6.5 prc

02NBMFormula

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Feb 20, 2017
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I was going to chamber a Rem 700 into 6.5 SAUM but my gunsmith suggested checking out the forthcoming 6.5 PRC. Does anyone have any experience with it? I cant find much info about it other than 100 fps slower than the SAUM and main stream potential.
 
Its basically a necked down 300/338 rcm. I was talking to a buddy about doing a 6.5 or 7 wildcat based on that case but the brass availability is poor and only Hornady makes it. Maybe it will take off in the future but for now it's not. I would look at a 6.5x55 improved as you can push 140s to 2950+ and use lapua brass, not to mention it works with a standard bolt face. I highly doubt the prc/rcm
​​​​ will offer much if any performance gain to it.
 
This has been posted in another thread talking about the round. May be over in long range hunting forum also. As i recall from the other thread also, Hornady is supposed to be releasing factory ammo next year. GAP has brass for it.

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-store/hornady-6-5-prd-100-count.html

I have also been considering the addiction also but am not clear if that is run out of a short or medium action.

3AF247C2-E29D-4FEF-98C6-3F0A5C1BB177_zpsgqlqfl1p.jpg
 
My only concern about this cartridge would be long term support from Hornady. They have recently started making WSM brass for the first time because of their support of the RCM cartridge. This is obviously them trying to repuraise 300RCM brass that didn't sell.
 
My only concern about this cartridge would be long term support from Hornady. They have recently started making WSM brass for the first time because of their support of the RCM cartridge. This is obviously them trying to repuraise 300RCM brass that didn't sell.

That is an interesting perspective that I had not thought about.
 
I have a AIAW and for this rifle only a 300WM and 338LM bolt fits, so I see this as the “only” way to get a 6.5 bullet flying though it. I like the idea about the 6.5PRC being faster for a bit heavier bullets, so I think I will get this caliber.

Does anyone know where to get brass for this?
 
I have a AIAW and for this rifle only a 300WM and 338LM bolt fits, so I see this as the “only” way to get a 6.5 bullet flying though it. I like the idea about the 6.5PRC being faster for a bit heavier bullets, so I think I will get this caliber.

This is the only place i have seen it available. They also have dies too.

Does anyone know where to get brass for this?

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-store/hornady-6-5-prd-100-count.html

Has anyone fired the PRC or seen test about this cartridge?

There was a post on it a while back here. There are also quite a few people who are shooting it and hunting with it on the 6.5 SAUM/6.5 PRC facebook page if you are into that.

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-lone-peak-fuzion-kmw-sentinel-and-ts-customs


 
I'm not sure what problem this cartridge is solving. If I am buying a short magnum, I expect short magnum performance. This round appears to be pushing 140 grain bullets right under 3,000fps (according to Hornady) - just a little faster than the 6.5 Creedmoore.

My 24" 6.5 SAUM is comfortably pushing 140 grain bullets at 3,150fps. This feels like something in between a 6.5 Creedmoore and a 6.5 SAUM with the disadvantages of a magnum bolt face and reduced magazine capacity.

No comprende on why this makes sense. Why not just standardize on the 6.5 SAUM 4S (maybe renaming it) vs. creating a new round. Hornady already makes the 6.5 SAUM brass for GAP. Does anyone else have more insight?

--Roothsot
 
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My only concern about this cartridge would be long term support from Hornady. They have recently started making WSM brass for the first time because of their support of the RCM cartridge. This is obviously them trying to repuraise 300RCM brass that didn't sell.

You do know that the RCM and the WSM / SAUM cases are not the same... right? Hornady would not be able to "repuraise" left over 300 RCM brass into 300 WSM brass.

