I hear that most guys are running 6mms now instead of 6.5s. IS that accurate? What flavor of 6mm? I am in Wyoming so are guys in the western states also switching to 6mms? Thanks.
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PRS Talk Whats the popular caliber these days?
- Thread starter Smokerroller
- Start date
Any of them really.
Just pick the one with the cheapest good brass.
Just pick the one with the cheapest good brass.
Flavor of the month for the top shooters in the northwest is split pretty evenly between small 6's like Dasher, BRX, faster 6's like the 6x47 with higher BC bullet options, and some guys sticking with 6.5x47. Throw in some 6 and 6.5 creed for good measure.
Don't chase calibers. Pick a 6 or 6.5 you like and get it and practice. If you can't win with a 6.5 then you won't with a 6mm and vice versa.
I think a lot of people put too much emphasis on the latest fad. You can't reinvent the wheel.
Arguing which 6mm or whatever is best, is just splitting hairs. Pick any of them and get shooting, learn it and love it.
Me, I shoot a 6.5x47lapua. Why? Well why not?
Arguing which 6mm or whatever is best, is just splitting hairs. Pick any of them and get shooting, learn it and love it.
Me, I shoot a 6.5x47lapua. Why? Well why not?
You might also think about ammo or reloading supplies availability. With some shifting to 6mm, 6.5mm bullets are getting pretty plentiful.
Most guys run 6mm calibers, but you can still be competitive with a 6.5 - the reason people seem to prefer the 6's is because it lets you see your misses more easily due to having less recoil to shift you off target if you've got a bit of an unstable position on an obstacle.
I'm building a new competition rifle this summer in 6BR personally. I looked at the different 6mm calibers and personally didn't want to need to drop good money on a barrel every 1,500-2,000 rounds shooting a 6XC, 6CM, or 6x47 (popular "fast" 6mm's that will push 115's past 3,000 fps easily), and I already knew I didn't want to deal with fireforming my brass for minimal gains. I did the math even at 1,000 yards the 100 fps difference was pretty negligible in terms of wind holds (drop I'm not as worried about since that's the easier of the two to calculate).
The other nice part about 6BR is the barrel life, or at least it's nice for someone like me who's shooting on a bit of a budget. I've heard it's pretty reliably in the 3,000-4,000 rounds per barrel range if you're not pushing it hard. Increased barrel life has diminishing returns, obviously, but I do like that I can pretty comfortably shoot at least 1 full year with practice included without wondering whether or not I'll need to replace a barrel. There are 3 different local matches with round counts of about 100 each month near me, so I'll definitely be putting a lot of rounds down the pipe.
I'm building a new competition rifle this summer in 6BR personally. I looked at the different 6mm calibers and personally didn't want to need to drop good money on a barrel every 1,500-2,000 rounds shooting a 6XC, 6CM, or 6x47 (popular "fast" 6mm's that will push 115's past 3,000 fps easily), and I already knew I didn't want to deal with fireforming my brass for minimal gains. I did the math even at 1,000 yards the 100 fps difference was pretty negligible in terms of wind holds (drop I'm not as worried about since that's the easier of the two to calculate).
The other nice part about 6BR is the barrel life, or at least it's nice for someone like me who's shooting on a bit of a budget. I've heard it's pretty reliably in the 3,000-4,000 rounds per barrel range if you're not pushing it hard. Increased barrel life has diminishing returns, obviously, but I do like that I can pretty comfortably shoot at least 1 full year with practice included without wondering whether or not I'll need to replace a barrel. There are 3 different local matches with round counts of about 100 each month near me, so I'll definitely be putting a lot of rounds down the pipe.
My rifle isn't built yet (waiting on the Nucleus), but I know of 3 different guys who all shoot 6BR for PRS and haven't had mag issues after installing a specific spacer kit. I'm not sure which kit they used, or else I'd say (I don't want to get it wrong), but I plan to ask them when the action is shipping out so I can pick up the spacer kit and the same mags they've been using because they've been running flawlessly from watching and talking to them.
That was initially one of my concerns about shooting 6BR, moreso than the slightly slower velocity.
I started with the 6.5 creedmoor, loved it. I then had a 6 dasher built. After numerous club matches and a few 2 day matches, I pretty much stayed in the middle of the pack with the creedmoor. My first match with the dasher I placed 2nd. Is the dasher superior to the creedmoor? No, but I do shoot it much better.
It depends on what you're trying to do. For PRS I would argue that Dasher is superior to 6.5 Creedmoor for one reason, with that reason being reduced recoil with comparable ballistics.
The difference in drops and wind holds between standard 6.5 Creedmoor loads and standard 6 Dasher loads out to 1,000 yards is nearly negligible. The difference in how easy it is to remain on target and spot your hits and misses is large though, and that is a huge part of any PRS competition because the competition isn't necessarily about always making first round hits. Nobody can always make first round hits, but what separates the people at the very top from the people in the middle or bottom of the pack is their ability to spot where they missed and correct for it immediately.
