Thread: 6.5PRC

For those interested I got to shoot the Sako 85 that was fitted with a Tikka 6.5 PRC barrel today.
First I fired the Hornady factory 143 eldx load to get the brass.
Average speed was 2716fps this is from a 20" barrel, i shot home from the range and then loaded 2 groups of 5 with Superproformance powder and 143 eldx first load 2881 SD 16.6 next lot 2927 SD 16.1 getting warm.
So only a slight advantage over the .260 same barrel length 2749fps.
The first group of the PRC shot the best so I'll load the 20 cases I have and go and shoot something soon.

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Interesting results. A bloke I know requested a bit of help with his 270 reloading, as it turned out he didn't really need help, just a bit of reassurance really.

Anyhoo we went to the range last night with two Tikka 270s, his a near new T3x Aspire and mine a near new T3 superlite. His was shooting 140 Partitions, he got them going very nicely right at 3000 fps, lots of rifles "don't like" partitions but that Tikka wasn't one of em. My boring old one just punched out a true MOA group, right on spec at 2975 fps with 145 eldxs. Both using H1000 and 22" barrels but dang, the 100 year old girl still stomps!

I have varied results in my 6.5, I have a light load which I plan to keep running at 2720fps (could run it up to 2800 without pressure but this groups best) with a 147 ELDM and a superformance load which is around 2900, I’m tossing up which I run but I see no real need for the faster load as the 147 has plenty of velocity and energy to 700+ yards at 2700FPS and realistically I don’t need it to go any faster..

Edit: this is a 20 inch T3x, I’d also assume that a 6.5 creed with the same length barrel and the same velocity must be pushing it pretty hard pressure wise..

My .260 is a sako 85 20" although I've had a Tikka 20" .260 into 2800 area

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Yeah I dunno about big cases and the .264 the 6.5x284 may be the exception. I got better speeds from a 6.5x57 AI than a .264 win mag, I had a 6.5/06 with slower speeds than a .260 rem. The 6.5 seems to shine in 08 and x55 size cases. I was really keen on a 6.5 rpm, but waiting to see if there will be a 7mm.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Interesting results. A bloke I know requested a bit of help with his 270 reloading, as it turned out he didn't really need help, just a bit of reassurance really.

Anyhoo we went to the range last night with two Tikka 270s, his a near new T3x Aspire and mine a near new T3 superlite. His was shooting 140 Partitions, he got them going very nicely right at 3000 fps, lots of rifles "don't like" partitions but that Tikka wasn't one of em. My boring old one just punched out a true MOA group, right on spec at 2975 fps with 145 eldxs. Both using H1000 and 22" barrels but dang, the 100 year old girl still stomps!

-Within 300m I'd say you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between 6.5PRC and the 270 Win shooting some of the newer, high BC bullets.

However, having pushed both beyond 500m (in NRL Hunter where my team-mate used 6.5PRC, me 270, identical barrel lengths- 20"), there is night and day between the two, due to bullets and barrel twist. Wind drift was about 1/3 less with the PRC shooting 143's vs. 270 shooting 145 ELDX!

If you load up the PRC with mythical Berger 156's, you need to be shooting a 7mm with 180 ELDM or 300 something with 220+ grain bullets to come close.

Originally Posted by caberslash

-Within 300m I'd say you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between 6.5PRC and the 270 Win shooting some of the newer, high BC bullets.

However, having pushed both beyond 500m (in NRL Hunter where my team-mate used 6.5PRC, me 270, identical barrel lengths- 20"), there is night and day between the two, due to bullets and barrel twist. Wind drift was about 1/3 less with the PRC shooting 143's vs. 270 shooting 145 ELDX!

If you load up the PRC with mythical Berger 156's, you need to be shooting a 7mm with 180 ELDM or 300 something with 220+ grain bullets to come close.

What speeds are people getting with there 6.5 PRC shooting the 156 to beat the 7mm?
When I looked at the PRC the speeds weren’t favourable with a shooter barrel, as you say, very similar speeds to the .270
My 7 saum 20in barrel shoots the 162eldm bc of .670 at 2910 ftp and the 180eldm bc of .796 at 2800.

So to compare the 7mm and 6.5prc at 800M
Comparing scope adjustment needed in 1/10 clicks with a 10mph wind.

7mm 162 ELDM 2943fps
Elevation+57 clicks
Wind +12
Fps 1822
Energy 1239


6.5prc 156 Berger
Elevation +64
Wind +13
Fps 1719
Energy 1024

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I put the 156 Berger at 2800fps

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At 800M the 270 (145s at 2975) needs 18 1/10 mil clicks of windage using your scale. Not a huge difference really as all of them need significant adjustment . . .

I run 156 Bergers in my 6.5-284 (a ballistic twin on the 6.5PRC) and make 2820 with them, but Id rather shoot 145s at game, cheaper and more predictable.

I'm hoping to get to the Whitecomb NRL "Hunter" match, will probably shoot in Factory class with a Tikka 270 - from what Ive read thats what its "all about", why would you take a match rifle hunting.. .

Seems like minimal gain in 6.5PRC over the good old 260. And how much more powder are you burning?

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Seems like minimal gain in 6.5PRC over the good old 260. And how much more powder are you burning?

That’s why I moved mine on. Ok caliber but not if you have a Swede or 260 that performs.

yeah 6.5pric doesn't make a lot of sense with those figures, when every day 270s-260s-6.5s do same or better consistently every day of the week at realistic ranges.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Seems like minimal gain in 6.5PRC over the good old 260. And how much more powder are you burning?

10 grains

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I'm sure it won't be staying as a 6.5prc

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