Has the 6.5prc peaked in interested?

[Truc]

While not a popular cartridge the 6.5 Rem Mag is what I use for hunting in a Tikka. It is a medium length action and allows me to seat out to longer than the 3.1" I use.
I load it light at 3000fps with the 125 partition, hits like lightning. You can almost hit this velocity with the 6.5 Creed or 260. And l load it heavy and can get 100-150fos faster than the PRC. Plus I can use good brass

 

[SCSCHNUR]

Thanks for your thoughts. I think it being a little too big for deer might actually be a good thing for deer hunter interest. You always get that person thumping their chest saying look at the cartridge I use. For example my father uses a 300 WSM but has never shot a deer over 200 yards.

I Have a question why not use the 264 WM or the 6.5 REM Magnum?

 

[J E Custom]

What I see most often is, the wrong cartridge for a specific bullet weight. All cartridges are designed around A range of bullet weights. many want to go with the heaviest bullet weight in that diameter. We all know the advantages of the heavy bullets but often the wrong cartridge is chosen for that weight of bullet and it will not reach the potential of that bullet due to case capacity.

If I want a 190 grain bullet in 284 dia. I am not going to chose a 7/08 even though it is one of my favorite cartridges. I will chose a cartridge with more case capacity instead of over pressuring the smaller cartridge trying to get something that it is not capable of.

If you need to seat the bullet long or load over pressure loads to try and get the most velocity you can, Wouldn't it be easier to just go with a bigger cartridge and get the velocity where you want and hold the pressures at or below SAMMI pressures ? It is also easier on your equipment and components.

Every cartridge has an optimum bullet weight that will have the best trajectory, and energy at distance for that cartridge. Bigger heavier bullets will stabilize better at some point but at what cost. The 6.5 PRC looks like a good cartridge if loaded correctly. if not, it will just become another also ran. Many times manufactures will put the wrong twist rate for the heavy bullets because they want them to do well in the mid range of bullets because of total performance. even if you have the fast twist for the heavies, the loss in performance will offset the gain in bullet BCs if a small case capacity cartridge is chosen.

Chose the bullet you want, and then chose the cartridge that will do what you want without any issues and you will be happier in the long run.

Just my opinion based on many years of experience

J E CUSTOM

 

[Legionnaire]

I Have a question why not use the 264 WM or the 6.5 REM Magnum?

Here's a good piece. See especially the section on twist rate.

https://gundigest.com/gear-ammo/ammunition/6-5-prc-extending-riflemans-reach

 

[toddlouis]

I, myself, feel I have the 6.5 covered. A 6.5 Grendel, .260 Rem and .264 WinMag. Three different velocity ranges plus other rifles chambered for calibers on both sides of 6.5. This ole dog doesn't need another set of dies. LOL

what twist rate does your 264 have? I was wanting to get one in the remington sendero but its only a 1-9 twist.

 

[Roughwater]

I don't see it as being too big for deer. There have been plenty of folks hunt deer with much bigger rounds. It's not a new cartridge but some that love the CM may end up graduating to hit that like the CM but want a little more range. That said the 26 Nosler and the Weatherby have slightly more power yet in the 6.5 than the PRC but I think the PRC will be more available with as more factory rifles will be made for the PRC.

 

[DUSTY NOGGIN]

someone outta just hurry up and make a 6.5 bmg , to get that barrel life expectancy of 50 rounds over with

my opinion , 6.5 weights , ends up right there in the middle of the LA & SA .. short actions still a little slow long actions still a little fast for barrel life , so the short fat mag face solves that right

as the case volume increases , so should the bullet weight ( which generally means caliber increases )

with the short fats , long action short action and the more than ever heavier bullets , is there anything that cant be perfect with the existing parts today , when something new comes out its not likely to be ground breaking improvements ( even if ydanroh says so ) small minor improvements yes , paint it red and call a press release

id say buy something that parts are always gonna be available , if you need a miracle out of a 6.5 and there is not any more miracles left to be had , move up a caliber and call it a miracle

im giving away free 6.5 forehead tattoos if anyone is interested ?? for those truly dedicated to never regretting a decision

 

[Hespco]

This will prob be a interesting thread. The 6.5 PRC is prob at its peak. But it seams as if Hornady makes the ammo available for a cartridge then that round will survive. So it all depends on what bullet selection they make available for it. Only time will tell. I use my 260 Rem on Deer, Elk, Hog everything. I have a 300 Win Mag and 7 Rem Mag but I still use my 260 Rem. It does the job. In Colorado the most common caliber to take elk is 6.5 Cal. According to parks and wildlife. It will be interesting to see how the new 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC do.

