6.5prc
- Thread starter rwk
- Start date
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
The 6.5 PRC is kind of the big brother to the 6.5 Creedmoor. They both shoot the same bullet/s it's just the 6.5 PRC shoots them a couple hundred fps faster. I think the only real downside is you'll need an action with the larger magnum bolt face and barrel life will probably be a bit shorter.
Also for what it's worth and not to be technical but the 6.5 PRC is a cartridge, not a caliber.
Also for what it's worth and not to be technical but the 6.5 PRC is a cartridge, not a caliber.
The 6.5PRC is catching on somewhat ironically as a hunting cartridge more than anything else. Lots of guys out West are treating it like a modernized 7mm Rem Mag. Handloaded, it will push a 140gr bullet about the same speed as a 140gr leaves a 7mm mag. Only the BC will be higher due to smaller caliber. This gives it some of the higher SD you might get stepping up to a 160-class bullet in 7mmMag, only with less recoil, less powder, and flatter trajectory than a 160 bullet in 7 RM.
I say ironic because the PRC cartridges are named and conceived as precision target rounds. F class guys will instantly recognize it as basically a 6.5x284 without the rebated rim. It has similar performance and barrel life.
I'd say it could be nearly an ideal mountain rifle round for antelope, sheep and muleys, and if you get close enough and use the right bullet, I'm sure it would be Elk-capable.
For a hunter using mostly factory ammo for domestic/lower48 hunts, you could do a lot worse. At the bottom end of its load range, it's essentially 6.5 creedmoor power. On the upper end, it's 7 Rem Mag territory.
For a target shooter, the absence of brass from anyone but Hornady might be considered a liability. Reports on the PRC brass have been pretty good from what I've seen though.
Ultimately I came back to the 6.5 creedmoor though because the factory PRC loads are not much faster than warm creedmoor loads. I can push a 147 to 2800 with very tolerable pressures in my 26" 6.5creed. The factory 6.5PRC loads are just over 2910fps. That extra 100fps or so translates to less than 100y of difference in hunting energy.
I've achieved 2850 with acceptable pressures in a warm day with 147s and RL26 in a creedmoor. It just wasn't as accurate up there.
And with the creedmoor, I have an abundance of premium brass and factory loads from which to choose.
So the PRC juice isn't worth the squeeze for me. if I hand loaded the PRC and pushed it closer to 3200fps with RL26, it's a very different conversation. But then you're still wedded to Hdy brass...
YMMV
I say ironic because the PRC cartridges are named and conceived as precision target rounds. F class guys will instantly recognize it as basically a 6.5x284 without the rebated rim. It has similar performance and barrel life.
I'd say it could be nearly an ideal mountain rifle round for antelope, sheep and muleys, and if you get close enough and use the right bullet, I'm sure it would be Elk-capable.
For a hunter using mostly factory ammo for domestic/lower48 hunts, you could do a lot worse. At the bottom end of its load range, it's essentially 6.5 creedmoor power. On the upper end, it's 7 Rem Mag territory.
For a target shooter, the absence of brass from anyone but Hornady might be considered a liability. Reports on the PRC brass have been pretty good from what I've seen though.
Ultimately I came back to the 6.5 creedmoor though because the factory PRC loads are not much faster than warm creedmoor loads. I can push a 147 to 2800 with very tolerable pressures in my 26" 6.5creed. The factory 6.5PRC loads are just over 2910fps. That extra 100fps or so translates to less than 100y of difference in hunting energy.
I've achieved 2850 with acceptable pressures in a warm day with 147s and RL26 in a creedmoor. It just wasn't as accurate up there.
And with the creedmoor, I have an abundance of premium brass and factory loads from which to choose.
So the PRC juice isn't worth the squeeze for me. if I hand loaded the PRC and pushed it closer to 3200fps with RL26, it's a very different conversation. But then you're still wedded to Hdy brass...
