6.5 PRC vs 6.5-284

[284winner]

Hate to turn this thread into a bashing thread since Hornady's PRC is in question but here goes. Curious who is shooting the PRC and its advantages (if any) over the 6.5-284 ? Personally after doing the homework, I don't see any other than if you consider it being used in a SA platform ( which I don't for competition). Seems MAYBE it's moving a 140 range bullet around 100 fps more MAX. Heck, I can run a 6.5 WSM faster too if that really was an issue I had. Please inform me on what benefits this cartridge has or has the wheel been re introduced...Again ? I'm pretty much uninformed just due to the fact I shoot a 6.5-284 with zero complaints not have I heard any from those who also shoot it. Not complaining as I always welcome new cartridges to the community. Only curious.

 

[Kurz]

There is no reason that I can think of to let this become a 'bashing' thread.

Essentially and simply they are very similar in case capacity and performance when most things are kept equal. These are the differences which can make a difference to some shooters.

- The 6.5x284 case is 0.155" longer than the PRC which can create problems when we desire to seat bullets out and then be limited by the length of the magazine if it's a SA. The PRC can be run in a SA magazine (DBM 2.925") with no problems at all.

- The 6.5x284 has a rebated rim which under certain circumstances allows the bolt to override the cartridge without picking it up for the chamber. Not every time but occasionally. This can be corrected.

- The Hornady brass is a little bit softer than let's say Lapua by comparison. Primer pockets can loosen when the Lapua quality brass stay tight. When the independent brass makers get caught up with this case then the comparison will be a dead heat.

I'm having good results from the PRC after having years of experience with the 6.5x284.

 

[Grimstod]

It has gained very little traction. I would not expect it to be picked up by many other brass manufacturers.

No records set yet and no one screaming about its accuracy. I would pass. Its one of those cartridges I yawn at and try to remember to cover my mouth when I do.

 

[Kurz]

I would not expect it to be picked up by many other brass manufacturers.

Rome wasn't built in a day, either.

ADG (Atlas Development Group) has already 'picked it up' as has Bertram (for whatever that one is worth...). The biggest push will come from the rifle builders and rifle manufacturers. When rifles appear with this chamber then it will start to move forward. If the commercial makers don't follow up then it will languish with the custom builders released a few at a time.

 

[DDRH65PRC]

That ADG brass seems to be really consistent. Some of us like to have factory ammo as a baseline. Although there's currently only 2 choices, it's about the same if not cheaper than 6.5-284 ammo.

Gunwerks also has brass for the PRC, but i believe it's made by ADG too.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The only chance the PRC has for surviving is if it is offered on commercially produced rifles. In "that" world, there is a void between the 6.5 Creedmoor and 26 Nosler. The PRC would be the perfect cartridge to fill it.

#nobodyshoots6.5-284anymore

 

[284winner]

The only chance the PRC has for surviving is if it is offered on commercially produced rifles. In "that" world, there is a void between the 6.5 Creedmoor and 26 Nosler. The PRC would be the perfect cartridge to fill it.

#nobodyshoots6.5-284anymore

It's all I shoot in 6.5 lately

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I know the 6.5-284 is still popular, just rustling a few feathers for fun

Wish the shooting world would bring light back to the 6.5 Rem Mag. Not that it ever really had any time in the spotlight...but what an amazing cartridge. Super fast ultra efficient round and very inherently accurate design.

 

[Riesel]

I like my 6.5-.284's, all three of them.

 

[B23]

Two of my favorites are the 6-284 and 6.5-284. I think if I were to do any kind of 6.5 on a short action with mag bolt face I wouldn't even bother with the PRC and would skip right to a 6.5 WSM.

 

[Kurz]

I see this period of time as an adventure in fine tuning a few of the caliber slots here in America. The 6.5mm slot is experiencing an onslaught of releases in the last few years after a dearth of attention and lack of cases to work with for the last 40 years. It wasn't that long ago when the 6.5mm was just plain ignored because of it's European ancestry.

All that has changed now with the influx of new case designs and the excellent attention of the bullet makers and powder developers. While some feel that these efforts to fine tune slots in some calibers are less than useful, I welcome it knowing that we, the shooters and reloaders will benefit at every level from casual hunters/shooters to world class competitors. We don't have to like each and every one and not all will survive, especially considering the new marketing strategies being foisted on us by the manufacturers. Those cartridges which prove out for the largest number of shooters and receive the attention of the commercial rifle makers, will live longer.

