6.5PRC vs 300PRC deciding factors??

[2aBaC̶a̶]

I just pulled the trigger on my first custom action. ARC Nucleus in a long action magnum and next is a barrel but having a hard time deciding on what cartridge to choose. Between these 2 what are deciding factors or pros and cons?

Recoil?
Reloading costs and availability?
Effective range?

Use is primarily target practice and extending my effective range to a distances that my 6.5cm has a hard time with when conditions aren't perfect. 1000+ out to a mile or more.

I'm leaning 300prc just to be able to launch bigger bullets farther.

 

[S3th]

Recoil? favors 6.5 PRC
Reloading costs and availability? favors 6.5 PRC
Effective range? favors 300 PRC

Either will do just fine. I would lean more towards the 6.5 PRC. If the rifle will see a mile+ more often, go 300PRC.

 

[steve123]

6.5 PRC is only getting you 200 more fps with the same bullets as your Creed, it's a small gain in energy and drift. Not worth it IMO.

300 PRC is a step up in energy, easier to see dust signature and splash, .8+ G1BC bullets available - though you'll need 8-9 twist, blows less in the wind. More killing power if hunting.

Need a heavy and braked rifle with the 300 PRC to be all day shooter friendly. Everything has trade offs and another one is the 300 is more expensive to shoot.

If I already had a 6.5 Creed I'd skip 6.5 PRC and go to 300 PRC.

I have a 6.5 Saum which I love but I'm getting 3175 fps with 140 hybrid so mine is like 300 fps faster than a Creed and at that point substantial. At 400 fps faster bullets starting poofing so...

 

[Another Casual]

I love my 6.5 PRC, but it's a short action setup for hunting. As above, I'd go 300 with a long action for ELR shooting and make it just about as heavy as possible. Figure the 6.5 PRC adds 150-200 yards to the 6.5 creedmoor performance depending on the load. What you're talking about seems like you'd want the heavy 30 Cal projectiles, long barrel, and heavy.

 

[Steel head]

Mile or more?
300PRC.
Those lil 6.5 bullets are often hard to spot regardless how fast your sending them.

 

[Huskydriver]

300prc

 

[Ledzep]

Long action, long range, 300 PRC. Easy mode inside 800. I've been pushing mine past 2000 with success.

Recoil depends largely on muzzle device. A good brake tames it down well.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

You already have a 6.5 Creed, it would be crazy to get the 6.5 PRC over the 300. 6.5 drives the same bullets a little faster than what you already have. 300 PRC drives bigger higher BC bullets faster than what you already have. No contest, 300 all the way.

I’d go with a different chambering though that has better brass selection. 300 PRC you’re stuck with Hornady currently as far as I know and Hornady brass kinda sucks. If you do 300 Norma you open yourself up to Lapua and Peterson brass which is on another level and will last 4-5x as long, and you also have more/better factory ammo options if you decide you don’t want to load.

 

[42N8 1]

You already have a 6.5 Creed, it would be crazy to get the 6.5 PRC over the 300. 6.5 drives the same bullets a little faster than what you already have. 300 PRC drives bigger higher BC bullets faster than what you already have. No contest, 300 all the way.

I’d go with a different chambering though that has better brass selection. 300 PRC you’re stuck with Hornady currently as far as I know and Hornady brass kinda sucks. If you do 300 Norma you open yourself up to Lapua and Peterson brass which is on another level and will last 4-5x as long, and you also have more/better factory ammo options if you decide you don’t want to load.

I think shot show 2020 will have some vendors that will be show casing new 300 PRC rounds. I know that Hornady is not the only manufacturer that is making the 6.5 PRC anymore now you have others. You will have more vendors in the not to distant future. I think 300 PRC will take over the 30 CAL market. 6.5 PRC came out commercially before the 300 PRC and is not gaining as much traction but its still a great round. I think a lot of people who already are shooting the 6.5 Creedmoore are content and are justifying the difference.

