Anyone want to talk me out of getting 6.5 PRC?

[DirtySteve]

I have been looking at a Proof Carbon fiber 6.5 PRC barrel for a light weight(by may standards rifle). Kind of a do all Coyote, deer and maybe elk rifle.

If you have a 6.5 PRC what do you like about it and any dislikes? What loads and velocities are you using...?

Thanks for any input..

Steve

 

[DiffEQ]

In answer to your title question, No.
Enjoy it and post range pics please.

Happy New Year.

 

[martinakl]

The only negative I've heard about the PRC cartridges is "clickers" in factory chambers after being reloaded. At some point. 2nd, 3rd, 4th....

Custom builders have reamers that address this and you can rent/buy a reamer to clean up the chamber in factory rifle's.

 

[JB10]

I own 2 rifles. 1st i have had hard bolt closing on once fired brass. I had to grind down my shell holder to be able to size the brass more. The other rifle i dont have enough rounds down it to know if it will have brass issues. One im running 156gr bergers at just over 2,900 fps. The other im running 140gr bergers just above 2,950 fps. Buy one and enjoy it!!. Ive only taken one mule deer buck with them. For coyotes... choose something smaller

 

[muleystalker]

The only negative I've heard about the PRC cartridges is "clickers" in factory chambers after being reloaded. At some point. 2nd, 3rd, 4th....

Custom builders have reamers that address this and you can rent/buy a reamer to clean up the chamber in factory rifle's.

Just make sure you buy the Alex Wheeler 6.5PRC reamer, it will take care for the clickers and can be used to clean up an existing chamber having clicker issues.

 

[Relic]

X2 on the Alex wheeler chamber! Great cartridge, I'm shooting 147's @3000 with n565, lapua or Adg Brass, great load super accurate

 

[drop_point]

I love the 6.5 PRC round. I've killed big game animals at good range with it with one a DRT shot at 760 meters (that was the range the guide gave me, I usually shoot yards). I have also killed several whitetail with the round.

Clickers were a problem in my Proof barrel, but they didn't show up for several firings. My other rifle, I used a Cortina mandrel die and haven't had any yet.

 

[jeffreybehr]

The 6.5PRC is beyond my specs/requirements for a LR-target rifle, especially in recoil (where I'm a wimp!!!!), but I have a positive emotional response to its Short, Fat case.. That love of SF cases started a few years ago with the Winchester 25WSSM.

Enjoy your new rifle!

 

[Gary in MD]

Good timing on this thread
I’ve got my eye on one in a Tikka.

 

[K22]

When you added Elk to the wish list, my first thought was that is quite a range of critters, coyotes to Elk!

Of course, if you're contemplating just a casual predator hunt then, no big deal but that's a lot of gas for a coyote plus noise, recoil, expense if you are contemplating some serious and extensive predator hunting.

Also, I would seek hunters that have used this cartridge on Elk. Elk hunting is expensive, and tags are often not easy to obtain so you want to maximize your chance of success with an adequate cartridge. It's a big critter.

If you narrowed your critter list to coyotes and deer, I have the perfect suggestion based on tons of experience, but you will not like the suggestion, a 243 Win.

 

[johnmyers]

The only negative I've heard about the PRC cartridges is "clickers" in factory chambers after being reloaded. At some point. 2nd, 3rd, 4th....

Custom builders have reamers that address this and you can rent/buy a reamer to clean up the chamber in factory rifle's.

You can get micron sizing die from Bullet Central that should eliminate clickers

 

[DirtySteve]

When you added Elk to the wish list, my first thought was that is quite a range of critters, coyotes to Elk!

Of course, if you're contemplating just a casual predator hunt then, no big deal but that's a lot of gas for a coyote plus noise, recoil, expense if you are contemplating some serious and extensive predator hunting.

Also, I would seek hunters that have used this cartridge on Elk. Elk hunting is expensive, and tags are often not easy to obtain so you want to maximize your chance of success with an adequate cartridge. It's a big critter.

If you narrowed your critter list to coyotes and deer, I have the perfect suggestion based on tons of experience, but you will not like the suggestion, a 243 Win.

Coyotes just as they would appear while driving.. lol

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

If, wanting, a 500 Yard Plus, Big Game, Rifle, the PRC IS,,. a DANDY !!
If closer than, 500 yds on Big Game, STAY with, the 6.5 Creed and ENJOY, the Lower Recoil and,.. Barrel, LIFE !
The 6.5 PRC is Basically, a .270 WSM with, a Better ( Higher ) B C Bullet ( Barrel "Life", IS,.. Similar ! ).
We Have, All 3, Cartridges / Rifles, In my Family,.. 6.5 Creed, 6.5 PRC and .270 WSM.
We have Shot, Mt Goats, Deer, Antelope and Elk with, Horn 143 ELD-X's, Berger, 140 Elites and Classic Hunters.
All 3 are, "Killer" Bullets and,.. VERY, Accurate.
When, the Barrel "Goes" on, grandsons, Tikka, .270 WSM, T-3 "Lefty" , my youngest grandson, will put, a 24" Proof,..
6.5 PRC Barrel, on It ,.. But THAT's, several Years,. Out !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I have been looking at a Proof Carbon fiber 6.5 PRC barrel for a light weight(by may standards rifle). Kind of a do all Coyote, deer and maybe elk rifle.

