Reading the yearly Hodgden powder Reloading magazine article by John Barnsness about the 6.5 PRC article, and the Ballistic table it came with , I could be persuaded to buy a rifle so chambered.
But I don't have a desire to run out and Buy one either. It is clearly a very good cartridge, but we have a ton of those already.
It would make a great chambering for a Mountain rifle.
A short action 6.5-06. Perhaps a we bit better. But if you have a 270 a 280 or even an 06 , I don't think you would gain anything from the new PRC. It probably recoils less , but not by much , shoots a little flatter and bucks a cross wind just a bit better, and the 6,5 bullets do have great sectional densities , so if I was looking for a new mountain rifle it might be top choice, but I have a nice shooting .270 now so really no reason to spend the money.
But should I see a rifle I really like chamberd for the round , at a time and at a price I can afford it , it might just come home with me.
A Remington Mtn rifle with a HS precision stock a 3.5 X 10 Leupold Would be a very very useful tool. And a fun toy too...tj3006

I have a Montana Rifles, Inc., Extreme 3, in 6.5 PRC coming in the next couple of months. Everything is here waiting for it(scope, rings, sling, ammo, etc.).

I have in my hands a Sauer 100 Classic rifle in 6.5 PRC having received it through my local dealer from Elk County Ammo and Arms in St. Marys, Pa. As soon as I mount my Ziess Conquest 5-25X50 scope I will shoot in the barrel and load and shoot groups until I can provide a report. Good Shooting.

Wish you guys would hurry up and shoot those things!
Hopefully, a few times with the chrony.
Waiting to here some real world velocities.

I suspect the ballistics wlll be quite similar to the 264 Win Mag. When will we see the fruitlessness of this proliferation?

I have a fair bit of experience with the 6.5 GAP/RSAUM, and I'll tell you it does make an extremely handy, capable rifle. I think it's better for deer on down, but I tend to prefer .30's and up for elk.

I built a 24" bbl M7 for a buddy. Heavily fluted #4 contour bbl, B&C lightweight stock. It came out at just over 6lbs and shot very easily under 3/4 MOA. It is a great handling, accurate, long range capable rifle and is a joy to carry in the mountains. The PRC is just a standardized version of the 6.5 RSAUM with just a touch less capacity.

Shot the PRC today, couldn’t use the 35-P because of Kentucky weather but was quite satisfied with the first Shooting. I got to 2.5 inch high straight up at 100 yards on third shot after an adventure with the bore scope that was interesting so I was very pleased. Looking forward to more sessions soon but weather says otherwise. I will report back when I can use the Chrony. Good Shooting.

Well I finally got to shoot my Sauer 100 in 6.5 PRC today with the old 35-P hooked up and in operation. I am quite pleased with the results. After shooting the barrel in with typical cleaning I put two shots adjoining each other in the same hole and a third 3/4 inch away. Average 2939 fps for a 143 grain Hornady ELD-X bullet in front of 57 grains of RL-26 and Fed 210M primer. ——- I also shot three factory rounds with the same bullet and the average of 2852 fps and an inch group at the same target position, inch high straight up. Looking to more shooting and playing with this little jewel. I can already see the fascination with this long narrow bullet for the Creedmore shooters and now of course the PRC shooters. Good Shooting.

Thanks for taking the time to post up your results.
Sounds promising and likely to see a little boost in speed after a hundred rounds or so ,I hear .
Will probably be a successful cartridge if components like brass are readily available and companies offer good options in some affordable bolt guns.

Another shooting session and more good results. Same group with an average of 2945 fps. When the shooter gets better with the trigger the group will tighten. My Sauer 100 has a 22 inch barrel, longer barrels will get more speed, I am very pleased with all aspects of the rifle otherwise. Easy to clean and service, very smooth action, excellent three position safety. Can’t wait for more shooting weather. Good Shooting.

Anyone know if this cartridge is able to be loaded with heavy ,long bullets and still cycle ok in short actions as advertised. Will it definitely work alright in actions as short as the Remington model seven?