I absolutely agree. For years I have used a 6.5x308 wildcat ( aka 260 ) & a newer ( 6 years ago) Savage 260 Rem to take elk regularly.

 

[Huntz]

I think there are better existing cartridges in 6.5 then the 6.5 PRC.It seems the people having rifles custom made are having them made on Long actions ,so they can seat the bullet way out there.As long as you are using a long action a 6.5-06 ,264 Win mag seem to be a better choice to me.Right now I have a NULA 270 Win and a Tikka 270WSM that I use with Berger 140 and 150 grain bullets that I believe will do as well or better than the 6.5 PRC at the ranges I shoot at.Right now the Armed Forces are considering a new rifle with .277 caliber for longer range .The truth is there is nothing really new.The 256 Newton was more then The PRC a hundred years ago.JMHO,Huntz

 

[tooth doc]

I don't want to start a war on cartridges i.e. I don't need to hear why a 6.5 prc when xyz cartridge already exists. The reason why is there really is not a high velocity (magnum) 6.5 round which is super popular where ammo is readily available at stores. I am just curious if the 6.5 prc has already peaked in interest? I have become a fan of 6.5 caliber sized bullets for deer hunting. Smaller bullets for less recoil but still enough oomph(when properly selecting bullets) to take down large whitetails. I have been back and forth on getting a 6.5 prc. I know it does not really offer much more than already existing cartridges in performance but I was hoping Hornady was going to pull off another 6.5cm popular round because then ammo types and availability goes up. I wanted a flatter shooting version of a 6.5cm and it seemed like the 6.5 prc was going to be it. So what are your thoughts? Do you think the 6.5 prc has already peaked in interest or do you think it still has a chance to keep climbing?

If you reload consider the 6.5 wsm. Easy to form, 270 wsm in resize die and load. Better than the others noted, or just buy a 264 wm. Gr8 cartridge if you get the twist right and reload it right. For that mattef the 260 rem is a gr8 cartridge and is often overlooked. Reloading makes it even better!

 

[Ronald W Schaefer]

Soooo...its all about money from a factory ammo standpoint--if everyone and their brother purchased a 6.5 PRC, there might be a sudden blossoming of more factory ammo. I continue to hear custom gun builders (especially on this site) talk about the PRC vs the CM, so my gut says still climbing in popularity. There are a lot of great 6.5s out there, if you're looking for a bit more "jack" the new 6.5 RPM (beltless mag) from Weatherby is supposed to be all that, but as always, more oomph = more recoil/muzzle blast. I still shoot the "vanilla" .260 Remington in a Sako 85--its a tack driver and I get 2844 using a Nosler 142 Accubond LR. For me, I'm callin' that "good".

 

[Rudolph Ferdinand]

This is going to be an interesting thread.

Disclaimer: My opinion just like the ones to follow are just that...subjective.

I believe the PRC is one of those in between rounds where it might be a shade too big for deer and a bit too small for larger animals like elk. This is why I believe further down the road folks may come to the same conclusion and either go for the CM or X47 or larger caliber for larger game.

Like I said I know there will be some disagreement with my comment, but I own or have owned various shades of the 6.5 including all the way up to the SAUM. I now have the 6.5X47 for deer and 30 cal for elk.

If choosing between the two cartridges the 6.5 CM or the 6.5x47 which one would you pick? I know little about the 6.5x47 but it does appear there is a following of the 6.5x47 cartridge over the 6.5 CM...the plus sides of both.

 

[freddiej]

