Does anyone have any experience with one yet?

Mule Deer does. Wrote a piece for the Hodgdon Annual. By now might have done some whacking too.

Looks nice, but I already have a rifle....

Yes

Yes. But scenarshooter has kilt a lotta stuff with his...

I"m ready to air mine out on some west Texas critters. Come on November!

I just completed one for a local customer.. It's a bit picky on loads, but he's finally got it dialed in..

My take from this round is that it's a bish to get it to feed right, since it's basically a WSM-style case.. He sent me a pic yesterday of a 3-round group right at .328" at 100..

Never heard of it.......

Hey there Redneck, good morning to you! I had bad feeding issues when I had a Mod 700 SA made into a 6.5/284 also. I can only imagine that PRC in a short action! I suppose if a rifle is made for the round ( rails, feed ramp, etc) it will work OK. I was giving some thought to a Model 700 SPS in .260 rechambered/converted to the PRC...then I remembered how rounds would fly out of that 6.5/284 at inopportune times, ha.Nah…..

Yes Sauer Atacama with SWFA SS HD 3x15 scope. Shot two antelope a few weeks ago. Both bang flop. Buck at 177 and doe at 335. Load is with RL 26 3050 fps with 143 ELDX. Very accurate gun. Due to unavailability of RL 26 I worked up a load with RL 25. Got 3010 fps and .34" group. I think I will keep this load instead.

FWIW,


Thought about a Christensen Ridgeline, but the Browning Max Long Range was a bit over half the price. I've been very happy with the Browning Hell's Canyon Speed LR in 26 Nosler so I thought What the Hey.



Topped it with a Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24 x 50.

Bought 5 Boxes of the same lot of Ammo. Figured that would be one way to get 100 pieces of brass.



I was trying out several rifles so I only shot two groups after I got it on paper.



100 yds.



200 yds.

I think it was JWall that suggested that I should forget about the first two shots and go straight to the third.

I chrono'd the first few rounds @ 100. Hornady indicates the MV to be 2,960. My Shooting Chrony recorded the velocity, (+/- 9' from muzzle) @ 2973, 2915, 2917, 2939 fps respectively.



26 Nosler, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor

Seems to be about 200 fps slower than the 26 Nosler Hornady ammo loaded with the 143 Gr. ELD-X.

The Browning has a short action. The magazine holds three rounds. No problem with feeding unless you short stroke it.

Have not had the pleasure of perforating a deer or hoglet with it yet, but may get to do so this weekend.

Ya!


GWB

[quote=geedubya




100 yds.



200 yds.

I think it was JWall that suggested that I should forget about the first two shots and go straight to the third.



26 Nosler, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor
----------------------------------------------------



Yep ! Think of how many components you'd save by shooting the 3 rd shot......first !




Good Luck and Have Fun.


Jerry

I have been using one almost exclusively since it came out. I have a Montana Rifle Company X3,and a Christendsen Ridgeline.

I have killed hogs with the 143 ELDx,and the 147 ELDm. I have kllled a couple of big whitetails with a 130 Berger.

I like it so far.

I've got a Christensen Mesa topped with the Sig 3-10X42 BDX scope. I tested out the system with the 143 ELD-X and it was right on at 660 yards. I've since been loading the 130 gr. Scirocco and the 130 Accubond with 58.5 gr. H1000 and CCI BR-2 at 3100 FPS and it's giving me under .5 MOA groups. I've had it sighted in at 100, but I'm moving to a 200 zero this week.

The one I built started life as a M70 in .270 WSM... And it STILL fed like crap.. I finally was able to get it to feed right 98% of the time - mainly good IF the bolt was pushed forward with alacrity..

Just me - but I dislike WSM rounds..

I have a Ziess V4 on the Christensen and it's sighted in at 200. Dial up for longer,hold dead on for 200 or less. This gives me a point and shoot zero out to about 300 yards if things happen in a hurry.

So far I have add zero issues with the Montana Rifle Company or the Christensen feeding perfectly out of the magazine, My son has a Christensen Mesa that works perfectly too.

I was considering having a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in 270 or 300 WSM rebareled to 6.5 PRC but now I am nervous about it after Redneck's experience.

Does the fact that they have no issues in the WSM chamberings mean anything as far as feeding the PRC cartridge? Or is it really a crapshoot with any short fat cartridge in a Model 70 short magnum action?

A couple of questions...

Will this fit in a Rem M700 short action?

And if not, what advantage would this have over a 6.5-06 in a long action? besides factory rounds of course..

Might as well compare it to a 270 win too. Not much of a difference.

