6.5 PRC

[Pyscodog]

Not sure why yet but thought I needed the PRC. Been down the 6.5 Man bun route several times, then built a semi-custom 6 CM. None of them tripped my trigger very much so they went down the road. A few days ago, I saw a Tikka T3x in a local shop and it peaked my interest. Saturday was opening day of muzzle loader season but it was pouring down rain so it was a no-go for me. I hunt off the ground without a blind for cover. I'm old and don't need to get sick. So instead of hunting, I went gun shopping. First shop had a Howa with a carbon barrel, nice but I didn't like the Hogue stock. They also had a Fierce and a Christiansen Arms but both of those were over my budget by more than I wanted to spend. I went to another shop and they had a few Browning X-bolts. Nice enough rifles and in my budget but they have 7 twist barrels. Not sure why but I didn't like that either. So next, I went to Bass Pro. Not much there but did have a used Sako S20. Price was good and the rifle looked good but the bolt came out in your hand every time you cycled it. Nah, didn't want to mess with it even though it was probably an easy fix. So far I'm not finding THE right rifle so I go back to the shop where I saw the T3........and its gone. Well @#$%!! But they had another TikkaT3x lite in Veil Wideland camo. Its a little more money but its nice. Nice camo stock, enlarged mag well, steel bolt shroud, muzzle threaded with cap and nice muzzle break included and all the all the metal coated in Desert Verde. And its only $10 over my budget. I think we have a winner here!! And it did follow me home. I ordered brass and dies and have bullets. I may need to buy some different powder but should be good to go. And this is how I spent a rainy day Saturday. Sorry for the long winded post but its raining today to so I can't hunt. LOL

 

[B23]

If you don't plan to put a lot of rounds through this rifle I'd give the Hornady 147gr ELD-M factory ammo a go and see how it shoots for you. Generally, that particular ammo shoots extremely well in the 6.5 PRC's.

I bought a CA Ridgeline from Cabela's a couple years ago, kinda one of those on a whim things. Back when I bought mine was before Lapua or ADG was making brass and getting factory ammo was easier then buying unprimed brass so I bought a few boxes of Hornady 143 ELD-X and 147 ELD-M factory ammo. I was pleasantly surprised when that Hornady 147 ELD-M ammo shot relatively consistent groups in the 3's. The 143 ELD-X shot pretty well but nothing like the 147gr stuff. I'm sure I could tighten up the ES numbers and probably even get it to shoot a little better but I can live with factory ammo that shoots pretty consistently in the 3's at 3000fps and a ES in the mid 20's.

I'd give a box of factory Hornady Match 147 ammo a try, worst case, you can always use the brass to reload but I'll be surprised if that particular ammo doesn't shoot pretty well for you.

 

[Pyscodog]

I ordered Hornady brass. I wanted Lapua but Midway wanted $189 for 100 pieces. I thought I would hold off on the Lapua until I put a few rounds down the barrel first. I have high hope for great accuracy. I've newer had a Tikka that didn't shoot good and hoping this one isn't any different. I'll see if I can find a box of the 147 ELD-M ammo.

 

[Pyscodog]

I went to Atwoods and they had both the ELD-X and the ELD-M's so I bought a box of the ELD-M's for a try. The worse part of buying it was the $42 price tag but if we're gonna play, we gotta pay. I don't usually buy factory ammo so it was a tad shocking but I knew factory ammo was pricey going into this.

 

[B23]

I went to Atwoods and they had both the ELD-X and the ELD-M's so I bought a box of the ELD-M's for a try. The worse part of buying it was the $42 price tag but if we're gonna play, we gotta pay. I don't usually buy factory ammo so it was a tad shocking but I knew factory ammo was pricey going into this.

Don't know anything about the Atwoods stuff or how they load it. The 6.5 PRC ammo I was talking about that I've shot in my gun was this Hornady stuff. It's not cheap either and that's why I asked how much you plan to shoot it. I hardly shoot mine so developing a load for it when this factory ammo shoots so well, for me, didn't make sense.

20 Round Box – 6.5 PRC 147 Grain ELD Match Hornady Match Ammo – 81620 – SGAmmo.com

 

[Pyscodog]

Atwoods is a farm and ranch store. They sell everything LOL. The ammo I bought is factory loaded Hornady. They sell just about everything related to farming and ranching, firearms, ammo, camo cloths, treestands, blinds, some groceries. Candy by the pound that's great for the deer stand, boots, jeans. Gosh, the list is never ending. And free popcorn while you shop.

 

[Scalloper]

I was seriously considering buying the same rifle in the same caliber.
So, how does it shoot?

 

[Pyscodog]

I was seriously considering buying the same rifle in the same caliber.
So, how does it shoot?

Really good!! With the break the recoil is mild and it has a good trigger as well. I'm very happy with it. With 130 Berger VLD Hunting bullets, H4350, I'm getting 3160 FPS and sub 1/2 groups at 100yds. What's not to like!!

 

[dryhumor]

I’m using VV N560 and Berger 135s as fireform load. It shot well enough to shoot deer with, and I did last week.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Psycodog,..
Pretty hard to beat a Tikka for, out of the Box, Accuracy !
Congrats,.. on a Fine Rifle and finding, a good shooting Load !

 

[Pyscodog]

I have a pound of VV N560, just haven't had a chance to use it yet. Bass Pro is the only place around with Bergers. They have the 130, 135 and 140 grain. They are slow movers for most people around here but that's OK with me. I like them!

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Thanks for starting this thread @Pyscodog, it’s fun to read. I’ve never eyeballed a Tikka T3 but man almost everybody on this forum sure likes them. I’m gonna have to see what all the fuss is about!

 

[Riesel]

I'm not trying to steal any thunder here but wanted to share my 6.5 PRC experience. I ordered a barreled action from Brownells and using their coupons and special pricing got it delivered for about 500.00. Put it in a Boyd's thumbhole Varmint stock I had from a previous project, loaded up some 123 SST's using a healthy dose of IMR 4831 and mag primers in Hornady brass. Me and the rifle were shooting 3 shot groups less than .5 inch groups and running just under 3200 fps. Went deer hunting, no deer but a hog weighing in the neighborhood of 180 pounds dropped by. Shoulder shot at about 100 yards, DRT. Just luving it. More deer hunting and 3 days later shot a very nice 10 point scoring close to 150. It was a 140 yard shot just inside the shoulder and chest. Went 15 feet and dead right there. By the way, it's a Howa action.
My .280 Ackley Improved rifles may have been dethroned as favorites by this 6.5 PRC, an excellent cartridge. I'm using it in their long action. Many similarities with a Weatherby Vanguard.
Also heard that cartridge was very good in the .300 Ruger Compact Mag.

 

[Pyscodog]

I didn't get to try mine out on live game this year but it wasn't the rifles fault. My hunting season was the worse season I've had in years. I saw one little yearling and let it walk. Later found out there were hunters on either side of me cutting me off. Got to love public land hunting!! LOL!

 

[Pyscodog]

Shot these groups this morning. The open group was just trying the rifle with the break off. Recoil wasn't really much different, but the group did open up. Might have just been me.