6.5 PRC? Well, im sold.

Seems kinda unnecessary considering that it's designed to run the 147s (and I imagine the 150SMKs would probaby fit fine)? An XM sized action I can see but if you have a long action I'd think you'd just do something like a 6.5-06?

Have you seen how much case capacity is taken up by the 147s at SAAMI spec? I load my 6.5CM a lot longer than SAAMI. I can't fit them in a PMAG. These are already longer than a 6.5CM...
 
Id imagine its similar to 6.5 creedmoor bit a bit worse? I havent looked it up. 2000 or so id assume

Maybe a bit high estimate based on this article at least

http s://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/extending-a-barrels-life/326755

Dave Emary, one of the lead designers of the 6.5 PRC while he was at Hornady — now a Guns & Ammo contributor — said that the barrel life of the 6.5 PRC loaded with a 140-grain bullet with about 55 grains of powder is 1,400 to 1,600 rounds.

A closer comparison of the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 6.5 PRC is illuminating. The Creedmoor has a maximum SAAMI pressure of 62,000 psi and the PRC has a max pressure of 65,000 psi. Putting an additional 14 grains of powder behind the same bullet and bumping pressure up another 2,000 psi cuts barrel life in half.
 
Have you seen how much case capacity is taken up by the 147s at SAAMI spec? I load my 6.5CM a lot longer than SAAMI. I can't fit them in a PMAG. These are already longer than a 6.5CM...

Fair enough, you get some more case capacity running them in a long action. My point was more if you're going to run a long action, why not get "long action case capacity" ie 6.5-06?

PMAGs are short, being polymer and all. For what it's worth I just run MDT mags with no binder plate so I can load to whatever length fits in a short action.
 
Fair enough, you get some more case capacity running them in a long action. My point was more if you're going to run a long action, why not get "long action case capacity" ie 6.5-06?

PMAGs are short, being polymer and all. For what it's worth I just run MDT mags with no binder plate so I can load to whatever length fits in a short action.

Max saami is 2.955”, so you’re able to load what, .030” extra into an MDT short action Mag?
Long action certainly opens up more calibers to play with, but 6.5-06 wouldn’t even be on my list.
6.5 SAUM, or Sherman would be up at the top though. All boils down to brass availability at that point.
 
OP, awesome shooting! I have a few 6.5cm’s, maybe one day will step into a 6.5prc. I’ve heard a lot of good about the cartridge, just not sold on barrel life yet.
 
Max saami is 2.955”, so you’re able to load what, .030” extra into an MDT short action Mag?
Long action certainly opens up more calibers to play with, but 6.5-06 wouldn’t even be on my list.
6.5 SAUM, or Sherman would be up at the top though. All boils down to brass availability at that point.


Yeah, an MDT mag with no binder plate gets you max COAL of 2.960". To me, all those "big" 6.5s (PRC, SAUM, Sherman SS/SST) are designed to squeeze the best ballistics you can out of a short action. Without the constraints of a short action, I wouldn't be looking at 6.5mm calibers period. I'd be going for 7mms and 30cals because you have the length and case capacity to run and push the heavy for caliber bullets. I guess it's all about what you're end use is. If I had a magnum bolt face long action kicking around right now I'd be building a 300PRC...
 
I would think that with the 6.5 PRC and the lack of barrel life relative to the 6.5 Creed, you would not need of want the extra case capacity the you would be losing to others anyway, in regards to the short action.
It will be interesting to see more real world results with the 6.5 PRC as more use it. The 300 PRC would be real nice, not sure if that would get great barrel life either.
 
I would think that with the 6.5 PRC and the lack of barrel life relative to the 6.5 Creed, you would not need of want the extra case capacity the you would be losing to others anyway, in regards to the short action.
It will be interesting to see more real world results with the 6.5 PRC as more use it. The 300 PRC would be real nice, not sure if that would get great barrel life either.

