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There's just one problem with any cartridge designed around the 180 Berger, there are no 180 Bergers! lol@Jackomason @Rockdoc173 following your progress...thanks for the info and keep us updated...as a side note if you haven't, check out the 7FCP. Basically an improved 7-6.5prc from the F class world designed around the 180 berger....just in case you want to tinker further.
Cheers
Bolt face is a standard magnum .535"Man, I’ve been looking for something just like this! I’ve been wanting by to build a very accurate gong shooting rifle, and been floating between the hot 6mm’s , 6.5 variants, and 7mm variants, and been trying to avoid the overbore options.
This (IMO) fits perfectly to my spec. It could even be used in the fclass applications if ever needed… Only difference is I would hope to run this in a long action.
Can I ask, what size bolt face are you using?
And also, if I may, what reamer did you use?
Super excited now 
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Ps, every thought about improving the shoulders ?? My mind is running wild now…
Updates would be much appreciated!!Bolt face is a standard magnum .535"
The reamer used on mine was from PVA and Josh has talked extensively about not sharing specifics because they are his own design and work. I trust he's flushed out the flaws and made a sweet reamer.
The 7mm PRC primal is Okrans improved version. Take that for what it is but he's made a complete reloading system around it and other 6.5 PRC variants.
I've got a match on Saturday but after that I should be able to get out shooting this thing. I'll keep this thread updated with what I find!
thanks for sharing this - was this the reamer you used in your chamber for this build??I did one, a 7mm-6.5 PRC. Well, I guess the appropriate way to say it is "doing" one since the barreled-action has been at the Cerakote guy for like 5 months so I haven't fully put the rifle together yet! Mine was designed to use a SA (I had just traded for an Archimedes so I just switched the BF to 0.532 and off we went) but the bullet I originally wanted to run, the 190 Hybrid, was way to long. I switched to the 180 Hybrid and, while sitting a little deeper than I'd like, it's acceptable at just below the body/shoulder junction. I know, not ideal but it'll work. I'm also building a little stock of 166 ATips. They're of course lighter than we want to see in a SAUM-ish case, but they performed well in a 7mm-08 I had and out to a mile I think they'll do okay in this new gun. Plus, I can get them far more readily than the 180s. Actually, given the 2.95" OAL restriction of a binderless SA magazine, I pretty much think of this as a grownup 7mm-08, and I'm okay with that for now. I may sell this in the future and move to at least an XM so I can really get all the ability of the case. I may also do a single feed-only 190 Hybrid load but we'll just have to see.
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7mm-6.5 PRC: 180 Hybrid > 166 ATip > 7mm08 w/ 166 ATip
One of my core tenets in precision rifle is the brass. I like the concept of the 7/65 in part because Lapua is making brass, as are other good manufacturers. Hornady is still one of the only 6ARC suppliers I've been able to get brass from and I pretty much hate it. I'll be following this thread to see what direction other folks go with the 7mm-6.5 PRC concept
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And for those interested:
Action: Archimedes SA
Barrel: Krieger MTU 28" 8tw
Stock: Bravo w/ a bunch of goodies on it
Trigger: B&A TSP
Brake: ?
Scope: SB PMII in Badger rings
Dies: Whidden custom set based off the reamer print above
It's been a slow start but I should be shooting this thing next week. I was just playing around at the bench and realized that I'm not sure that the factory redding type S will have enough clearance for the neck.
Sorry it's been a bit but to answer your question, yes I had a custom set made by Whidden based off the reamer print above. Easy buttonIt's been a slow start but I should be shooting this thing next week. I was just playing around at the bench and realized that I'm not sure that the factory redding type S will have enough clearance for the neck.
Did you have custom dies made, open up the shoulder, or was this a non-issue?
Have you tried another scope? Next thing to check is your striker assembly and spring to ensure consistent and reliable ignition.Quick update for those interested.