If you have a 6.5 PRC what do you like about it and any dislikes? What loads and velocities are you using...?

Thanks for any input..

Steve

My 24 y/o grandson, Has a 24" Proof Barrel on a Savage Lite Hunter action ( came from Factory that, way )
He installed Action/ Bbl., in a Folding Chassis stock with, a 6 x 24 Leupold and It's, a "Shooter" getting One ragged Hole group's, in the 3's and 4's with 140 gr. Elite Hunters and N-565 Powder.
All in my Family of, 4 Hunters, ARE,.." impressed", as it's Light, Packable and Shoot's,.. Light's Out !
But also,. Very,. "Spendy" ! ( NO, "Clickers", experienced, in grandsons, 6.5 PRC,.. Proof Barrel ! )

 

[DirtySteve]

If, wanting, a 500 Yard Plus, Big Game, Rifle, the PRC IS,,. a DANDY !!
If closer than, 500 yds on Big Game, STAY with, the 6.5 Creed and ENJOY, the Lower Recoil and,.. Barrel, LIFE !
The 6.5 PRC is Basically, a .270 WSM with, a Better ( Higher ) B C Bullet ( Barrel "Life", IS,.. Similar ! ).
We Have, All 3, Cartridges / Rifles, In my Family,.. 6.5 Creed, 6.5 PRC and .270 WSM.
We have Shot, Mt Goats, Deer, Antelope and Elk with, Horn 143 ELD-X's, Berger, 140 Elites and Classic Hunters.
All 3 are, "Killer" Bullets and,.. VERY, Accurate.
When, the Barrel "Goes" on, grandsons, Tikka, .270 WSM, T-3 "Lefty" , my youngest grandson, will put, a 24" Proof,..
6.5 PRC Barrel, on It ,.. But THAT's, several Years,. Out !

I have a 300 WSM and a 6.5 Creedmoor. Just thinking a light weight 6.5 PRC would be a nice do all rifle for the occasional coyote that pops up and for deer/elk mainly. And as a side note I just fell twisted my ankle and heard my ribs pop. So now we wait.. breathing should not hurt. Lol

 

[Evlshnngns]

I'd like to get a hunting weight barrel for my 6.5swede improved, similar to a 6.5prc and 6.5x284. Hard to argue the ballistics with a 156 eol. Problem with this plan is it would make my 270w obsolete.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I have a 300 WSM and a 6.5 Creedmoor. Just thinking a light weight 6.5 PRC would be a nice do all rifle for the occasional coyote that pops up and for deer/elk mainly. And as a side note I just fell twisted my ankle and heard my ribs pop. So now we wait.. breathing should not hurt. Lol

YES,. IF, Elk are On the Menu, the extra HP of, the 65 PRC,.. is,.. "Golden" !
A Little Hunting and "some" Practice, on Steel, in Field Positions and IF you keep, the Barrel Cool, the PRC barrel will Last,.. Quite a While for,.. Most Hunters.
Sorry about, you getting, Hurt,. Get Well,.. Soon !

 

[cuirc]

I have been looking at a Proof Carbon fiber 6.5 PRC barrel for a light weight(by may standards rifle). Kind of a do all Coyote, deer and maybe elk rifle.

If you have a 6.5 PRC what do you like about it and any dislikes? What loads and velocities are you using...?

Thanks for any input..

Steve

All I can tell you right now is I looked at al the 6.5 mm cartridges and this one gave me the warmest feeling about performance. So I am having Frank Heart build me one using a Remington 40X action (single shot) I plan to push it to its safe limits in long-range shooting. I am also having a 300 PRC built identically.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Its a good cartridge. Very similar to a 6.5-284 ballisticly. With the newer heavies Id take an elk under the right circumstances. And you can load lighter bullets for the varmints.

 

[209jones]

Seeing as I already have a 6.5CM, a 7-08 and a 7RM, I haven't been able to justify a PRC of any version, as far as I can see, all I am gaining is bullet weight ability with them, at a price of more powder, more expensive bullets due to the weight, more recoil in 2 out of 3 cases, about the same in the one, and not as good of barrel life. Also have a 300H&H, which I can take if I think I might need to reach out with heavier bullets than I use in the other three. CM and 7-08 are both quite capable with a 140gr bullet on elk/moose. Hard to beat a 160gr in 7RM too, shot those for 15 yrs or so..
So, I guess it is more of a case of what do you already own, and do you really need it----vs---- how bad do you really want it?
I used a 338WM for 25 yrs and never shot elk or moose with it, go figure, 7-08 was in hand every time, that's just the way things worked out for me.