Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles R-23???, especially in 6.5-06

Anybody out there using R-23 for loading 6.5-06? R-22 works well for me but I was hoping to get some advice from folks using R-23. I am about to work up some loads w 140 accubonds and see how they do.

Worked great in my 270 Win with 140gr bullets, great in 257 Roberts with 110gr and 115gr bullets and in 7mm Mag with 160gr bullets.

R23 should be good and maybe will have a higher velocity. No experience with the 6.5x06 but it is good in the 25-06 and 270 so should do well for you. I am slowly replacing most of my R22 loads with R23.

Worked up R23 in the 6.5-06 (A-square) fed 210 primer, 270 RP Brass, 140 Nosler Accubond. Here are the results.

48–2788fps
49–2843
49.5–2844
50—-2875
50.5–?
51—2925
51.5–2958
52—-2968
52.5–?..primer flattening, stopped here,
All primer pockets remained tight and no significant extractor marks on brass. Would probably make 51.5 max?

Plan on group testing loads between 50.5-52 to see how they shoot.

I use IMR 4350 in mine with 120 Barnes. They are really accurate, hammer piggies.

I don't have any info with Rel 23 so I'm giving you what I have. Safe in my 6.5.x 06 , with E.R. Shaw stainless 24" bbl, 1/8 twist. I just worked this up yesterday on my home range. 51.5 grs IMR-4350 with the 121 gr Hammer bullet. Tiny three shot groups. Hope this is helpful. 54 grs of Rel 26 with the Nosler 140gr AB gave me 3075 fps.with no excessive pressure signs & also tiny groups.

Hesp, is that a 6.5-06 A.I., or just the regular ol’ 6.5-06? That’s smokin with those 121 gr bullets. Thanks for the input.
I just wish I had more pressure tested data. I start seeing what I guess to be max load velocities and stop, even if I am not seeing pressure signs with the brass.

My 6.5x06 is a standard 6.5x06 A Square chamber. Not an AI. Standard industry throat. Nothing special. All the loads I have given you have been run over my chrono multiple times so are confirmed accurate. Also have given me excellent case life with primer pockets staying good & snug over several reloads. Of course every rifle is different but these loads also given almost the exact same readings in another 6.5x06 ( 24" bbl ) .. Very uniform. Don't know if you will ever be elk hunting but I took an adult heavy bodied elk with the Hammer 121gr this past season. The bullet completely penetrated both front shoulders wit a DRT . I have been using a 6.5 since 1964 with always excellent results.

Hesp. Is that velocity unique to that bullet? Read on their website that their bullets get the velocity of a “size lighter” in most cartridges...

The same load gives me a slightly higher velocity with the Barnes 120gr TSX/TTSX. This load with either mono bullet ( Barnes/ Hammer ) performs well with this powder/bullet combo in my rifle & a friends.

R 23, Berger 135 Classic Hunter...
49 gr. ....2807
50gr.......2850
51gr.......2908
51.5.......2943
52gr.......2993
52.5gr.....3015 (easy bolt, but primer beginning to flatten)
Seems that 51.5 would be good place to call “max load”.


125 Nosler Partition, R23.
50gr. 2943
51gr. 2972
52gr. 3020
52.5gr. 3037
53gr. 3079
53.5gr. 3102
54gr. 3140
54.5gr. 3165 (light ejector mark-stopped here)

Probably view 53.5-53.8 as “Max Loads”.

Look forward to testing groups to see how they do w R23.

Since you mentioned the Nosler 125gr I thought you might be interested in my load for the 129gr Hornady bonded. In my 24" bbl using CCI #200 primers & 56grs of Rel 22 gave me 3119 fps .As with all the loads I shared with you none including this load gave not the slightest sign of excessive pressure in my rifle. It was with this bullet ( Hornady 129 gr ) & load that I took my muley buck this last season. I'm sure if you can get your hands on some Rel 26 you will see a good performance increase.

I have only relied upon IMR4350 & RL22 in mine.

Its a std 6.5/06 tech a 6.5/270. I choose a 25.5" bbl and 125's clock 3100+. 140 SST's best 3000. I would like to try some accubonds as I like them allot in the 225g 35 Whelen!

CW

After testing R 23 for accuracy, I wasn’t impressed. Mediocre accuracy at best, with a few different bullets. Giving up on this powder. Will stick w experimenting w R-26, and R-22. R-22 seems to have a nice balance between accuracy and velocity. Haven’t had the time to fully wring out R-26, but early testing seems to give me about 50 FPS more velocities with acceptable accuracy.

I shoot 120 SPHs over Re-22 in my Ackley version. Shoots so well I'm scared to experiment, but I'd imagine Re-23 would work just fine.