SAAMI shows minimum OAL of 2.755" and maximum of 2.955". I presume you could seat the bullet to the shorter OAL to fit in a 2.75-2.8" short action, but would likely encroach on powder space and reduce velocity depending on the length of the bullet and the depth it would have to be seated.

The PRC should be a solid rifle but it almost feel like the well is running dry on all the new cartridges. It doesn't mean they're not great but only that they may not enjoy greatness like others before.

I'll be forced to stick with my 6.5 x 280 AI for now. A couple more grains of powder than the PRC and a few fps speedier.

Zeke

I have a Remington .260 I love for deer hunting out to 400yrds. and a favorite .300 win mag. for longer hunting shots to 800 or so and large game.
Would like to build an in between rifle that has magnum performance with less recoil than the big mags, so I could chamber it in a lighter weight gun for the long, high walks .
I was pretty set on a 6.5x284 Norma, for performance and recoil. But I think it is better stuck in a long action for sure. Was hoping this new cartridge could be a better short action choice. The talk is still just talk on this 6.5 PRC so far. Need more of em out in the field to really know.
Really like the 7mm wsm, but brass seems to be not common enough for me to take a leap.
The PRC cartridge should have good future if components are kept in support.

I hear guys are using short actions and a .308 length mag well for 6.5 PRC builds.
Would love to hear from someone who has one built on a short action 700 receiver.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff mills:
I hear guys are using short actions and a .308 length mag well for 6.5 PRC builds.
Would love to hear from someone who has one built on a short action 700 receiver.

So the magazines available and the various "short" actions are basically all designed around the 308. AICS has popularized the magazine dimensions, so most magazines match that. The AICS magazines have a spacer in the front. It's possible to remove the spacer, or buy magazines with the same outside dimensions without the spacer. Some custom actions, DBM, chassis systems, etc. come set up for this, but a regular R700 will need a little modification to use these "long" magazines. This gets you a maximum of about 2.96" to work with. The 308 was not designed around long pointy high BC bullets, so there are some compromises when trying to use these bullets. Using a magnum bolt face gets you more powder capacity, but to meet the mag length the bullets will still tend to sit deep in the case.

Before the PRS and tacticool stuff was all the rage I ran a 7WSM in a short action out of a magazine in precision rifle matches. This worked well, especially at long range, but was overkill for the local matches. This was my solution:



From here:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6521043/m/7191005091

This is a 7WSSM that has the goldilocks combination of capacity, length, and caliber to work at relatively long range out of a system initially designed around the 308. I think the 6.5PRC is a similar approach, but I think it's still a bit overkill for most of the PRS style matches and it will still hit the magazine length problem with long pointy bullets. Most of the PRS crowd went from 7mm, to 6.5mm, and is now on to 6mm--mostly due to recoil.

So the 6.5PRC will work, but depending on what you're doing something else would probably work a little better. In a PRS style match a flavor of 6mm might be the way to go. At true long range a 7mm in the same platform has a ballistics advantage. From the perspective of component availability, I've built a couple 7mm-08 rifles with pawn shop R700 short actions, necked down lake city brass, and these "long" AICS magazines. In a long action, you have even more options to get where you want to go.

$0.02

It is looking more and more ,like this cartridge would better off being built on a standard long action.
I am a little disappointed in all the talk about it being a short action cartridge, when it seems no standard box mag on a short action will allow max seating length.
Guess if I decide to build one, I will have to stop looking for a model seven and maybe get an old .270 or 06' action to tear apart.

I think Of the 6.5 PRC as a hunting cartridge.
Mostly for deer size game. Bullets over 140 , would not be needed for me.
And bullets in the 120 to 140 grain area up near 3000, fps Will do just fine.
Mag length may effect your bullet choices, but there are lots of great bullets out there,
This round has no real advantage over the 270, in the hunting field, or not much anyway. But i like a short action Bolt Rifle.
...tj3006

Question off topic.
What is stopping people from turning an AR15 6.8SPC into a 6.8 WSSM?