Yes, the 6.5 GAP fits in and feeds from a SA (binderiess AICS or Wyatt Box), but not as well as a 6.5 GAP (SAUM).

The 6.5 PRC has more good brass options available. This won't matter too much if ADG can keep up with demand for 6.5 GAP brass.

If you hand load and intend to use a SA with binderiess AICS or Wyatt Box, the advantage goes to the 6.5 GAP.

Consideration should be given to throat geometry for the bullet you intend to shoot and in what action/magazine. Hornady's 143 and 147 have long bearing surfaces. There's a great thread on SH addressing this. Final SAAMI chamber dimensions seem to tailored to Hornady's bullets with their long bearing surfaces and loaded for a good bit of jump.

You should also seek out aalf's threads on here, AS and LRH.

I sold my 6.5 PRC (Seekins Havak PH1) and am replacing it with a custom 6.5GAP built on a MacK Brothers EVO. The Havak has a proprietary carbon fiber magazine accommodating up to 3.25" COAL.

Havak CF Mag.

I looked at the velocity differential between the 6.5 PRC 143 eldx and my 7mm-08 150 eldx. Assuming 3000 FPS, the 6.5 PRC is a 7mm-08 plus 150 yards.




P

Pharm, what’s the energy difference?

Thanks Kingston, you gave me a lot to think about..... the Luddite in me says 6.5-06 long action or 6.5 Creed short.....

I’ve got a CA Mesa in 6.5 PRC and it’s a jewel. Feeds great and is a tack driver with factory 143 ELDX’s at 2990, add in the minimal recoil and it’s just a joy to shoot. Plan on reloading soon for it but I stocked up on 5 boxes of the factory stuff that shoots sooo good.

When paired with the highest BC bullets, the 6.5 PRC occupies a narrowish niche covering extremely extended ranges in breezier locales. It's short 30 grains of powder and the accompanying concussion, blast, and recoil a 26 Nosler requires. The PRC also has treble the barrel life of a fully overbore uber magnum. Does everyone need a 6/5 PRC, no, absolutely not. If I was going to shoot lots of lower value targets at extended ranges in high winds or even lots of steel under even more extended ranges, the 6.5PRC/GAP makes some sense.

Consider a separate comparison. For shooting medium and large game at extended ranges, if I had a choice between the PRC behind a 156 EOL and a 28 Nosler and the 195 EOL, I'm taking the 195 every time. One might imagine circumstances that favor a shorter, more compact and less violent tool, but, as I write this, one doesn't come to mind.

Fubar, this is the SH thread.

https://forum.snipershide.com/threads/6-5-prc-reamer-seating-depth-considerations.6724943/

I'm looking at it as a fairly lightweight flat shooting deer rifle

Dang Kingston... not sure I would touch that with a ten foot pole... what a cluster fuuuck....
Thanks again

Unless your crossing is a gas well cut with 500+ yard shooting opportunities (or slightly less but with lots of difficult winds) or you've got a colossal bean/corn field that you want to sneak a bullet into the back of, I don't think it be too good a fit.

Even if either of the above scenarios are similar to the problem you're looking to solve, I'd still prefer a 195 EOL at 3050fps.

Does your new build in 6.5 GAP you referenced earlier occupy this narrowish niche or is it a low value target steel/wind rifle?

What would you consider extended ranges at medium/large game to feel the need to make that Nosler from prc/saum leap? Just curious if you've had a field experience to inform your thought process to make that jump...

I got to fondle Greg’s havak, 6.5 prc, stupid cool/comfortable rifle, a guy could use for anything/anywhere/anytime, get one gitem!!

Pass the 21" 7-08 and 180 ELD's at 2600fps. Hint. Congratulations?!?

You "hard chargers" are a HOOT! Hint.


LAUGHING!...…...

oh, haha

Curious myself....

Empirical results and all.

Perhaps that’s why I’ve never 7/08’d... 😘

Nice bull btw...

Got a 4s and a 7-08ai coming soon. Both for different things and they will both be loved. LOL.

Rumor is that a wssm ai will be in the same box but I will keep my fingers crossed and not hold my breath.

The OP is a PA deer hunter. We both grew up hunting deer in and around the Allegheny Mountains. I only responded to this thread because it was John asking. As would be expected, my responses were shaped by this and to a great extent he was my intended audience. I'm not a Coos deer hunter and while the PRC might fit the bill, that's a subject better responded to by someone like you.

