6.5 PRC with 123gr ELD-M / 124gr Hammer Hunter

[CMP70306]

Good Morning Everyone,

So I have been searching around the web for 6.5 PRC load data for a combination 123 ELD-M/124 Hammer Load I’m am going to be working up for an X-Bolt pro LR with the 26” barrel. So far I’ve been coming up short as the limited load data I have found uses the same powders as the 140+ class bullets. Hodgdon is showing 58.2 gr H1000 giving 3113 fps which is only slightly faster than what many are getting with the 140gr bullets and I was expecting 3200+.

So I figured I would tap into the knowledge here to see if anybody as has been running the lighter bullets in this cartridge with any success. My goal was to utilize the 123 for the initial break in/velocity test before developing a Hunting load with the 124 Hammers and relegating the 123’s for cheaper practice loads.

For powders I have 8133, 7977, H1000, H4831SC, Superformance and H4350. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brown PRC]

Did you ever get any load data. I'm starting to work up 6.5 and 300 so any info would help. I have H1000 and 123s for practice also

 

[CMP70306]

Since I made this post I have probably shot close to 2000 rounds of 6.5 PRC, hit clay pigeons at 1000 yards, killed 6 deer, 2 crows and a bear as well as built and rebuilt my rifle probably a half dozen times. It’s been a busy couple years.

I never did end up loading the 123 ELD Ms and actually just sold them a couple weeks ago, with H1000 I primarily shot the 153.5 Bergers. I have loaded the 130gr Berger OTMs with H4350 as I have a bunch for use in the Creedmoor.

 

[Brown PRC]

Thanks for the update. I can get 4831SC and 869 but that's about it so I guess I will just ti ker until I find a sweet spot

 

[CMP70306]

H4831 would work better based on the three options given. 869 is too slow.

 

[Brown PRC]

Yeah been using 869 in my 300 prc and it works well

 

[acourvil]

I worked up a load of 58.6 H1000 for 123gn solids, ~3150fps in a 26" barrel, ADG brass, BR2 primers. H1000 is usable but on the slow side for the lighter projectiles.

 

[Brown PRC]

Have you ever tried Superformance in 6.5 PRC.....powder in short supply in my area

 

[acourvil]

Sorry, no experience with Superperformance.

 

[Brown PRC]

Thanks anyway. I'm loading it at 55.5gr right now. Will post what it looks like with 123gr ELDM's soon. Just gonna run some through a new barrel

 

[CMP70306]

Have you ever tried Superformance in 6.5 PRC.....powder in short supply in my area

I did for a bit, got 3150 with the 124gr hammers in Hornady brass but god damn is it temp sensitive, gained 150 fps and lots of pressure between winter and summer.

 

[Brown PRC]

I did for a bit, got 3150 with the 124gr hammers in Hornady brass but god damn is it temp sensitive, gained 150 fps and lots of pressure between winter and summer.

You remember your charge weight ?

 

[CMP70306]

57.9gr - 3090 to 3224, ES 134 fps, 0.58 MOA

58.2 - 3158 to 3226, ES 68 fps, 0.33 MOA

58.5 - 3180 to 3218, ES 38 fps, 0.26 MOA

58.8 - 3218 to 3231, ES 13 fps

I didn’t get an accurate group for the last one due to the conditions, between the mirage off the suppressor and the fact that it was dark I was having difficulty picking out the bullseye. The group was 0.2 MOA of vertical but 1 MOA of horizontal so I’m pretty sure I just sliding on the bags.

This was from 2019, I eventually settled on 58.8 for the season before switching to a different bullet and powder.

 

[Brown PRC]

Appreciate the info