Real world reviews for the 6.5PRC

Back to the OP if he hasn’t left this already..

Yes the 6.5PRC will do a decent job at some long range target work and hunting all the ungulates, and still not have the recoil of a 7rem mag or 300 mag (close to 7mag but not quite). Pick the right bullet for latrger ungulates and the 140’s are suprisingly effective.
Somewhere in the prc/6.5-284/ gap 4s/ 264wm size is the practical limit of the 6.5’s. If you can push the 140vld /143eldx bullets to 2900-3000fps that is plenty of zip to hunt out to over 500 yards. The prc should get over that, without being as overbore as a 26N. That is also a good spot to be in for long range plinking, to compete at something it may not be the best choice but for a plinker it will work well.
 
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I have a few 6.5 PRCs and it’s an outstanding cartridge, factory ammo is reasonably priced and few more Companies will be offering factory ammo options in 2020, Brass from Hornady, Gunwerks, Bertram and ADG, tons of great bullet choices for reloading

Low recoil and accurate with most anything I shove through them, it’s one of the most sensible cartridges developed lately, a great hunting cartridge and even better if you want to shoot targets at long distance,

Do a little research and you will quickly see the benefits of this great cartridge.
 
While the OP asked for experience with the 6.5 PRC, very few who have posted cannot demonstrate that exact experience.
Nice to see a few who do have that experience post here. And is good, as I too am looking at the 6.5 PRC cartridge in a future rifle.
Relevant experience from others with the other various 6.5 cartridges can also be valuable, as it does provide valuable insight on comparable cartridges in the 6.5 family. (in particular the 264 WM and the 6.5 RM - with the 6.5x284 being a close third)

I have over 25 years experience with the 6.5x55, both at the range and on big game in the field, with a variety of harvests on sheep, deer and moose. A great cartridge that I have full confidence on out to 400 yards on deer and sheep, but have a self-imposed limit on of 300 yards for moose as it drops below 1500 ft-lbs of energy at the target past there. I also have a 6.5 Creedmoor that I have been shooting for the past 8 years, and I like this cartridge too. Is it better than the Swede? No, but it is just as fun to shoot, and I have taken a moose with it too. I have also played with the 6.5x284 Norma and it is close to the same specs as the PRC. Just couldn't come to like the rifle it was chambered in and down the road it went. Would have went with another, but am liking the apparent better barrel life potential of the PRC cartridge so am looking at this route. Do I "need" more...honestly...No. I have other rifles and cartridges that will outperform the PRC at longer ranges on larger game. But when did "need" ever come into play here? If it was just need, I would own just a 22, a 28 ga shotgun, and just one rifle in a centerfire cartridge capable of everything from deer and bears up to bison (and my 338-06 would fit that bill). But admittedly, to me, that wouldn't be as much fun or as interesting!

I too am looking for other cartridges and rifles that will perform on unwounded big game out to my own self-imposed limit of 400 yards, with less recoil and energy figures that will match up to the game species targeted within that distance (i.e. 1000 for deer, 1500 for moose and 2000 for elk as recommended by the old guides and gunwriters of the day).
Will it outperform my beloved 280 Rem? Won't be able to say first hand until I have one to shoot and hunt with and can compare their real world performance for myself on the same types of game, in a variety of field conditions. I eagerly look forward to that chance and experience!

To the other question regarding the 7mm Rem Mag and a 150 gr bullet on moose...YES; it will cleanly harvest a moose at 400 yards (even to 500 yards), with proper bullet placement!
Have I done it personally? No. My furthest shot on a moose in over 30 years has been just 220 yards. And I have only taken two elk to date at over 300 yards (moose and elk with 7MM STW and cow elk with 35 Whelen - just what I had with me at the time)
 
Lapua brass makes the 6.5/284 hard to pass over. It's equally priced or cheaper than the 6.5 PRC brass offerings. I'd choose it over the PRC only if you are a handloader.
 
todbartell said:
I zipped a 140gr Accubond through a moose at 275 yards and folded it on the spot. Run the numbers, at 400 yards the PRC has the same impact speed as a tradtional 6.5x55 load delivers at 150 yards. I guess the million moose killed with the Swede in europe was a fluke
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I have a small collection of 6.5 cartridges from the 6.5x55 to the 26 Nosler. My favorite is a 260 AI for no other reason than the 308 parent cartridge. I've a 6.5-284 and of course the 6.5 Creed. I'm building a 6.5 PRC and selling the Nosler. As far as killing goes i've reached out well beyond 600 yards and I've hunted plenty of Africa with that 260 AI. Bear, to kudu. Moose to bighorn that cartridge has done it all.
 
f:P: I havent posted on this forum for a couple of years and you guys have't changed a bit!! ;) It seems I have a little more free time on my hands these days and I'm lurking around a bit more. :cool:

