so if you have or can get some 7828ssc that'll get you a little more velocity then regular 7828 simply because you can get more of it in the case before running out of room.

My 6.5 PRC is a off the shelf Christensen Arms Ridgeline I bought a couple years ago kind of on a whim and I like it but I just don't seem to shoot it much so I've mostly only shot Hornady 147 ELD-M ammo through it but like many 6.5 PRC's it shoots that stuff extremely well. Mine shoots the 143 ELD-X ammo pretty good too but it definitely loves that 147 ELD-M stuff.

 

[Adam in WI]

Sorry, the 7828 I have is the ssc

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Sorry, the 7828 I have is the ssc

There is, NO Difference between, the OLD IMR 7828 and, the New IMR 7828 ssc in, "Burn Rate" only Diff is, Size of Kernels ( Old is, Bulkier). IMR 7828 works, "Super" in My .270 WSM with, 140's @ 3,175 FPS, W/ sub. 3/4 MOA group's.
My grandson is using, Winchester, StaBall HD in His 6.5 PRC with 140 gr Berger, Elite Hunters ( A Great Powder, especially IF, you Like "Thrown" charges as, it, Meters,. very, "Well" ). He's getting, Sub 1/2 MOA Group's with, the Load in his New, Savage Lite Hunter, Proof Barrelled, Rifle.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

PS;.. I "Blended" 2 lbs of the Old 7828 with, 3 Pounds of, New IMR 7828 ssc and,. Yup, it's "Ugly" looking, chit,..
But, it shoot's,.. "Fine" !
It's, a really "Good choice" IF, you're Okay with,. "Weighing", Powder. ( I've shot it in my 7mmRem Mag. , also ).
I mostly Run Ball Powders, when ever possible, with the New Temp "insensitive" Blends, offered Today.
I HATE,.. Hand weighing, Powder ! In the 6.5 and 7 PRC's, my son & grandson, are getting Awesome Accuracy with, the Staball HD Powder and NON-Magnum Primers ( F-210- Match) !
YUP,. they Hate, hand weighing Powder,.. also !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Adam,. the Berger, Classic Hunter Bullet, IS Easy to "Tune" in,. MOST, Rifles ! ( I've used, 2 of, them, so far )
Just don't go, too Crazy on, Velocity !
About, 3,150 FPS, "Should Produce" Best group's for you, as my grandsons 140 Elites, are clocking, 3,085 FPS in his 6.5 prc and "Clover Leafing" in, the sub, 1/2 MOA group size for,. 5 Shots.
His group's started to Open Up,. PAST,. 3,100 FPS for, the 140's.

 

[Adam in WI]

Thanks for that. I have a fairly accurate load available utilizing RL 19; but it's just a moseying along at 2900. I wouldn't lose sleep over it but I'll still try some other powders.

 

[wasskeet]

I would think H4831SC would work well. It worked very good in a 6 PRC I had with 109's.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Adam,..
Of the Powders you have Listed,. IMR 7828 ssc would Be My choice, as it HAS Worked, "Well" in, a 7 mm Rem Mag, W/ 154 grain, bullets and in my .270 WSM ( W/ 140 gr. Classic Hunters ) and Produced very NEAR, Top Velocities with, good accuracy,. in BOTH ! Good Luck and,. Keep us posted on, your Loads !

 

[Adam in WI]

IMR7828ssc will safely get me to ~3125. I'll load up a few different weights in this range and see if the fly in the right direction...

 

[rabradshaw]

I’m using Retumbo with 143gr ELDX bullets. Great accuracy, mild recoil, and I’m getting 2935fps with low ES and SD.