I finally had it out to test it. What a treat to shoot. The brake eliminated so much recoil that there was virtually no recoil. The stock fit like a glove, perfect length of pull and hand position on the trigger was very comfortable. The GRS stock design is very well thought out. The Set trigger on the tikka is a treat to use.
Shot several sub MOA groups but I dont think I shot any sub 1/2 moa but not bad for the first day out.
I think Ill head out tomorrow as well to finish breaking in some unfired brass. If I have any 1/2 MOA or better groups Ill share some photos.
So far, very please with my new rig. I think I have a good hunting rifle. (with a lighter scope)
PSS Had an interesting experience, the muzzle brake loosened up during shooting. Groups opened up like you wouldnt believe, probable 6 inch group. Tightened it back up and back to sub moa.
I shot mine yesterday for the first time as well. After doing the clean one shoot one for 13 shots with factory ammo I gave it a good cleaning and started shooting test loads with 54gr R26 to 56.5 gr. Lapua brass, Fed 210m and 143eldx. Best group was .332 with 55.5 gr but the velocity was only just over 2800. Didn’t have the brake on it and found recoil to be very mild. Going to load up some more starting with 57gr. My goal is under 1/2” and 3000 FPS.
I shot mine yesterday for the first time as well. After doing the clean one shoot one for 13 shots with factory ammo I gave it a good cleaning and started shooting test loads with 54gr R26 to 56.5 gr. Lapua brass, Fed 210m and 143eldx. Best group was .332 with 55.5 gr but the velocity was only just over 2800. Didn’t have the brake on it and found recoil to be very mild. Going to load up some more starting with 57gr. My goal is under 1/2” and 3000 FPS.
57gr of R26 with ADG brass gives me 3050fps and around 3/8" average for three shots. The brake was removed after the first test firing, as it was obnoxiously loud. Recoil is mild without the brake, and it is much more pleasant noise wise. The brake does change the point of impact 3" at 100m
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Only accurate guns are interesting.
Last edited by elkhunter11; 04-23-2023 at 05:39 PM.
I've had mine out a few times, Savage Apex Storm. Factory loads and handloads. I can't get it to group for nothing. It hits quite a bit harder than my 6.5cm, but it's also nearly half the weight.
Still need to try bumping up the charge a bit. I dont remember exactly what charge weight I'm using off the top of my head but I still have room, 4831sc. Hornady 143 ELD X. If they continue to give me grief, probably jumpp over to a TTSX
57gr of R26 with ADG brass gives me 3050fps and around 3/8" average for three shots. The brake was removed after the first test firing, as it was obnoxiously loud. Recoil is mild without the brake, and it is much more pleasant noise wise. The brake does change the point of impact 3" at 100m
When I had my C/A Mesa I was getting similar velocities as you.
With this Tikka i was only at 2875 with 56.5gr R26. I just finished loading up some more with 57.5-58.5gr.
I’m not sure what it is with Tikka barrels but everyone I’ve loaded for I find very slow.
I ran 13 rounds of 143eldx precision hunter past my lab radar when I was doing the barrel break in and they averaged 2780.
You would almost think I’m shooting a CM and not a PRC.
Was back at the range today and had some good accuracy results. Had a couple 1/2 MOA groups and no groups over 1 MOA. I was using some 130gr Sierra Match Kings I had laying around and some Berger Elite Hunters. Lapua was the brass used and H1000 is the powder. COAL is just what ever will fit in the magazine.
My final load will be using 143gr Eldx and I am hoping to get it over 3000 fps. I'm a bit nervous hearing your stories, because my rifle is a Tikka and I have had some tikka rifles with slow barrels before. I bought the PRC because of the velocity. I guess we will see once I've fired all my brass and do some pressure series with a chrono.
Was back at the range today and had some good accuracy results. Had a couple 1/2 MOA groups and no groups over 1 MOA. I was using some 130gr Sierra Match Kings I had laying around and some Berger Elite Hunters. Lapua was the brass used and H1000 is the powder. COAL is just what ever will fit in the magazine.
My final load will be using 143gr Eldx and I am hoping to get it over 3000 fps. I'm a bit nervous hearing your stories, because my rifle is a Tikka and I have had some tikka rifles with slow barrels before. I bought the PRC because of the velocity. I guess we will see once I've fired all my brass and do some pressure series with a chrono.
I have never had a Tikka not produce the expected velocity without pressure signs, but as posted earlier, it has often taken more powder than listed in the data. And this is not just the case with Tikka, it is quite common with multiple brands, as factory chambers can be quite generous.
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Only accurate guns are interesting.
I dropped my load a bit, as I was having some ejector marks showing up.
Running lapua brass, magnum primers and now 56.7 gr H1000 and getting just above 2900 for speed. This is without a chrony, just with shooting out to 1000M figuring drops. 156 Gr berger EOL.
My last group printed 4 overlapping and one just off the group for 5 shots. I'm okay with that as a hunting rifle. 22" barrel, no brake. I don't think a brake is necessary on the 6.5 prc.
I have to admit the 6.5PRC just kinda fits in a nice spot as far as energy / recoil / ballistics goes. I know there is no such thing as the perfect cartridge but this one is pretty nice.
Although the 7PRC has definately caught my eye as well.
Hey are calling me a Wuss for having a brake! I am an old fart that hates recoil! ! I kid I kid. Nice to hear your wacking steel at 1KM. Good for you.
From one old guy to another! I came down from a 300 WM to the PRC, so this is mild.
