Thinking of going 6.5 PRC thoughts

[Michael O'Connor]

That's exactly how I view the 6.5PrC! The 6.5x284 has more than proven itself! If you want x284 performance from a Short action and you like the weight range 6.5 offers then it's a no brainer!
If you reload or want pure hp above the PRC then build the SAUM or the SS. IF you want to shoot factory loads that are reasonably priced then get the 6.5PRC and shoot the snot out of it.
OR
build a 6mm PRC and make a wicked little deer rifle!

 

[Michael O'Connor]

This makes a whole lot of sense.

I own one wildcat and everything else I own I can buy factory ammo for just about anywhere I am.

As for the long/short action, when you're using a medium length cartridge like this and want to load or otherwise shoot the heavy for caliber bullets it makes zero sense to limit yourself with a short mag box. The difference in weight between a long and short action is negligible in any real sense.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

I certainly think you are right. New and old cartridge design is important in current magazine length. I am not into "heavy rifle" but do concern myself with battle rifles and standard length magazines in production rifles, and even switch barrel designs. I have opted to disregard the 7mm Blaser Magnum in the past, but due to it's powder capacity, neck length, and modern shoulder angle; I consider it a great design in a case for 3.340" length COAL magazines with 1.5 to 1.55", 7mm bullets. You can get great velocity from 151 grain Warner Flatline Bullets and 180 Berger Hybrids, with a nice long neck for throat protection and a 30° shoulder too, for less case growth. I truly wish I knew Rich Sherman years ago; as I would agree with current magazine length and keep everything standardized for more efficient cartridge development without having to customize rifle design for longer COAL with high B.C. bullets. Anybody can drill a barrel, but optimization of case design is more important than changing practiced action length in production standards. I do like intermediate action Tikka for certain cases, but that doesn't help "battle rifle" or standard Semi-auto current design.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

It wasn't picking a fight, just presenting information that would be useful to those interested in buying or building a 6.5 PRC. It doesn't take an internet genius to find that information though, just 2 minutes on Midway or simple first hand experience in sourcing 6.5 PRC components which is where I personally got the information.

The PRC, SAUM, SS and 6.5x284 will all give performance similar enough that they may as well be interchangeable when shot in similar platforms. Pick your budget or your brand loyalty and go for it.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Essentially correct, but you will get more efficiency using the Short Sherman with longer bullets in a standard production magazine. Thank you Rich Sherman, you are a design genius on the level of Bryan Litz, a bullet designer who uses standard magazines for his great high B.C. bullets. I would hire you both to work for me. Remington should have hired you too, before the abomination of the 7mm RUM. Thank you Gentlemen, of all people lately; you have helped the shooting sport and R & D the most with our current common production rifles.

 

[Michael O'Connor]

One of my favorites is a 6.5 wsm, easy to make the brass from 270 wsm, 3100 to 3200 fps with 140's in berger and sierra. terminal performance on game is very impressive, but only if you can reload. They are not on the shelf

Well, you can use slower powder too, with less peak pressure The neck is long enough and shoulder angle is good, too. It is longer than the SAUM, but it will be great in an intermediate lenth action of the Tikka /Sako with the new high B.C. bullets

 

[stx]

Tagging in

 

[Milepost]

I looked into the 6.5 WSM. Found out it offers 264 WM performance but it burns out a barrel just as fast too!

BTW-Don't forget about the Seekins Havoc or Defiance XM actions. They can load to 3.15'' - 3.25'' COAL.

 

[WildRose]

I looked into the 6.5 WSM. Found out it offers 264 WM performance but it burns out a barrel just as fast too!

BTW-Don't forget about the Seekins Havoc or Defiance XM actions. They can load to 3.15'' - 3.25'' COAL.

Never shoot them hot, keep to 3 shots per string and they'll last a very long time. I have a 7mm STW approaching 2,000 rounds that the gunsmith says looks like it's maybe had a few hundred run through it.

Of course if you're really concerned you can always have one melonited or a similar process extending the life by half or more.

 

[Doug Herold]

Thoughts? Well... Here goes...

Personal opinion - There's much better cartridges out there than something that will be dead in a few years because it was a failed attempt by Hornady to reinvent the wheel. Just like the stupid 6.5 GAP 4S (which is for all intents & purposes, the same **** cartridge as the 6.5 PRC). And other than a few folks still hanging onto the edge of the toilet bowl... It's pretty much dead. Trend-cartridges, or designer cartridges, are meant to attract the newbies and those who are gun-hipsters who always have to have the newest, latest, best, etc... just so people will think they're cool. Those cartridges are essentially a litmus tests by the manufacturing companies to see what direction they need to head for what they're planning as next year's "next best thing". Companies like that, if they can score a quick $1.00 today from you, they don't care how you'll find brass for it tomorrow, once they've left it for dead, and moved on to the next trend.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying one, all I'm saying is, just because something is new, and advertisers and gun rag editors sing its praises, doesn't always mean it's worth the money, or the best fit for you, or the best thing since sliced bread.

Do your diligent research, and if you keep coming back to the same conclusion that you want one... Then by all means, go for it.

Gotta agree with "The Mud" here. I own a recently constructed custom 6.5 Gap4s. The custom builder out of Bend, Oregon "used" to be a friend before I agreed to have him build me this rifle: radial break, carbon "proof" barrel, Tuebor titanium action, Jewel trigger, carbon/Kevlar custom stock. The gun has been a nightmare. I would agree with everything Mudrunner says. This thing has been nothing but trouble. The LATEST is: "the brass issue". I wanted to acquire enuf brass to get me through the expected life of the barrel. Before the gun arrived, I bought 100 pieces of brass from Georgia Precision. I figured once I got the load worked up, I'd buy enuf to get me through. So I recently contacted Georgia Precision: No one answers the phone, must leave a message, someone tries to play phone tag back with me in a few days, mailboxes all full. Ohh and, no brass for sale from the creator of this great new wildcat which is taking the planet by storm...! So I telephone Midway USA. Great Customer Service. They actually have a phone, answer it, and are competent. They tell me that they don't sell Gap4s brass, however, Copper Creek Cartridge Co. does. Great. I order 100 pieces. They arrive promptly. $300 for 100 pieces of brass. Hey, it wasn't the price I was quoted, but if I want this gun to shoot, I gotta have them, right???...
I gotta 6.5-284 coming from Cooper. Thank goodness.
You're right, Mud

 

[Buzzsaw]

still waiting to see a Sauer in 6.5 PRC shoot. Sauer said they should start showing up at distributors this month. The Havak is a 4-6mo wait unless you can find one. There are Creedmoors. Still haven't seen one in 6.5 PRC yet.

 

[Another Casual]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2018/08/its-official-saami-approves-hornady-6-5-prc-and-300-prc/

SAAMI approval should help with the availability of components and rifles. Rumor is Bertram brass is on the way. I'm optimistic, but hey, to each his own. Half the fun of this hobby is trying new things, exoerimineting, etc. If it was just about getting the job done then we might all be shooting a 30-06 and each own one gun.

 

[Barrelnut]

Holy plagiarism! Hunterslife72!

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/your-thoughts-on-the-6-5-prc-for-hunting.836607/

 

[Phillygunner]

You must be referring to the manners prs stock line? They don't offer a "prc" stock.

Yes. It was a typo. The PRS 2 is what I was referring to, however, I took the project in a different direction. It now has an Aics AX 2014 chassis. So, I guess I'll be building another project with Tom's stock. I have 5 of Tom's stocks, but I always wanted to build one of those Ax chassis. The next project will be built on a Bighorn Origin, proof 24" carbon barrel and Tom's prs2.