6.5 mm Privi vs 6.5 mm SMK

[MJ]

I don't call my self an expert reloader by any means but I have had some questions about bullets and this was the only way I can answer them. Because of the rise in cost for components I started looking around for bullets for practice days. I tried Rem. SP's and a few other that cost $11 per 100. They shoot but performance drops off after 200 yards and is just OK at 100 yards.

Then I found the Privi bullets in 6.5 mm and .310" in 250 pc. bags for a bit less then the 100 count SMK's. The question was will the shoot well enough to get some good results out at 300 yards.

To this end a made a simple plan. I would use the same fire formed cases and RL22 powder. Then shoot some targets trying to cool off between strings and then between shots. The course would be at 100 yards.

Here is what I found and I'm sure I could have gotten more consistant results if I had better skills.

Semi rapid first strings. SMK's first the Privi ten minutes later. No stopping between shots.

I did two sets like this and the results where about the same.

After a luch break I shot the next target with 5 min. between each shot. Still no big news.

This was surprising as the quality control between the Privi and SMK are big.
138.4g~140.7g for the Privi and 139.7g~140.2g for the SMK for a ten count of each. Some where heavier or lighter so I tossed the high and low the did the numbers.


To fiinish off I shot several five shot groupes with the Privi which all looked like this or close.



I have ordered another 500 of the 6.5's based on this, I still will keep loaded 6.5X55 with the SMK's on hand for the two Mil Surp shoots in Nov. and Feb.

Test bed.


The .310" bullets are another story. They are 150g and I think I need to chang powder to say IMR4065 . Groups where OK but not as good as the starting strings of the 6.5 mm. They grouped in a more circular pattern and low. When I re-run the test I will post the results.

The 91/30 liked them well but the Savage a known supper shooter did not like the combo of H4895 and .310 Privi.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/montereyjack/DSCF4775.jpg[img]


Cheers
MJ

 

[Davo]

Great post, Ive had similar results with the 168gr hpbt in .308
Privi is better then pulled military ball, but still does very poorly compared to the match rounds.
I wish there were more options for practice. I know some hunting rounds are actually fairly accurate and may be cheaper then match rounds.

 

[MJ]

168's are again OK. they force you to work harder.



03 bolt gun.

 

[cracked butt]

The PRVI bullets look like they might have some potential. I don't know what your time is worth to you, but if you seperate the bullets by weight you might be able to close the performance gap between them and the SMKs a bit.

Because fo the cost increases, I'm kind of going the other way with bullets. I've shot a lot of 140gr SMKs through my M41b in the past, but just got a box of Berger VLDs I'm going to try out. I figure that if bullets are gettign expensive, especially Sierras, I might as well pony up a few more bucks and try Bergers.

 

[cracked butt]

For short range ~100 yards or less plinking, I shoot cast bullets through my 6.5mm rifles. I haven't been able to get them to shoot awe-inspiring groups, (the swedes are a pita with cast) but they are good enough to roll beer cans out to 100 yards easily, and their cost is only a few pennies a piece.

 

[MJ]

I'm in for the long haul.

I bought 1K of the 6.5 and 1K of the .310" 150g that I can use in 7.62X54R and 303 British.