With less recoil it becomes much easier to see your misses, especially in an environment (such as damp dirt) where it's not always immediately obvious from a puff of dust afterwords. With less recoil you can be more stable and remain on target while the bullet flies downrange, meaning some people can watch their vapor trail from the prone position and from less stable positions you're less likely to miss seeing it because your sights left the target and didn't have time to get back on target.
Maybe you had enough experience shooting and your shooting was getting better?
As for spotting misses, a 6.5 bullet is easier to see due to energy than a 6mm for misses especially in that wet dirt. If you set a 6.5 set up right the recoil isn't much more. I shoot what would be considered a lighter 6.5 Creedmoor with a good brake and I have no problems seeing my misses.
I have to say I haven't noticed much difference in splash between the two calibers, though I know part of why I was having more trouble (compared to 6mm calibers that I tried shooting) getting back on target is because I was shooting some pretty hot loads - 147 ELD-M's at 2900-2915 fps - with a rifle that weighed under 11 pounds with bipod and scope.Maybe you had enough experience shooting and your shooting was getting better?
As for spotting misses, a 6.5 bullet is easier to see due to energy than a 6mm for misses especially in that wet dirt. If you set a 6.5 set up right the recoil isn't much more. I shoot what would be considered a lighter 6.5 Creedmoor with a good brake and I have no problems seeing my misses.
At the very least, if you're shooting something in 6mm or 6.5mm you'll be better off than someone shooting a .223 or a .308. Beyond that a lot of it is probably personal preference, admittedly.
Maybe you had enough experience shooting and your shooting was getting better?
As for spotting misses, a 6.5 bullet is easier to see due to energy than a 6mm for misses especially in that wet dirt. If you set a 6.5 set up right the recoil isn't much more. I shoot what would be considered a lighter 6.5 Creedmoor with a good brake and I have no problems seeing my misses.
Rob01, will you expand more on your statement about setting the 6.5 up right to reduce recoil to close to 6mm levels? Thanks
Just a decent rifle weight, mine's about 15 pounds, and a good brake will do it. Like with anything also when you are in the moment of a match you got adreneline flowing and you don't really feel the small difference anyways. I know I don't. My 6.5s can easily see hits set up like mentioned. Position and follow through are very important too so the shooter does have to do his part.
I am working on a reloading setup, but might be a couple months or more down the line. So, is there any real difference in ammo availability between 6creed and 6.5 creed?
I know you can find a wide variety of 6.5 hunting ammo on shelves, but I’m sure I’ll be ordering all of my ammo online.
Also, Barrel life, any substantial difference between the 6 and 6.5?
About to have a barrel spun up. Was leaning towards 6creed, but I can always change to 6.5.
Thanks!
I know you can find a wide variety of 6.5 hunting ammo on shelves, but I’m sure I’ll be ordering all of my ammo online.
Also, Barrel life, any substantial difference between the 6 and 6.5?
About to have a barrel spun up. Was leaning towards 6creed, but I can always change to 6.5.
Thanks!
6.5 and 6 Creedmoor ammo I’ve seen have been around the same price. I expect you start to see even more 6 Creedmoor ammo as it’s really catching on in PRS and other places
I think it’s 6 be it’s really small case a guy in Macon MO chambers a ton of them and they do well on the state and national level. Curtis Custom Rifles
Another one of the 6BR variants based on Lapua 6BR brass. From my understanding it's 40 degree shoulder, shorter body/longer neck/less capacity than the Dasher. Bigger than the 6BRA. Requires fire forming like all of them.
Pretty much anything on the 6BR case is going to shoot good.
I know it’s a tiny ass case compared to my 6 Creedmoor and it does require fire forming. I wont touch anything you have to fireform to many good rounds you don’t I’m working on a 6xc right know
I’ve been shooting 6creed for almost two years. I’m shooting my first PRS match next month. The most readily available off the shelf ammo I’ve found is Hornady 105gr bthp or 108 gr ELD Match. The match stuff is much more consistent when you get out past 500 yds. I have not had any trouble finding it online. I use one of the ammo finding apps to see who has the best price and order several hundred rounds at a time. Hornady is half decent brass so I save it all and reload with either the 108 ELD-M, Berger hybrids, or DTAC.
Barrel life is shorter for the 6Creed vs 6.5. But the recoil is noticeably less for the 6mm. I have been very happy with my choice. I hope this is helpful.
The mags and spacer kits these guys are using, now that my action is shipping and I've asked, is a standard AICS mag with the Primal Rights spacer kit. All 3 of them use it and none of the 3 has had any problems since they installed that spacer kit (one of them was having a really rough time before it though).
Just wanted to update since I mentioned I would.
I'm shooting a standard 6BR and will probably be making the swap when I eventually (probably in 1-2 years) rebarrel with a shouldered pre-fit, assuming no other latest and greatest comes out by then. Easy fireforming because you can just shoot standard BR ammo through it, and then you can get velocities very similar to the dasher when you're finished with the fireforming.
