Hornady's new 6.5 prc your thoughs??
- Thread starter Davidb187
- Start date
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm waiting on the last component needed for my build. While I am not a fortune teller I will say it has a good chance to succeed. After all, not even the 6.5 Creedmoor had factory rifles show up on the market as quickly as they are for the PRC.
It is based on the now defunct RCM case and, from all I hear from guys shooting it, is a very accurate and flat shooting long range cartridge.
It is based on the now defunct RCM case and, from all I hear from guys shooting it, is a very accurate and flat shooting long range cartridge.
The more i read about it the more i think i'll build one or rebarrel one of my rifles.. at least we'll be two .
It will not be a big hit but I think it's a great cartridge option.
Will work good in short actions
I like that the rim is not rebated, making it feed better from a magazine.
And a side benefit of not rebating the rim is more meat around the primer pocket, theoredically help keeping it tight for more reloads.
I also think a 7mm Version would do very well in F-open.
All the cartridges Hornady released are well designed and are sound performers in their intended applications.
Weather they are popular or not is another story.
Will work good in short actions
I like that the rim is not rebated, making it feed better from a magazine.
And a side benefit of not rebating the rim is more meat around the primer pocket, theoredically help keeping it tight for more reloads.
I also think a 7mm Version would do very well in F-open.
All the cartridges Hornady released are well designed and are sound performers in their intended applications.
Weather they are popular or not is another story.
Suspicious of the claim it isn't hard on barrels. Expecting barrel life close to 6.5-.284.
The factory loads are very mild. reloaders are getting much higher velocities so guessing pressure on factory loads isn't too high. Maybe they use a powder like H1000 which is know to be a cool burning powder and easier on barrels.
Could be, but I would not be confident enough to risk a build and invest in all the brass and reloading tools for a new cartridge before there is a mountain of evidence on barrel life from trusted sources.
My preferred 6.5 will remain the .260 Rem - getting velocity at moderate pressures with a 30" barrel and slower powder (H4831). Those shorter barrels are always gonna require more pressure to get the same velocities, and adding pressure and case capacity has proven to shorten barrel life too many times to be overly confident the 6.5 PRC is suddenly an exception to that rule.
The .260 also has lots of proven load data, brass from many sources (including Lapua) and avenues to load it with either small rifle primers or large rifle primers.
alf
Silver $$ Contributor
Sooooo...
Ya step up up to a magnum boltface action.... ok?
But then, ya shorten a case that doesn't need shortening to run in a SA
Thereby, limiting case capacity and constraining the performance window back toward that of the 6.5Creed, which runs on a .473" boltface...Makes sense!!!
Stolen from SH:
6.5 creedmoor: 52-53 gr case capacity
6.5 SLR: 55-56 gr
6.5 PRC: 66-67 gr
6.5 SAUM: 70-71 gr
The PRC has 25% more capacity than a creedmoor, and 5-6% less than a SAUM. In quickload, holding pressure constant at 57k psi in a 26" barrel with 140 hybrids, a 6.5 SAUM (H1000) is about 30-40 fps faster than a 6.5 PRC (H1000), and the PRC is 220 fps faster than a 6.5 creedmoor (H4350).
From GAPs FB page, sounds promising.
George Gardner
Admin · March 7
Been testing the new 6.5 Hornady PRC all morning, The brass is Excellent, Passed the test of 10 Loadings with a stiff charge on the 135 JLK and 147 ELD with ease. Pockets are still tight and the neck only stretched about .015". For the 135 a charge of 60.3 grains of RL26 yields 3200 fps. No pressure The 147 does 3000 with 58.2 grains H1000, light pressure . These are out of a 24" Bartlein 1-8 twist 5R. Loaded to 2.945
'Course most are not blind to the business aspect of launching a new case. Create a niche, and fill it with product...
Being someone who has a 6.5SAUM already, I sure won't be too keen on giving up ANY case capacity. There's that thing about experiencing 'horsepower' and not wanting to settle, afterward. But for those who buy factory rifles and/or don't reload, I can see where this new cartridge might be a hit?
For reloaders who will do the 'work', regardless, I'm just not seeing a reason to go PRC over SAUM, considering the same BF requirement? Did all that hype from GAP about their 6.5 "4s" somehow become irrelevant?
Being someone who has a 6.5SAUM already, I sure won't be too keen on giving up ANY case capacity. There's that thing about experiencing 'horsepower' and not wanting to settle, afterward. But for those who buy factory rifles and/or don't reload, I can see where this new cartridge might be a hit?
For reloaders who will do the 'work', regardless, I'm just not seeing a reason to go PRC over SAUM, considering the same BF requirement? Did all that hype from GAP about their 6.5 "4s" somehow become irrelevant?
This promises to be a great cartridge for hunting with the 143 ELDX. Of course there will be those who complain that 2960 fps is not nearly fast enough from this cartridge but how many will shoot a moose to 700 yards which is possible with 1270 ft. lbs. retained energy. Sighted 2.5" @ 100 yards will Zero @ 250 yards and be point blank to 300 yards on a 6" target. The 147 ELD-M, at 2910, will match the trajectory of the 143 grain to 700 yards with about 12 MOA from a 100 yard Zero and easily shoot paper at over 1000 yards.
What is not to like when you consider the recoil compared to a 7mm Mag for example?
What is not to like when you consider the recoil compared to a 7mm Mag for example?
I'm skeptical about GAP's claims on barrel and brass life for the SAUM and PRC. They are overly optimistic compared to what others have experienced, but of course it is to their financial advantage to make big claims for the cartridge.
Unless they have figured out a way to override the rules of physics, it's going to be hard on barrels. Other gunsmiths have already seen this. Brass life sucks as well. It does shoot flat, and punches above its weight for a 6.5. I'll admit the ballistics are fairly impressive, and as a dedicated hunting rig you may be okay. But for any sort of volume shooting, expect to go through brass and barrels.
A good friend went with the SAUM as a "do it all" hunting and precision rig, he was pretty big on it until he had to trash almost all of his brass after the second firing. He is now going back to the 6XC. He does like to chase speed though, so your experience may differ.
Unless they have figured out a way to override the rules of physics, it's going to be hard on barrels. Other gunsmiths have already seen this. Brass life sucks as well. It does shoot flat, and punches above its weight for a 6.5. I'll admit the ballistics are fairly impressive, and as a dedicated hunting rig you may be okay. But for any sort of volume shooting, expect to go through brass and barrels.
A good friend went with the SAUM as a "do it all" hunting and precision rig, he was pretty big on it until he had to trash almost all of his brass after the second firing. He is now going back to the 6XC. He does like to chase speed though, so your experience may differ.
Bah.... What's life if you can't spend your hard earn money? I was leaning for the hunting rig anyway. Something for caribou hunting... If they ever reopen it that is...in the meantime a new long range deer hunting rig it would be.
I also own a 7 mag and 300 win mag
I guess this is one way to spend that thousand-plus dollars in your wallet that causes you to lean about 15-degrees to the right when you walk...
With the body shape i have it would take at least 5000+...lol
Or .224
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.