If you took the time to read Part 1 of this article, thank you! It took off more than I could have ever expected and I hope the information was helpful for your own 6.5 PRC reloading journey.
Since we got so much response from Part 1, I decided to try out some more popular powders for the 6.5 PRC and get out as much load information as possible.
We’re using the exact same rifle, (Seekins Havak PH1 / 24 inch Rock Creek Barrel / Thunder Beast Arms Ultra 7 6.5) with the same Fed 210M primers, Hornady cases, and 143 ELD-X bullets.
The only thing that has changed is we replaced the Vortex Gen 1 Viper PST with a Leupold Mark5 HD 3.6-18x44 scope in 35mm Hawkins Precision Ultralight Tactical Scope Rings. We also placed a Bix’N Andy Dakota trigger in the Havak and it is working flawlessly. This set up is now perfect.
Loads were developed on a FX-120i scale with a V3 Autotrickler setup. Velocity was grabbed via a Magnetospeed V3 Chronograph. Reloaded using Hornady Custom Grade die set, and a Sinclair Mandrel Expander for setting neck tension. The Powders we will be testing are: H4831SC, Retumbo, Reloder 23, and Vihtavuori N 565.
*Notes – If you read the last article thinking, these velocity numbers are slow. Maybe that’s the case. We are used to running slower in the competition world to have a more consistent and reliable shooting rifle. Your barrel may be faster, or you may see the same results. As with all things reloading, your results may vary. These articles are only meant to be a starting point for your own purchases and load development.
** This article was delayed due to COVID-19 and the huge demand it placed on the firearms industry. I had to cease testing for some time as all reloading components became scarce.
H4831SC – Is it Only for Light Bullets?
H4831SC is often the powder of choice for 6.5x284 shooters. Many people say its burn rate is a tad too fast to push the heavy 6.5 caliber bullets fast in the PRC. Since we’re right in the middle with the 143 ELD-X, I felt this would be a good barometer for how it would perform on either side of the scale, and H4831SC did not disappoint.
The velocity numbers below may not knock your socks off, but the accuracy was simply amazing. This is the best the Havak has ever shot. The first 7 rounds went into a group just over ¼ MOA, while letting the barrel cool after 3 shot strings. It was flat hammering and I felt like I was shooting my competition rifle.
H4831SC:
50.5 – 2,795 FPS
51 – 2,820 FPS
51.5 – 2,859 FPS
52 – 2,859 FPS
52.5 – 2,865 FPS
53 – 2,910 FPS
53.5 – 2,931 FPS
54 – 2,932 FPS
54.5 – 2,955 FPS
55 – 2,981 FPS (Heavy Bolt Lift/Pressure)
There is a large node around 2850 FPS, and a smaller one 2930 FPS. Just 30 FPS slower than my previous load of 57.7 grains of IMR7977 (or H1000). However, the accuracy was better and consistent.
I believe H4831SC would be amazing under a 135 grain Hornady A-Tip, 130 Sierra Tipped GameKing/Gamechanger, 135 grain Berger Classic Hunter, or a 127 Barnes LRX. However, if you are looking to push 156 Berger EOLs past 3K FPS this is likely not your powder.
*Note: After I briefly ran out of 143s, I sourced some 130 Sierra Gamechangers and ran a load of 54 grains of H4831SC to see how it would do. Not surprisingly, it shot great. No pressure, 2,990 fps. That’s about as far as I got as before finding 143 ELD-Xs to finish this testing and go hunting. However, if you’re looking to load light bullets in a PRC, this is your powder. Look no further.
Retumbo – Performs Better than IMR 8133, or More of the Same?
If you read the first article, you know we tried out IMR 8133 in lieu of Retumbo because of availability. The IMR 8133 unfortunately did not get us much velocity and the accuracy was comparatively poor. Retumbo is the same burn rate, so let’s see how it did.
Retumbo:
55 – 2,869 FPS
55.5 – 2,879 FPS
56 – 2,894 FPS
56.5 – 2,913 FPS
57 – 2,950 FPS
57.5 – 2,970 FPS
58 – 2,978 FPS
58.5 – 2,987 FPS
59 – 2,999 FPS
59.5 – 3,051 FPS (Slight Heavy Bolt Lift)
Retumbo really performed well in the 6.5 PRC. Accuracy was good and we have finally found a powder that will shoot into the 3,000 FPS range without pressure in this rifle. There seems to be a node in the 57.5/58.5 grain area at 2970 -2990 fps. Because of this it seems like it would be a good candidate for 150 grain and up bullets.
