So I just built a new F Class Rig a few months ago in 2023 in 6.5CM should I think about building a 7 PRC?

[mauser284]

I am worried I built the wrong gun for the wrong time. I am thinkng I should have built the 6.5CM a long time ago. Should I consider building a 7 PRC?

I competed well with 243 Win, 308 Win, 284 Win. I feel like I have been on the conservative side for a long time biasing towards low recoil. I did a lot with 300WM in 1000 yard competitions that where losely sanctioned and a lot more informal so I am not oppossed to magnums.

So I feel like maybe my previous experence has biased me away from magnums in F-Open! I am thinking I am late to the party and might have mis thought the 6.5CM on my newest F rifle.


I also took a few years off before Covid-19 and feel like I am not relavant to what is current!


Am I being short sighted should I consider something else?


Thoughs?


Thanks!

 

[ChrisNZ]

When you say "7 PRC", do you mean that literally or a 7 PRCW?
Or in fact a 7 FCP?

 

[sandwarrior]

Most guys I shoot with in F-Class that shoot 7mm are using some variant of, or the original, .284 Win. Recoil and reset isn't as bad as a 7mm magnum and barrel life is better. Some say barrels are a commodity, Many of the shooters I know think changing barres that much is a lot of wasted resources re-finding the accuracy.

 

[coford]

IMHO the 7/6.5 PRC is a better F-Class cartridge than the 6.5 CM. The 7/6.5 PRC is very accurate, has several velocity nodes that it performs well in, has available brass (although expensive), good brass life, and if fed V555 or RL16 gets very good velocities. YMMV.

 

[drop_point]

What are your goals?

 

[Rob01]

Load some 153 ATips in that 6.5 Creedmoor and I think you will be happy.

 

[rardoin]

Get a barrel chambered in .284 Win, use your current bolt, load up 180 hybrids and join the party. Yes, you will be handicapped with a .264 vs a .284/7mm chambering. A 7-6.5 PRC will require changing bolts....but if that doesn't bother you then I would head in that direction still shooting a 180 hybrid. That bullet has won more F-open National matches/championships than any other.

 

[mauser284]

What are your goals?

I mostly shoot for fun now but I am very competitive though and the better you do the more fun you have! LOL I am not looking to go to national but I also do not want to tie my hands behind my back because of my own confirmation bias!

I do not feel like I am being left behind but I also know that past experince does not mean you know it all and can just keep doing what you have always done.

 

[mauser284]

When you say "7 PRC", do you mean that literally or a 7 PRCW?
Or in fact a 7 FCP?

Yes I went 7 PRCW. I had a fairly stout bottle of wine before I posted that so I did not notice I had left the "W" off.

I figured worst case I can always use the most recent build for mid course and build a new 7 PRCW.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Has anyone had the thought of taking the 7 PRC case and giving it a SLR treatment?
Making it the same size as the 7 PRCW but with a long neck?

 

[Fast14riot]

I shoot a 260AI in f/open against a few 6.5Creedmoor shooters who know what they're doing. With 140gr bullets, you can gain a little speed to make up some BC compared to the 150 class bullets just not having enough horsepower behind them in that case size. There are several of us that shoot 260AI and 6.5cm at Sac Valley, the leader board rotates names between the 6.5s and a couple 7mm shooters regularly.

Low recoil, lower cost to feed, available brass, and tons of good data out there for the 6.5cm. Shoot out a barrel or two in it before you decide to switch. You'll be better at reading wind, get more loads per pound of powder, cheaper bullets and better barrel life.

 

[drop_point]

I mostly shoot for fun now but I am very competitive though and the better you do the more fun you have! LOL I am not looking to go to national but I also do not want to tie my hands behind my back because of my own confirmation bias!

I do not feel like I am being left behind but I also know that past experince does not mean you know it all and can just keep doing what you have always done.

Then I would run what you already have. It won’t change things much.

 

[rardoin]

I ran a 6.5 x55 BJAI, with either a 140 hybrid or a couple of different custom bullets in the same weight range, for my first couple of years of F-open. It was competitive at 600 and had a couple of good matches at 1000 but it couldn't keep up with the 7mm's (in my hands) when conditions got breezy. Although the 6.5 was a great chambering/bullet combo for good precision and lower recoil I was still bringing a knife to a gunfight at any big match or at 1000yds. Run what you brung until you decide that swimming is for you...then toss the floaties and dive in with the sharks with a 7.

 

[swd]

Shoot the barrel out and then decide.You can do just fine with it. A good friend has won 2 midrange state championships with a 6.5 CM and does well at long range. Until the wind is above 8-10 mph or so you’re in the running at a club level. Reading wind wins matches!