6.5 PRC Help

[Bobcat 33]

Just got a new 6.5 PRC in C- Arms 20 inch barrel. . Looking for some loading data and best bullet for Midwest deer hunt under 500 yards. I have currently 130 TGK, 129 Hornady sst, Hornady 143 ed. Powders H-1000, H-4350, N-560 and 565, and Magpro. Was out tonight did not do well using 130 tgk, actually i think i have a scope issue im changing out tomorrow, Best group i got was sub 1/2" vel was only 2850. What should i expect with this 20" barrel would love to see 3k
Thanks!

 

[1990DSM]

I think your best bet to achieve that will be N560. Start low and work up see what it gets you. I managed 3100fps with a 140g Barnes MatchBurner in a 24in tikka in 6.5PRC.

 

[coast range]

Man from what I have seen with my 20” tikka you’re going to have to be under 140gr to reach 3k. I was a little disappointed in my velocity at first because I too mentally wanted 3k. But that was an oversight on me. Not needed but good luck and keep us posted

 

[Castle Rock]

Mate, I think you need more horse power, we are talking about midwestern deer at 500 yards here.

 

[Jmort1754]

130 TGK
N560
2.90 coal

 

[Kleiss1]

143 eldx and H1000 work well in my Browning

 

[mlevimadden]

147 ELDM and N565 shoot right around 1 MOA for 10 shots out of my 20" barrel, but I'm only getting 2810 fps. It's worked well for me on antelope, deer, and elk, and is terminally capable well beyond 500 yds.

 

[Backcast88]

To reach 3000fps you will need to be 130 grain bullets or less. I personally wouldn't get to hung up on the 3000 goal. You've bough a gun with a 20" barrel so you have to accept some sacrifices have to be made. You will get close with the 130's and n560 or n565 but I would give up some speed for accuracy. I would rather have a sub 1/2 moa load at 2850-2900 vs. a 1 moa load at 3000. Will both kill deer out to 500? Yep. But I will take accuracy over speed any day.

So if 3000 is the absolute end goal, I would load 130 TGK and n565.

 

[kkp005]

I’ve got a 20” prc and you’re gonna have to really step on it to get 3k.

I shoot 130 tmk and tgk’s at 2850-2900ish. That’s with 58.5gr of n565. I didn’t load it any hotter because it shot tiny little groups with that load

 

[Bobcat 33]

130 TGK
N560
2.90 coal

Share your load and barrel length?

To reach 3000fps you will need to be130 grain bullets or less. I personally wouldn't get to hung up on the 3000 goal. You've bough a gun with a 20" barrel so you have to accept some sacrifices have to be made. You will get close with the 130's and n560 or n565 but I would give up some speed for accuracy. I would rather have a sub 1/2 moa load at 2850-2900 vs. a 1 moa load at 3000. Will both kill deer out to 500? Yep. But I will take accuracy over speed any day.

So if 3000 is the absolute end goal, I would load 130 TGK and n565.

I totally agree on accuracy but woukd like to have some speed. I had a group tge other day .460 only at 2850. At the worst I’ll settle on that . Btw, I’m playing with the 130 to. Have some 129 Hornady SST I might try also.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

Should be achieveable with those lighter projectiles. I shoot the 147s and started with h1k and went to n560 for the higher velocities. 21” bartlein and I’m right at 2940 with adg brass and 55gr n560. I’d personally go with the n560 and those 130s if 3k is your end all.

 

[Backcast88]

I totally agree on accuracy but woukd like to have some speed. I had a group tge other day .460 only at 2850. At the worst I’ll settle on that . Btw, I’m playing with the 130 to. Have some 129 Hornady SST I might try also.

That 130 TGK or 129 SST at 2850 will smoke any whitetail on planet earth. But I also get wanting some speed. In my 24" Seekins, if I don't see 2900 fps min I look at a different powder load.

Loading for a buddies Seekins Element with a 21" barrel we get 2875 with 143 ELD-X and 4831sc. So, dropping to a 130 TGK or even a 130 ELD-M should get you to that 2950ish speed.

