Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Long-range big game hunting |
| Bullet Type | Speer Impact (bonded lead core, Slipstream polymer tip) |
| Bullet Weight | 140 grain |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Boxer (Large Rifle, Remington No. 9½) |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $54.49/box · $2.72/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Premium 6.5 PRC 130 gr Terminal Ascent, Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 gr ELD-X, Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 PRC 140 gr AccuBond |
Component identification: case material and Boxer system are cross-checked against exact-product listings. Official Specs below separately identifies what is verified in manufacturer sources; unconfirmed primer sizes are not inferred from the cartridge name.
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Remington | Remington 2026 catalog |
| Cartridge | 6.5 PRC | Remington 2026 catalog |
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 2975 | Remington 2026 catalog |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 2751 | Remington 2026 catalog |
| Bullet Weight | 140 gr | Remington 2026 catalog |
| Bullet Type | Speer Impact (bonded lead core, Slipstream polymer tip) | Remington 2026 catalog |
| BC G1 | 0.526 | Remington 2026 catalog |
| BC G7 | 0.273 | Remington current product specifications |
| Manufacturer SKU | R28828 | Remington 2026 catalog |
| UPC | 047700288284 | Remington product GTIN |
| Case Material | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Primer | Remington No. 9½ (Large Rifle) | Remington 2024 catalog; primer designation |
| Reloadable | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
Official-data note: Remington publishes factory ballistic data for this specific 6.5 PRC 140 gr Speer Impact load, order number R28828. The figures below are manufacturer values, not calculated estimates. Remington lists a 200-yard zero and 1.5-inch sight height for the factory trajectory table.
Official figures identify Remington Premier Long Range 6.5 PRC 140 gr Speer Impact, item R28828. A dash means not found in verified official manufacturer sources. Calculated values appear only in the separately labeled extended ballistics table.
Source discrepancy: the current product page lists G7 BC 0.273; an older Premier Long Range catalog listed 0.262. The G1 value is 0.526. Factory downrange values here use the 2026 catalog consistently; small rounding differences exist on the product page.
Manufacturer: Remington. Detailed source records are retained in the editorial verification log.
Ballistics Table
Official Remington factory ballistics. Real-world results can vary by barrel length, temperature, altitude, and ammunition lot.
Zero: 200 yards | Sight height: 1.5″ above bore | Factory muzzle velocity: 2,975 fps
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2975 | 2751 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2795 | 2428 | 1.5 |
| 200 | 2622 | 2137 | 0.0 |
| 300 | 2456 | 1874 | -6.5 |
| 400 | 2295 | 1637 | -18.9 |
| 500 | 2141 | 1424 | -37.8 |
Key takeaway: Use the official figures to identify the factory load. The extended calculation below provides a separate comparison to 1000 yards; it does not establish an effective hunting range or replace measured rifle data.
Related 6.5 PRC factory loads on Ammo Reports: Remington 6.5 PRC 140 Gr Core-Lokt Tipped, Federal Fusion 6.5 PRC 140 Grain Bonded Soft Point, Federal Premium 6.5 PRC 143 Grain ELD-X, Winchester Match 6.5 PRC 140 Grain MatchKing HPBT, and Hornady Match 6.5 PRC 147 Grain ELD-Match.
Calculated comparison – not manufacturer data: Muzzle to 1000 yd in 100-yd steps. Inputs: 2975 fps, 140 gr, G1 BC 0.526; 200-yd zero; sight height 1.5 in. Assumed atmosphere: 59°F, 29.92 inHg station pressure, sea level, 0% humidity; level fire, no wind. Point-mass G1 calculation with py-ballisticcalc 2.3.1; spin drift and Coriolis are not included. Differences from factory rows reflect model and condition differences.
| Yards | Calculated velocity (fps) | Calculated energy (ft-lbs) | Calculated trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2975 | 2751 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2792 | 2423 | 1.5 |
| 200 | 2616 | 2128 | -0.0 |
| 300 | 2447 | 1862 | -6.6 |
| 400 | 2285 | 1622 | -18.9 |
| 500 | 2128 | 1408 | -38.0 |
| 600 | 1978 | 1216 | -64.7 |
| 700 | 1834 | 1046 | -100.4 |
| 800 | 1698 | 896 | -146.4 |
| 900 | 1570 | 766 | -204.5 |
| 1000 | 1451 | 655 | -276.7 |
The Speer Impact Bullet
The Speer Impact is not a rebranded legacy design — it represents a purpose-built bonded hunting bullet engineered specifically for the demands of long-range terminal performance. The core is electrochemically bonded to the jacket, a process intended to keep the bullet together under high-velocity impact and prevent core-jacket separation even when striking bone or heavy muscle at close range. This is particularly relevant in the 6.5 PRC, which launches projectiles at velocities that can cause conventional cup-and-core bullets to fragment prematurely on near-range shots.