YMMV
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
Just another re-hashed cartridge that duplicates others already in existence but excellently marketed by Hornady as the next best thing. I have done load development on a few Christensen rifles and although they shot excellent they did absolutely nothing more than a standard 6.5-284, 260 Ackley, or 6.5-06 except burn more powder and fit in a short action. Which the .260 Ackley will too. 2900-2950fps is what the factory 143 loads are running in a few different rifles and where my reloads shot best as well. The wife is running 2938fps in her .260 Ackley with 140 Bergers in a short action Remington while only using 43gr of H4350 compared to the 55+ in the PRC for the same performance. PRC just didn't excite me but then again the Creedmoor didn't either. Just my .02.
My grandson has just received, a New Savage 110 in, 6.5 PRC with, the Proof Barrel, it's about, 6 Pounds and Sweet to, carry ! Its gonna be, a Fine, long Range Deer and Medium Range, Elk Cartridge that just, "looks" a bit better than, the .264 Win Mag. ( NO Belt & longer Neck ) Yes, IT'S a Hunting cartridge and probably NOT gonna be, anyway near as popular as, the 6.5 Creedmoor due to, Barrel "Life" and Recoil ! The more I look at, the 6.5 Creedmoor, the better, I like it !
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The 6.5 PRC is an outstanding cartridge, I have had a few rifles built around this cartridge and cant say enough good about it as its a pleasure to shoot, yes simply put its the big brother to the 6.5 CM in a Mag Bolt face, you have lots of brass options for it, Gunwerks, Hornady, Bertram and ADG, I've used all of them without issue.
My latest 6.5 PRC built on a Kimber 8400 donor is pushing the 156gr Bergers @ 2930fps with 56.5grs of R26 and the the 140gr Accubond at 3000fps with the same load out of a 23" barrel.
Don't hesitate to get a rifle in this cartridge as you won't be disappointed.....
My latest 6.5 PRC built on a Kimber 8400 donor is pushing the 156gr Bergers @ 2930fps with 56.5grs of R26 and the the 140gr Accubond at 3000fps with the same load out of a 23" barrel.
Don't hesitate to get a rifle in this cartridge as you won't be disappointed.....
alf
Silver $$ Contributor
If you'd stand on the PRC, like you do to others you're comparing to, you'll see a lot more difference.
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
My reloads and the factory ammo were showing ejector marks where they are at. Not sure how much more standing you want me to do. 2950 from any of the cartridges I mentioned is hardly standing on it either. I've had both the 6.5-06 and the 6.5-284 over 3000fps in numerous rifles before seeing pressure signs.
alf
Silver $$ Contributor
I've built two 6.5 PRC's, and both would comfortably do better than what you've experienced.
Here's the last one and results of a 140 VLD at 3100 in a 24" Bartlein:
I'd be building one if I didn't have hundreds of lapua 6.5-284 brass and dies for it. I've been shooting the 6.5-284 since it's inception as a cartridge. Being the 6.5 PRC ballistic twin, I'm staying with what works for me. I have 4 buddy's that opted for the 6.5 PRC over the 6.5-284. All of our drop data is identical with the bullets we shoot. Chronograph numbers within single digit spreads. All equally as accurate as another. It's a toss up really but the tie always goes to the new kid on the block, all other things being equal. I am however building a 30 PRC. The 6.5 PRC is a great cartridge and the new kid on the block.
I can get better velocity, out of the 6.5x284 with tack driving accuracy, in a hunting rig. I regularly get 3000-3100fps out of the 140-143 grs in a long action sporter barrel I built for hunting, and this will shoot a 3 shot group in the low.300's. To get the PRC to shoot that good, I was 100-150fps slower. It looked that way on paper also. No advantage to the 2 that I have worked with over the older cartridge. Just my experience some others may have different results.
i shoot both a 6.5 prc and a 6.5x284... both with 26 inch varmint contour shilen barrels on savage actions... i shoot a 147 eldm in the 6.5x284 and a 156 berger eol in the prc... their not quiet ballistic twins in my opinion... the prc has a little more a$$ behind it... great accuracy out of both... burned my first prc barrel out in 600 rounds... but pretty sure it was a bad barrel ... shilen replaced it no cost to me... like any of the hot rods if you hot rod them neither will last long but both are fun while they last... the prc will run a 100 fps faster than the 6.5x284 with a little heavier bullet... my 6.5x284 is my favorite rifle i believe... its been a hammer since i screwed the barrel on it but the prc has a place in my safe as well... pick one... their both bad a$$...