Fantastic weekend weather in Kentucky gave me two good days of shooting with the 6.5 PRC. First of all the Sauer 100 is a sweet little rifle all around, smooth operation with excellent quality from top to bottom. Most accurate load so far is the Hornady ELDX 143 grain at 2966 fps and half inch group. Also excellent accuracy from 140 grain Nosler Partition in front of 57 grains RL-26 and Fed 210M primer chronographed at 2991 fps. Another load that shows real promise is 130 grain Barnes TSX and 58 grains RL-26 and same primer at 3119 fps. I am having great fun with this PRC and hope to use it for a Mule Deer this fall and backup for my .358 STA on Elk. Good Shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff mills:
It is looking more and more ,like this cartridge would better off being built on a standard long action.
I am a little disappointed in all the talk about it being a short action cartridge, when it seems no standard box mag on a short action will allow max seating length.
Guess if I decide to build one, I will have to stop looking for a model seven and maybe get an old .270 or 06' action to tear apart.

At least with high BC bullets it seems like long action is the way to go with the PRC. If an internal magazine for hunting is what you want, then one of the "medium" custom actions or a modified R700 short action with an aftermarket internal magazine would work. There is a lot of discussion of these details here:

http://forum.accurateshooter.c...-prc-thread.3950329/

If you want a 6.5 magnum in a M7 then I think a 6.5WSSM might be a good solution. You could get ~50 grains of capacity and the bullet wouldn't be buried in the case. It would not be an off-the-shelf type project though. For 7mm, you're right: I have not seen much 7WSM brass around. But there is the 7RSAUM or the 7-300WSM. If you don't hand load, then I still see the 7RSAUM on the shelves.

As for converting an old 270, then I would look at the 6.5-284 again. The 308 bolt face would work with the 284 brass without modification and the cartridge length wouldn't be an issue.

phurley5: thanks for sharing your results with us. What sort of cartridge lengths are you using? Are you using a magazine? What length does the magazine allow?

The cartridge length I use on the Hornady ELD-X bullet is 2.950, but the length on the Nosler Partition and Barnes TSX is somewhat less. I didn't measure the later two loads because my seater die would not seat them longer due to the bullet shape. I plan to get another seater die that will seat them longer as that length seems to be more accurate with this rifle. This rifle has a clip that determines how long you can seat the bullets and I use the longest it will let me. Good shooting.

Thanks for putting the link in your post jlp. That was some of the best and informative info I have read yet, and I can see why there has been some conflicting results in a short action.
After reading that I know that my dream of using a model 7 is certainly crushed and kicked out the door.
I still have talked to a few that are amazed at the extremely mild recoil of this cartridge, for the speed and energy it produces. I still am strongly considering a rebarrel project on a short action 700. But I think it will depend ,at least for a cheap skate like me, on what kind of cheap doner rifle I find.

I built a 20" PRC mostly to shoot suppressed and not have 30" of barrel length with the can attached.

I was hoping to obtain at least good CM performance with this set up and was willing to sacrifice some speed for the handiness of the more manageable barrel/can combo. Wasn't looking for blistering speed at all.

I was pleasantly surprised that I'm running the 143 ELDX in the 20" PRC at 2895 consistently and with super accuracy. That's above my expectations and still getting GREAT accuracy. (Under .25" at 100 when I do my part.)

It's a Proof Summit rifle shooting Hornaday factory Precision Hunter 143 ELDX cartridges. And I have found that with my can attached I average 15 FPS faster than without the can on. Seems contrary, but has been consistent for my testing and about 65 rounds down the barrel.

Whether blind hunting, spot and stalk or searching with a vehicle, this package is very handy moving about, accessing and egressing these hunting methods.

Plus, I tagged a west TX buck at 475 with it the last weekend of the season.

Would I do it again, absolutely!

quote:

6.5 PRC

Well, I looked it up to see just what it is.

================================================

https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/...new-rifle-cartridge/

6.5 PRC Hottest New Rifle Cartridge

================================================

It's a very interesting cartridge, IMO. But, also IMO, all 6.5mm cartridges are interesting.

It's the same old game, something new. I still think the 6.5 Rem Mag is a good cartridge, and fits a short action, if that's what you must have.

I have two AR15s in 6.5 Grendel, and one bolt action in that chamber, and a CZ in 6.5x55 and I'm thoroughly satisfied in the 6.5mm category out to as far as I want to shoot, with either cartridge.