 

[Bayoubigcat]

300 Seems to be a better fit for what you’re wanting to do. 6.5 PRC does what the Creed does a little bit better, 300 PRC does it a lot better.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I think shot show 2020 will have some vendors that will be show casing new 300 PRC rounds. I know that Hornady is not the only manufacturer that is making the 6.5 PRC anymore now you have others. You will have more vendors in the not to distant future. I think 300 PRC will take over the 30 CAL market. 6.5 PRC came out commercially before the 300 PRC and is not gaining as much traction but its still a great round. I think a lot of people who already are shooting the 6.5 Creedmoore are content and are justifying the difference.

I agree with you entirely with 300 PRC eventually taking over the 300 magnum market since you essentially get 300WM performance (or a little better) on a standard magnum BF and without the belted case, but I wouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch.

There’s been no mention I’ve seen of anyone else rolling out brass and even if Lapua or someone else does it will likely be a year until it’s actually available. Creedmoor was out for a very long time before it finally caught a lot of traction and companies like Lapua finally started making brass. I wouldn’t go chambering a rifle for 300PRC until you know for certain other options will be available and aren’t years out, that’s all I’m saying. If Lapua, Peterson, or Alpha announce it and it’s not a long time, then full send.

 

[Dooby]

6.5 PRC is only getting you 200 more fps with the same bullets as your Creed, it's a small gain in energy and drift. Not worth it IMO.

300 PRC is a step up in energy, easier to see dust signature and splash, .8+ G1BC bullets available - though you'll need 8-9 twist, blows less in the wind. More killing power if hunting.

Need a heavy and braked rifle with the 300 PRC to be all day shooter friendly. Everything has trade offs and another one is the 300 is more expensive to shoot.

If I already had a 6.5 Creed I'd skip 6.5 PRC and go to 300 PRC.

I have a 6.5 Saum which I love but I'm getting 3175 fps with 140 hybrid so mine is like 300 fps faster than a Creed and at that point substantial. At 400 fps faster bullets starting poofing so...

I disagree with the statement in bold. with a 140gr the 6.5PRC will reach near speeds as your 6.5 SAUM. If you're talking bullet mass (140gr ELDM) the 6.5 PRC should be able to get ~350-450fps more than the 6.5CM out of a 24" bbl. I'm launching 147gr @ 2950fps, 24" bbl (and can go faster as high as 3050fps, without pressure signs)

OP, i would go with the 6.5PRC for now. a bit cheaper to shoot, and a little more brass availability..until 300 PRC gets ADG Brass. But i'll bet the 1st batch will sell out quick. 6.5 PRC will be good out to just about 1 mile, then transonic. I have both and enjoy shooting both!

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

I guess the next question is barrel profile. Wtf, too many options.

X-Caliber - X-Caliber Barrel Contours

X-Caliber barrel contour options

www.x-caliber.net

 

[Steel head]

I guess the next question is barrel profile. Wtf, too many options.

X-Caliber - X-Caliber Barrel Contours

X-Caliber barrel contour options

www.x-caliber.net

I’m really liking my recent heavy Palma.
not pig heavy but heavy enough.

 

[Shawn1492]

Surprised no one else has said this yet, 7mm PRC. Neckup your 6.5 prc to 7. Use the 180gr bullets. Best of both worlds.

 

[Bayoubigcat]

I agree with you entirely with 300 PRC eventually taking over the 300 magnum market since you essentially get 300WM performance (or a little better) on a standard magnum BF and without the belted case, but I wouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch.

There’s been no mention I’ve seen of anyone else rolling out brass and even if Lapua or someone else does it will likely be a year until it’s actually available. Creedmoor was out for a very long time before it finally caught a lot of traction and companies like Lapua finally started making brass. I wouldn’t go chambering a rifle for 300PRC until you know for certain other options will be available and aren’t years out, that’s all I’m saying. If Lapua, Peterson, or Alpha announce it and it’s not a long time, then full send.