I prefer n565 because it way easier to find locally for me and it gets me the best mix of speed and accuracy with 140 TGK in my gun. 4831sc is one or the other. I get good speed but poor accuracy or I get poor speed and amazing accuracy.

 

[Pzak]

I get great accuracy with 55.5 grains of N565 at 2925 fps. 2.935 OAL with a 143 Eldx.

 

[Bobcat 33]

That 130 TGK or 129 SST at 2850 will smoke any whitetail on planet earth. But I also get wanting some speed. In my 24" Seekins, if I don't see 2900 fps min I look at a different powder load.

Loading for a buddies Seekins Element with a 21" barrel we get 2875 with 143 ELD-X and 4831sc. So, dropping to a 130 TGK or even a 130 ELD-M should get you to that 2950ish speed.

I prefer n565 because it way easier to find locally for me and it gets me the best mix of speed and accuracy with 140 TGK in my gun. 4831sc is one or the other. I get good speed but poor accuracy or I get poor speed and amazing accuracy.

I’m new to the 6.5 s’ I would sooner stick with the 129 or 130, old school feeling velocity kills. Read some negatives on these bullets performing . I like a bullet to blow and fragment good most deer over my 59 years dropped in there tracks over only went a few yards. I’m going on a trophy whitetail hunt this fall in Midwest and can’t afford not to have a bullet perform. Have you had experience with them . I’m experiencing same thing with the velocity and accuracy not going hand in hand.

 

[Jmort1754]

Share your load and barrel length?

I totally agree on accuracy but woukd like to have some speed. I had a group tge other day .460 only at 2850. At the worst I’ll settle on that . Btw, I’m playing with the 130 to. Have some 129 Hornady SST I might try also.

I shoot h1000
156 berger
peterson brass
Large rifle primer
56.5 h1000
2902 fps
3.05 coal 21 inch barrel length seekins element

 

[Bobcat 33]

That’s impressing Thanks for the shared information

 

[Backcast88]

I’m new to the 6.5 s’ I would sooner stick with the 129 or 130, old school feeling velocity kills. Read some negatives on these bullets performing . I like a bullet to blow and fragment good most deer over my 59 years dropped in there tracks over only went a few yards. I’m going on a trophy whitetail hunt this fall in Midwest and can’t afford not to have a bullet perform. Have you had experience with them . I’m experiencing same thing with the velocity and accuracy not going hand in hand.

There is an entire thread dedicated to 6.5mm bullets and hunting.

Lots of positive reviews on the TGK, ELD-X, and ELD-M bullets of various weights. The TGK is a the "toughest", then the ELD-X, and lastly the ELD-M but based on the success people have had with the ELD-M in the 130, 140, and 147 I would have zero hesitation to load them.

I've killed a couple with the 143 ELD-X. 1 was DRT, 1 ran 35yds and was easy to follow, and the last ran 65 yds and found zero blood. That one was shot at over 320 yds so not sure if that had much to do with it. I've killed deer with the 145 ELD-X in my 270 and found them to be devastating so I know the bullets work.

I've only killed 1 with the TGK. Better blood than both the ELD-X kills that ran but a sample size of 1 isn't much to go on.

I stick by my 130 ELD-M and 130 TGK suggestions in a short barrel. Heck even the 130 TMK would be a great choice for your application.

 

[TradLife406]

With my 24" I really liked n570 with a hot charge (.3 under Berger max) and a 156 Berger. Got em going 3k and just over .30 mean radian for 20 shots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bobcat 33]

I have some 129 in the SST, what do you think of them?

 

[Backcast88]

I have some 129 in the SST, what do you think of them?

Never shot the SST in the 6.5 line. I've killed a pile of deer with the 130 and 140 SST in mine and my dad's 270.

I don't have any performance issues with the SST. I just hate the cannelure on the bullet and is ugly when bullets are seated long. Its purely cosmetic but I still think its ugly.

I would certainly load them and see how they shoot. But I think the consensus in the hardcore 6.5 community is that the TMK and ELD-M is the 130 class favorites.