Hornady ammo

There are lots of great cartridges out there that fit in a short action. They fit so you can use a lighter shorter rifle.
Yes, you can put them in a longer action and seat bullets out a bit farther and gain A few FPS.
Doing this defeats the purpose the cartridges were designed for.
Why not take the longer action and use a cartridge that better fits the action.
Like the 257 Bob and 7x57. Yes you can chamber them in long actions and almost make them a 25-06 and 280.
Instead of putting them in the longer action, just use the longer cartridge.
Maybe I'm stupid but I just don't understand it.
Leo

The idea is a cartridge that gives magnum performance without magnum recoil, so it can be chambered in a lighter rifle that is easier to carry.
Browning has announced it is now offering the 6.5 PRC in the X-bolt. Still a little to pricey for many, including me. But it's good news for the life expectancy of this cartridge.
Ammunition and brass availability , and the variations of rifles offered in a cartridge is the key.
The 6.5 saum and 6.5 Remington mag are great. As is the .264 win mag .
But, finding ammo for those ain't an everyday event.
I think this new cartridge will get the support it needs to make it a survivor.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff mills:
But I think it will depend ,at least for a cheap skate like me, on what kind of cheap doner rifle I find.

If you're really itching for one but are on a budget you could find a pawn shop r700 in 7mm rem mag (or something with a mag bolt face) for a few hundred, order one of these and find someone with a reamer:

https://raggedholebarrels.net/...caliber-barrel-blank

quote:

Originally posted by jpl:

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff mills:
But I think it will depend ,at least for a cheap skate like me, on what kind of cheap doner rifle I find.

If you're really itching for one but are on a budget you could find a pawn shop r700 in 7mm rem mag (or something with a mag bolt face) for a few hundred, order one of these and find someone with a reamer:

https://raggedholebarrels.net/...caliber-barrel-blank

I have seen quite a few 700s in 7mm and 300 win mag, in local papers and pawn shops.
I have given it some thought and might go that way if I can't get something better.
A rifle chambered in something like the 300 wsm would be great. But apparently an extended mag box would still be needed on any short action.

This guy likes rugers:

https://www.realguns.com/articles/1078.htm

Jeff Mills,
I don't shoot the 300s, but my son does. I believe the 300 Win. mag with a 200 gr. Nosler or Accubond is the ideal elk rifle..I personally shoot the 338 Win. but that's just my choice, the 300 Win is just as good..

I don't see any 6.5 as anything close to a proper elk gun, will it kill elk, of course, but it sure isn't ideal..same as the 250-3000, 30-30 and 25-35, Ive killed elk with them,but they were not or ever will be proper elk rifles, these light guns are fine up to 100 or even perhaps 200 yards, that's about it...

I see folks using the Creedmore on elk on TV,at extreme ranges, and its a fairy tale of mistakes and managed photography..The Creedmore is not a elk gun,especially at long range, Im not sure Id shoot an elk at those ranges with a 300..

I fully agree with you Mr. Atkinson.
I absolutely love my .300 win mag, and have taken lots of game with it. I have only been on one elk hunt. The .300 was with me for the whole grueling hunt. I feel confident that if I had seen a bull in the unit I had a tag for, under 500yrds., it would have been dead as quickly as I could squeeze the trigger.
But mine is awfully heavy. Don't get me wrong, I want it heavy. If it were a couple pounds lighter it would only get fired as often as it was absolutely necessary. I like to shoot and I like to hike back in the mountains.
I will be using my good old .300 win mag on any further elk hunts I can manage to afford and draw a tag for.
But I want something substantial in the power department, that doesn't weigh 13+ pounds or kick like a ten footed mule. At least for deer and black bear, and occasionally a coyote or two. A rifle that sends a 140gr. Bullet around 3,000fps with high BCs ,with relatively low recoil sounds like an item I could use in my tool box.
I have confidence the 6.5 PRC would be as or more capable than any .270 or 30-06 on elk out to 400yrds or so.
But I am not wanting another elk rifle. I'm wanting something a little more capable than most standard cartridges, that is light to pack and this cartridge interests me in being a very efficient design too.
I think it will be a joy to reload for.
Have confirmed info from two guys that had one barrelled for the cartridge. They are getting well over 3,100fps with 140 gr. bullets.
I would be interested in the results of the 160gr. out of one of these rifles with 24" barrel too.
Time will tell, but I feel sure this cartridge is gonna stick around. The longer it's out, the more good things I hear.
I may have one by this time next year, if I can get it done at a price I can handle.

