6.5 PRC Barrel Length 24"vs 26" Velocity

[PatriotHenry]

First off I am a Newbie on here. Not a Newbie with shooting and reloading.

I am building/buying a 6.5PRC, I have decided on a 26" tube, however my choices unless I go Totally custom are pretty limited in this barrel length. Does anyone out there have reliable data on velocity with Hornady 147 ELDM "Factory Loaded" ammo out of a 24" and 26" tube for me to ponder on? I have brand new ADG brass, and I am planning on trying the ABLR 142gr, Horn ELDX 143gr, and Berger 156EOL. This will be mainly a Hunting rig. From my research so far I am scratching my head on why some many makers are building their rifles with 24" tubes and this cartridge, as I have read many Shooters claims that they are getting very close to PRC velocity's with their Creeds. If that is the case a 24" in this caliber seems like a waste?

If I build I am going with an Axiom Hybrid action and a 26-28" Proof tube 1-7.5t.

Thanks!

 

[FEENIX]

Welcome to LRH and enjoy it! "IF" budget allows, your full custom plan is the way to go. Cheers!

Ed

 

[PatriotHenry]

Thank you FEENIX. Budget is tight, however I don't think I will be happy with any of the "Factory" offerings. They are the wrong barrel length in the ones I like, and too dang heavy in the ones with 26" tubes. With the exception of Christensen Arms. I am not impressed with their quality.

 

[Holycity73]

mine is a 22"
speeds are around 3k. and I'm not shooting steel out to a mile, just 400y max... at game.
The energy is the big difference.

 

[highdrum]

26" supressed with the 147 was 2990fps, my 23" did 2980, freak barrel I guess it shot 143s @ 3040. I wouldn't gamble on factory ammo for precision. 26" will get generally 40-60fps over the 24". That 23" barrel was a test barrel from a company and it didn't shoot too well, a carbon 26" bartlein is taking its place, will have it back from the Smith next week. I also just ordered a Mesa long range in 6.5 prc to haul around in the truck this summer at the farm, as the new bartlein barreled prc is a bit too nice to bounce around in the back seat for the next 5 months. I'll be breaking in the barrel next week so I'll let you know how they go.

 

[jpndave]

First off I am a Newbie on here. Not a Newbie with shooting and reloading.

I am building/buying a 6.5PRC, I have decided on a 26" tube, however my choices unless I go Totally custom are pretty limited in this barrel length. Does anyone out there have reliable data on velocity with Hornady 147 ELDM "Factory Loaded" ammo out of a 24" and 26" tube for me to ponder on? I have brand new ADG brass, and I am planning on trying the ABLR 142gr, Horn ELDX 143gr, and Berger 156EOL. This will be mainly a Hunting rig. From my research so far I am scratching my head on why some many makers are building their rifles with 24" tubes and this cartridge, as I have read many Shooters claims that they are getting very close to PRC velocity's with their Creeds. If that is the case a 24" in this caliber seems like a waste?

If I build I am going with an Axiom Hybrid action and a 26-28" Proof tube 1-7.5t.

Thanks!

Guys quoting speeds out of a Creedmoor that meet or beat a PRC are either over pressure or comparing a unicorn powder to a run of the mill slower powder. All things equal with correct powders for each the PRC will run ~200fps faster.

Just for kicks I did just that on QuickLOAD. Your ABLR 142 will run ~2950 out of a 24" Creedmoor and ~3000 out of a 26" with RL26 (unicorn powder in the Creedmoor). The PRC will run ~3150 out of a 24" and ~3200 out of a 26" with VV570 (unicorn powder in the PRC). Any individual variances from that from chambering, fast vs slow barrels, etc. could just as easily apply to one over the other. Those projections are at near max pressure on both but no over.

I have a 6.5 Creedmoor that I love. I hate to admit it but ended up with one after a few experiences shooting and carrying friends rifles. They just work. That is in a Kimber lightweight hunting rifle. If the weight or loss of a round or two in the mag box aren't an issue I'd do the PRC. If I wasn't building a 300 PRC for heavier stuff, I'd probably do the 6.5 PRC over the Creedmoor.

If it helps, I'd be happy to do a few runs in QuickLOAD for you.

Dave

 

[FEENIX]

Thank you FEENIX. Budget is tight, however I don't think I will be happy with any of the "Factory" offerings. They are the wrong barrel length in the ones I like, and too dang heavy in the ones with 26" tubes. With the exception of Christensen Arms. I am not impressed with their quality.

I know the feeling. My first full custom was ~$4K. While I can afford it, I have trouble justifying the cost for a one-time payment at that time. Because I was not in a hurry I started setting aside money for it. I purchased all the components myself with a consultation with my gunsmith. When done incrementally, it is a lot easier to manage. Just my personal experience for you to ponder. Good luck!

Ed

 

[DJ Fergus]

First off I am a Newbie on here. Not a Newbie with shooting and reloading.

