wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Your initials are on some very strong brass. Hope you can live up to it.
Hornady's new 6.5 prc your thoughs??
- Thread starter Davidb187
- Start date
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Agree, a 7mm would be essentially a 7mmsaum with a small amount of case capacity difference.
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Correct. Very little difference in case capacity. You are talking about a quite small velocity difference. Barrel erosion will be similar. The PRC case may give a little less primer pocket expansion but time will tell.
Bill
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Reloaders and shooters are always looking for the holy grail of cartridges. They always have and always will. You could easily get by very nicely with only a few choices but that is not human nature. We are always looking for something better and the better is in the eye of the beholder.
Don't take it too seriously and enjoy the quest.
Ehhhh. The factory loads seem to match what I get out of my 6.5 x 284. Case capacity seems to be a bit greater so it may be that a larger charge of a slower lower pressure powder is used which could give somewhat longer barrel life. Maybe. Loaded hot it would be a barrel burner and not the obvious choice for a high volume shooter.
PRS shooters have been moving to the 6 X 47 and 6 Creedmore due to reduced recoil and decent (comparatively speaking) barrel life. Now it might be a fair choice for 1,000 benchrest as a 6.5 but maybe more interesting as a 7mm.
PRS shooters have been moving to the 6 X 47 and 6 Creedmore due to reduced recoil and decent (comparatively speaking) barrel life. Now it might be a fair choice for 1,000 benchrest as a 6.5 but maybe more interesting as a 7mm.
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Those medium capacity 6mms are hard to beat for PRS. I doubt the 6.5 PRC could compete with them in that venue.
It might be competitive in 1000 yd benchrest but it would take an enormous amount of effort from some top shooters and right now there is no reason for them to do it.
I'm my opinion, it will be another good cartridge in a field that includes the 6.5-284 but it is not a game changer. It will be interesting as a long range hunting cartridge and slower fire steel targets. I am going to chamber one to experiment with for the steel targets and to have fun with.
Bill
STS
Silver $$ Contributor
Pretty much sums it up. I think Hornady has had a lot of success with the Creedmoor and they think they can duplicate that success. I doubt the PRC will be anywhere near the Creedmoor as far as shooter acceptance.Sooooo...
Ya step up up to a magnum boltface action.... ok?
But then, ya shorten a case that doesn't need shortening to run in a SA
Thereby, limiting case capacity and constraining the performance window back toward that of the 6.5Creed, which runs on a .473" boltface...
Makes sense!!!
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
New data using 150 smks. See my.post on the 150 smk and 6.5x284 thread. Easy to reach 3100 with good accuracy using H1000.
I think the 3200 range could be safely reached with RL26. 3100-3200 with the 150 smk could be competitive with the 284 shooters using 180 and 184 Bergers with some decrease in barrel life.
Bill
Last edited:
Phil
Gold $$ Contributor
I guess some guys like to experiment with the newest fad and that's good if that's you're thing - more power to you - go for it. 
I'm just having trouble understanding that with the vast array of excellent cartridges already out there is there a need for new one? What will this do that the others won't do?
I've seen relatively new cartridges (new for an old fart like me) like the fine 260 Rem and 7mm 08 fall by the way side and be forgotten in the sense it's hard to find factory rifles chambered for these anymore and I don't understand why.
Ok, I said it - now you can blast away at me.
I'm just having trouble understanding that with the vast array of excellent cartridges already out there is there a need for new one? What will this do that the others won't do?
I've seen relatively new cartridges (new for an old fart like me) like the fine 260 Rem and 7mm 08 fall by the way side and be forgotten in the sense it's hard to find factory rifles chambered for these anymore and I don't understand why.
Ok, I said it - now you can blast away at me.
Not trying to "high jack" this thread but, I'm very curious IF anyone here, has built/ tried, the New 170 EOL Berger Bullets (.660 BC) in a 1-8 twist .270 WSM ??
Might just be, a great 1,000 yd/ long range Deer/Elk "setup" ! Forster Dies, lots of "Good" brass avail, perfect powder capacity, etc. ( what's NOT to like ?)
I really do like the 7mm Rsaum, too ! At K22 above,.. my son bought a New 7mm-08 Tikka T3X SS Lite and is shooting the 150 gr ELD-X's at 2,850 FPS and at 625 yards shot, a SUB 3inch group ! He's a young 41 y/o and chose that Caliber and will "dial" to 700 yards (IF necessary) for Big Game ! The "Lucky chit" drew, an Idaho Bull Elk tag, in an AWESOME unit, here, in southern Idaho ! PS; I take the " BEST Caliber/ Cartridge, Wars" with a "Grain of Salt" and laugh at us continually "reinventing the Wheel" BUT,.. I do it too !! LOL, LOL, LOL !
Last edited:
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
I would think there is a much better selection of 7mm bullets. That has always been a disadvantage for the .270 cal.
Bill
@ Bill,.. Agree about the 7mm Bullets,.. but Berger, "may" have changed that with, the .277 dia. 170 grain, 660 BC, EOL, tho ?? PS; I'm, a ONE, Bullet, ONE Load for Big Game, type of guy ! I would love to see, Hornady or Nosler duplicate that BC with, a 170-175 grain "expanding" Bullet !
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
There may be some long range target shooters that are experimenting with the new 270 bullet but a .660bc lags behind some of the heavy 7mms, especially the 195. But it will take a big case and fast twist to do best.
Depends on what you want to do. Pay your money and take your choice. That is what's keeps things interesting.
Bill
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Just measured the case capacity in water of my fired hornady prc cases and they measure an average of 68.6 gr. ranging from 68.3-68.8.
Reference Lapua 260 averaged 53.8gr ranging from 53.6-54.
I believe the 6.5-284 runs 68.3gr.
As I have said before, all things equal, no essential difference between the 6.5 prc and the 6.5-284.
I plan to find the most accurate load for the 150smk loaded with h1000 between the 2950-3100 range and hope for a 1500-2000 round barrel life.
Bill
Reference Lapua 260 averaged 53.8gr ranging from 53.6-54.
I believe the 6.5-284 runs 68.3gr.
As I have said before, all things equal, no essential difference between the 6.5 prc and the 6.5-284.
I plan to find the most accurate load for the 150smk loaded with h1000 between the 2950-3100 range and hope for a 1500-2000 round barrel life.
Bill
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
Additional loads show the PRC can run.the 150smk at the 3050-3075 range with ease. It is accurate and I have had no bullet failures using my 7.5t Bartlein 5r at velocities up to 3140 but I have not shot long strings under match conditions. The Hornady brass is strong and I have 4 loadings at the 3100fps range and it is still good. The smk 150's are of exceptional quality for a factory bullet.
Nothing here to replace a good 6.5-284 and barrel life should be similar but it is a good cartridge. Certainly, not inferior.
Bill
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.