Powder choices for 6.5PRC, what I have and what is available locally.

[koger]

I lucked into a good deal on CVA Cascade 6.5 PRC with less than 40 rounds thru it. I have bullets, dies and the following powders locally available, not much to choose from. Here is what I have in the shop
H4831 and SC also
Rel22
Rel 15.5
H 4350
Imr 4350
H4895
The local shop has some Winchester Staball HD which I thought would be great for this round, but I have no experience with it. All feedback appreciated.

 

[B23]

You didn't mention for which bullet but I'll assume something in the 140-ish range so going with that assumption as well as staying with a powder from your list of on hand powders H4831sc would easily be my first choice to try. H4831 is a really good universal all around powder not to mention it's also one that is, very, temperature stable.

Some others to consider that'll work very well and I've seen on the shelves with a decent amount of regularity lately is N565 and IMR7828 and 7828ssc. I'm a big fan of RL26 but that stuff is pretty much unobtanium or if you do find some you practically have to sell a kidney to buy it.

N565 I've seen a fair amount lately and it works reallllly well in 6.5 PRC's so if you're looking for something that isn't on your list and is available to purchase that would be my very first choice but of the powders you currently have H4831 is a good choice. I'm not a big fan of it but using something from you list RL22 would be ok and probably produce a little more velocity then 4831 I've just never been a very big fan of RL22. If this was a 6.5 Creedmoor I'd say H4350 all day long but in a PRC it's just a smidge on the fast side and 4831 or RL22 are better suited for it.

 

[Gary in MD]

Out of the powders that you list, H4831 & RL 22 would be my picks.
I’m using H4831SC in mine, partly because I have an eight pounder that I wasn’t using much in anything else. I’m getting 2920 fps using Lapua brass and federal match primers with the 140 grain Berger EH in a stock Tikka with a 24” barrel. Compared to Hornady data, I had to work up above their listed max to achieve that velocity. I also got good accuracy with 7828SC but the velocity was low compared to book maximum.
I’m leaving a little velocity on the table compared to some other powders but it’s shooting fine so far.

 

[TxBowHunter409]

I lucked into a good deal on CVA Cascade 6.5 PRC with less than 40 rounds thru it. I have bullets, dies and the following powders locally available, not much to choose from. Here is what I have in the shop
H4831 and SC also
Rel22
Rel 15.5
H 4350
Imr 4350
H4895
The local shop has some Winchester Staball HD which I thought would be great for this round, but I have no experience with it. All feedback appreciated.

I can't remember where the 4895 falls on the burn rate chart off hand. But out of that list, I'd probably start with the 4831SC. My personal 6.5 PRC I use VihtaVuori N568 pushing 140 grain Berger Elite Hunters.