I have 3 6.5 calibers that I’ve been shooting Hornady bullets with great success. Since the powder and bullet shortage I’m considering going Berger and really wanting one bullet to buy in bulk and be done. I have 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-284 and 6.5-300 wby. I’m on the fence between 153.5 and 156. I will mostly be shooting for fun but like the idea of using the 6.5-300 for hunting as well as some long range plinking. I will also be using the other 2 in local 500 meter and 600 yard competitions. I’m at low elevation for competitions but about 2000 for long range. Any feedback is much appreciated
All around 6.5 bullet
- Thread starter nealm66
- Start date
What’s the purpose for the switch? Nothing against Berger at all but the Hornady’s have been far more available historically. Pick the bullet that all your guns like to shoot, and run with it.
Does anyone have a twist rate chart for 6.5 Creedmoor? I'm running a 1:8 barrel and clearly no problem with SMK 142s which already has a great BC. Maybe if I ever get out to a state where I can shoot more than 300-500 yards it'll make a huge difference in ballistics to switch to 150s. What are the odds of me getting away with 150gr bullets in a 1:8 twist barrel?
Is the juice worth the squeeze?
Can you get them fast enough to beat the performance of a 130-140?
I can tell you the 147 eldm works with a 1-8 at distance.
1000 and under I’d be shooting the 130’s
That’s where I’m going with my 260 after shooting heavies for the last few years.
Well, I have excellent results with Hornady in all three but two of the powders have become unavailable and the 147’s are now backorder only. I’m about to do load work up all over again and was just thinking of one bullet to satisfy them all. I was thinking the Berger would hold up to the weatherby speeds and still be usable for target . I will admit, I’m struggling with this new kestrel as it’s not giving me accurate results compared to the Hornady app I’ve been using. I recently purchased it for the Berger switch and just entered the same info to try and get used to using it before hand. I’ll get a call in to support tomorrow and see if they can figure out the discrepancy. Anyways, that’s the only reason for the switch.I’m gonna go with the 245 Berger’s in the 300 is the other reason for the kestrel.
I still need to chrono my rounds, but Sierra thinks you can certainly push a 150 nearly as fast as a 142 and that the BC of the 150 stays a lot higher for longer than the 142s do.
Even if I only get the 150s up to 2600, the BC of the 150s won't dip into the second band after 600 yards (assuming no head or tailwind). And still over 1500 ft/sec at 1000 yards. I'd like to assume with a 24 inch barrel, I could get decent velocities.
Here’s my recent loads FWIW.
Christiansen Arms 6.5 PRC 24” carbon barrel 1:8”
Magneto V3
81F 45% 30.09mmHg
SMK 150 HPBT
Rx 26 56.0
Hornady brass x 3 firings
Fed 210M
BTO 2.220
COL 2.040 (too long)
COAL 2.946
2987, 2993, 2972, 2984, 2971
2986, 2977, 2998, 2982 SD 9
0.75” @ 100 and 2.75” @ 300
Berger 156 gr Elite Hunter HPBT
Rx 26 55.6
Hornady brass x 3 firings
Fed 210M
BTO 2.220
COL 2.040 (too long)
COAL 2.920
2931, 2940, 2956, 2943, 2953 SD 10
0.5”
Christiansen Arms 6.5 PRC 24” carbon barrel 1:8”
Magneto V3
81F 45% 30.09mmHg
SMK 150 HPBT
Rx 26 56.0
Hornady brass x 3 firings
Fed 210M
BTO 2.220
COL 2.040 (too long)
COAL 2.946
2987, 2993, 2972, 2984, 2971
2986, 2977, 2998, 2982 SD 9
0.75” @ 100 and 2.75” @ 300
Berger 156 gr Elite Hunter HPBT
Rx 26 55.6
Hornady brass x 3 firings
Fed 210M
BTO 2.220
COL 2.040 (too long)
COAL 2.920
2931, 2940, 2956, 2943, 2953 SD 10
0.5”