When I actually started to develop a load, I ran into accuracy (really precision) issues. I couldn't get anything to group. I'm including some target scans for reference. I put five in a hand size group at a mile, but somehow I couldn't get the gun to group worth anything at 100 yards. The prevailing theory is that maybe there's something going on with the stock, though I completely tore the gun down to see if I could identify some funny business, no such luck. From the targets, you can see that at times it'll put three I n a hole, then throw flyers that wideln the group to 1.5". So, I bought a MPA chassis off a Hide member and changed it out. I have yet to shoot it since, probably Thursday or Friday.
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If that doesn't do it, my next suspect is the brass. The K&M tool I used to removed the doughnut from the inside was not very precise and I'm concerned that I / it introduced inconsistencies in the neck. I may open a fresh box of my Lapua 6.5 PRC brass stash and start over. The only way to address the doughnut consistently is turning the outside of the neck. I dont have the tool(s) for that operation and quite frankly don't really want to go down that hole at this point. So, either I invest in the neck turning tools, find someone to do it for me, or...wait for it...turn this puppy into a 7SAUM and save this 7/6.5prc project for another day. I have SAUM brass, a reamer, and very few patience left so we'll see. Also, I thought this would be closer to SAUM speeds than what it is. It's not a deal breaker, just a note. I've always said this is a 7mm-08 big brother and/or 7SAUM little brother. The jury is still as to which it favors more.
More to follow...
I haven't, but that's a good thought. Everything is still tight and no movement can be felt or seen, but I'll switch it out and see if anything changes. One thing at a time though.Have you tried another scope? Next thing to check is your striker assembly and spring to ensure consistent and reliable ignition.
Any idea where one could purchase a IBI barrel extension for a Blaser in the states?First question: How many rounds do I need in the magazine with an overbore barrel burning magnum for hunting or elr?
If 3 rounds are enough a Blaser R8 is a short "223 micro action" that will handle 338LM, 375H&H and 500 Jeffery.
The R8 will handle anything from 22lr to 500 Jeffery.
Measure the distance from trigger to the muzzle and compare the R8 with any traditional bolt action. The R8 is about 4" "shorter" than a traditional long bolt action. The R8 can have a 26" barrel compared to a long bolt action with a 22" barrel when both rifles have the same OAL.
These barrel extentions cost app $250 and any barrel and caliber can be fitted to the R8:
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Here's a custom IBI carbon R8 barrel made with a barrel extention:
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Here's a R8 in 338LM. Notice the distance from trigger to chamber end of the barrel. The R8 is effectivly about 4" shorter than a traditional long bolt action
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I kinda get this over the saum for brass but it seems very close in performance to the 284win (which has decent brass availability) That’s a very good cartridge so not a bad thing I guess. The saum seems to fit the short action better though from my experience, or better yet the Sherman short.
short versus long action?Since the 6.5 prc had basically the same capacity as 6.5x284, the idea of this round seems weird to me as well. There's already an option that's well established out there where all the smiths have reamers, dies available, lapua/peterson brass.. I guess if you like to eff around with stuff but it seems like wasted effort to me.
Not to be contrary, but this doesn't add up.short versus long action?
how many cartridges are 'close to another well established' ... a lot
I'm using a hornady 7mm rem mag die. Works fine.its probably here somewhere but while I search - what seating die are you using for 6.5 PRC necked up to 7mm?
Not to be contrary, but this doesn't add up.
PRC is a saum derivative, dimensionally. IE, Its same as SAUM in terms of length.
This thing needs to do something better. Maybe it will shoot out of short barrels better?
How are the groups/SDs coming allong?
I was comparing 6.5PRC to 6.5-284 from the guy i quotedNot to be contrary, but this doesn't add up.
PRC is a saum derivative, dimensionally. IE, Its same as SAUM in terms of length.
This thing needs to do something better. Maybe it will shoot out of short barrels better?
How are the groups/SDs coming allong?
short versus long action?
how many cartridges are 'close to another well established' ... a lot
yup. similar to the SS and SST sherman cartridgesFair. I skimmed the thread and saw people saying it is a compromise in SA but seems people are using it there. 6.5 PRC is already a stretch for a SA so I saw a 7 as being more so.
