Thread: 6.5prc

Thanks for the help here fellas , I’ll be reloading for this as soon as I get some dies. Still super impressed with the Norma accuracy and consistent speed but just disappointed that the new wiz bang prc is so far behind the stated box velocity.

Let it speed up mate you might be pleasantly surprised I think box velocity’s are ambitious at best my old .270 never came close to packet velocity’s

I’d be contacting Norma and complaining. Complaining constructively.

You never know what the response will be - from “tough shit” to “we’ve posted you a cheque”. I’ve had both ends of the spectrum.

I would be asking for an explanation for the low velocity, why the delta to the stated velocity is so big, and what they suggest can be done about it when reloading. It is possible that you get hold of a tech who will share with you some detail on what powder they have used, and how much. It would also be worth trying to find out what barrel they used in their testing, and how many shots it had already fired when used for testing.

only takes five minutes to go through the contact form on the website and you never know what might happen.

Wow very interesting, id be somewhat dissappointed too.

As others have said if its a new barrel with less than 100 shots down it, you may find it could speed up by up to 100 fps once its had a few more down it.

It pays not to get too carried away with load development until after 100 or so rounds down the tube and it speeds up, otherwise you end up having to redo it.

All this sure makes my 7mm Saum seem attractive compared to the new kid on the block. 162 Amax at 3050 easy as from 22 inch tube from 63 gr of Re26. Can push harder up over 3100 but theres no need.

The Re26 goes good in my 24" 65 creed too, 143gr eldx at 2850 fps very accurately from 48gr. But this barrel was slow initially too.

Originally Posted by GWH

Wow very interesting, id be somewhat dissappointed too.

As others have said if its a new barrel with less than 100 shots down it, you may find it could speed up by up to 100 fps once its had a few more down it.

It pays not to get too carried away with load development until after 100 or so rounds down the tube and it speeds up, otherwise you end up having to redo it.

All this sure makes my 7mm Saum seem attractive compared to the new kid on the block. 162 Amax at 3050 easy as from 22 inch tube from 63 gr of Re26. Can push harder up over 3100 but theres no need.

The Re26 goes good in my 24" 65 creed too, 143gr eldx at 2850 fps very accurately from 48gr. But this barrel was slow initially too.

Yep that's why I switched from the prc to saum. Way better knock down too.
Let the grilling begin hahaha 😆

Superformance is the go for the 6.5prc IMO

Originally Posted by Gkp

Yep that's why I switched from the prc to saum. Way better knock down too.
Let the grilling begin hahaha ��

Superformance is the go for the 6.5prc IMO

Haters gonna hate ha ha. Same can be said about the 7mm rem mag, you can get close with a 280ai or 284, maybe you can go higher, maybe you use slightly less powder, but at the end of the day they all do the same job and they do it well.

I'm excited to hook into a new caliber and I'll certainly share mu results, with factory for starters and some handloads later down the line.

My 24 " PRC does just over 3k with 58.1 gn of 2217 140 eldm , my 20" does 2950 with 56.5 of superperformance 143 eldx.
Both rifles speed up after about 150 down the pipe.
With 56.4gn of SP and a 130gn sst was at just on 3k with the 20".

Originally Posted by Doon

My 24 " PRC does just over 3k with 58.1 gn of 2217 140 eldm , my 20" does 2950 with 56.5 of superperformance 143 eldx.
Both rifles speed up after about 150 down the pipe.
With 56.4gn of SP and a 130gn sst was at just on 3k with the 20".

Im 3130 with 124 Hammers and 20". Lethal. N565

Originally Posted by Doon

My 24 " PRC does just over 3k with 58.1 gn of 2217 140 eldm , my 20" does 2950 with 56.5 of superperformance 143 eldx.
Both rifles speed up after about 150 down the pipe.
With 56.4gn of SP and a 130gn sst was at just on 3k with the 20".

Hi @Doon what brass are you using in your PRC? And where did you find data to start your load dev with?

Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

Hi @Doon what brass are you using in your PRC? And where did you find data to start your load dev with?

In my 20" tikka I am using hornady brass.
I didnt have any published load data for superperformance but went on another members load.
I started at 55.6 gn in .2 inrcrements to 57.2.
From looking at my notes I loaded 129sst and 140sst.
I settled on 56.6 which gave me 2950 fps with the 140 sst and the same load with the 129sst produced just over 3000 fps.
The same load gave me 2950 with the 143 eldx, most groups were about 1/2 moa.
At 57 .2 of SP I got ejector swipe and heavy bolt lift, pressure can rise very quickly with this powder so be carefull especially on hot days.
Load development was over a magnetospeed v3

Originally Posted by Doon

In my 20" tikka I am using hornady brass.
I didnt have any published load data for superperformance but went on another members load.
I started at 55.6 gn in .2 inrcrements to 57.2.
From looking at my notes I loaded 129sst and 140sst.
I settled on 56.6 which gave me 2950 fps with the 140 sst and the same load with the 129sst produced just over 3000 fps.
The same load gave me 2950 with the 143 eldx, most groups were about 1/2 moa.
At 57 .2 of SP I got ejector swipe and heavy bolt lift, pressure can rise very quickly with this powder so be carefull especially on hot days.
Load development was over a magnetospeed v3

Thanks for that @Doon load data for Superformance is patchy at best which is a shame because it is such a good powder. I haven't got the rifle yet but once I do I'll be mucking around with some Superformance but haven't decided on projectile yet

I bought a box of those Norma’s to try, 20” barrel and they were 2700fps but grouped well.

Creedmoors looking better and better same speeds for 10gns less powder just about 22” . I’m very confident all these fresh barrels will speed up yet

If you have to have a 6.5 consider the 6.5 rem mag

Easy to neck down 7mm rem mag brass

The 143/147 and heavier approach rem mag energy levels, and not the dramas of the rum cases necked down.

This’ll make me sound like an old fella and I suppose I am getting old to be honest but my first rifle while at college was an old Mauser in 6.5x55 with the high rings so you could see through the iron sights or the scope depending on where you held your head. My best mate had a 7x57 , and we used to only buy Norma ammo from our local sports store as the European ammo was always significantly faster than the American loaded ammo loaded for European cartridges. I’m thinking this probably hasn’t changed hence the 200fps slower velocities than stated on box , the Norma certainly shoots fantastically so no complaints with that but fps is well down as confirmed by outdoor lad. Also nice to know my chrony is working ok. I’m betting if I can find a box of Hornady ammo it’ll be going way faster, will keep you all posted.