6.5 PRC

[Treeman]

 A friend of mine just bought this thing, and wants to shoot 156 gr Berger bullets. He has asked me to help him reload, but I dunno where to start with something like this? Local propellants ? Imported better ?
Was thinking Retumbo ?
 
Any input ?

[Tripodmvr]

Loads up to 60K psi of max 65K psi.



Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                                  %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
Vihtavuori N560 *C                  94,4     55,7     3,61    2877    99,7    60000   13668   1,275  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-26 *C               91,4     56,8     3,68    2876   100,0    60000   12928   1,294  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO                     94,8     58,2     3,77    2874    99,0    60000   13870   1,282  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                        93,4     55,5     3,59    2869    99,8    60000   13228   1,265  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                            98,7     55,5     3,59    2869    99,8    60000   13228   1,265  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP *C                        92,6     55,8     3,62    2869   100,0    60000   13099   1,284  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 *C              100,0     57,5     3,72    2866   100,0    59913   12622   1,275  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214                         98,6     59,1     3,83    2865    99,9    60000   13007   1,257  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 70 *C                90,0     55,4     3,59    2864   100,0    60000   12713   1,267  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N565 *C                  98,9     58,7     3,80    2859    99,7    60000   13532   1,296  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213                         94,6     55,2     3,58    2859    99,8    60000   13139   1,261  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 *C               94,7     55,3     3,58    2850   100,0    60000   13012   1,281  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation        94,7     55,3     3,58    2850   100,0    60000   13012   1,281  ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 *C                     94,7     55,3     3,58    2850   100,0    60000   13012   1,281  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP15                         97,2     55,6     3,60    2850   100,0    60000   13042   1,282  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR                      97,2     55,6     3,60    2850   100,0    60000   13042   1,282  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT *C ~approximation     98,2     57,9     3,75    2837    98,9    60000   13141   1,261  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                      94,8     59,7     3,87    2835   100,0    60000   12463   1,279  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905                       96,1     55,1     3,57    2828    99,6    60000   12864   1,279  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP30                        100,0     57,8     3,74    2817    99,7    55641   13485   1,332  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 *C                     100,0     57,8     3,74    2817    99,7    55641   13485   1,332  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209                         91,6     52,6     3,41    2816   100,0    60000   12376   1,267  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 *C               92,0     53,2     3,44    2813   100,0    60000   12428   1,275  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 60 *T                83,6     50,7     3,28    2812   100,0    60000   11607   1,279  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation          92,7     53,6     3,47    2808   100,0    60000   12350   1,275  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC *T                 93,4     54,6     3,54    2801    99,5    60000   12457   1,271  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 *T                    97,2     54,6     3,54    2801    99,5    60000   12457   1,271  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 518                 88,4     52,7     3,42    2800   100,0    60000   11994   1,283  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-16 *C *T            87,4     49,2     3,19    2800   100,0    60000   11531   1,273  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23 *C *T            96,7     54,7     3,54    2798   100,0    60000   11663   1,295  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        82,8     50,6     3,28    2797   100,0    60000   11934   1,283  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      82,8     50,6     3,28    2797   100,0    60000   11934   1,283  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511                 84,9     52,2     3,38    2796   100,0    60000   11898   1,283  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 *T               82,9     50,2     3,25    2795   100,0    60000   11529   1,285  ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17                            82,9     50,2     3,25    2795   100,0    60000   11529   1,285  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      87,7     52,3     3,39    2795   100,0    60000   11883   1,284  ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4                         90,3     52,2     3,38    2794   100,0    60000   12147   1,274  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 *C                        87,4     52,2     3,38    2794   100,0    60000   12147   1,274  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation           90,3     52,2     3,38    2794   100,0    60000   12147   1,274  ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 62                   86,1     52,1     3,38    2787   100,0    60000   11641   1,300  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385                        92,1     53,8     3,49    2775   100,0    60000   11816   1,296  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780              91,1     55,5     3,60    2774   100,0    60000   11883   1,282  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904                       91,2     52,0     3,37    2773    99,8    60000   11947   1,274  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4955 Enduron *C*T               94,8     53,3     3,45    2770    99,6    60000   12064   1,271  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 *C                  84,8     50,0     3,24    2769   100,0    60000   11506   1,293  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP *C                        87,2     49,8     3,23    2768   100,0    60000   11368   1,290  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation          87,2     49,9     3,23    2768   100,0    60000   11365   1,290  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT *C ~approximation     88,1     51,7     3,35    2765   100,0    60000   11591   1,288  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 *C                  97,2     55,6     3,60    2765   100,0    60000   11603   1,287  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon CFE223 *C                   79,0     49,8     3,23    2763   100,0    60000   11272   1,286  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       86,3     49,9     3,23    2762   100,0    60000   11320   1,311  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365                        88,6     50,9     3,30    2760   100,0    60000   11024   1,302  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 *C                  97,5     54,0     3,50    2759    99,7    60000   11758   1,277  ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2217                        100,0     57,2     3,70    2757    99,5    52989   12719   1,331
Hodgdon H1000 *T                   100,0     57,2     3,70    2757    99,5    52989   12719   1,331