There might be some quality 300 PRC brass released at shot this year. Word is ADG has it in the works.

 

[Steel head]

There might be some quality 300 PRC brass released at shot this year. Word is ADG has it in the works.

They announced January 2020.

 

[Bayoubigcat]

Surprised no one else has said this yet, 7mm PRC. Neckup your 6.5 prc to 7. Use the 180gr bullets. Best of both worlds.

I’ve thought about this also. I have some guys neck down the 300 case to 7mm and got some pretty impressive speeds with the heavies.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Surprised no one else has said this yet, 7mm PRC. Neckup your 6.5 prc to 7. Use the 180gr bullets. Best of both worlds.

Not a bad idea but, no.

 

[TM6]

Merry Christmas!


TM6

 

[Another Casual]

No issues with the Hornady brass in the 6.5 PRC for me. I certainly wouldn't walk away from the 300 PRC based on brass, and as above it only seems to be gaining traction.

 

[steve123]

I disagree with the statement in bold. with a 140gr the 6.5PRC will reach near speeds as your 6.5 SAUM. If you're talking bullet mass (140gr ELDM) the 6.5 PRC should be able to get ~350-450fps more than the 6.5CM out of a 24" bbl. I'm launching 147gr @ 2950fps, 24" bbl (and can go faster as high as 3050fps, without pressure signs)

OP, i would go with the 6.5PRC for now. a bit cheaper to shoot, and a little more brass availability..until 300 PRC gets ADG Brass. But i'll bet the 1st batch will sell out quick. 6.5 PRC will be good out to just about 1 mile, then transonic. I have both and enjoy shooting both!

I'm talking in general.

Fast barrels, slow barrels, brass strength, one lot number of the same powder being faster or slower, or other less subtle kinds of other factors can make a difference. The extra couple grains of power usually makes a difference, like if a 6.5 PCR was Ackley Improved, that's basically what a 6.5 Saum is to 6.5 PRC without the 40 degree shoulder.

 

[Bradu]

My one 6.5 saum is only 3030 fps with a 140. 3100 is max pressure so barrel speeds are an important factor. My other one will launch 130s at 3400 fps. I would do the 300 prc out of these two choices especially since adg brass is available or will be soon. 6.5 splashes suck where I shoot so that's a huge problem in my opinion.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

300PRC ordered. X-Caliber has some good deals on barrels right now.

 

[psychogecko]

Nice, can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Fenix Mike]

Reviving this thread... those who went 300 PRC, are you happy with your choice? 6.5 PRC ? I have a similar debacle in that I only shoot steel and paper, but I do like my 1,000-1 mile game. What my goal is for now is something with factory ammo at a decent price, and both are "pretty good" considering their abilities (prior 300 win and 338 Lapua shooter, these are substantially cheaper). 6.5 PRC has some cheaper Norma ammo for $1.30 or so a round, but I was hoping to keep my Hornady fanboy status, which is closer to $2.00 a round. With 300 PRC, the Hornady is only 40-50 cents a round more, but its significantly more energy, better BC, and I just love 30 cal bullets. The other difference is with the rifles available, I am really looking at the new Sako S20 in 6.5 PRC, or possibly the Bergara HMR Pro and Ruger RPR in 300 PRC. With the lighter recoiling 6.5, id probably be fine with the Sako and never have to touch anything, but with that harder hitting and recoiling 300 PRC, im going to want a heavier rifle so it doesnt beat me up. I have buddies who shoot 6.5 CM to 1 mile, but as others have pointed out, its really uneventful, and unless youre on a low wind day with a great spotter and low mirage, its really tough to see the splash, and no chance of hearing it. With 300 win and 338 Lapua, you dont miss the splash at 1 mile, and with active ears, no issue hearing the hits.

I really wanted the 7mm PRC, but ammo is stupid expensive so far, and not a ton of rifles are supporting it