Range Report 6.5 prc

[gregsjt]

Hey Guys,

Wondering if anyone has actually shot Hornady's new 6.5 PRC? Couple years ago everyone jizzed their pants over the 6.5 saum, I thought the hornady round would've gotten a little more attention by now.

Thanks

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[culater]

We have To many calibers that will do the same thing.

 

[nick338]

Name one factory loaded cartridge that does what Hornady designed the cartridge to do.

 

[shoot4fun]

Glen Seekins is working on the 6.5PRC very hard and is pretty high on it to this point. He has built a Havoc actioned rifle and has ammo to test now.
It appears to me that, given the specs I've seen, the 6.5PRC is not dramatically faster than the 6.5 Creedmoor but that is comparing the 140 ELDM in CM to the 147 ELDM in PRC.
A buddy and I have a reamer on order so we'll know just how good/bad it really is ASAP.

 

[gregsjt]

Glen Seekins is working on the 6.5PRC very hard and is pretty high on it to this point. He has built a Havoc actioned rifle and has ammo to test now.
It appears to me that, given the specs I've seen, the 6.5PRC is not dramatically faster than the 6.5 Creedmoor but that is comparing the 140 ELDM in CM to the 147 ELDM in PRC.
A buddy and I have a reamer on order so we'll know just how good/bad it really is ASAP.

Is your reamer set up for the same oal as the factory version, 2.9+? Or did you set it up to run shorter?

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[shoot4fun]

Is your reamer set up for the same oal as the factory version, 2.9+? Or did you set it up to run shorter?

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From talking to the builder who ordered it I am going to assume it is the same OAL as factory version. He was told this would be to the specs Hornady gave them and it is their first batch of reamers that can be delivered outside of Hornady's proprietary terms. Won't know or sure until the first barrel is done.

 

[culater]

Name one factory loaded cartridge that does what Hornady designed the cartridge to do.

6.5 - 300 weatherby

 

[nick338]

Belted long action....not even close

 

[Pusher591]

6.5 - 300 weatherby

That cartridge is based around a long action with extremely short barrel life due to the longer case and capacity. Most loads are over the match limit of 3150 and there’s no factory match ammo either.

 

[NeedForSpeed]

That cartridge is based around a long action with extremely short barrel life due to the longer case and capacity. Most loads are over the match limit of 3150 and there’s no factory match ammo either.

These are clearly issues for competition shooting but if you are hunting with it I don’t see an issue. Do you?

 

[Pusher591]

These are clearly issues for competition shooting but if you are hunting with it I don’t see an issue. Do you?

Oh no not at all. My reply was due to many saying the PRC was “just another round” but it’s doing what not any other cartridge can. It’s providing lighter recoiling magnum performance in the 6.5 class and in a short/medium action while being factory supported. Factory supported is the key.

 

[shoot4fun]

Update on my 6.5PRC
I had access to the reamer, a Kreiger 6.5HV 8T blank and a Stiller TAC30AW. It took a few months to get the magnum bolt and, due to moving delays on my part, the rifle didn't get together until around May. I tested RL26 and Retumbo with 140ELDM and used magnum primers. Retumbo gave me the best accuracy at the desired velocity(due to a velocity constraint for the match).
My gunsmith talked me into an Area419 Hellfire brake and it was good advice. So I'm hitting right at the 3,000 FPS mark with great accuracy and can call my own hits due to the low recoil.
In all fairness, I noticed an issue with about 15 pieces of the Hornady brass. After one firing it was showing some pretty severe stretch marks and splitting in the necks. It was not the entire bag/lot of the brass on hand so it left me baffled. A call to Hornady was made and pics emailed to their tech guys. They asked a few questions, scratched their heads and then sent me a 50 round bag for replacement. In further fairness, I have lost brass for one reason or another from all manufacturers over my 40 years of reloading and the issue has not resurfaced.
Further note, as the barrel in my Surgeon Scalpel 300WM is beginning to age out, I am very interested in the 300PRC as a replacement.

 

[generalzip]

I have one. Easily pushes a 147 3000+ in a 24" barrel. Recoil with a can on is very mild. What's not to love? In my eyes this is an ideal NA hunting round.

1. Short Action- keeps weight and length down
2. high BC 147 grain/143 grain ELD/X increase first round hit % with flat trajectory over similar 7mm/30 cals and low wind drift
3. low recoil to spot hits/misses and let younger/female shooter enjoy it more
4. Adequate barrel life (1500-2000 rounds) more than enough for a lifetime of hunting.
5. Enough energy to kill anything up to elk/moose inside 600-700 yards with the right bullet (about as far as most are comfortable making a shot on an animal anyway.
6. Factory ammo available from a big name manufacturer

Am I missing anything?

 

[DTF370]

I’ve been looking at it too. My goal was a rifle for over 1000. I’ve been playing with numbers and at face value I don’t know that I’m overly impressed.

6.5 creed 2700 FPS with 143 ELD-x
1300 yards—1218 FPS with 471 ft/lbs energy

6.5 PRC 2950 FPS with 143 ELD-x
1400 yards—1267 FPS with 510ft/lbs energy

To me, this seems like a lot of money to spend to make it an extra 100 yards. If someone knows something I don’t, please chime in here.

 

[shoot4fun]

I’ve been looking at it too. My goal was a rifle for over 1000. I’ve been playing with numbers and at face value I don’t know that I’m overly impressed.