[Againstthegrains]

From everything I have read, the Bergers like to be seated out, touching the lands.

[janfred]

They also work extremely well with a massive jump.

For instance, 155gr Berger Hybrid in .308 win shot 1/2 MOA at 3mm (0.120") jump. Much better than it did at 0.5mm.

The outlier is Berger VLD bullets. Apparently they can be quite jump sensitive.

[troglodyte]

I have been reading up on these newer calibers, rather impressive stuff these long bullets and fat cases.

[big5ifty]

Whichever powder you choose, the supply needs to be constant, and the batches consistent.

I've found that Vihtavuori is most generally available everywhere. The consistency of N570 through N555 is good enough that I don't need to change the load between batches.

It is a bit more expensive, but you save on not having to redo load development when the batch number changes.

I'd suggest picking a powder to burn 100% in the given barrel length. Retumbo, for example, in a shorter barrel is going to give incomplete burn, which reduces performance.

The powder you choose should ideally give close to 100% case fill.

GRT is a good start to picking a powder that gives 100% burn, and as close to 100% case fill as possible.

[Tripodmvr]

The above figures were produced by Quick Load and any load with 90% plus fill should give good results. Any of the first ten above should work. Constant supply would be the main deciding factor.

Regarding COL. If loading close to the lands then a reduced load would be needed as a pressure spike occurs due to the difficulty in starting the bullet. If hunting is the main application then 100% feeding and fit into the chamber is a given. I have always started with a COL of 1mm off the lands for cup and core and 2mm off for mono bullets. It has stood me in good stead and with charge adjustments have obtained MOA or better for all my hunting loads.

[Treeman]

It is for hunting, will apply above suggestions

[Newton]

Yoh Treeman - what brand of rifle did said person in need of reloading purchase ?
A HOWA perhaps ?

There is loads of data available for this calibre
World competition F-Class shooters neck it up to 7mm - known as the 7-6.5 Alex wheeler

ADG 7-6.5 PRCW (Precision Rifle Cartridge) brass was designed in collaboration with Alex Wheeler specifically to create a 7mm round using ADG's proven 6.5 PRC cartridge case specifically for ELR shooting.  This cartridge is literally our 6.5 PRC cartridge case only sized to 7mm.  As such, the neck thickness will be slightly thinner than the original 6.5 PRC cartridge or any fire-formed brass that you may have.  Our average neck thickness for the 7-6.5 PRCW cartridge is 0.0135″ as compared to 0.0149″ for our 6.5 PRC cartridge.  The average loaded neck diameter of 7-65 PRCW is 0.3120″.  Chamber reamers are available from JGS Precision in both a neck turn and NO neck turn variant.  You can order these directly from JGS with the following part numbers:

JGS Chamber Reamer Part Numbers:      NO Neck Turn – 7-65PRCW_NT     /     Neck Turn – 7-65PRCW

Alex Wheeler

7-6.5 PRC F-CLASS

7-6.5 PRCW

Berger bullets on reloading ...

Getting the Best Precision and Accuracy from VLD bullets in Your Rifle

How to Load a Hybrid Bullet

Berger Bullet method of find best seating depth