Zermatt TL3 6.5 PRC

[Tex68w]

Are any of you running a TL3 standard Short Action with a 6.5 PRC? If so, any issues and would you stick with it in a SA or move to their Medium Action if you had to do it over? Just wondering about mags and OAL, thanks.

 

[rangerlong]

I’m running one. I’ve only got 20 rounds of norma 143gr through it, but no issues. Fed fine, and no issues with the length of the ejection port ejecting unfired rounds.
Haven’t tried any heavier bullets or rounds with a longer COAL though.

 

[powdahound76]

6.5 creedmoor brass is spec’d at 1.920”

6.5 PRC is 2.030

Binderless mags and 130s gives a lotta room

Im looking at one vs the old 6.5 SAUM.
Will run in a Zermatt SA.

Know of a guy who smacked a nice Dall with one and Berger 130 this year.
DRT.
Nearly 500 yds
Almost 100% sure he was running a SA.
Purpose built sheep rifle.

 

[lumberjack78]

Short Action, would stay with it.

 

[Jnull]

I just finished a 6.5prc off a medium action lone peak with Hawkins hunter bottom metal. If starting from nothing I don’t see any reason not to go medium unless you never plan on reloading.

 

[Tex68w]

Great feedback fellas, didn't expect this much traffic this quickly. Greatly appreciated!

 

[Dragn’up]

Just built one on a TL3 medium, only way to go if you plan on shooting the 156’s/153.5’s seated where they need to be.

 

[powdahound76]

Why go so heavy??

Just curious.

I like the plan of a 130 fast personally.
I also run the 155 in my .308 hunter at 2900 fps and it smashes like a ton of bricks.

If Im going heavy, 405 gr out of a 45-70 will do fine.
Fat n slow like me!!!

 

[4O6shootist]

My new 65saum(230 freebore) is on a zermatt medium. But I've had 2 on short actions utilizing 2.990 mag boxes and one on a Tikka which is essentially whatever length you want depending on bolt stop/mag setup you're using. With 150+ grain bullets and proper freebore, medium or long action is best, or a Tikka doner. However both my short actions(chambered with 120fb) worked very well with 135-140gr bullets.

 

[Tex68w]

So it sounds like a short action is fine with factory loads in the lighter range. If I should want to run heavier pills or hand load it's best to start with a medium action.

 

[Dragn’up]

That would be correct. If you want to use high BC bullets, you will want the 153.5’s or 156’s. If you plan on hunting big game, those heavier bullets have more kinetic energy at further distances. I have a 6.5 Gap that I run JLK’135’s at 3290 ish in a short action, but I’m really on the brink of pressure but also okay with that too. At 1k, I have 1263 ft pounds of energy for hunting big game, and 17” of wind drift @ 5mph.
There’s always a trade off. Run medium with heavies, stay under pressure or run short, on the brink of pressure.

 

[4O6shootist]

@5Pweld I'd say it's on the warm side! That's over 300fps faster than I run 135jlk in my Saum, granted its a 22" barrel on a terminus that shows pressure way sooner than it should.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Are any of you running a TL3 standard Short Action with a 6.5 PRC? If so, any issues and would you stick with it in a SA or move to their Medium Action if you had to do it over? Just wondering about mags and OAL, thanks.

It depends on the chamber and bullet you plan on using. If you want to run 150gr+ bullets, with a long FB, you will want a medium or long action. Short actions work well with 150gr+ so long as you have a short FB. I have a SA TL3 with .130FB and 150gr SMK loads .030" off the lands in binderless AICS mags.

 

[Tex68w]

Good info fellas, thanks for all of the replies, this is the kind of feedback I was hoping to get.

 

[powdahound76]

Yes, thanks.

Been doing a lot of reading and note taking.
This info helps a lot!!

 

[Dragn’up]

@5Pweld I'd say it's on the warm side! That's over 300fps faster than I run 135jlk in my Saum, granted its a 22" barrel on a terminus that shows pressure way sooner than it should.

I have a 26” barrel and load with RL26. So I squeezed damn near everything I could out of it while trying to stay safe.

 

[SCGunner84]

Are any of you running a TL3 standard Short Action with a 6.5 PRC? If so, any issues and would you stick with it in a SA or move to their Medium Action if you had to do it over? Just wondering about mags and OAL, thanks.

No issues with my stand SA, have shot up to 156 bergers.