6.5 PRC Revisited

[Sodbuster]

Started Missouri Whitetail season with a Creedmoor and ended it with a PRC.

Two meat deer down.
6.5 caliber 150 grain Sierra Match King
Exit holes.

150 stabilizes just fine in an 8 twist.
Waiting on the Berger.


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[FURMAN]

What distance?


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[Sodbuster]

147 and 156 yards.


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[mfllood3800]

holy crap

 

[wind gypsy]

So you're saying they haven't been penciling through, pointed meplat and all?

 

[Sodbuster]

wind gypsy

So you're saying they haven't been penciling through, pointed meplat and all?

I suppose so. I put a rifle together in order to shoot the .264 heavies.Thought the Berger would be out by the time the rifle was finished.
A super slick, accurate bullet, pushed at moderate speeds with nominal recoil sounded like fun.

Chrono testing the factory ELDX PRC ammo was disappointing, with that brass I went to the new Sierra bullet. I can say that at the high end of a Quickload recipe was pressure and velocity equalling my 300 WSM and roasted the brass (waiting on the Bertram). Two rounds were enough but the bullets hit basically the same hole.

I backed off the powder charge and got excellent accuracy, velocity I like, and less recoil than my Creedmoor. The two deer I killed were not long range but just a test for the bullet. My twist rate question has already been answered.High shots in the spine area so that if they did not work a follow up was arriving quickly. Didn't need that.They were knocked off their feet.

I have one more tag for an upcoming antlerless deer season and am trying a different impact angle. Another target bullet that works for hunting?
Maybe, but so far, close range is looking good.

 

[Jon Boy]

What were your chrono test results with the factory 147?

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[Sodbuster]

Jon Boy J

What were your chrono test results with the factory 147?

I only chronographed the 143 grain ELD-X Precision Hunter ammunition as it was the only type Bass Pro had in stock when I started this project.

I believe i wrote down the velocity readings in my notebook. I will look tomorrow. If not, I texted the results to a friend in Alaska as he is thinking about a PRC build as well. Factory ammo was slower than advertised in my rifle.

 

[Sodbuster]

143 eldx thru the chrono.
2898
2904
2867
2873
Went back and looked at Hornadys website they were using a 24 inch barrel and advertising 2960 for this bullet.

I am using a 24 incher as well.



With this project,I am able to seat further out and at current load, 90 fps over factory 143,(140 fps faster than factory 147) with a slightly heavier bullet(150 grain) ,and have room for more powder if desired.

Perfect deer round? Way too many great cartridges to pick just one.

 

[PathFinder]

Have you cut one of those SMKs apart yet? If they had a good size void in the nose, they might be a pretty consistent hunting bullet despite the small meplat.

 

[Sodbuster]

PathFinder

Have you cut one of those SMKs apart yet? If they had a good size void in the nose, they might be a pretty consistent hunting bullet despite the small meplat.

I have not, but that seems like a worthwhile project.


Interesting to compare factory load data with a 24 inch barrel vs Hornady's custom load data using a 26 inch barrel.

Escaping the factory COL gives a handloader many more performance options.

 

[DangerRanger]

What barrel? My smith says he is seeing PRCs speed up pretty good once seasoned but idk if that just pertained to my proof. Mine only has 2 boxes if that of factory 147 through it but things are looking great so far. Pretty exciting if 1:8 will stabilize the 150. So you are pushing the 150 @ 3050?

 

[Sodbuster]

jmcmath
What barrel? My smith says he is seeing PRCs speed up pretty good once seasoned but idk if that just pertained to my proof. Mine only has 2 boxes if that of factory 147 through it but things are looking great so far. Pretty exciting if 1:8 will stabilize the 150. So you are pushing the 150 @ 3050?

The barrel is a Bartlein 5R.
I hope your gunsmith is right on velocity gain.
Yes, my current load is averaging 3050 fps.I have hit the pressure ceiling with the Hornady brass
and I an currently several grains below that. I have some Bertram on order.
Looking pretty good so far
Some groups at 800 are next..

 

[Liv2HntBigBullz]

In the process of building a 6.5 for myself. The gunsmith recommended a 1:7 twist over the 1:8 since I plan to shoot 147 and heavier bullets.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Seems like a good idea on this rifle.


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[Ryan Avery]

Have you cut one of those SMKs apart yet? If they had a good size void in the nose, they might be a pretty consistent hunting bullet despite the small meplat.

Had bad luck with the new 230 SMK at long range on elk. Doing a write up soon.


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[FURMAN]

Had bad luck with the new 230 SMK at long range on elk. Doing a write up soon.


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That’s disappointing.


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[Sodbuster]

Liv2HntBigBullz

In the process of building a 6.5 for myself. The gunsmith recommended a 1:7 twist over the 1:8 since I plan to shoot 147 and heavier bullets.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Seems like a good idea on this rifle.

That is what I was going to do but the barrel got sold before I could grab it.
The 8 will handle the 147's and back down so I was good.
Just been playing with the 150's at higher velocities.
So far so good. Whitetail Deer and Elk are way different targets.
Ryan Avery's write up will be interesting.

 

[Sodbuster]

Ryan Avery

Had bad luck with the new 230 SMK at long range on elk. Doing a write up soon.

interested to read the details.

 

[Sodbuster]

Going to shoot a few 150 groups this week then clock a couple loads with 127 LRX's.
Personally, once I find the sweet spot, Barnes bullets have always worked for me.

I had less than stellar results with 143 eld-x in a Creedmoor on a buck.

 

[eamyrick]

Looking for a custom long range stick after a recent desert Muley hunt where shots were 4-700 yards. I’ve been reading everything I can and 6.5 prc seems to be the long range hunting ticket but since I don’t reload what are the chances of it fading away for some new cartridge.