Long ago and far away, I worked with a long range prone shooter who was trying to do something with the 6.5x284 case but with reduced capacity. I had been using cases shortened to both 1.800" and 1.900" on a couple of test rifles which was a little less capacity than desired so I kept increasing the length until I got to about 60 grains of H2O capacity. This is 6 grains below the 6.5x284 case and 6 grains above the .260 Rem. case. Using the original Norma 130 gr. Golden Target bullets, the cartridges stayed within 2.800" magazine box and yielded 3,200 fps when loaded at a normal, acceptable pressure level. The biggest drawback is the case forming which is what took all the wind out of his sails when it came time to make it his competition cartridge. I still shoot it because I don't mind case forming projects but I'm sure to make enough so as not to get bogged down too frequently.

 

[D.Stone]

I will probably have a PRC barrel done for one of my hunting rifles because it brings 6.5-284 Winchester performance in a package that I can feed from a modified short action magazine.

My experience has been that the Hornady ammo is actually pretty decent. Every bunch of 6.5 Creedmoor I've tested over a chronograph has had standard deviation numbers of around 8-12fps in my barrels. Actually the only bad ammo I have had was Norma/Prime that didn't shoot well in 3 different rifles and barrels.

I don't see any reason that PRC can't be a match winner, except there isn't really a desire for another fast 6.5mm cartridge in any of the shooting sports.

 

[284winner]

I will probably have a PRC barrel done for one of my hunting rifles because it brings 6.5-284 Winchester performance in a package that I can feed from a modified short action magazine.

My experience has been that the Hornady ammo is actually pretty decent. Every bunch of 6.5 Creedmoor I've tested over a chronograph has had standard deviation numbers of around 8-12fps in my barrels. Actually the only bad ammo I have had was Norma/Prime that didn't shoot well in 3 different rifles and barrels.

I don't see any reason that PRC can't be a match winner, except there isn't really a desire for another fast 6.5mm cartridge in any of the shooting sports.

Define modified short action magazine.

 

[284winner]

Seems that using a AI magazine without the binder plate would make the OAL. Mine are able to load 2.975 cartridges on a SA Rem 700 in a 284 win.

 

[D.Stone]

Define modified short action magazine.

The magazine is modified.

The AICS style WSM Magazines allow for an overall length of 2.950, whereas the magazines when they originally came out have a plate in the front that restricts the length to 2.850. I am not actually modifying any magazines because Accurate Mag offers them as a factory option.

The only modification that would need to be done to an action would cutting a notch for the bullet tip to clear the feed ramp in something like a Remington 700. Or just use a custom action and save yourself the trouble.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

A 6.5 Rem Mag case with 30* shoulder and no belt would be just about prefect. I've shot it full Ackleyized with great results. Trouble was Redding wanted over $600.00 for a set of dies made off my reamer. Was easily able to push 142's over 3200 fps with no pressure in Remington Brass. Cleaned 600 yd prone fire forming brass.

 

[284winner]

The magazine is modified.

The AICS style WSM Magazines allow for an overall length of 2.950, whereas the magazines when they originally came out have a plate in the front that restricts the length to 2.850. I am not actually modifying any magazines because Accurate Mag offers them as a factory option.

The only modification that would need to be done to an action would cutting a notch for the bullet tip to clear the feed ramp in something like a Remington 700. Or just use a custom action and save yourself the trouble.

Yep ok I get it. I have a dozen AI non binder plate mags. That's kinda what I figured. Thanks

 

[benchracer]

As near as I can tell, the "advantages" of the 6.5 PRC are:

1. Fits in a magnum action, with .532 bolt face, without need to modify feed rails (as opposed to WSM, SAUM, and Nosler cartridges).
2. Good quality, reasonably priced factory match and hunting ammo availability from Hornady (along same lines as the Creedmoor).
3. Case capacity between 6.5-284 and 6.5 4S, which seems to be closer to what is considered ideal by the PRS crowd.

The Creedmoor seemed to languish until Lapua started making brass for it, after which it seemed to take off. Likewise, the availability of ADG brass for the PRC makes it more attractive than it otherwise would have been, IMO. I have been trying to decide what to do with a low round count Krieger barrel, chambered in 6.5-284, and a magnum bolt face Mark X action. I had thought about just selling them. Now I am thinking the 6.5 PRC might be the answer to that question.

I am otherwise happy to stick with my 6.5x55 and .264 Win Mag.

 

[Slim13]

Still trying to figure out what the PRC does that a SAUM doesn’t do.

 

[284winner]

Still trying to figure out what the PRC does that a SAUM doesn’t do.

Not a thing. Being it's a factory production round is something tho. It doesn't really do a whole lot more than the 6.5-284 either. From what I'm gathering from the other responses, it can be used in a SA platform without a loss in performance unlike the 6.5-284 or .260.