6.5 Barrel Life

[Lefty G-gear]

Why is the SAUM better than the PRC?

I have the 6.5 PRC, and the 7mm SAUM, but have not done anything with either, since I have been working out of state, and now at home with my shooting on the back-burner due to other things needing tending to.
I do want to compare them, and maybe choose the better, and sell the other.
They are stock guns, with new stocks.

Model 7, 7mm SAUM stainless, with a Boyd's At-One stock, PTG bottom metal, magazine says '300WSM' on it. Holds 7-rds., but functions with 5-rds.
It came with a 22-inch barrel and crappy synthetic stock, but I put a new Remington take-off 24-inch barrel on it.

6.5 PRC, Mossberg Patriot Predator, Cerekoat, and Boyd's laminate stock. 4-rd. detachable mag, Pachmayr Decelerator pad.

Both are free-floated barrels, and have the same cheap Vortex Crossfire 4x12x50mm AO scope.

I'll give them a run for their money.

 

[Hawkeye Pierce]

Talk to the guys at VA Silent Arsenal, they build wsm Wildcats and he is almost to 1800-2000 i think, on the 6.5.
He is 100-150 faster than a PRC. And can build a load for the gun if you like.

 

[slingshot_68]

I am thinking about building a 6.5 rifle. I would like something fast and flat shooting but has a barrel life of 1500-2000 rounds. Thinking of 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Weatherby RPM, or 6.5 SAUM. I will have it built with the same stock, barrel, and action as my 28 Nosler just something I could put more rounds down for range time. I would also be open to other cartridges that people have experience with that may fit the bill. I am not interested in a Creedmoor. I guess my long winded question is what should I expect for barrel life out of these calibers?

Maybe check out the 6.5 Sherman short?

 

[slingshot_68]

Maybe check out the 6.5 Sherman short?

 

[dennisinaz]

I have built a number of 6.5s. I mostly shoot a 6.5-284. I toasted one barrel at 600 n rounds, another at 1100. I'm on 4th barrel with this particular rifle. I'm of the opinion that R17 is HARD on barrels. I currently shoot R26. I'll see how this one does.

I wish my Chanlynn barrel had lasted. It was a real hummer

 

[LTH181818]

I can look it up but just curious if you know. Do they make their carbon fiber barrels with this? Thanks.

yes

 

[7.62 Gunner]

Why is the SAUM better than the PRC?

The prc is skinnier and slightly longer than the saum, with a short action the 6.5 saum will still work with even the heaviest bullets loaded at 2.97"
The prc case capacity is 68 grains, the saum is 72 making it an absolutely perfect match for H1000.
You'd have to load the prc with something like RL26 and throttle it hard to match the saum with a mild load.
Lastly hornady boned up the case dimensions on the prc causing a tight chamber at the case head, basically the case head expands after a few firings and the dies can't size it down enough to chamber or extract smoothly "Clickers"
Guys are trying to make the prc something it's not and in doing so are trashing brass and barrels prematurely

 

[Wedgy]

Barrel life also depends on the powder burn temp and volume burned H1000 is your friend.
Powder------ Burn Temp
VV N165--- 3500
H100v ------ 3545
VV N135------ 3590
VV N160------ 3620
H1000------ 3630
VV N133------ 3630
IMR 7977------ 3660
ACC 4064------ 3700
VV N170------- 3700
Retumbo------ 3710
IMR 4831------ 3720
VV N140------ 3720
H4350------- 3760
IMR 4350------- 3760
RL23 ------- 3770
VV N130------- 3770
VV N150------- 3780
RL16 ------- 3800
IMR 7828------- 3850
H4198------- 3860
H4831------- 3870
IMR 4064------- 3880
RL26------ 3905
IMR 8208------- 3920
IMR 4166 ------- 3920
IMR 4955------- 3950
Ramshot Tac------- 3950
VV N570------- 3950
RL19------- 3980
H335------- 3980
RL15------ 3990
RL17------ 3990
RL22------ 3990
IMR 4451------ 3990
RL10x ------- 4000
VV N560------ 4020
Varget------ 4050
VV N550------ 4050
H4895------ 4060
VV N530------ 4100
VV N540------ 4100

 

[dennisinaz]

I think that is too simple. Those temps are pretty close together. Must be additional factors

 

[Kimber7man]

I can look it up but just curious if you know. Do they make their carbon fiber barrels with this? Thanks.

Yes Bartlein will make a CFW barrel with their Mod 400 SS

 

[Kimber7man]

I think that is too simple. Those temps are pretty close together. Must be additional factors

The 6.5GAP4S (6.5SAUM) load of 61.0 H1000 and 140 grain bullet is a proven load that give barrel life of 2,500 rounds. George hit on a great combo and after trying, I believe like Forrest says, it's like peas and carrots....

 

[6.5saum/300rum]

I found this from back in 2015 when I bought my 6.5 saum from Len when he was building/selling rifles. He was thinking 2500+ rounds of barrel life.