*Note: Clean those magnums! While testing Retumbo I did have to clean my barrel after about 150 rounds. All of this testing of slow burning magnum powders produced a lot of carbon build up. I had to shoot the Retumbo test twice. The first time I got pressure early from heavy carbon and powder build-up in the barrel.
Reloder 23 – Dark Horse Powder?
Reloder 23 is generally easier to find than RL26 and was listed by Hornady as a possible 6.5 PRC powder. It is a faster burn rate like H4831SC and is advertised as temperature stable. Seemed like a no brainer to try it out and a few folks I’ve talked to said it’s their secret go-to powder. Here’s the velocity numbers.
Reloder 23:
50 – 2,777 FPS
50.5 – 2,808 FPS
51 – 2,830 FPS
51.5 – 2,865 FPS
52 – 2,882 FPS
52.5 – 2,908 FPS
53 – 2,930 FPS
53.5 – 2,949 FPS
54 – 2,981 FPS
54.5 – 3,005 FPS (Heavy Bolt Lift, Extractor Mark)
After the shooting session all I could really think of Reloder 23 is it was average. Groups were OK, velocity was OK. It just did not light the world on fire. If you’re needing a powder for a “right now” situation, I think Reloder 23 works. Otherwise I’d stick with H1000, Retumbo or H4831SC.
Vihtavuori N565 – Hard to Find, The Newest Hotness?
N565 has been gaining popularity for 6.5 PRC recently as a powder that is accurate and provides good velocities. After being at the right place at the right time, I also had two pounds of it to try right before publishing this data.
The problem with Vihtavuori over say Hodgdon is all the reloading data I could find was someone’s handwritten notes via a forum. Not ideal, but it was something to start with. Going off that, I started low at 53.5 grains and went to 58.
VV N565:
53.5 – 2,789 FPS
54 – 2,810 FPS
54.5 – 2,829 FPS
55 – 2,862 FPS
55.5 – 2,873 FPS
56 – 2,894 FPS
56.5 – 2,940 FPS
57 – 2,953 FPS
57.5 – 2,984 FPS
58 – 3,003 FPS (no pressure!)
Looking over the numbers the one thing that stands out is hitting 3,003 FPS with no pressure signs. Hardly any powder has hit 3,000 FPS in this rifle and not produced at least slight heavy bolt lift. Not the case with Vihtavuori N565. Accuracy was also exceptionally good in the ten-shot group. I can see why so many folks are going with this powder in their PRCs.
I would have certainly worked more on this load, but I tested the N565 eight days before my first hunt of the year. I’ll have to revisit N565 in the offseason. It’s one of the clear winners for this cartridge though, and I will be working up more loads with this powder in the future.
Conclusion
After shooting eight different powders in the 6.5 PRC I feel like I have a good handle on what works. If you’re just getting into handloading for 6.5 PRC I don’t believe you can go wrong with these powders: H1000 or IMR7977, H4831SC, Vihtavuori N565, and Retumbo. I have had many people tell me Reloder 26 is the best overall powder in their rifles, but it just did not work for me. It is however exceedingly popular for good reason. If you can find it, it’s likely worth a shot.
What did I ultimately settle on for hunting in 2020? H4831SC. Accuracy won over speed and frankly I ran out of IMR7977 and I had no time to do more testing with N565. H4831SC was like hitting the easy button. What it gives up in velocity, it more than made up for in accuracy.
I took a load of 53.5 grains of H4831SC to on a Rocky Mountain Ranches Antelope hunt. Running fresh brass I was shooting the 143 ELD-X at 2890 fps and took a nice speed goat buck at 600 yards in a 8-12 MPH full value wind. I was likely a hair slower running virgin brass, but it did not matter when bullets hit exactly where they’re supposed to every time.
Either way, I hope the information gives you a good starting point for your own 6.5 PRC loads. Thanks again for reading and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Nick Depperschmidt is the marketing director for Hawkins Precision, a precision rifle components manufacturer in Colorado Springs, Co. www.HawkinsPrecision.com He is an avid hunter and competitor in PRS and NRL style matches. If you’d like to reach out, email Nick at nick@hawkinsprecision.com
