CM vs PRC

[can1010]

more than one highly qualified member on there and other forums were destroying brass with any powder/brass combination when they got over 3000 fps with 156 bergers along with my own experience with the PRC says I would have to be there and see for my self before I trust any advertised velocities that high

 

[LongBomber]

I have to agree with you on that one. After shooting a bunch of different 6.5's somewhere around 3000 with a 156 would be a top end load.
From the 6.5mm rifles I have shot with a 140-143gr bullet and 26" barrels they topped out roughly in this area.
6.5 cm 2825-2840
260ai 2900-2925
6.5-284 3050
264 win mag 3250
26N 3370-3390
Had a few guys tell me what "dog poop" speeds I get and I must have crappy barrels. Then they shoot their speed demon past my labradar and end up apologizing

more than one highly qualified member on there and other forums were destroying brass with any powder/brass combination when they got over 3000 fps with 156 bergers along with my own experience with the PRC says I would have to be there and see for my self before I trust any advertised velocities that high

 

[can1010]

I have to agree with you on that one. After shooting a bunch of different 6.5's somewhere around 3000 with a 156 would be a top end load.
From the 6.5mm rifles I have shot with a 140-143gr bullet and 26" barrels they topped out roughly in this area.
6.5 cm 2825-2840
260ai 2900-2925
6.5-284 3050
264 win mag 3250
26N 3370-3390
Had a few guys tell me what "dog poop" speeds I get and I must have crappy barrels. Then they shoot their speed demon past my labradar and end up apologizing

I have to just shake my head sometimes. the 6.5PRC is only 1gr more than the 6.5-284. I necked the 6.8 western down to 6.5 and have almost a 10% increase in capacity and with a 28 inch barrel cant come close to some of the claims a have read.

 

[Another Casual]

Real world data, my 6.5 PRC 26" rock creek can hit 3,100 with 140 accubonds and H1000, accuracy is at 3,060 and thats more than enough for my hunting. 3,200+ with 156s, even in a 31" is hard to believe.


If I was shooting in any kind of quantity (and if its within 600) I see no need to go above the creedmoor. Our club has steel out to 600 and sub-MOA targets with 147 ELD-Ms at 2,650 are easy and fun. More supplies, more load data, less powder means cheaper to reload and the barrel heats up slower, etc.

 

[Big Jake Duke]

I have both. My custom PRC built on a medium action excels in every way over the CM in every thing but recoil and is light. I push a Berger 156 EOL at 3100 - 3200 fps. It surpasses my 300 WM in ft/lbs of energy at 700 yds. If you build it on a SA you will never maximize the efficiency of the cartridge.
For the poster who stated you can't get supplies wouldn't want to see my stash. I actually shoot & buy extra barrels for my builds.
The only reason I keep a CM is it's in a AR-10.

If you are loading the 6.5 with a 156 to 3200fps, then you should aply the same pressures and quality butllets to the other cartridge you mentioned.

The 6.5prc is a great round, but a 300 win mag with 190gr-210 gr quality bullets and loaded not to saami specs is a combination that is hard to beat. Ive sbot 2950-3050 fps witb a 24" barrel.

 

[Trm82]

Creedmoor are nothing special !! Prc aren't either but I've owned booth and would take a PRC any day over a gay creedmoor.
7-08 blows the doors off a creed anayday.

 

[hugheserj]

I was considering both a few months ago and went 6.5-284 as thats what I could actually find decent brass for. 20" barrel shooting 153.5gr bergers 2830fps at 0.2MOA. These new cartridges sure are getting a following but there are plenty of good options out there that do much the same as far as ballistics go. My gunsmith warned me that a 20" barrel would give creedmoor performance and if thats what everyone gets from a 24-26" creedmoor, then I can see why it's so popular!

 

[MAF47]

About the same difference as the 6.5x47L vs. the 6.5-.284 Norma. Or the .260 Rem vs. the 6.5 SS. Or the 6.5x55 vs. the 6.5SAUM.

Shooting a lot? Shoot the smaller cartridge.
Paper or steel? Shoot the smaller cartridge.
Smaller or less experienced shooters? Shoot the smaller cartridge.
Shooting out to medium range (600 or so) on medium sized game? Shoot the smaller cartridge.
Strictly hunting? Shoot the bigger cartridge.
Want a reason for another rifle? Shoot BOTH!

I agree. I have the 6.5x47 and the 6.5-284 and shoot both with pleasure...

 

[Kimber7man]

I was considering both a few months ago and went 6.5-284 as thats what I could actually find decent brass for. 20" barrel shooting 153.5gr bergers 2830fps at 0.2MOA. These new cartridges sure are getting a following but there are plenty of good options out there that do much the same as far as ballistics go. My gunsmith warned me that a 20" barrel would give creedmoor performance and if thats what everyone gets from a 24-26" creedmoor, then I can see why it's so popular!

I'll suggest the 6.5 SAUM as a better mousetrap if you are using DBM. None of the PRC brass clicker problems. My 20" is at 2,990 fps with a 139 scenar at a mild load of 61.0 H1000.

 

[Dragoon300]

Real world data, my 6.5 PRC 26" rock creek can hit 3,100 with 140 accubonds and H1000, accuracy is at 3,060 and thats more than enough for my hunting. 3,200+ with 156s, even in a 31" is hard to believe.


If I was shooting in any kind of quantity (and if its within 600) I see no need to go above the creedmoor. Our club has steel out to 600 and sub-MOA targets with 147 ELD-Ms at 2,650 are easy and fun. More supplies, more load data, less powder means cheaper to reload and the barrel heats up slower, etc.

That is exactly what the CM was meant for! And it does a wonderful job of it.

 

[Dragoon300]

But, I like a little more performance in the hunting world so the PRC is what I chose.

 

[ButterBean]

Let me translate the general 6.5mm rankings for Real Men™ who shoot the All-American 30 Cal:

6.5 Grendel - 300 Blackout
6.5 CM - son of a motherless goat
6.5x47 - 308 Win
6.5 PRC - 300 WSM
264 win mag - 300 win mag
26 Nosler - 30 Nosler
nothing - 300 RUM

In reality, the 6.5 PRC is for people who want to go faster than the 6.5 CM. Why max out a smaller cartridge when there's an option with a larger capacity? You can split endless hairs on 6.5 CM vs 260 Rem, why does the 264 Win Mag exist with the stupid belt, all American 6.5s are knockoffs of x47s or x55x, Nosler makes silly overbore barrel burners, etc, but at the end of the day H20 capacity is the primary difference, with the resultant changes in ballistics due to higher velocity.

Son of a Motherless Goat.......................... I'm Dead

 

[ButterBean]

It's impressive! Gotta be rough on the barrel though!

I for one have never built or bought anything where the thought of how long is the tube gonna last crossed my mind, barrels are the cheapest part of the equation, I personally push everything to the max just because I want to, and while everyone knows how I feel about the Needmoor the PRC would be my choice

 

[Dragoon300]

Son of a Motherless Goat.......................... I'm Dead
View attachment 271682

That is why I went with the PRC, just a little faster, not too much. But, when I want more horse power I just put in the 31" .338 Lapua barrel, don't need to use .30 cal's. I save that for my SCAR 17.