I had a Seekins Havak PH1 in 6.5 PRC. It was delivered in January the week before SHOT. My load development and testing is posted in numerous threads and in the 6.5 PRC FB groups. The axis buck I shot with the rifle in May is covered in another thread. If I were shooting coyotes and hogs out to 800+, the PRC/GAP would be great. I say this after having used the 28N for exactly that, low value targets (hogs/coyotes) out to 800+ at the Hog Hunt this past March. The plan was to take the Havak PRC, but I struggled to get a load developed and swapped the 28N in at the last minute. Total overkill, but it was ready to go.

Everything about the 28N is expensive, brass, barrel life, N570, everything. Bitching about carbon fiber barrel life on your custom 28N is like bitching about having to buy tires for your Ferrari. It's just the nature of the beast. If I'm traveling out west for a Wilson unit Roosevelt Elk hunt or to Wyoming or Montana or... to hunt Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk, etc. at 400+. I'm taking the Ryan Pierce built 28 Nosler. I have it, It's a hammer, I'm confident in it, etc.

Since June, I've shot got a couple thousand rounds of 6.5CM at matches and in practice. Initially, my primary hand load was with the 147ELDM. Later, I transitioned to the 156EOL. This is also documented in numerous threads. I've got lots of confidence in this rifle too, but it's only pushing the 156 at 2780.

Regarding the Havak. I hated the stock. I loved the CF mag. The barrel on mine copper fouled like crazy and took a couple hundred rounds to settle down. The factory ammo I had demonstrated broad extreme spreads and lacked accuracy. I'd only bought the factory ammo because, in January, 2019, it was a way to get brass. My early load development for the PRC was with H1000 as RL26 was unobtanium. RL26 was a godsend and really turned things around in that rifle. I sold the rifle with 277 rounds down the tube. At the end of the day I determined, for a hand loader, the 6.5GAP/SAUM was likely the better 6.5PRC. Shorter COAL is a better fit in binderless AICS mags, choice in throat geometry, higher velocities, etc.

Finally, I'll reiterate, the Allegheny mountains and surrounding farms aren't the ideal place for a 6.5 PRC or a 28 Nosler.

Oh, hunting free range rutting axis in hill country river bottoms is also not an ideal place for the 6.5 PRC or 28 Nosler.

147ELDM @3020

Range 6'

28 Nosler is hell on pelts.

IMO the beauty of the 6.5 is the low recoil!

Once you step up to the recoil of the 6.5 PRC one might as well go 7mm at that point for the superior ballistics. Just my opinion YMMV


Trystan

PM coming.........

Tell us more.......

Copy. Just curious.

If you are running a 156 at 2780, you don't need anything else. You don't need the big stuff for just about anything. Those rifles are the extreme niche....

Wrong.
😎

Dude... you don’t watch enough TV...

I’ve shot the 6.5 SAUM, 4S, 6.5x300 SAUM (whatever variant you wanna call it) extensively. Starting back before it became a thing and you made your own brass. It’s no “easier to handload” for than the PRCs I fool with now. Spec a FB to your warm and fuzzy if building from scratch or school up on factory offering and their COAL restraints.

The PRC is doing everything for me the SAUMs did. Granted there is a skosh less displacement in the PRC, but I’ll take the minimal velocity “loss” with the good factory ammo being an option. I’m digging what a suppressed 18” 6.5 PRC is doing currently with tailored handloads....

Or, you could go full-bore rifle loony like I did and have Redneck build a 6.5x280AI.

Ed

How exactly? Your counter argument was rather uninfomational

For sure, but I have the parts and it should be one sexy rifle. I thought about doing an 7SST, but a 7-08AI would probably be almost as effective and a lot more fun. I’ve got an EVO with a mag bf sitting at Scott’s. There’s still time to talk myself into something else. Maybe a 6.5 GAP4S setup for Hammer Hunters. I need to look at throat geometry. I’m in no hurry with all that’s on my plate.

As is your initial comment.....

I've been using my GAP 6.5 PRC, for long range steel, and i'm good to 1760 yrds, also have taken Gemsbok, Wildebeast, Elk, Whitetail, Axis, Nilgi, Pigs, and a few other critters,no feeding problems, never have fired a factory rnd in my rifle. I have never had to shoot a critter twice.

I have found the 6.5 PRC to be easy to load for and a good all around chambering, YMMV Rio7

I assume you’re talking to me. I don’t watch any hunting on TV, if thats what you mean.

At this point non-custom Factory ammo has two limitations. 1. you only get 2 bullet choices (143 ELDX and 147ELDM), 2. there’s no guarantee it’s going to shoot well in any given rifle. Both factory loads shot between marginal and dog shït in my Havak. If you’ve got a factory rifle with a SAAMI 6.5 PRC chamber/throat that shoots factory ammo lights out and you’re satisfied with the bullet selection, then all is good—corrected, all is great!

