6.5 SAUM versus PRC? In short barreled gun, for suppressed hunting. Or other options? How short?

[cdherman]

OK, here is what I learned from my recent other post about 6.5 variants. 6.5 PRC is the "easy" button so to speak, but 6.5 SAUM/GAP is interesting.

I want to create a short 6.5 gun with suppressor for deer blind work. Max range perhaps 500 yrds. For anyone out there with experience with SHORT barrels -- other chamber options? What barrel length? Thinking 18"

I have this useless Bartlein barrel that I can get shortened, rechambered, fluted and threaded for a can. Its a good barrel chambered in the wrong cartridge and tooooo long. So I have to stay .264.

Irony is that I have a 6.5x55 Swede Tikka T3 Lite that is pretty accurate with its 22" barrel. Its sweet in a blind or field or wherever. But isn't chasing the next perfect gun always the fun!!!! Cannot realistically suppress the Tikka with the pencil thin barrel.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

16.5 inch 6.5 saum 140 hybrids at 2825

 

[WeiserBucks]

SAUM if you reload, PRC if you don't.

 

[waveslayer]

SAUM all the way if you're going short. I'm considering a 16" beast to build, all in 6.5 SAUM

 

[ARlife4me]

if you can find brass or enough saum ammo, then go saum (make sure you can find ALL reloading components 1st). i went prc due to that's all i could obtain in brass, dies and ammo at the time of choosing. same reason i went 7saum instead of 7wsm. i don't want to neck up or down or even have brass identification stating differently.

 

[highdrum]

Saum has a 4gr powder capacity boost. If I was going short barrel 6.5 and still wanted 2900+ fps performance, w/o being near pressure, I'd probably do a 6.5-7prc on an 18" barrel. Lapua Peterson and ADG all making brass now.

 

[gk6654]

I have a 16" 6.5 saum it does seem to like the supppressor

 

[azsugarbear]

You can't lose either way. I run a 6.5 PRC with 20" PR carbon barrel and suppressor. I handload the 160 gr. Matrix VLD to 2,925 fps with RL26 (this is a max load).