Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Berger 156 6.5 PRC Proof Not Chambering

Hi - I am having problems with Berger 156 Factory loaded ammo in my 6.5 PRC - and am planning to start handloading these bullets. Any advice would be appreciated

I have a Zermatt Origin Short Action, and a Proof CF Pre-fit - Hornady Factory Ammo (143 ELDX and 147 Match) shoots perfect - I spent quite a bit if time on the phone with Berger and they had me sharpie color bullet, throat, neck and base - it left no marks - the bolt handle does not come all the way back, then I have to put major backward force on it to get it the last 1/4 inch and unchamber the round. It happened with about 10/15 times and I lost a fair amount of skin on the scope knurls:) A few of the rounds actually chambered and shot - the accuracy was not great. The barrel is a 7.5 twist pre-fit and I plan on using VV N168 although I am not sure if I am skilled enough to load 106% compacted although in this heat I imagine I will have to settle for the starting load to avoid pressure

This happened with several rounds from 2 different boxes bought at the same time

Berger was very helpful and finally told me the only thing he could think of is that they use Lapua Brass and that the brass is made to the European spec CIP not SAAMI. This is unfortunate - since no components are available for more than 2 minutes I bought 100 rds of Lapua Brass, 300 bullets and 2 lbs of N168 - all ready to go - I always like to shoot the factory ammo first to give me a starting point for OAL, accuracy etc and when I saw 2 boxes come available - I grabbed them.

The gentlemen suggested I take to a gunsmith and have the extractor modified - this did not seem practical.

Any help would be appreciated - I was thinking that this bullet would push the 6.5 PRC closer to my concept of acceptable for the 300yd elk shots as opposed to my 300 WSM which obviousely kicks a lot more when I practice , which is a lot. I hunt in the high country in Colorado where we are often quite far away and over a valley.


Thanks for any advice - I doubt it matters but I am shooting in Dallas where the temp at the range even in the shade is well over 100F - not real fun screwing around with your rifle instead of shooting

Coupla things. Fhuqk Proof. Secondly,fhuqk Proof. Hint.

Your opening move is to CerroSafe your chamber and see EXACTLY what the fhuqk is going on. Extrapolate from there,be it concentricity or a dimensional spec. Hint.

Lastly,147's have a better BC than the 156. Hint.............

N168?

oops - the mind is a terrible thing to go - N568 -

Seen this happen once before with a Proof barrel, factory brass was to long for the chamber, pulled the bullets trimmed back till brass would chamber and reloaded they shot fine, you might want to have the chamber re reamed, FYI the 147 gr. ELD-M will out shoot the 156 gr. Rio7

147 gr. ELD-M is the cat's meow.....

It ain't the Proof barrel. Hint....

Call em and tell em you want to send it back for new ammo.

That's what I'm doing. Didn't chamber in a GAP built Bartlein or another rifle.

AND, I am shooting the 147 factory ammo now, cause I have a bunch. Seems to be the easy button....

Pull the bullet dump out the powderand see if just the brass will chamber. Process of elimination.

Brass is not deburred on my factory rounds. pulled bullets and tried to chamber empty brass, no go. Tried to chamber factory brass that was new in the blue box, no problem. Same trim length and neck OD on both. It's crazy....