7-6.5PRCW load data

[Slowrunning]

Tried 162 edlx today. Sadly, it topped out at 59gr just like the 180hybrid did. I’m assuming it’s because of the bullet being so far in the case. I was at 2.868” OAL. So another .080” freebore would bring it to .125” total freebore to make the most use of the case/bullet combo in a SA repeater. That would definitely gain some speed.

58.7gr H4831sc
162eldx @ 2.868” oal
2815fps with .4 sd

Really good info. Have you tried any other powders?

 

[Geno C]

I haven’t yet.

 

[Stanley basin]

I haven’t yet.

I have been testing powders for what I built. I have a 24" Wilson barrel, #4, 8T. I thought this might be a good hunting rig when I was building it. I know the comp shooters are running 32" tubes. I started using 162 ELD-M's. I did use QL and adjusted the case to 7 6.5 PRC. It was way off speed wise but I had a safe starting point. My reamer was from Manson and one of Alex Wheeler's public prints, thank you Alex. Here is some load data:

162 ELD-M BR2 Hornady brass N568 60.5 2552 13 ES (3 rounds) COL 2.945 to fit mag
162 ELD-M BR2 Hornady brass Retumbo 60 2702 18 ES (3 rounds) COL 2.945
162 ELD-M BR2 Hornady brass 7828SSC 56.5 2726 44 ES (3 rounds) COL 2.945

These were very light loads in my rifle but shot very well. I upped the charges next trip to the range. All COL's are 2.945 so I can mag feed. I have a lot of freebore so this is like shooting a Weatherby with a big jump. I sent my reamer in to reduce this since this is not for competition like the members above.

Next round:

162 ELD-M BR2 Hornady brass Retumbo 64 2934 6 ES (2 rounds) Slight pressure, case maxed
162 ELD-M BR2 Hornady brass 7828SSC 61 2954 32 ES (2 rounds) Slight pressure, Stopped here

I worked up to the above loads. the loads that were in the 2800 MV range shot very well. The slight pressure were ejector kisses (faint) but the cases were maxed out with the above powders. Next I went to Berger 175 Elite hunters.

175 EH BR2 Hornady brass N565 59 2687
175 EH BR2 Hornady brass H4831SC 54 2578
175 EH BR2 Hornady brass H4350 51 2648

These were one shot powder charge work ups. The above loads were the last of the charges I shot. These loads were mild and I adjusted QL for my results to get an idea of what to do next.

175 EH Fed 210 Hornady brass N565 61.5 2808 1 ES (2 rounds) I went higher than this but this load shot extremely well.
175 EH Fed 210 Hornady brass N560 56 2659

I loaded the N560 from 54 to 56. They shot about the size of a quarter for charge ladder. Still slow but accurate. I did not lose any cases to blown primer pockets and no primer cratered even with the ejector kiss. Only on the last Retumbo load was there a slight stiff bolt lift.

I know Mr Green is having Hornady do pressure testing so I am not going to do any more charge work with different powders. I did not have N555 like many of the above shooters were using. I was wondering about Staball HD but I will just stick with N565 at 61.5g. This is what worked in my rifle and is not a recommendation for anyone else.

 

[Geno C]

I am leaving for vacation but my 7mm unithroater is showing up this week. I have some thinking to do on running numbers and decide what bullet I want to go with. I’m sure I can get some more out of this 22” barrel with the 162 if it’s throated a little more to get that bullet out of the case where it is optimal

 

[Rook 6]

I am testing now. Nothing conclusive yet. Center of powder node at 57.8 gr, 2820 fps. .5 or less MOA without playing with seating depth. So far .015 off touch. Waiting for warmer weather to continue testing.

Well, back to the drawing board. 180 Hybrids like 0.012 off the lands but the powder node (or whatever you call it) at 57.8 gr of H4831sc is not holding es very well. Not bad on paper but not great. Going to have to play with powder charge. Going to experiment with H4350. Some very promising results posted in this thread. Fingers crossed. Only 75 rounds through 8.5 twist Brux so hard to really finalize conclusions at this point. Velocity around 2830 at 57.8, 30in barrel.

 

[dthomas]

Berger 180 hybrid, laupa brass necked up, 58.6 h4831sc. 2919 fps. This is new brass with about 100 rounds on barrel. 30" barrel. Still need to fine tune load but 58.6 looks to be in the middle of node.

 

[antunRC]

Hello, I'm curious about your guys approach to seating depth. Do you find any common ground in your preferences for 7-6.5 PRCW - do you tend to seat into the lands or away from them (following the Wheeler method)?

Also, regarding the 180gr hybrid and the 184gr hybrid, do you notice any consistency in their ideal seating depths?

 

[G7BC]

Hello, I'm curious about your guys approach to seating depth. Do you find any common ground in your preferences for 7-6.5 PRCW - do you tend to seat into the lands or away from them (following the Wheeler method)?

Also, regarding the 180gr hybrid and the 184gr hybrid, do you notice any consistency in their ideal seating depths?

For myself, going on advice from a respected fellow shooter, I found touch point with 180 Hybrids ( Deep Creek Method) and went into the lands in .003 increments to test seating depth, ending up around .012 in ( light jam) from touch. At 1000 rds on this barrel and have not had to move it. Have not tested this with the 184's. As far as speed goes I was at 2920 and it shoots awesome there but then came the clickers 2-3 firings on Lapua brass. I have backed down to mid 2800's , still great accuracy and clickers are few and far between so far. I think a lot of us are still in the learning phase with this cartridge.