After my run with the Havak PH1 6.5 PRC I figured if I’m building a rifle, buying ADG brass and hand loading, advantage 6.5 GAP 4S.

The Havak’s carbon fiber mag is wasted on factory ammo. I considered rebarreling the PH1 to make use of it’s 3.25” mag length, but the stock and I didn’t jive.

Then Beaver talked me out of one of the four EVOs I picked up after SHOT and built a beautiful 6.5 PRC. I’ve had the same Rem Varmint pattern McWoodie stock he used sittiing here fo 2 years. So, I figured I do one like his, but in 6.5 GAP4S. That’s how it goes.

I don’t pay attention to energy, but since the bullets are close in weight (143 vs 150) I would suspect the energy differential to approximate the velocity differential. So in terms of both velocity and energy the 6.5 PRC is the 7mm-08 plus 150 yards.

Which isn’t significant inside of 450 yards. If you’re shooting a looong way it might matter for elk, but not deer. I’ve killed multiple mulies beyond 500 yards with a 140 grain Partition started at 2880.


P

I was more than "slightly intrigued" so I bought a Sauer 100 this spring. Decided to just shoot it and forget the break -in stuff. Satisfied with middle of the road load of 130 AB at 3050fps getting .675 for 3 shots at 100. Just trying to find something I want to shoot besides targets. This puts it in 270 win w/140 AB territory and I'm fine with that. It rings my 400 yd gong every time.

Well, I was hoping that my 6.5PRC build would be done by now. Everything is in hand, except the barrel. Had the barrel in my hands, but the muzzle was not threaded, as I had asked and paid for. Sent it back for re-work. Should have it in my hands late next week. Hopefully by the time the barrel is back in-hand the weather has cleared a bit and I can run it thru its paces.

FWIW, I followed Aalf's lead and built mine on a LA magnum, Specifically, the Bighorn Origin.

My initial comment said that was my "Opinion" based on what suits my needs not yours. I was simply stating that for myself I prefer 6.5s in the 40ish grains of powder category. The statement was for me and me only, not you, or anyone else for that matter! In fact I said "YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY" just incase you weren't listening.

Good grief I've never in my life seen so many men with sensitive feelers as I have here on the campfire! I'll try to be more sensitive in the future


Trystan

That was my point, it was your opinion, with no facts to back your "superior" ballistic claims.

I've built a 338/300 Ultra specifically for shooting to a mile plus, which it did, and stayed super to 2K.

Sold it, and built a 7x300 WM, 3 lbs lighter, no brake, and easier to shoot. Also stayed super to 2K.

Sold that, and built a 6.5 PRC. Less recoil yet, and still stayed super to 2K.

I respect Kingston's opinions..and he's likely right. It's also likely I'll buy one just cause.

This is all the reason one needs!

An for the record, I don’t know shït, but I do my damnedest to be thorough. grin

Gun weight and bullet weight being equal, how much more recoil does the PRC have over the Creedmoor?

I really really like the Mesas I've handled and aside from the 6.5 prc they aren't offered in anything that interests me

Buy it Gitem_12.

?'


In the CM I run a 147ELDM at 2801 on 46.4gr. RL26, 22" barrel

In the PRC I ran a 147ELDM at 3020 on 55.8gr RL26, 24" barrel

Friend of mine asked me to go to range with him to check out his new Christianson Arms Traverse 6.5 PRC. Nice gun, carbon fiber wrapped barrel, but with MB. Loud as hell. Fit wasn't great for me as I shoot LH. He said it was sighted in at 200 yds. But he said he had difficulty getting it sighted in, so wanted me to go check it out with him at a range. We shot at 100 yds and it was about 2.25 in high. Shooting factory 143 ELD-X. We both shot pretty well. The gun is definitely under MOA. So, we move out to 200 yds and the gun is shooting about 2.5 inches high. WTH....We adjusted 4 clicks down (MOA) scope. POI was still a bit high, so we went down 2 more clicks and thought is might be a tad low, so went back up one click. Next groups were 2 inches lower! He is going to go clean it, then go out again. Three rounds averaged 2945, 24 in barrel. ES of 45. Now here is the kicker. The scope is a Maven RS2. 2-10x, 1 in. tube, regular turrets, no AO. He said he paid about $750 for the scope. I have doubts the scope is tracking.

I don't mean to hijack a thread, but thought since is was a general impressions thread.....my comments wouldn't be too out of line.

Socially, this is the safe play.

Oh, so the 6.5 will stay supersonic further than the 7mm? Good to know! Thanks