Stuff like this is fascinating. It is interesting how things are not exactly linear. The velocity gains with each increment of powder charge are not uniform. The ES and SD can vary noticeably with powder charges even 0.1 or 0.2 gr apart. The conventional wisdom that the best groups occur with the lowest SD is not exactly true either. Good point about not chasing the highest velocity. Too many people do that. 50 or 60 fps makes little difference at normal ranges. And let's be honest- few average hunters can shoot effectively at 400 yards or beyond, despite the fish stories we hear. I am planning to get a 6.5 PRC in the near future, so this is all very helpful to me. Thank you
Every barrel is different. My bergara barrel is very forgiving. I tried Rl25, Rl26, Retumbo, H1000 with ELD-X or M (virtually the same bullet) 140, 143 & 147. I have Norma brass. All shoot well with this barrel. For hunting I slightly prefer temp stable powders.
I wish it were that simple to answer. You will have to refer to the Hornady Reloading Manual to figure out a tarting point. There are a lot of variables that would effect your outcome vs mine. Each barrel is different, like @scottgreen6538 had mentioned. Every barrel has it's own harmonics due to different metal makeup, barrel length, heavy barrel vs fluted barrel, etc. It depends GREATLY on what powders and primers that you have available to you as well. The brass can create variables. How the brass is machined can create variables as well. And let me tell you, there are ALOT of GREAT powders that you can use on 6.5 PRC. Whichever powder that you use, don't start at the red line. Work your way up to it and pay attention to your brass and your rifle and the shot groups. That will tell you pretty much everything to keep it safe. If the groups go from good to erratic, it is time to back off. Look at your brass for damage and/or pressure signs. Pay attention to your rifle. If it feels like it is kicking your ass, back off. If the bolt is becoming hard to rotate, back off. This is where you can really damage your gun and/or have a catastrophic failure and your rifle will no longer be serviceable and could cause physical harm to yourself or others around you. Always take your time and be smart about what you are doing. Thanks for watching. Shoot straight and be safe!
Doesn’t make sense that ES and SD and group size were good at 56.4 and 56.6 grains of RL25 and you get a very big jump in ES and SD at 56.5 grains but group size was very good. Hmmmmmmmm Depending on your results with the lesser charges would you reconsider reshooting the 56.5 grain 5 shot group? Maybe Labradar was being inconsistent…..mine has shown inconsistencies at times.
I don't think that he is in an accuracy window he just got lucky with the ES on those 5 shots i think, you can't really tell much from .3 grains with a case as big as the prc. An accuracy window could be 1 grain with a case like this.
Another thing, if you look at 56.4 and 56.5, they do what i call sharing velocities. the highest for 56.4 is 2848 and the lowest for 56.5 is 2845 or you could say they overlap. Then if you compare 56.5 to 56.6 there is some overlap there also. In my experience, this is a sign of being on the edge of an accuracy window. If you look at the shape of the groups, you see 56.4 and 56.5 is stringing, and 56.6 is roundish in shape. To me, that is where he is getting into an accuracy window. He may have to go up a little farther in powder or changing the seating depth could help or both. The center if the group moved up also with 56.6 another sign of changing "nodes".
And don't forget, if this rifle doesn't have 150 to 200 rounds on it, there is chance that this is all futile and he will need to back his powder charge down later.
The high ES and small groups, I think, is just a sign that the rifle is going to shoot good. Keep in mind, the groups may be small, but the shape isn't very good. The stringing and high ES go together and are definitely are a sign that it's not a happy load.
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Stuff like this is fascinating. It is interesting how things are not exactly linear. The velocity gains with each increment of powder charge are not uniform. The ES and SD can vary noticeably with powder charges even 0.1 or 0.2 gr apart. The conventional wisdom that the best groups occur with the lowest SD is not exactly true either. Good point about not chasing the highest velocity. Too many people do that. 50 or 60 fps makes little difference at normal ranges. And let's be honest- few average hunters can shoot effectively at 400 yards or beyond, despite the fish stories we hear. I am planning to get a 6.5 PRC in the near future, so this is all very helpful to me. Thank you
I am glad that you find this useful! I hope that when you get into reloading that you have fun and just be safe about it.
I'm ready to start reloading my 6.5 prc ,. What load would you recommend ( for hunting ) using the Hornady ELDX ? My rifle is the CVA Cascade .
Every barrel is different. My bergara barrel is very forgiving. I tried Rl25, Rl26, Retumbo, H1000 with ELD-X or M (virtually the same bullet) 140, 143 & 147. I have Norma brass. All shoot well with this barrel. For hunting I slightly prefer temp stable powders.
I wish it were that simple to answer. You will have to refer to the Hornady Reloading Manual to figure out a tarting point. There are a lot of variables that would effect your outcome vs mine. Each barrel is different, like @scottgreen6538 had mentioned. Every barrel has it's own harmonics due to different metal makeup, barrel length, heavy barrel vs fluted barrel, etc.
It depends GREATLY on what powders and primers that you have available to you as well. The brass can create variables. How the brass is machined can create variables as well. And let me tell you, there are ALOT of GREAT powders that you can use on 6.5 PRC.
Whichever powder that you use, don't start at the red line. Work your way up to it and pay attention to your brass and your rifle and the shot groups. That will tell you pretty much everything to keep it safe. If the groups go from good to erratic, it is time to back off. Look at your brass for damage and/or pressure signs. Pay attention to your rifle. If it feels like it is kicking your ass, back off. If the bolt is becoming hard to rotate, back off. This is where you can really damage your gun and/or have a catastrophic failure and your rifle will no longer be serviceable and could cause physical harm to yourself or others around you.
Always take your time and be smart about what you are doing.
Thanks for watching.
Shoot straight and be safe!
Doesn’t make sense that ES and SD and group size were good at 56.4 and 56.6 grains of RL25 and you get a very big jump in ES and SD at 56.5 grains but group size was very good. Hmmmmmmmm
Depending on your results with the lesser charges would you reconsider reshooting the 56.5 grain 5 shot group? Maybe Labradar was being inconsistent…..mine has shown inconsistencies at times.
I don't think that he is in an accuracy window he just got lucky with the ES on those 5 shots i think, you can't really tell much from .3 grains with a case as big as the prc. An accuracy window could be 1 grain with a case like this.
Another thing, if you look at 56.4 and 56.5, they do what i call sharing velocities. the highest for 56.4 is 2848 and the lowest for 56.5 is 2845 or you could say they overlap. Then if you compare 56.5 to 56.6 there is some overlap there also. In my experience, this is a sign of being on the edge of an accuracy window.
If you look at the shape of the groups, you see 56.4 and 56.5 is stringing, and 56.6 is roundish in shape. To me, that is where he is getting into an accuracy window. He may have to go up a little farther in powder or changing the seating depth could help or both.
The center if the group moved up also with 56.6 another sign of changing "nodes".
And don't forget, if this rifle doesn't have 150 to 200 rounds on it, there is chance that this is all futile and he will need to back his powder charge down later.
The high ES and small groups, I think, is just a sign that the rifle is going to shoot good. Keep in mind, the groups may be small, but the shape isn't very good. The stringing and high ES go together and are definitely are a sign that it's not a happy load.
@@reloadingfun Appreciate your insight and experience. Many thanks
Overall cartridge length please
The COAL is 2.338 from base to Ogive. For my rifle, that is 0.028" from jam.