Barrel life is what it is... there's no magic caliber that gets more performance without getting less barrel life. Like anything, performance vs barrel life is a compromise. I would assume that 300 PRC gets about the same barrel life as a 300WM. In any case, it also all depends on what your accuracy requirements are. I have a 6 Creedmoor that I stopped shooting in matches at 1500 rds but it continued shooting .5-.6 moa until 2500 rds when it opened up to .8 moa which realistically is still fine for PRS-style matches. Anyways, all that to say that sometimes you can get a bit better barrel life than what the common consensus is, especially if you're not anal about always shooting 1/4 moa.
 
Barrel life is what it is... there's no magic caliber that gets more performance without getting less barrel life. Like anything, performance vs barrel life is a compromise. I would assume that 300 PRC gets about the same barrel life as a 300WM. In any case, it also all depends on what your accuracy requirements are. I have a 6 Creedmoor that I stopped shooting in matches at 1500 rds but it continued shooting .5-.6 moa until 2500 rds when it opened up to .8 moa which realistically is still fine for PRS-style matches. Anyways, all that to say that sometimes you can get a bit better barrel life than what the common consensus is, especially if you're not anal about always shooting 1/4 moa.

I agree with all of that. As long as I could feed the PRC in my Stealth chassis reliably, and have the ability to adjust jump still, 2950 fps would be nice for game animals. I am currently at a 2710 node with the CM.
a
 
Pardon my ignorance, I don’t shoot PRS or similar rifle games (yet) but I am interested in the sport.
I don’t get the contradictions I’m reading in various threads (or at least my perception of them).
My understanding;
-The sport is really concerned about recoil, which is why 6.5’s and now 6mm’s are popular.
-it is a sport based on stages which have volume firing (I.e.; barrel heat).
-accuracy is important.
-anything which increases bullet performance downrange ultimately sacrifices barrel life.
-other than a select few, cost should play a large role in cartridge selection.
So, what am I missing?
I get the increased performance would offer less wind drift than a slower cartridge, but by how much given the loss of barrel life? And how much does it really make a difference after the beep?
Is it a game changer (all the winners use them) or is it something to spend money on instead of hitting the gym?
As I see it I might have to turn a dial further or use a different hash mark but how much are we taking about?
Wouldn’t practice and familiarity render the downrange differences moot?
And the whole SA / LA concept I don’t get, I thought the SA was to save weight or offer a stiffer action, but wouldn’t that lack of mass increase recoil negating the reason for going to it anyway?
And lastly, what does the short magnums do to magazine capacity, and does that even matter?
So many questions,
Thanks
 
Pardon my ignorance, I don’t shoot PRS or similar rifle games (yet) but I am interested in the sport.
I don’t get the contradictions I’m reading in various threads (or at least my perception of them).
My understanding;
-The sport is really concerned about recoil, which is why 6.5’s and now 6mm’s are popular.
-it is a sport based on stages which have volume firing (I.e.; barrel heat).
-accuracy is important.
-anything which increases bullet performance downrange ultimately sacrifices barrel life.
-other than a select few, cost should play a large role in cartridge selection.
So, what am I missing?
I get the increased performance would offer less wind drift than a slower cartridge, but by how much given the loss of barrel life? And how much does it really make a difference after the beep?
Is it a game changer (all the winners use them) or is it something to spend money on instead of hitting the gym?
As I see it I might have to turn a dial further or use a different hash mark but how much are we taking about?
Wouldn’t practice and familiarity render the downrange differences moot?
And the whole SA / LA concept I don’t get, I thought the SA was to save weight or offer a stiffer action, but wouldn’t that lack of mass increase recoil negating the reason for going to it anyway?
And lastly, what does the short magnums do to magazine capacity, and does that even matter?
So many questions,
Thanks
None of the top shooters are using 6.5PRC in PRS/NRL, so it’s generally moot.
Yes, lots of 6s and a few 6.5s, but no magnums.
 
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