6.5 creed 2700 FPS with 143 ELD-x
1300 yards—1218 FPS with 471 ft/lbs energy

6.5 PRC 2950 FPS with 143 ELD-x
1400 yards—1267 FPS with 510ft/lbs energy

To me, this seems like a lot of money to spend to make it an extra 100 yards. If someone knows something I don’t, please chime in here.

Well, you see above what others report for velocity (example 3,000 FPS + with 147) but your comparison data is a 143 at 2950.
How is that an honest comparison?
I have three 6.5 Creedmoor and it did not stop me from building a 6.5PRC. DO I regret it? Nope.
Did I build for PRS? Nope; hunting either. I built because it can outshoot my 300WM (using 230 Hyb) without the muss and fuss of the belt and without the recoil. Haven't taken my Surgeon 300WM out of the safe since the PRC was finished.

 

[DTF370]

Agreed regarding the recoil of the 300wm. I saw the report of 3000+ FPS with the 147 which is awesome. I retract my statement. I rechecked my bookmarked pages, and I suppose dyslexia kicked in.

Is 3000 FPS common with other rifles? It seems like more of what I have been seeing is 2900. That being said even 2900 appears to supersonic even to 1500 yds. I’m glad you called me out on my mistake. If brass will hold up for handful of loadings, I think I’ll go back to team PRC.

 

[generalzip]

3000 with a 147 is easily attainable in the majority of barrels if you hand load. 3050-3100 is very doable depending on barrel
Length

 

[shoot4fun]

Agreed regarding the recoil of the 300wm. I saw the report of 3000+ FPS with the 147 which is awesome. I retract my statement. I rechecked my bookmarked pages, and I suppose dyslexia kicked in.

Is 3000 FPS common with other rifles? It seems like more of what I have been seeing is 2900. That being said even 2900 appears to supersonic even to 1500 yds. I’m glad you called me out on my mistake. If brass will hold up for handful of loadings, I think I’ll go back to team PRC.

And, as for the 300WM, I intend to rebarrel with a 300PRC when a new barrel is needed.
See my post (#12) concerning brass.
But people say I'm nuts because I still use Hornady 6.5 and 6 Creedmoor brass.

 

[Long Range 338]

Hey Guys,

Wondering if anyone has actually shot Hornady's new 6.5 PRC? Couple years ago everyone jizzed their pants over the 6.5 saum, I thought the hornady round would've gotten a little more attention by now.

Thanks

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Depends on what use you are talking about. I don't think its setting the PRS world on fire because the trend is for smaller calibers and faster bullets a la 6mm and 22. Not to mention the additional cost of ammo and barrel life compared to other rounds.

If you are talking about the hunting world there seems to be plenty of excitement for the 6.5 PRC. But how many hunters build custom rifles? Tons of competition for this round as a hunting round even though it is being touted as the best thing since sliced bread. Just in the 6.5 calibers you have the 6.5CM, 6.5-284, 6.5x55, 264WM, 26 Nosler, 6.5-300Wby, etc. For overall performance the true magnums out perform the PRC unless you absolutely have to have the short action - which the light weight guys are using. It appears to be a niche market for the hunters who want the best performance they can get in the lightest rifles possible - and the 6.5 PRC seems to be doing well in that space.

 

[wadebrown]

Name one factory loaded cartridge that does what Hornady designed the cartridge to do.

They designed it to sell first and foremost like any other manufacture, performance was a later requirement.

 

[Sticks]

Factory 147 ELD at 3020fps in my 26" MPA barrel.

Reload (on 4th firing Hornady Brass) 54.14gr RL-26, 147gr ELD, 2.955 in a SA. 3020 FPS, 6/12 SD/ES. .5? moa @ 750y 5 shot group.

I could load hotter, but I have a speed limit at the one monthly match that I shoot

 

[DTF370]

Factory 147 ELD at 3020fps in my 26" MPA barrel.

Reload (on 4th firing Hornady Brass) 54.14gr RL-26, 147gr ELD, 2.955 in a SA. 3020 FPS, 6/12 SD/ES. .5? moa @ 750y 5 shot group.

I could load hotter, but I have a speed limit at the one monthly match that I shoot

Those are pretty good numbers. How has your experience on brass been thus far?

 

[Sticks]

Load up number four, I still have the same case length after sizing (shoulder bump .001-.002), primer pockets stilll tight,. Using a RCBS Bushing Die and .292 (?) die for .001 neck tension. Brass looks fine, really have not even cleaned them other than to get the lube off. Measurements above the web show minimal change.

 

[tree man]

What’s the shortest barrel y’all think I could get away with running a suppressor and still achieve 3k FPS with a 143 eldx ? Its gonna be a hunting rig only with occasional paper punching, I’m just trying not to wind up with a 32” total barrel length barrel to swing around lol

 

[XTREM HTR16]

What’s the shortest barrel y’all think I could get away with running a suppressor and still achieve 3k FPS with a 143 eldx ? Its gonna be a hunting rig only with occasional paper punching, I’m just trying not to wind up with a 32” total barrel length barrel to swing around lol

I ordered a 22” Proof Sendero light for my PRC build. Using Ultra 7 6.5. But I don’t even have the barrel yet...

 

[tree man]

I ordered a 22” Proof Sendero light for my PRC build. Using Ultra 7 6.5. But I don’t even have the barrel yet...

I’m thinking that’s the length I want also, that will put me at 28” OAL with my omega, I’m thinking that should be a happy medium of velocity loss and being able to swing the rifle in tight spots