Talk to me about the 6.5 PRC cartridge

Does anyone own one and what do you think of the cartridge?

Short mag 6.5mm. Not a new concept, just a new case geometry and name.

Shoot a 140 gr at +2900 fps. A third of any cartridge is that, shoot this bullet at this speed. The next third, is it can do it with this much powder and this much recoil. The last third is, it is this efficient with the powder charge it has available. Meaning, it can produce more MV with less powder, equating to less recoil due to efficient case geometry.

The 6.5 PRC does well on all counts. Basically it is a mass produced offering to the several years old 6.5 SAUM (Short Action Ultra Mag)

I've only put 13 rounds through it so far and haven't killed anything with it, but I'm very pleased with mine. Recoil seems to be less than my 270 with factory 143 eld-x's. Shots 11-13 went into a 1/2" group. Gonna have Chad load me some 139 gr Lapua Scenar. Barnes has a 127 gr LRX load coming out this year. Federal has a 130 gr Terminal Ascent load and Nosler has a 140 gr Accubond and 142 gr Accubond LR load coming out also.

Love that rig Drop Tine. Please keep us posted how it shoots.

I have had one for a year or so and it’s actually almost exactly the ballistic twin to the 6.5/284. I think it will be successful with high quality brass coming on the market although my Hornady brass has worked just fine.
I have shot several deer with both the 153gr ATip and the 156 gr Berger with kills out to 785 yds.

The 6.5 SAUM will get you another 50-60fps easily as it holds about 5gr’s more Powder than the 6.5 PRC.

David, that pretty much sounds like a 5.4 Remington Magnum without the belt.

Heard guy at the LGS saying he could not find ammo for his rifle. He was holding a box of 6.5 Creedmoor and a box of 6.5 PRC. Said he could fine those but his rifle is a "6.5 Creedmoor PRC". Guy finally told him to ask his gunsmith. He said it was a factory rifle not some custom.

I'd still pick Creedmoor if you do a lot of target shooting, just for economical reasons. And it still kills medium size animals efficiently out farther than most people have any business shooting. For a hunting rifle that doesn't see a thousand + rounds per year at the range, it would be a great choice. 140's at ~3,000fps and excellent factory Hornady ammo sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Approaching bigger magnum performance without a training flinch.

If you hunt deer sized game and you'll never shoot past 600 yards, go with the 6.5 Creedmoor.

If you hunt deer sized game and will shoot past 600 yards while hunting, go with the 6.5 PRC, either of the 6.5 Weatherbys, 6.5x284, etc.

Dang DropTine, she’s a beaut!

What is projected barrel life of the PRC?

I would guess that based on what the experiences have been with 6.5/284 the most you could expect would be 1200-1500 rounds but depends on your accuracy expectations.

Thanks fellas for the info!

Awesome looking Rig