6mm Creedmoor for me. Load development was easy. Seond load gave me little 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Several 10 shot strings over the chronograph posted SD’s from 4.0 to 7.5. I am shooting a Impact Precison rifle.
The latest craze is all 25-06.
Ok well not really but I still love mine.
I'm waiting to hear about the 338 Warburg taking over the 375, 408, 416 cheytac, etc. But haven't heard anything beyond whispers yet. Anyone here whispering?
Ok well not really but I still love mine.
I'm waiting to hear about the 338 Warburg taking over the 375, 408, 416 cheytac, etc. But haven't heard anything beyond whispers yet. Anyone here whispering?
Have you shot them back to back?
I’m one of the last in my group still shooting a 6.5 and the rest have went with 6mm of some fashion.
I have to be much more in control of my rifle and ensure that I don’t get sloppy to be able manage the recoil. The 6mm allows you to be a lot more loose on the gun and they don’t recoil near as much.
If you do your part 6.5 is ok if you want the easiest recoil free then 6mm all day.
It’s easier to manage a 6mm compared to anything larger. So yes you can free recoil it, be completely out of position, shoot it left handed and still be able to stay on target.
D
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The Black Jack 131 is putting the .257 back on the circuit. I'm working up a load now for 25-06. G1 .660 @2940 as advertised.
I guarantee if you shoot you .300 H&H off a barricade at a steel target that's either in the brush or has a wet dirt backstop you won't be able to call your misses inside 500 yards. You also would have a rough time trying to free recoil it, which can be helpful on some stages.
With a heavy rifle chambered in one of the 6mm options, you often are able to spot your own bullet trace which means you can see misses even if it's impossible to see where it impacted downrange. Since PRS matches are hosted in a variety of different venues, with varying degrees of good or bad backstops, being able to spot your trace is huge on the stages and in the matches where it's difficult to see your misses otherwise (grass backstop, brush, wet dirt, etc.)
I went out shooting mine a few months back with some 127gr bullets that were some test runs back in the early 2000's that never caught on. Started pounding the gong at 936 yards (only 3 of 8 were hits mind you), but My wife and younger kids were there watching (and shaking the truck of the hood I was shooting from) and got a real kick out of the report tha-thung when it rang. Please let me know where your Black Jack's end up- I'd love to work up a new load looking at those numbers. Unsure why more bullet manufacturers never jumped on board with more options for these.
Why are you posting in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) forum if you hate PRS and don't want to discuss the thread topic in the context of PRS?
This was a question about the popular calibers for PRS these days, and the 6mm calibers are popular in PRS for specific reasons that don't apply to many other kinds of shooting. None of us are saying that 6mm is the way to go for long range shooting or hunting in general, but in terms of PRS performance there's a big reason shooters are using smaller calibers (some now are even moving to 22x47L, 22BR, and 22 Creedmoor) with as little recoil as possible - it means you finish the match with more points because it makes wind correction after a miss easier.
They're not trying to have low recoil guns because recoil hurts their shoulders or because they can't also spot misses with larger calibers in some conditions. They trying to have low recoil guns because it makes it as easy as possible to spot misses (and hits, too, so they can tell where on the plate they hit) even when shooting from unstable positions. It's not something that applies to much outside of PRS, but this is literally the PRS forum we're on right now.
I shoot a 6 creed RPR. My first long range rifle and I have to say it shoots really well. At first I chose the 6 over the 6.5 cause the rifle was considerably cheaper. I guess the 6 didn’t catch on like the 6.5. That said though I’m glad I went with the 6. Load dev was easy. 105 RDFs at 2950 so not really hot. Between the weight of the rifle, good brake and a not so hot round it is easy to shoot.
I saw someone shooting a 22 dasher at a match recently. I am interested in a fast twist 22-250 to shoot the heavier Bullets. Allows you to bring the rifle weight down (more maneuverable) and still manage recoil really well.
I saw someone shooting a 22 dasher at a match recently. I am interested in a fast twist 22-250 to shoot the heavier Bullets. Allows you to bring the rifle weight down (more maneuverable) and still manage recoil really well.
Calling ones shots is not the same as calling it and confirming the bullet impact. If your shooting an Unk distance or extended distance with good wind gusts, calling your shot doesn't mean a thing. You may be off by .2 wind and if your optic moves, you will not know it and it will cost you more points on your next shots. Being able to call and confirm your shot is extremely helpful.
Also, shooting prone all day calling shots with all the time to get wind calculations vs getting into awkward positions under a time crunch and making first round hits at 800+ yards within seconds is much harder.
I have called my shots and moved on to the next target before watching the impact only because I knew there was no wind. I would have been losing points if I did not confirm my wind holds before moving.
Also, shooting prone all day calling shots with all the time to get wind calculations vs getting into awkward positions under a time crunch and making first round hits at 800+ yards within seconds is much harder.
I have called my shots and moved on to the next target before watching the impact only because I knew there was no wind. I would have been losing points if I did not confirm my wind holds before moving.
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