I love what you’re doing with your 6.5 PRC setup. Using the Hornady CX loads as your reference point is a really smart move even if the Barnes LRX isn’t a perfect match. I totally get how even the tiniest differences in bullet design can mess with your seating depth and pressure. That’s why I think running your ladder test from 51.5 to 53.5 grains is spot on. By the way, I’ve found that 53.0 grains works pretty well in setups like yours, so I can’t wait to hear how it groups for you.
Honestly, the fact that both the CX and LRX can take the same load behooves me. Both bullets have different BCs, like .489 on the CX and .468 on the LRX. The CX is a tad sleeker/longer and looks as though it's a faster bullet. (by eye) I have used the LRX with success though, and I happen to like Barnes bullets. My friend is loading 130 grain CXs in a 270 WSM, and he's using Hornady brass, which I would only use as a last resort. I'm using Nosler brass on the WSM, as Peterson doesn't offer 300 WSM at this time.
I don't spare any expense on brass, bullets, primers, or powder, and if there's better components, I'll switch to them. In the end it's only pennies to change a component. I want my reloads to be the best I can create.
This rifle is going to bench soon, to be modified. This currently has a Baney Box which will take a 3.1" cartridge, opposed to 2.960~ of the AICS length. I am swapping it over to an M5 bottom metal that will hopefully use a Hawkins flush mount 3 round mag, so I will have 3+1 for hunting. If I can't drop game with 4 shots, then I will need to load another mag, but the mags make it easier.
My other rifle for this season is a Remington 700 in 300 WM, and I have a Boone & Crocket 300 WSM barrel, and I have a Fierce Carbon Roque stock I bought over on LRH. PTG pulled a fast one, as I had the stock shipped to them, so I really hadn't seen the stock for 24 weeks while they d!@$'d me around. I wasn't retired at the time, and the barreled, blueprinted action with picatinny, bottom metal and Timney Impact Trigger (non-adjustable), for $750, so I guess it's no surprise they d!@$'d me around, they didn't even charge me the $250 upgrade to go to a magnum bolt face, it wasn't offered at the time. I don't know the relationship between Weatherby and PTG, but PTG appears to finish the CNC'd action for them, or supplies the bolts to them, I don't know...
The Fierce stock is a long action, so I'm moving the 300 WM to that stock, which has an M5 on it as well. By putting the 300 WSM on that rifle, I get the WSM in a long action, so I can extend the bullet out if I need to. And I measured both the LRXs and CXs and both will fit in the AICS length mag, so I'm pulling the Baney Box and swapping in M5 bottom metal I bought on LRH.
Unless it was a fluke, I know this load shoots. So going back to test 53 grains to make sure I can zero them in by moving the POI with the scope.
At the end of the day I want both the 6.5 PRC in the Manners above, and the 300 WM to both be dialed in and shooting game this year. I have 3 other Weatherbys that are my pride and joy...257 Mag, 270 Mag, and 300 Mag. The 300 Mag is from the 60s, so is German made by JP Sauer. I can tell you, that Weatherby 300 Mag has one heck of a muzzle blast, there was a huge fireball coming out of there as it was getting dark...
I think the PRC is gonna be a shooter, and hope the 300 WM will also. The Weatherbys will be icing on the cake.
For loads, I plan to use McGuire .264" 125 Copper Rose bullets in both Single Feed and Mag Feed, and McGuire .308 178 Copper Rose bullets in the 300 WM/WSM.
Everything is using Peterson Brass, and I have several powders that will work for each, but currently using H4831SC in the PRC.
