6.5 PRC ?

[Spike A]

I am a little thrown and confused on why they felt the need to create a new cartridge... what do you gents think about it?

 

[Danny1788]

very close to case capacity as 6.5 SAUM, equal performance. Cheaper factory loaded ammo available is about the only thing that makes the difference. If you hand load go with the SAUM and use REM brass for 15-20 firings on a case.

 

[cjames]

Because Steve Hornady is a marketing guru and needs some more money.

 

[Kurz]

I am a little thrown and confused on why they felt the need to create a new cartridge... what do you gents think about it?

From a release from Hornady:

"The goal of this new cartridge was to take advantage of our Heat Shield bullet tip and the high ballistic coefficient 6.5mm projectiles with a “really intelligent cartridge case design.” It functions in short- and medium-length actions and is supposed to strike a nice balance between high performance and reasonable barrel life."

The Match load fires a 147 grain pill at 2,910 fps from a 24-inch barrel. That ELD Match bullet has a G7 BC of .351 (G1 is .697).

Precision Hunter in 6.5 PRC sends a 143 grain ELD-X bullet downrange at 2,960 fps. Its G7 BC is .314 (G1 is .623).

The point not mentioned is the failure of the two cartridges which supplied the parent cases; the 300 RCM and the 338 RCM. Rather than let the dies languish from disuse, they were re-tasked to make this new and potentially popular cartridge necked down to accept the 6.5mm bullets which they have been pushing since the re-design of the tips. The 300 RCM was used initially when GAP first proposed the idea but the 6.5 GAP 4S pushed it aside. When Hornady finally picked up the idea, the shorter .338 RCM case was used in order to allow the longer bullets to be seated out slightly favoring a slight increase in case capacity.

A small detail is that this new case is not rebated so the rim is the same diameter as the head. No need for those internal magazines with funny cutouts. Secondly, Remington has staunchly refused to commit to a scheduled release of factory 6.5 Remington Magnum brass except for what they term as 'seasonal', which turns out to be about once every 3 or 4 years... The 6.5 PRC is one grain more in capacity, using the same rim diameter, a shorter case and does not use a belt so it can essentially be a viable substitute.

I can achieve a higher node of accuracy, running near 3,250 fps with my 130 match bullets from a 26" barrel. Switching to a cooler, less temp sensitive powder I'm right around 3,150 fps.

Using the 140 gr. Berger Hybrids, I'm right around 3,130 and 3,050 fps.

 

[Spike A]

I’m a little foggy in the magnum action area... this round would use a normal magnum action right? But a short action so essentially a short mag action ?

 

[Kurz]

I’m a little foggy in the magnum action area...

The case has a 0.532" rim or 'magnum' rim if you wish. The case is also short enough to use in the standard short actions. Those who believe that every long, heavy for caliber VLD bullet needs to used will often state that you have to use these cartridges in long actions.

 

[EXTREME]

The case has a 0.532" rim or 'magnum' rim if you wish. The case is also short enough to use in the standard short actions. Those who believe that every long, heavy for caliber VLD bullet needs to used will often state that you have to use these cartridges in long actions.

Are you running the 6.5 PRC with .1882" FB as per Hornad'y specked reamer? If so what are the COAL's, to the lands, with the Berger 140 Hybrid, 143ELDX and 147 ELDM?

 

[alf]

PSA on OAL

 

[Grimstod]

From a release from Hornady:

"The goal of this new cartridge was to take advantage of our Heat Shield bullet tip and the high ballistic coefficient 6.5mm projectiles with a “really intelligent cartridge case design.” It functions in short- and medium-length actions and is supposed to strike a nice balance between high performance and reasonable barrel life."

The Match load fires a 147 grain pill at 2,910 fps from a 24-inch barrel. That ELD Match bullet has a G7 BC of .351 (G1 is .697).

Precision Hunter in 6.5 PRC sends a 143 grain ELD-X bullet downrange at 2,960 fps. Its G7 BC is .314 (G1 is .623).

The point not mentioned is the failure of the two cartridges which supplied the parent cases; the 300 RCM and the 338 RCM. Rather than let the dies languish from disuse, they were re-tasked to make this new and potentially popular cartridge necked down to accept the 6.5mm bullets which they have been pushing since the re-design of the tips. The 300 RCM was used initially when GAP first proposed the idea but the 6.5 GAP 4S pushed it aside. When Hornady finally picked up the idea, the shorter .338 RCM case was used in order to allow the longer bullets to be seated out slightly favoring a slight increase in case capacity.

A small detail is that this new case is not rebated so the rim is the same diameter as the head. No need for those internal magazines with funny cutouts. Secondly, Remington has staunchly refused to commit to a scheduled release of factory 6.5 Remington Magnum brass except for what they term as 'seasonal', which turns out to be about once every 3 or 4 years... The 6.5 PRC is one grain more in capacity, using the same rim diameter, a shorter case and does not use a belt so it can essentially be a viable substitute.

I can achieve a higher node of accuracy, running near 3,250 fps with my 130 match bullets from a 26" barrel. Switching to a cooler, less temp sensitive powder I'm right around 3,150 fps.

Using the 140 gr. Berger Hybrids, I'm right around 3,130 and 3,050 fps.

The heat sheild tip is a bunch of bullcrap. We have been putting blue sharpy marker on our bullet tips for years and even at 500yards it does not melt of. As a result it leaves nice colored bullet holes for lader load development.

 

[Kurz]

The heat sheild tip is a bunch of bullcrap. We have been putting blue sharpy marker on our bullet tips for years and even at 500yards it does not melt of. As a result it leaves nice colored bullet holes for lader load development.

You must have read my mind... I only copied the quote.

Most of us knew right from the start that is was simply a ploy to raise prices by conjuring up some lame 'melted tip' explanation. AMAX are still in demand by shooters who like them and use them with good results along with a lower price tag than new version. Count me as one of them.