This is my opinion and observations. with regards to the boat loads of 6.5 wizz-bang cartridges being developed and those already out there. I am personally in awe of all these cartridges that are being developed and a myriad of them are basically the same, nothing special; the 6.5 PRC and 6.5 CM are basically worked over 260 Rems. 6.5 Grendel is the unique one but basically a cartridge that is best left to the CQB or target range (slug range too light for any serious hunting). the older cartridges like the 264 Win Mag, the 6.5-06, 6.5X55 Belgium, and 6.5X57 Mauer are serious hunting cartridges and are great and mostly forgotten about due to just being older. now we get to the cartridges that I am just learning about 6.5 SAUM, 6.5-300 Win Mag, 6.5-7MM Weatherby Mag, 6.5-284 Win, 6.5-7MM Rem Mag (wildcat that is standardized as the 264 Winchester...) and others. It seems if the case have been made and can handle a 6.5 slug they have made wildcat cases for the 6.5MM/0.264" projectile. We are always evolving cartridges for specific uses, some target, some combat, some for hunting, even fewer are for the long range stuff. I personally do not see the use of the 6.5 class of cartridges, but people like them for their attributes. I will not deny that. I have watched as the old venerable cartridges have been forgotten for new and pretty/sexy boutique cartridges. Have these new sexy cartridges peaked, specifically the 6.5 CM, and will be set aside for either new sexy ones or for older; more tried and true powerhouses, I can not say. I can speculate that the 264 Win, the 6.5-06, and the best of the European 6.5's will make a comeback. Really only God knows but I pray it will be true. I have one for you, has anyone heard of a 6MM Sako Magnum? I have an example of one in my shop. it is super sexy and would toss a 0.243"/6MM pill pretty fast. I would speculate nearly as fast if not faster than the 243 Weatherby. But again it has been left to the annals of history and dust. I do believe the 6.5 Creedmoore and the 6.5 PRC have peaked and will die off. like every cartridge, there will be diehard advocates of the creed/PRC but I think that there will be another super sexy 6.5 to take it's place. I know a diehard 6.5 fan specifically the 6.5X55 Belgium and the 6.5 Grendel. I personally will be looking back at the older venerable cartridges for inspiration to make a totally unique wildcat in 6.8MM/0.277" bore. I like the look and capacity of the 264 win/7MM Rem case for a heavy slug flinging 270 wildcat. If I ever get the chance to make one, I will. I think it would make a great competitor to the 7MM Rem. Maybe then we will get more development on the 0.277" diameter slugs and get some truly great slugs for the 270 Win, Weatherby, WSM, and the Ackley Improved cartridges in 0.277" diameter.

 

[Bigeclipse]

This is my opinion and observations. with regards to the boat loads of 6.5 wizz-bang cartridges being developed and those already out there. I am personally in awe of all these cartridges that are being developed and a myriad of them are basically the same, nothing special; the 6.5 PRC and 6.5 CM are basically worked over 260 Rems. 6.5 Grendel is the unique one but basically a cartridge that is best left to the CQB or target range (slug range too light for any serious hunting). the older cartridges like the 264 Win Mag, the 6.5-06, 6.5X55 Belgium, and 6.5X57 Mauer are serious hunting cartridges and are great and mostly forgotten about due to just being older. now we get to the cartridges that I am just learning about 6.5 SAUM, 6.5-300 Win Mag, 6.5-7MM Weatherby Mag, 6.5-284 Win, 6.5-7MM Rem Mag (wildcat that is standardized as the 264 Winchester...) and others. It seems if the case have been made and can handle a 6.5 slug they have made wildcat cases for the 6.5MM/0.264" projectile. We are always evolving cartridges for specific uses, some target, some combat, some for hunting, even fewer are for the long range stuff. I personally do not see the use of the 6.5 class of cartridges, but people like them for their attributes. I will not deny that. I have watched as the old venerable cartridges have been forgotten for new and pretty/sexy boutique cartridges. Have these new sexy cartridges peaked, specifically the 6.5 CM, and will be set aside for either new sexy ones or for older; more tried and true powerhouses, I can not say. I can speculate that the 264 Win, the 6.5-06, and the best of the European 6.5's will make a comeback. Really only God knows but I pray it will be true. I have one for you, has anyone heard of a 6MM Sako Magnum? I have an example of one in my shop. it is super sexy and would toss a 0.243"/6MM pill pretty fast. I would speculate nearly as fast if not faster than the 243 Weatherby. But again it has been left to the annals of history and dust. I do believe the 6.5 Creedmoore and the 6.5 PRC have peaked and will die off. like every cartridge, there will be diehard advocates of the creed/PRC but I think that there will be another super sexy 6.5 to take it's place. I know a diehard 6.5 fan specifically the 6.5X55 Belgium and the 6.5 Grendel. I personally will be looking back at the older venerable cartridges for inspiration to make a totally unique wildcat in 6.8MM/0.277" bore. I like the look and capacity of the 264 win/7MM Rem case for a heavy slug flinging 270 wildcat. If I ever get the chance to make one, I will. I think it would make a great competitor to the 7MM Rem. Maybe then we will get more development on the 0.277" diameter slugs and get some truly great slugs for the 270 Win, Weatherby, WSM, and the Ackley Improved cartridges in 0.277" diameter.

Didn't the army adopt the 6.5CM? If that is the case, I doubt it is going anywhere. Also, my generation (the one having kids at the moment) knows the 6.5CM is super low recoiling but a bit more oomph than a 243 so I will get my child a 6.5cm when it comes time over a 243. Assuming the 6.5cm is still around.