 

[mperry]

For myself, going on advice from a respected fellow shooter, I found touch point with 180 Hybrids ( Deep Creek Method) and went into the lands in .003 increments to test seating depth, ending up around .012 in ( light jam) from touch. At 1000 rds on this barrel and have not had to move it. Have not tested this with the 184's. As far as speed goes I was at 2920 and it shoots awesome there but then came the clickers 2-3 firings on Lapua brass. I have backed down to mid 2800's , still great accuracy and clickers are few and far between so far. I think a lot of us are still in the learning phase with this cartridge.

I am in the process of building a 7-6.5 PRCW now. I have N555 and 180 Hybrids to start load development. I keep reading about the clickers that some people are getting. Which sizing die should I use to help avoid the clickers? I have read about three different dies that people are using but it seems hard to get info on which one does the best job at avoiding clickers.

 

[Yote Hunter]

Hello, I'm curious about your guys approach to seating depth. Do you find any common ground in your preferences for 7-6.5 PRCW - do you tend to seat into the lands or away from them (following the Wheeler method)?

Also, regarding the 180gr hybrid and the 184gr hybrid, do you notice any consistency in their ideal seating depths?

I just shot this 3 shot group at 337 yards yesterday using 180 Hybrids in my 284 Shehane and this is a 0.015” jam in my Bartlein 5R. Stock is a Bobby Hart Long Range stock and doesn’t fit/ride my cheap rest well at all.

 

[Willow]

Well, back to the drawing board. 180 Hybrids like 0.012 off the lands but the powder node (or whatever you call it) at 57.8 gr of H4831sc is not holding es very well. Not bad on paper but not great. Going to have to play with powder charge. Going to experiment with H4350. Some very promising results posted in this thread. Fingers crossed. Only 75 rounds through 8.5 twist Brux so hard to really finalize conclusions at this point. Velocity around 2830 at 57.8, 30in barrel

Hello, I'm curious about your guys approach to seating depth. Do you find any common ground in your preferences for 7-6.5 PRCW - do you tend to seat into the lands or away from them (following the Wheeler method)?

Also, regarding the 180gr hybrid and the 184gr hybrid, do you notice any consistency in their ideal seating depths?

With the 184s I found my best seating depth about 100 thou off the lands.

 

[Sandstorm]

Which sizing die should I use to help avoid the clickers?

You have a few choices from Bullet Central to Erik Cortina and SAC. Im using the Short Action Customs
and its working fine. Keep the loads a bit milder and you will be ok from my experience at least. Im able to get 10 firings before the brass will not form back any more...so I may pick up another die one day and see how that goes. YMMV as always

 

[Rook 6]

I may be going overboard to avoid clickers and donut related issues but here is how I’m personally prepping brass going forward based on feedback here:
Anneal
Size the 200 line with a Cortina mandrel die body
Clean
Resize with whatever flavor FLS you use
Expand 80 percent of the neck
Trim
Load

 

[G7BC]

Great answers above. I haven't 100% settled on a particular die just yet and still testing. Knowing what chamber dimension, specifically at the .200 line, helps when choosing a die. Aside from that , the biggest improvement for me has been backing down on powder charge.

 

[FeMan]

Great answers above. I haven't 100% settled on a particular die just yet and still testing. Knowing what chamber dimension, specifically at the .200 line, helps when choosing a die. Aside from that , the biggest improvement for me has been backing down on powder charge.

I have a couple questions if you dont mind. Was your reamer a 0.5350" B-line or something smaller? What sizing die(s) are you using? I am about to order a couple reamers and am curious. Thanks!

 

[G7BC]

I have a couple questions if you dont mind. Was your reamer a 0.5350" B-line or something smaller? What sizing die(s) are you using? I am about to order a couple reamers and am curious. Thanks!

Mine is the .535 version. I have 3 different dies I’m playing with currently but most will work if you go that route. All those mentioned above are great. It’s worth mentioning Erik makes dies for .535 and .532 chambers.

 

[FeMan]

Mine is the .535 version. I have 3 different dies I’m playing with currently but most will work if you go that route. All those mentioned above are great. It’s worth mentioning Erik makes dies for .535 and .532 chambers.

Thanks! I have the SAC die for my 6.5 PRC and will start with that for sizing.

 

[mperry]

Thank you guys for the answers. I have the .535 @ .200 line reamer. I had ordered the Cortina die back in November but just as I received it, he came out with the PRC II die. I sent the first one back since I had never used it and should receive the new one soon. Hopefully I can avoid the clickers!!

 

[Rook 6]

Thanks! I have the SAC die for my 6.5 PRC and will start with that for sizing.

My reamer is the .535 Cortina version as well. I went to EDIT .240 free bore to be absolutely sure I was above the donut, but probably was not necessary to go that long.

 

[FeMan]

My reamer is the .535 Cortina version as well. I went to .140 free bore to be absolutely sure I was above the donut, but probably was not necessary to go that long.

Is your freebore really 0.140" or is that a typo (0.240")?