The WSM / SAUM cases are based on a rebated rim 404 Jeffery case (Basically a short Ultra Mag case), while the RCM case is based off of Hornday's 375 Ruger case, which is close to the old Newton design. The WSM / SAUM case has a rebated rim that measures about .534, similar to other popular magnum cartridges (.300 Win Mag, 7mm Remington Mag), however, the case head is .550, hence the rebated rim. The RCM case has basically the same size rim but the case head is also .532 which means it does not have a rebated rim. The RCM case or the Ruger 375 case is basically, in terms of width, a .300 Win Mag case without the belt. It is not quite as fat as the Ultra Mag / WSM / SAUM line of cases.

Honestly, the RCM case is probably what the short mag cases should have been from the beginning. Getting rid of the rebated rim might solve some of the feeding issues with "short mags." Of course though, the overall length, especially with heavy for caliber bullets, is the biggest Achilles heel for any short mag and it doesn't look like this design is going to do anything to solve that issue.
 
Without moving to a medium action or longer case body requiring a medium action or bigger i'm not sure how you'd successfully reduce the power capacity taken up by the longer projectiles. 6.5 SAUM or PRC is about the only one that seems to balance much more so than trying to run 180s with a 7 SAUM or 220s with the 300.
 
It looks interesting- so you could build one off a WSM bolt/action? It seems like a lighter bullet might make more sense. Also, I hope I'm wrong, I don't know, but based on experience with Hornady's 6.5 SAUM brass I'd make sure you can form brass from a decent pre-existing cartridge rather than rely on their headstamped PRC brass. YMMV
 
It looks interesting- so you could build one off a WSM bolt/action? It seems like a lighter bullet might make more sense. Also, I hope I'm wrong, I don't know, but based on experience with Hornady's 6.5 SAUM brass I'd make sure you can form brass from a decent pre-existing cartridge rather than rely on their headstamped PRC brass. YMMV

The bolt face from a WSM action would work fine, any standard magnum bolt face would work. But you would want to pay special attention to OAL and how you plan on feeding it if you were going to use a short action.
 
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


 
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

Do you by any change use AI mags for your rifle? I am interested in knowing if 6.5 PRC fits AI mags having a AI myself.

I would really like this caliber if it fits my rifle.
 
I don't have a 6.5 PRC yet, still thinking about it. I looked at the specs of Accurate WSM mags, and it seems like they should work. I don't know about AICs. Another possibility is to build a 6.5 PRC from a Tikka WSM and drop it in a CTR stock. I know from experience that the CTR (TRG) mags can be easily tweaked to handle 6.5 SAUM cartridges and they are long enough to accomodate the PRC cartridge.

Edit to add: Orkan's post on a TS Customs 6.5 PRC shows the Accurate WSM mag works well. Another possible option with a Tikka WSM build would be to run that mag with a KRG Bravo when they come out.
 
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I don't have a 6.5 PRC yet, still thinking about it. I looked at the specs of Accurate WSM mags, and it seems like they should work. I don't know about AICs. Another possibility is to build a 6.5 PRC from a Tikka WSM and drop it in a CTR stock. I know from experience that the CTR (TRG) mags can be easily tweaked to handle 6.5 SAUM cartridges and they are long enough to accomodate the PRC cartridge.

OK, Thanks.

I will need to order some Brass and actually try to loading them so see if it works.
 
See the picture (from the left): 6.5x47, 6.5CM, 243, 6.5 GAP 4S, 6.5PRC, 6.5x55, 6.5x55AI

This picture was posted on the FB site for 6.5 PRC. I really like it because it shows 6.5 cases next to each other.
 

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I'm not sure what problem this cartridge is solving. If I am buying a short magnum, I expect short magnum performance. This round appears to be pushing 140 grain bullets right under 3,000fps (according to Hornady) - just a little faster than the 6.5 Creedmoore.

My 24" 6.5 SAUM is comfortably pushing 140 grain bullets at 3,150fps. This feels like something in between a 6.5 Creedmoore and a 6.5 SAUM with the disadvantages of a magnum bolt face and reduced magazine capacity.