The Slipstream polymer tip serves a dual role: it initiates reliable expansion at lower impact velocities encountered at extended range, and it helps maintain a high ballistic coefficient during flight by reducing aerodynamic drag at the tip. The result is a bullet designed to expand consistently whether the animal is standing at 75 yards or 450 yards — a meaningful engineering challenge that bonded-tip bullets address more reliably than non-bonded alternatives. Pairing this construction with the Remington Premier line’s quality-control standards positions this load as a serious long-range hunting option rather than a range-only proposition.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Hunting mule deer, whitetail, and pronghorn at ranges from 100 to 400+ yards in open terrain
- Elk and larger North American game where bonded bullet construction reduces the risk of premature fragmentation on heavy shoulder shots
- Hunters who need a single load that performs reliably at both close and extended distances without changing bullet behavior
- Long-range precision shooters who also hunt and want a load that transitions between the range and the field
- Situations where wind resistance matters — the high BC profile of the 140 grain Impact bullet helps maintain predictable drift at distance
Not the right tool for:
- Varmint or predator hunting, where rapid fragmentation and minimal pelt damage are priorities — bonded construction is intentionally over-built for this application
- Short-range timber hunting where a flat-shooting, high-BC load offers no practical advantage over less expensive options
- Shooters on a tight per-round budget who need to put significant volume downrange for practice — at roughly $2.72/round, this is a hunting load, not a training round
- Jurisdictions with lead-free ammunition requirements — this load uses a lead-core bonded bullet and is not compliant in those areas
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product descriptions, the Speer Impact bullet’s bonded construction is specifically engineered to retain weight and maintain structural integrity through heavy bone and muscle. Remington’s Premier line has historically emphasized consistent primer seating and powder charge uniformity as part of its quality positioning. No documented reliability complaints or failure patterns specific to this load were identified in available open sources at the time of writing. All performance characterizations above reflect manufacturer claims, not independently verified structured data.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Muzzle Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Premium Terminal Ascent 6.5 PRC | 130 gr | Slipstream bonded tip | 0.532 | 3,000 fps | ~$58–$65 | Premium alternative; bonded like the Speer Impact |
| Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC | 143 gr | ELD-X | 0.625 | 2,960 fps | ~$48–$55 | Most popular 6.5 PRC hunting load; non-bonded |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 PRC | 140 gr | AccuBond | 0.509 | 2,925 fps | ~$55–$62 | Bonded construction; direct weight comparison |
| Winchester Expedition Big Game 6.5 PRC | 142 gr | Nosler AccuBond Long Range | 0.625 | 3020 fps | ~$52–$58 | Bonded hunting bullet; Winchester S65PLR, 2026 catalog |
| Browning BXR 6.5 PRC | 129 gr | Rapid Expansion Matrix Tip | ~0.458 | 3,050 fps | ~$38–$44 | Budget alternative; non-bonded, lighter bullet |
| Barnes Precision Match 6.5 PRC | 140 gr | OTM (open tip match) | 0.617 | 2,800 fps | ~$55–$62 | Lead-core match ammunition; not a lead-free hunting substitute |
Note: The Hornady ELD-X is not a bonded bullet — core-jacket separation is possible on near-range, high-velocity impacts, which is a meaningful distinction versus the Speer Impact for close-range big game. The Barnes Precision Match listed above is a match projectile, not a hunting expansion load — buyers seeking a lead-free hunting option should look at the Barnes TTSX or LRX line instead.
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $54.49/box of 20 rounds based on current listings
- Per-round cost: $2.72/round
- The Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X typically runs $48-$55/box, making it $0.20-$0.35 cheaper per round – a meaningful difference if you shoot volume
- Federal Terminal Ascent 6.5 PRC 130 gr runs $58-$65/box, placing the Remington Premier competitively within the bonded-bullet premium tier
- Nosler Trophy Grade is similarly priced at $55-$62/box, making the Remington Premier competitive on a per-round basis among bonded hunting loads
- Fair price benchmark: anything under $60/box for a bonded, polymer-tipped 6.5 PRC hunting load represents reasonable market value in the current environment; above $65/box for this specific load would warrant shopping alternatives
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
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FAQ
How does the Speer Impact bullet differ from a standard cup-and-core bullet in 6.5 PRC?
A conventional cup-and-core bullet relies on mechanical friction between the lead core and copper jacket to stay together on impact. The Speer Impact uses an electrochemical bonding process that fuses the core to the jacket at a molecular level, dramatically reducing the chance of separation when the bullet strikes bone or dense tissue. In a high-velocity cartridge like the 6.5 PRC, this matters most on close-range shots where impact velocity is highest and the risk of over-expansion or fragmentation is greatest. The bonded design also helps the bullet retain more weight through the target, which translates to deeper penetration on large-bodied game like elk.
How does this load compare directly to the Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X in 6.5 PRC?
The Hornady ELD-X is the most widely used 6.5 PRC hunting load and offers a higher published BC (0.625 G1) than most competitors, which gives it a measurable wind-drift advantage at very long range. However, the ELD-X is not a bonded bullet – at close-range impact velocities, core-jacket separation is a documented possibility. The Speer Impact trades some raw BC performance for bonded construction, which provides more consistent terminal behavior across a wider range of impact velocities. Hunters who shoot at mixed distances – including shots inside 150 yards – may find the bonded design more forgiving.
Is this ammunition legal for hunting in California or other lead-free zones?
This load contains lead and is not a lead-free option. Federal Premium 6.5 PRC 120 gr Trophy Copper uses a copper bullet; check applicable certification requirements before selecting ammunition for a restricted hunt.
What game animals is this load appropriate for at long range?
The 140 grain Speer Impact at 6.5 PRC velocities is well-matched to deer-sized game (whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, blacktail) out to 400+ yards in capable hands with a confirmed zero. For elk and larger animals, the bonded construction provides the penetration needed for shoulder or quartering shots, though most ethical hunters limit themselves to 300 yards or less on large-bodied game due to the increased difficulty of precise shot placement at distance. The load is not designed for thin-skinned varmints or small predators where rapid fragmentation is desirable.
What muzzle velocity does Remington publish for this load?
Remington lists this specific 6.5 PRC 140 gr Speer Impact load, order number R28828, at a factory muzzle velocity of 2,975 fps. The corresponding factory muzzle energy is 2,751 ft-lbs. Actual velocity can vary by rifle, barrel length, temperature, and ammunition lot, so hunters building long-range firing solutions should still confirm velocity in their own rifle.
