6.5PRC N560 Berger 156 EOL

[ELR LVR]

I agree with Fast14riot. If there is a place to look, its in the range of 4 to 6.

One thing though is your combined group is wider than it is tall. That is a red flag and might suggest that your seating depth is not near optimal or probably more likely, that your rifle does not like the powder. Below is a powder ladder I shot with a 300 Norma at 800 yards. It illustrates the shape you want to see (tall and narrow).

There are several good suggestions above for other powders to try. I have had good enough luck with H1000 that I haven't tried the others.

Tall and Narrow during the ladder test---
--- indicating it's mainly your powder charge and a change in velocity
All other aspects are in tune
Correct?

 

[FeMan]

Tall and Narrow during the ladder test---
--- indicating it's mainly your powder charge and a change in velocity
All other aspects are in tune
Correct?

If a ladder is wide, I’ll try and fix that with seating or change powders. Vertical to me translates to what you are saying and I just look for the place(s) where it breaks over before heading vertical again.

I just shot a 5 shot group with my 284 at 1060 yards that had 1” of vertical. The brass was not annealed. The annealed shot 5” of vertical. Neck tension matters too!

 

[ELR LVR]

If a ladder is wide, I’ll try and fix that with seating or change powders. Vertical to me translates to what you are saying and I just look for the place(s) where it breaks over before heading vertical again.

I just shot a 5 shot group with my 284 at 1060 yards that had 1” of vertical. The brass was not annealed. The annealed shot 5” of vertical. Neck tension matters too!

I really like the 284 Win, it gives a lot of options and high BC bullets
A very versatile cartridge.
Very surprising your results with the neck tension and using NON ANNEALD brass?
I like the way Peterson 284 brass feels in its neck tension, feels same as Virgin 284 Winchester.
What brass were you using for your 1060 yd test here?

 

[FeMan]

My latest 1060 yard ladder was shot with Lapua brass. Here is the target. FWIW, there was a switchy tail wind and I held the same for all five shots. Just looking for vertical here. The grid overlay is 1-inch

 

[Gabe22BR]

Shot mine today with Retumbo-
1 barrel warmer & 3 for group at 100yds
144hybridill move to 300yds- see how it prints

 

[Nimbus73]

So I finally shot my 54.2-56.0@.2 increment and as a group was 1.18MOA with velocity from 2907 to 2979 at 83°F but I started seeing ejector marks at 54.4 and up.This load is showing some promise. After some test loads at 53.5, 53.8 and 54.2 with the 54.2 giving me 2920fps and .7 moa despite showing pressure signs. After reading some input on this thread about velocity and having started tinkering with GRT I decided to back down and try a load of 7 at 53.0gr, and 7 each at 54.2, 54.3, and 54.4. At 92°f the 53gr (no pressure signs) gave me a 0.66moa omitting the cold bore shot which stretched it to .93 moa with an A.V. of 2870 with SD 7.5 ES 23.The 54.2 showed some ejector marks, but with a AV 2930, 8.2SD & ES 24. Group was about 1 moa. I did not shoot the 54.3 and 54.4 loads. I will re-evaluate 53.0 again this fall and the unfired loads in much cooler hunting weather for pressure signs, but for now I'm sticking with 53.0gr at ~2870 using N560.
I also just completed my initial ladder using H1000 which also gave me 2895 at 55.9 at ~92F before I started seeing ejector marks and only tested up to 56.5 before I got bolt lift. I also just got a pound of N565 to try soon to see how I like it.

 

[mic2377]

I think your mild N560 load is going to work just fine. If it is tolerating the heat OK you have some leeway pressure wise, and that velocity is very reasonable.

I do think H1000 and N565 are more temperature insensitive but N560 isn't too bad...

 

[Nimbus73]

I think your mild N560 load is going to work just fine. If it is tolerating the heat OK you have some leeway pressure wise, and that velocity is very reasonable.

I do think H1000 and N565 are more temperature insensitive but N560 isn't too bad...

When I first got into reloading last January, I didn't know anything. I was barely educated on the temperature sensitivity of various powders. Since then, I've learned so much and I still am. I chose N560 not knowing it wasn't as insensitive as other powders. At the time, I chose it thinking it would be more versatile across many of the different cartridges I shoot and not as cartridge specific. I've since learned H1000 is popular in the 6.5PRC and it is not temperature sensitive. Being that it was a slower powder I bought it and have just started testing it. I have a handful of other powders, Ramshot Grand, H4831sc and some too fast for the 6.5PRC, as well. I recently bought some N565 but haven't had time to test it yet. I would like to be able to get into the 2925-2950 range without being over pressure but haven't found the right knob to turn yet. I'm happy where I currently am at knowing that I'm not wrecking my brass and with some seating depth tweaks I think I can squeeze a little bit more precision but for my purpose I'm satisfied.

FWIW I think there are many people across multiple forums shooting projectiles loaded on the hot side to attain more velocity than what a realistic velocity should be possibly not realizing they are far above safe loading pressures. That being said, if ejector marks are a first indicator of high pressure, then that was one of my signs to not push further. I made some loads where I had primer flattening and tight bolt lift that gave good groups and exceptional velocity, but I've come to realize I'm past what my desired outcomes and needs are and not knowing at what pressures the load is creating makes me uncomfortable. That's something that I am still learning to recognize when I see someone's published load if it's too far over what could be safe or potentially dangerous.

 

[FeMan]

FWIW, N560 is great but it burns very hot and will be harder on throats than H1000, which is very cool burning. N565 is in between them.

 

[Nimbus73]

FWIW, N560 is great but it burns very hot and will be harder on throats than H1000, which is very cool burning. N565 is in between them.

So is that due to the fact H1000 is a single base powder? I read where the VV N series powders are double based.

 

[FeMan]

That is at least part of it. The heat of explosion of single based powders varies as well due to kernel size, shape and coatings. The double based powders take it to the next level.