No comprende on why this makes sense. Why not just standardize on the 6.5 SAUM 4S (maybe renaming it) vs. creating a new round. Hornady already makes the 6.5 SAUM brass for GAP. Does anyone else have more insight?

--Roothsot

Well said.
 
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).
 
6 saum rounds fit in modified ARC mags. The only issue I've had is the bolt face slipping over the rim on the last round. Opening the lips more fixes it.. I'm keeping my eyes open on the prc. Running a 6.4 4s right now, but there are aspects of the prc that make sense, even for a small velocity loss. I suspect the non rebated rim and body taper will work better for feeding. Always nice to have industry support.
 
6 saum rounds fit in modified ARC mags. The only issue I've had is the bolt face slipping over the rim on the last round. Opening the lips more fixes it.. I'm keeping my eyes open on the prc. Running a 6.4 4s right now, but there are aspects of the prc that make sense, even for a small velocity loss. I suspect the non rebated rim and body taper will work better for feeding. Always nice to have industry support.

What about you, how many rounds are you fitting in a mag
 
Not really any different from any other short action round. Factory loads are to fit the whole spectrum of magazines/boxes. Consider the frustration if factory rounds were 2.940" long for a "short action" magnum round and you had a hunting rifle built with an internal box mag 2.850" long...

Same story with 6.5 CM, .260, etc. Handloaders push the throats out to make the most of the magazine system they're using, or combination push the throats out and select magazines because they allow such activity. Factory ammo is almost always under 2.850".
 
Would there be an issue with feeding this 6.5 PRC from a factory Remington 700 long action magazine? I have a long action magnum that needs a barrel, and was thinking about trying this 6.5 PRC. But i'm not sure if this short action magnum cartridge would work very well with long action magazine lips for feeding reliably?
 
The big upside I see to this case design is that like the 7LRM, it will feed from a standard magnum box magazine without altering the feed rails. Being primarily a hunter, I prefer the weight savings of an internal box magazine. I have a burnt out 7 Mag that just might be wearing a PRC barrel...especially if someone Rem/Ages it. I don't see why it wouldn't feed from a long action.
 
Factory obviously wants AI mag and BDL compatibility where as handloaders just go to accuratemag.

Hi,

I have set my mind to transforming my 300WM to a 6.5 PRC so it will happen, but I am a bit concerned regarding feeding in my AIAW. I have tried using a 300WM and 338LM AI, Accuracy International, mag to feed a 6,5 Creedmoor (the only similar brass I have... still awaiting shipment of the 6.5 PRC brass) and the feeding is not great in the 300WM AI mag.

Please see attached.

What Mags would you recommend with these specifications?




 

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I'm not sure what problem this cartridge is solving. If I am buying a short magnum, I expect short magnum performance. This round appears to be pushing 140 grain bullets right under 3,000fps (according to Hornady) - just a little faster than the 6.5 Creedmoore.

My 24" 6.5 SAUM is comfortably pushing 140 grain bullets at 3,150fps. This feels like something in between a 6.5 Creedmoore and a 6.5 SAUM with the disadvantages of a magnum bolt face and reduced magazine capacity.

No comprende on why this makes sense. Why not just standardize on the 6.5 SAUM 4S (maybe renaming it) vs. creating a new round. Hornady already makes the 6.5 SAUM brass for GAP. Does anyone else have more insight?

--Roothsot

Agreed.
 
Hi,

I have set my mind to transforming my 300WM to a 6.5 PRC so it will happen, but I am a bit concerned regarding feeding in my AIAW. I have tried using a 300WM and 338LM AI, Accuracy International, mag to feed a 6,5 Creedmoor (the only similar brass I have... still awaiting shipment of the 6.5 PRC brass) and the feeding is not great in the 300WM AI mag.

Please see attached.

What Mags would you recommend with these specifications?

I can't be of much help there. I have no experience with 6.5PRC in an AI.