6.5 prc vs 264 wm

bpg61

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Hello all, getting ready to build my first custom and I'm confused of witch one to go with. They look similar in ballistics. Any reason to choose one or the other? Components will be mc gamescout with a left hand rem 700 (long or short) with a 26" bartlein #3 barrel. Thanks in advanced. First time posting.
 
Welcome aboard!
Actually, when loaded to equal pressure, the prc falls short of the WM by at least 200'. That said, it just depends on what your need is. The prc does offer some advantages vs the WM in other areas such as no belt, shorter oal, cheaper ammo, better barrel life, etc.
Since you are going custom, and assuming you are hand loading, you might check out these options. particularly the short actions with head stamped brass
Shermanwildcatcartridges.com
 
Since you don't care about action length .... If you are into speed go win mag, if you're into convenience go PRC.

PRC should push a 140 class bullet 3000-3150 I would imagine a win mag would push it 3100-3300
 
Factory ammo in the 6.5 PRC for the win. The left target is 3 at 670 yards. The right target is one a fifty to get on paper then three at 100 yards. This is with factory 147 eld ammo. The 147 is performing awesome on game.

0jjvO3Pl.jpg
 
I'm pretty biased on this one. I've had at least one 264win in my safe since 1995. It was (and still is) 6.5 cool before 6.5 was cool. It will do everything you are hoping to do. If you go with either 264win or 6.5PRC, or any other 6.5 make sure you run at least an 8 twist a 7 twist is ideal for long range hunting and shooting. A lot of the factory 264win stuff is built with a 9 twist, which is marginal with 140g class bullets and a total no with any of the heavier stuff.
I'm 99% done with my latest 264win with a 32" bartlien 8" - 7" transition twist. I used a custom 264 win reamer to be able to seat the 155-160g bullets properly. I'm hoping to see 3,125 - 3,150 with the 160g Matrix.
I haven't had a chance to see a 6.5PRC in person yet. I can't speak to (or against) the quality of the Hornady PRC factory brass. All I will say is there are several choices of 7mm magnum brass that necks easily 264win and even good factory headstamped 264win brass.
There really isn't much difference in performance. As stated above, if you want easy factory ammo get a 6.5PRC if you load a 264win is a good choice. Lastly, there are other choices you should also take the time to investigate a 6.5 Sherman based on an improved 280 Ackley or a 6.5SS, I'm
Not sure if the parent case for that one. Just message Elkaholic. The performance is on par with the 264win. I will be building a 6.5Sherman for my wife soon.
 
Factory ammo in the 6.5 PRC for the win. The left target is 3 at 670 yards. The right target is one a fifty to get on paper then three at 100 yards. This is with factory 147 eld ammo. The 147 is performing awesome on game.

0jjvO3Pl.jpg
tell me more about this rig. Always open for new idea's
 
I talked my son into building a 264 wm last year and it is super impressive with the 147 eldm. built it the same specs as I listed so this is the reason for my build. He thinks the prc would be as good. I have a 6.5 creed and it is no where close to the performance of 264wm. We shot last sunday through a chrono and there is a huge diff. Speed = energy and we live in Idaho so the gun would be used for all critters big and small ( antelope to elk). I like the idea of the prc but we know the 264wm works really well. Thanks again for all your imput
 
Hello all, getting ready to build my first custom and I'm confused of witch one to go with. They look similar in ballistics. Any reason to choose one or the other? Components will be mc gamescout with a left hand rem 700 (long or short) with a 26" bartlein #3 barrel. Thanks in advanced. First time posting.
I would go with the PRC if you do not reload. If you do go with the 6.5-06 AI or the 6.5 Sherman.
 
tell me more about this rig. Always open for new idea's

Its a Bighorn SR3 long(it is a switch barrel). The 6.5 PRC barrel(shown) has .130 freebore. I am having another chambered with the SAAMI .188 freebore reamer(for a different action). You can join and look around the 6.5 PRC facebook page and see most are getting well under .5 MOA with factory ammo pushing 147s around 2900FPS. Mine is a 26". The Win Mag will be faster it has a much larger case capacity but not by much if both hand loaded to max. For me personally the PRC or 6.5x284 is as overbore as I wish to get in the 6.5.
 
I had a 6.5 creed and built a custom 264 win mag. The wm is pushing 140gr Berger elites at 3,217fps and shooting in the .2/.3's all day long.

With the same bullet in a prc, I'd guess you'd be lucky to get 3,000fps in the same 26" barrel.

Just depends on what your setup is going to be (detachable mag or bdl), game you'll shoot with it, are you going to reload?

If you reload, I'd look at the 6.5 SAUM as well - 3,100fps easy with same 140 gr bullets and just as accurate as either caliber.

*the good thing is, if it's custom, do whatever you want! Whether it makes sense to anyone else on the caliber choice doesn't matter!

Have fun with it and let us know what you decide!
 
I had a 6.5 creed and built a custom 264 win mag. The wm is pushing 140gr Berger elites at 3,217fps and shooting in the .2/.3's all day long.

With the same bullet in a prc, I'd guess you'd be lucky to get 3,000fps in the same 26" barrel.

Just depends on what your setup is going to be (detachable mag or bdl), game you'll shoot with it, are you going to reload?

If you reload, I'd look at the 6.5 SAUM as well - 3,100fps easy with same 140 gr bullets and just as accurate as either caliber.

*the good thing is, if it's custom, do whatever you want! Whether it makes sense to anyone else on the caliber choice doesn't matter!

Have fun with it and let us know what you decide!


Your 3000 fps PRC number with a 140 is wrong. Many are getting over that with 147s. Let's keep speculation out of here.
 
Factory ammo in the 6.5 PRC for the win. The left target is 3 at 670 yards. The right target is one a fifty to get on paper then three at 100 yards. This is with factory 147 eld ammo. The 147 is performing awesome on game.

0jjvO3Pl.jpg
Does that rifle have a SAAMI spec chamber?
 
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