I shot a nice mule buck at about 200 yds with a christensen arms ridgeline corlanes edition 6.5 prc last november. I used factory hornady 143gr eldx ammo. I bought the factory ammo to get me going quick and then provide me with some brass to start loading with. It was a bang flop situation, right behind the shoulder. The prc is a great cartridge and I'd like to try it with the berger 156 EOL bullet. I'm confident with this rifle to 500yds using a vx-5 3-15x44 with a boone and crocket reticle, I've verified my reticle from 2-500 yds and I'm dialed in. I wouldnt hesitate to take a shot at paper, steel, moose, deer, elk, coyote, sasquatch, or the lochness monster up to 500yds because I'm confident in my shot, my bullet and my equipment. I find the rifle easy to shoot and therefore I shoot it well, and that means more than anything. A well shot 6.5 is far more effective and ethical than a botched 30 cal at any range. Is the 6.5prc the be all end all? Nope, but I sure like mine!
 
I am new to shooting and hunting, wanted a rifle to hunt and enjoy at the range. Got great deal on a new Browning Max LR 6.5 PRC. Only got to do the barrel break in before Covid shut down travel options.

Accuracy with Hornady 143Gr ELDx was satisfactory at 100yards (26inch barrel in 1/7 twist), however this setup maintained much better 3 shot groups from 200-400. (Was breaking the barrel in so accuracy was not my main goal for the range time)

Looking for a good ressource regarding data and specs on 6.5PRC. Considering dropping a couple inches off the barrel to bring overall length down a touch. Would like to spend my downtime reading and researching the effects this would have. Anyone have this rifle? Any home grown data?

Don't plan on making a shot on a large animal at anything more than 250. Happy with shooting steel and paper out to 600 max.

Cheers
 
Ardent said:
Hitting me too. Self medicating with old iron wrenching and cheap Islay.
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Call me a wuss who can't handle heavy recoil OR a proper pour of aqua vitae but I'm still working my way up to peat smoke. ;)

Irish Whisky fella here and its cheaper to boot, but wow does it ever get you through these times!

for a few winters when the space is available I'd been shooting a factory Ruger Hawkeye in 7mm-08 at 400 and 500 meters. It wasn't overly difficult to make hits as long as the wind wasn't going, as has been said. With a good range finder at least. I SUCK at making distance calls that far out with the Mk 1 Eyeball.

Plenty of hunting takes good judgement and the idea that you may pass on more opportunities than you take. Bowhunting, for example.
 
Heres a few pictures of my latest 6.5 PRC build,

I wanted a lightweight sheep and deer hunting rifle, I started off with a Kimber Montana 8400 WSM donor which was used and had a Titanium Bolt handle and trigger guard, I dropped it off to gunsmith Gary "GEF" Flach and he trued and squared the action, lightened the trigger to 2.5lbs, added a palm swell to the Montana stock, Chambered a 23 inch #1 contour fluted 1-8 twist Benchmark barrel, brown gunkote to all metal surfaces and a beige colour on the stock with multi coloured splatter, the rifle was 5lbs 12.5oz on its own, I added Talleys and a Zeiss V4 4-16x44 Z-Plex scope, Gary outdid himself on this rifle what a dream to shoot.

The factory 143gr ELDX shot pretty good and faster than the advertised velocity of 2960, actual 2969/2957/2968








I ran a cpl strings the second time at the range with R26/ 215M primers/ADG brass with 140gr AB and Berger 156 Elite Hunters, barrel is showing great velocity for a 23" barrel




 
Beautiful build WF, it kinda makes me envious, I like kimber rifles and I have one in 7mm wsm, I will need to wait for the barrel to burn out, then.... just maybe :)
 
Weatherby Fan said:
Heres a few pictures of my latest 6.5 PRC build,

I wanted a lightweight sheep and deer hunting rifle, I started off with a Kimber Montana 8400 WSM donor which was used and had a Titanium Bolt handle and trigger guard, I dropped it off to gunsmith Gary "GEF" Flach and he trued and squared the action, lightened the trigger to 2.5lbs, added a palm swell to the Montana stock, Chambered a 23 inch #1 contour fluted 1-8 twist Benchmark barrel, brown gunkote to all metal surfaces and a beige colour on the stock with multi coloured splatter, the rifle was 5lbs 12.5oz on its own, I added Talleys and a Zeiss V4 4-16x44 Z-Plex scope, Gary outdid himself on this rifle what a dream to shoot.

The factory 143gr ELDX shot pretty good and faster than the advertised velocity of 2960, actual 2969/2957/2968








I ran a cpl strings the second time at the range with R26/ 215M primers/ADG brass with 140gr AB and Berger 156 Elite Hunters, barrel is showing great velocity for a 23" barrel




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Very similar to the velocities I am seeing with my 6.5PRC, with 24" barrel. It's nice to see a hunting rifle with no brake, the brake that mine came with, is in the box where it belongs.
 
Tikka 6.5 PRC Custom

Love my custom 6.5 PRC Tikka! shoots little groups with factory ammo too which is a plus! Next build will be a 300 PRC

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