For an elk gun at reasonable ranges of say 450 yards and under the 6.5or .264 with a well built 125 to 160 grain bullet will penetrate and destroy tissue as well as a .308 in the 150 to 180 grain range. Like bullets at like angles will achieve VERY similar wound channels. That is the beauty of the 6.5mm. It is the beginning of true thump-ability. A 140 grain 6.5 can do things no quarter bore can do in terms of breaking bones and destroying heavy tissue for distance. It is absolutely amazing what it takes in terms of tissue mass to stop a 127 grain Barnes or a 140 grain Partition, or a 156 grain Norma Oryx or woodleigh weld core at very modest impact velocities. Do I think shooting at elk 800 yards away is a good idea? No, but that goes for any bore diameter. I think there a lot of bad shots and edited chases in the hunt media. Do I think the 6.5 are a reasonable choice for an elk rifle, absolutely. Easy to shoot accurately and makes alotta hole. Any of the 6.5s from the Swede to the 6.5-300Roy.

Another shooting session with the PRC this weekend. The 143 gr. Hornady ELD-X chronyed at 3017 fps with inch group. The second bullet I tried very well be my new Deer load. A 130 grain Barnes TSX bullet with 58 grains RL-26, Fed 210-M primer. This load chronyed at 3192 fps with two holes side by side and the third an inch above. Love the rifle, shooter needs work. Good Shooting.

My Montana Rifle Company 6.5 PRC, Stainless Extreme 3 finally arrived yesterday afternoon at Sportsman's Warehouse here in Las Vegas, 7 months after ordering it. Beautiful rifle! I have mounted a Swarovski Z-5 with an aftermarket ballistic dial-up reticle on it. Can't wait to take it out and shoot it!

A report of the latest shooting session with the PRC. 143 grain Hornady ELD-X with 57 grains RL-26 chronyed at 2995 fps, one inch group. 140 grain Nosler Partition with same powder and amount chroney at 3030 fps, inch group. Last load tested was 130 grain Barnes TSX flatbase with 58 grains of RL-26 and fed 210-M primer chroneyed at 3247 fps and 1/2 inch group. The Barnes load is becoming my best shooter with best speed and accuracy. Shooter doing better finally. Good Shooting.

Another shooting session with the PRC. Factory 143 gr. ELD-X inch group at 2893 fps. 140 grain Nosler Partition 57 grains RL-26 Fed 210M primer inch and half group at 3073 fps. 130 grain Barnes TSX flatbase 59 grains RL-26 same primer 3/4 inch group at 3205 fps. I am really liking the Barnes load because of it’s speed and accuracy, should be a fine Deer load. Good Shooting.

Great session with the PRC today. No 35-P because of wind but finally the shooter did his part to match the sweet little Sauer 100. An imperfect three leaf clover group all touching. Load a 130 gr. Barnes TSX in front of 59 gr. RL-26 and speed of 3205 fps which was my last reading with that load a couple weeks ago. For sure my Deer load and considering it for Elk this Oct in Colorado. Good Shooting.

I got a magazine box from Fred Wyatt. Will have to mill out the box opening by .125" at the rear. With a 24" barrel, #2 contour, on a light stock (ex High Tech Specialties, now called Legendary Arms Works). Should make a decent hill rifle.

After considerable shooting with the 6.5 PRC now I have come to have great respect for this long narrow .264 bullet. With excellent groups with the Barnes 130 gr. TSX at 3219 fps and Hornady 143 gr. ELD-X at 3000 plus fps I was happy with the results. Today I shot the 140 gr. North Fork and got 3137 fps with a .425 group and feel like three shots touching is just around the corner when I do my part. Now I am looking forward to hunting with the PRC this fall. Good Shooting.