I am building/buying a 6.5PRC, I have decided on a 26" tube, however my choices unless I go Totally custom are pretty limited in this barrel length. Does anyone out there have reliable data on velocity with Hornady 147 ELDM "Factory Loaded" ammo out of a 24" and 26" tube for me to ponder on? I have brand new ADG brass, and I am planning on trying the ABLR 142gr, Horn ELDX 143gr, and Berger 156EOL. This will be mainly a Hunting rig. From my research so far I am scratching my head on why some many makers are building their rifles with 24" tubes and this cartridge, as I have read many Shooters claims that they are getting very close to PRC velocity's with their Creeds. If that is the case a 24" in this caliber seems like a waste?

If I build I am going with an Axiom Hybrid action and a 26-28" Proof tube 1-7.5t.

Thanks!

I've got a 26" 6.5cm. I can get to 2940 with 147s in once fired federal cases with rl26 & drop tube funnel. Im also working with a new 6.5 PRC with a 28" bartlein. Only about 4 rounds through it. With 147 Hornady match ammo it was running 2917 fps. I really believe that it will get to over 3000 fps easily with that same ammo when the barrel gets settled in with a few rounds through it.

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

First off I am a Newbie on here. Not a Newbie with shooting and reloading.

I am building/buying a 6.5PRC, I have decided on a 26" tube, however my choices unless I go Totally custom are pretty limited in this barrel length. Does anyone out there have reliable data on velocity with Hornady 147 ELDM "Factory Loaded" ammo out of a 24" and 26" tube for me to ponder on? I have brand new ADG brass, and I am planning on trying the ABLR 142gr, Horn ELDX 143gr, and Berger 156EOL. This will be mainly a Hunting rig. From my research so far I am scratching my head on why some many makers are building their rifles with 24" tubes and this cartridge, as I have read many Shooters claims that they are getting very close to PRC velocity's with their Creeds. If that is the case a 24" in this caliber seems like a waste?

If I build I am going with an Axiom Hybrid action and a 26-28" Proof tube 1-7.5t.

Thanks!

go custom easy and you can do it yourself shoulder fit proof carbonfiber barrel and bighorn action I did 6 this winter for hunters up here and one for myself with the hornady perc hunter ammo just over a 1/2 moa while braking in the barrel per proofs guide lines next day went back out with Hornadys 147 match clean barrel first 5 round were out standing. then I did a vel check with 10 rounds they were all between 2491- 2949. after that I went back and got the rest of the 147 gr ammo the shop had. I reload and have the wilson sinclair dies berger bullets along with a supply of H-1000 but the way this proof barrel is working with this ammo I will shoot the factory ammo for the time being. the barrel is a 26 inch

 

[Mackinaw BOB]

I have a 6.5 prc with a 24 inch barrel. Factory eldx load shot a 10 round average of 2960 over a magneto speed after barrel break in. I haven't shot any eldm rounds yet

 

[Holycity73]

go custom easy and you can do it yourself shoulder fit proof carbonfiber barrel and bighorn action I did 6 this winter for hunters up here and one for myself with the hornady perc hunter ammo just over a 1/2 moa while braking in the barrel per proofs guide lines next day went back out with Hornadys 147 match clean barrel first 5 round were out standing. then I did a vel check with 10 rounds they were all between 2491- 2949. after that I went back and got the rest of the 147 gr ammo the shop had. I reload and have the wilson sinclair dies berger bullets along with a supply of H-1000 but the way this proof barrel is working with this ammo I will shoot the factory ammo for the time being. the barrel is a 26 inch

'But but it ain't custom unless you paid 7,000,000 doll hairs and waited 2776246 hours for it. Then you gotta take what are essentially wedding pics with it under a flower laced pergola. Then it's a kustom gunn Duh."
Between Tikka and the other custom actions, we are seeing more and more phenomenal results from home built bolt guns.
I personally love this!

 

[DJ Fergus]

'But but it ain't custom unless you paid 7,000,000 doll hairs and waited 2776246 hours for it. Then you gotta take what are essentially wedding pics with it under a flower laced pergola. Then it's a kustom gunn Duh."
Between Tikka and the other custom actions, we are seeing more and more phenomenal results from home built bolt guns.
I personally love this!

Thats what I'm talking about. Got a proof I screwed on and it's a tack driver. Two criterions and an Apache gun works barrel that drives tacks also. If I burn them out I can have a new barrel on and shooting again in less than two weeks from when I ordered it.

 

[CMP70306]

Just did some testing on Thursday with my PRC, 57.5 gr of H1000 gives me 2963 fps out of a 24" Proof CF barrel. I have some RL-26 but have not yet gotten the chance to test it.

Running the light mono's for hunting I got up to 3322 with 58.9gr StaBall 6.5 using the 122gr Cayuga solids with only slightly flattened primers.

 

[highdrum]

Just did some testing on Thursday with my PRC, 57.5 gr of H1000 gives me 2963 fps out of a 24" Proof CF barrel. I have some RL-26 but have not yet gotten the chance to test it.

Running the light mono's for hunting I got up to 3322 with 58.9gr StaBall 6.5 using the 122gr Cayuga solids with only slightly flattened primers.

Have you gotten decent accuracy with the 122? I have shot a lot through a different barrel and it was a shotgun pattern. Pulled the barrel and sent it back to manufacturer. My new barrel will be here very soon. I used rl26 around 63.3gr to get 3340fps in my old rifle and that was a 23" barrel. I'd be interested in knowing you coal and freebore for jump preference.