I'm just over 9 lbs with a full 3 round mag, sling, as I hunt weight, so the recoil is mild. I do like decent glass, so that brings the weight up, but that is my preference.
I said to self to be practiced up to 1000m, as you never know what may present itself. My longest kill so far has been just over 200M, but I have been ready. My pet peeve is having something present itself say at 500M, and I have no idea of what it is, or ability to shoot it. (from my younger years)
I have several times had moose out near 500m, but they were cows. With my optics I can see that, and now have the ability to shoot that.
I have been working at shooting off a tripod as well to 500m, and that is another completely different skill set.
The 7 PRC doesn't interest me at all. Getting back up on recoil doesn't interest me much.
Always love reading the debates on the best caliber for the hunting applications threads.
Um, they all kill the same within 90% of the end users range and ability for hunting! Any other discussion is fruitless, with mine is bigger and better than yours!
Get what thrills your fancy at the time. Like some getting a $5000 rifle that a $500 rifle can do. Like driving a Pontiac or driving a Mercedes! They both get you there, just one does it in style/comfort.
Me, now that I have used better glass, going to a lesser type is hurtful. For the kids, yea they get the budget glass. Me, its only premium now, just because I can and want to enjoy things while I can. Just like a premium rifle. Man they run sooooo smooooth!
Sometimes you just want a cheese burger from Mcd's, sometimes you just need a steak from the Keg!
I found that the Hornady brass worked fine, for two firings, then the neck tension became significantly less consistent, and the groups opened up. If I had to use Hornady brass, I would anneal after every two firings.
I just reloaded some of the factory brass from a box of the Hornady 147 Match ELDM. The primer pockets were quite loose, and I was surprised considering they havent been reloaded yet. I dont think I will use them after this firing.
I just reloaded some of the factory brass from a box of the Hornady 147 Match ELDM. The primer pockets were quite loose, and I was surprised considering they havent been reloaded yet. I dont think I will use them after this firing.
On my 6.5 PRC, we used Hornady brass after shooting a couple boxes of factory stuff that the rifle really did not like. Primers pockets were loosened after the second firing. I know some guys like it, but I have never been a fan. I bought some Lapua brass from a member here for future use.
Always love reading the debates on the best caliber for the hunting applications threads.
Um, they all kill the same within 90% of the end users range and ability for hunting! Any other discussion is fruitless, with mine is bigger and better than yours!
Get what thrills your fancy at the time. Like some getting a $5000 rifle that a $500 rifle can do. Like driving a Pontiac or driving a Mercedes! They both get you there, just one does it in style/comfort.
Me, now that I have used better glass, going to a lesser type is hurtful. For the kids, yea they get the budget glass. Me, its only premium now, just because I can and want to enjoy things while I can. Just like a premium rifle. Man they run sooooo smooooth!
Sometimes you just want a cheese burger from Mcd's, sometimes you just need a steak from the Keg!
ABSOLUTELY 100 % agree. RJ
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The 284 WIN - is the Original Short Magnum !
Had an interesting thing happen while is was doing my testing. I left a cartridge in the camber while the barrel was cooling. It was one of the lower powder charges and and after a few minutes I took the shot. Low and behold the chrono reads 3003 fps. Strange I say out loud. The guy next to me at the ranges hears me and says whats up? I said I had a big velocity spike. He goes I thought that might happen you were cooking that round. Then it hit me (duhhh) thats what he meant by cooking, the powder must have gotten hot in the chamber.
Good lesson right there.
I also Chronographed the Hornady ELD-M 147 factory ammo. Velocity was 2853-2871 ES of 39fps so it was quite a bit slower than advertised on the box.
Using a Magneto Speed Chrono
On my 6.5 PRC, we used Hornady brass after shooting a couple boxes of factory stuff that the rifle really did not like. Primers pockets were loosened after the second firing. I know some guys like it, but I have never been a fan. I bought some Lapua brass from a member here for future use.
I am a lapua guy myself. Stings when your hunting and loose a piece or two
Beautiful day at the range! Was around 20c and very pleasant and no wind. I loaded up 10 rounds using 58gr of H1000 and the Lapua brass and Horady 143 eld-x. Wasnt promising. I had an ES of 45fps and average velocity of 2997 with two rounds that were way out of spec (2950 and 3030) so I removed them from the string.
I did a pressure series from 58.2 to 59 and no major pressure issues. The last shot had the slightest evidence of cratering in the primer. Velocities were from 3011(58.2) to 3059 (59) I think I have something I can work with. Sadly there werent any really obvious nodes.
So it seems like I will be able to work with this. 10 Shots grouped just over an inch. I havent done any work on seating depth. I think I will be happy if I can get the ES under 20fps and from what I am seeing this is doable within the parameter of 3000 fps overall. It Should make for an excellent hunting. round. I will post the results when I get 1/2 MOA and and <20fps ES. More work to do but its a fun project.
Added a couple of spread sheet in pdf so you can see it graphically.
58.4 H-1000 got me a 1/2 group or two and the velocity is averaging over 3000fps the ES is a bit high at 21fps but there was one shot that was kind of out of the normal velocities on the slow side. If I remove that one then my ES is in the low teens. I am quite happy with that for a hunting rifle. Now I just shoot it and enjoy it.
Chose it because of good BC and it opens up at lower velocities (1200fps). This combination makes it effective at longer ranges. Will have 1100 Foot pounds of energy out to 800m (according to applied ballistics) Velocity should still be around 1800 fps at that disctance
This will be great for those twitchy white tails out on the prairies.
Finally had it out
100 % agree. RJ
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