Thread: N565 & R26 in 6.5PRC - anyone using it?

More on this.

I have tried N565, R26 and H1000/2217. 140 grn Berger Hunter, Speer Gold Dot and Amax.

Best velocity and accuracy combos have been N565 & 140 Bergers and 2217 & 140 Amax. Both at 2870fps.
R26 sent everything at 2900 with slight pressure and not good groups. The Gold Dot will shoot .5MOA but slower at 2800 fps.

The Berger and Amax loads both shoot sub .5MOA consistently.

I've shot 4 deer with the Bergers and was a little disappointed. Slow kills, no exits.

I shot 3 Fallow with the Amax load last night and they were devastating. 100, 230 and 325 yards The 100 yards was a head shot so doesn't count. The 230 yards shot was very much on last light. I couldn't work out which end was which. I caught a glimpse of its head go up which gave me an orientation - dropped at the shot (I think) - hit a bit far back but a big exit and dead deer. Tilly found it 25 yards down the hill. The 325 yard shot I tried to be a bit clever and went for a neck shot (the left hand one in the pic). It missed and the deer stood up facing me and I got it in the neck with the second shot but with the angle and what ever the bullet ended up in the hip and ruined a HQ. Good penetration though.

Overall the M18 & 6.5PRC is a deadly accurate combination. Wonderful value and naturally accurate. Not a lightweight but solid to shoot. I had hoped for 2900 fps when I chopped it to 20" but falling 30fps short isn't the end of the world. The Amax will shoot into .25MOA and kill well. That's good. I have 250 of then.

I have 120 143grn ELDX gifted to me by a forum member out of the blue (ain't that wonderful), so they will be next bullet I try.

Im not convinced that the PRC is "better" than my 270wsm. Very similar - maybe a draw.