I'd be building one if I didn't have hundreds of lapua 6.5-284 brass and dies for it. I've been shooting the 6.5-284 since it's inception as a cartridge. Being the 6.5 PRC ballistic twin, I'm staying with what works for me. I have 4 buddy's that opted for the 6.5 PRC over the 6.5-284. All of our drop data is identical with the bullets we shoot. Chronograph numbers within single digit spreads. All equally as accurate as another. It's a toss up really but the tie always goes to the new kid on the block, all other things being equal. I am however building a 30 PRC. The 6.5 PRC is a great cartridge
I've found close results shooting the 5 rifles we shoot in both cartridges. Didn't find that big of a difference in velocity but it really depended on how hot we loaded each cartridge. I could get 3100 from my 6.5-284 with 147s but wouldn't get many rounds before the barrel was toast. Roughly the same with the 6.5 PRC. I chose to keep them around 2990 which gave best accuracy and great barrel life. I can get 3000 easily with 156s in my 6.5-284 and excellent accuracy and barrel life. They IMO are very close in performance. My 6.5-284 is the most accurate of the two cartridges also. Kinda why I Stuck with it also. Components and accuracy made that decision for me.
ronsatspokane
Gold $$ Contributor
I've chambered two 30 inch 1.25 barrels in 6.5 PRC for a BAT VR action. Not being one to follow the crowd, the plan was to use the caliber in F Class. Driving a 156 Berger at 2950 fps it stacks up on paper against a 284. In the real world it turned out not to be the best choice for that application. The first barrel I could not get to consistently shoot any better than 3/4 MOA after trying multiple bullets, powders and primers. Thought maybe I was chasing a bad barrel. Ordered a different barrel, same results. The trouble I was having was carbon build up. It's a bit of an overbore and I think running 20 round strings coupled with the heat build up was contributing. The first time I ran it in a match my first sighter was an X, second was an X, first for record was an X. A friend who was watching said, holy hell. Looked like it was going to shoot. As the string progressed I started dropping 9's and there was almost no wind.
I took one of the barrels, cut it down, chambered it in 6.5 Creedmoor, bought a standard bolt for the action and it shoots 1/4 to 1/2 MOA. I think 6.5 PRC would make a fantastic PRS comp or long range hunting caliber but I could not get it to work at the level required for F Class. That does not mean that it can't be done, it only means that I couldn't get it to work.
Trying 300 WSM on that same action now. We'll see how that works. I kept one of the 6.5 PRC barrels and the 6.5 Creedmoor so now it is a switch barrel with three options. Might cut the 6.5 PRC barrel down to 24-26 inches and use it as an option for hunting should I ever need a long range hunting rig or choose to try PRS competition.
I took one of the barrels, cut it down, chambered it in 6.5 Creedmoor, bought a standard bolt for the action and it shoots 1/4 to 1/2 MOA. I think 6.5 PRC would make a fantastic PRS comp or long range hunting caliber but I could not get it to work at the level required for F Class. That does not mean that it can't be done, it only means that I couldn't get it to work.
Trying 300 WSM on that same action now. We'll see how that works. I kept one of the 6.5 PRC barrels and the 6.5 Creedmoor so now it is a switch barrel with three options. Might cut the 6.5 PRC barrel down to 24-26 inches and use it as an option for hunting should I ever need a long range hunting rig or choose to try PRS competition.
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