So it's a slightly smaller alternative to a SAUM in a short action where you can trade poor SAUM brass availability for poor reamer and die availability and additional brass prep.
There is ZERO advantage to using simply necked-up PRC cases when seeking improved fitment with short action magazines. Hornday took the OAL-specific dimensions for 6.5 PRC directly from the 6.5 SAUM when it sent PRC to SAAMI. There are tons of comments to this effect on page 1 already. If I am mis-umnderstanding this, of course, please correct me.So it's a slightly smaller alternative to a SAUM in a short action ...
6.5PRC to SAUM yeah there's no difference on fitment, with the PRC having the shorter neck evenThere is ZERO advantage to using simply necked-up PRC cases when seeking improved fitment with short action magazines. Hornday took the OAL-specific dimensions for 6.5 PRC directly from the 6.5 SAUM when it sent PRC to SAAMI. There are tons of comments to this effect on page 1 already. If I am mis-umnderstanding this, of course, please correct me.
There is ZERO advantage to using simply necked-up PRC cases when seeking improved fitment with short action magazines. Hornday took the OAL-specific dimensions for 6.5 PRC directly from the 6.5 SAUM when it sent PRC to SAAMI. There are tons of comments to this effect on page 1 already. If I am mis-umnderstanding this, of course, please correct me.
Yeah, were not disagreeing...I'm just trying to clarify for people what is going on. The PRC having width dimensions of X vs Y don't matter for COAL. For the COAL you need to look at the longitudinal dimensions (specifically to the shoulder, the angle, and base to the neck)I don't know if you're agreeing with me or if you read my post wrong and think by saying smaller i meant shorter (they are different words with different meanings). I'm guessing it's the latter based on prior posts claiming the prc is a SAUM derivative. It is not. It's a Ruger Compact Mag (RCM) derivative. They are not the same. SAUM is fatter with a rebated rim.
My post was simply comparing the compromises for 7 saum and 7/6.5 prc in a short action because in a med or long action 284 win is an easier choice vs 6.5-7 PRC due to almost identical case capacity.
Cheers, were on the same page. The "tactical" sherman rpushes the shoulder back to get you the COAL benefits. The PRC doesn't relocate the in relation to the SAUM, so they have the same COALs if using the same bullets.SST shermans that get you the (slightly) shorter case oal and a longer neck
the SST is just 30 degree shoulder not 40 of the SS. theyre both VERY marginally shorter COAL than the SAUM/PRC. same COAL between SS and SSTCheers, were on the same page. The "tactical" sherman rpushes the shoulder back to get you the COAL benefits. The PRC doesn't relocate the in relation to the SAUM, so they have the same COALs if using the same bullets.
@b6graham and I were discussing relevance of the 7-6.5 PRC when its the same capacity as a 284. You're clarifying things that were not confused.Yeah, were not disagreeing...I'm just trying to clarify for people what is going on. The PRC having width dimensions of X vs Y don't matter for COAL. For the COAL you need to look at the longitudinal dimensions (specifically to the shoulder, the angle, and base to the neck)
The longitudinal-dimensions of the PRC are lifted right off the GAP-4S. That part is what GA precision/George Gardner contributed to the 6.5 PRC cartridge design. The GAP 4-S is not a Ruger 375 or RCM, its derived from SAUM.
I'm using a hornady 7mm rem mag die. Works fine.
Are these loads at SA mag length or are the 180s too long?First time out with the lapua brass and it didn't disappoint.
180 ELDM. N555
Loaded 50gr up to 59gr but didn't make it all the way.
These things are Loooong.
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No pressure signs at all but I stopped because I like my face. I was expecting to hit 2800fps and maybe 2825fps.
56.5 was at 2900fps.
Accuracy testing next.
Thanks for the reply. Hope im not breaking any group rules here, but would you or Alex be willing to share or sell me the prints with this improvement? I’m outside of the USA, so ordering reamers and shipping to me is quite a big deal?JGS Reamers knows the dimensions to change that addresses the clicker and stuck case issue.
I worked with Alex in developing my prints specifics.