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Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: fishngamereaper on May 21, 2020, 10:11:12 PM


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Title: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on May 21, 2020, 10:11:12 PM
Anyone with real world experience with one.

Looking at picking up a new rifle and have been pretty interested in this round for a while. I've been hunting a 7 mag since I was 14 and dealing with some shoulder injuries the last year or so I'm not up for the felt recoil yet. Bought my kid a 6.5 creed a couple years ago and I've borrowed it for a couple deer hunts. It's a joy to shoot, but I'm looking for something with just a little extra pop. So I landed on the PRC. And I like buying new guns..

And no, I don't need another .308.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Dan-o on May 21, 2020, 10:37:26 PM
Sorry, no real world experience from me.

But it beats a Creedmoor by a couple hundred feet per second......   What's not to like?

I don't reload anymore, so 'd be a little worried about having factory ammo available long term.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Wolfdog2314 on May 22, 2020, 01:34:18 AM
I really enjoy my 6.5 pRC from Christensen arms, the ridge line. Shoots under MOA. Lightweight rifle. Low recoil. Pleasure to shoot. Easy to carry.

I shoot factory Hornady 143 eld X.

Took a blacktail at 40 yards neck shot, Mule deer at 300, and a mule deer at 450 all last year. My first year hunting with it. I think you’ll be happy with it.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: HUNT JR on May 22, 2020, 07:52:53 AM
I know there was a pretty good thread on the Rokslide forum about Ryan Avery using the 6.5 PRC on elk and he had some good real world experience on there. Might be worth digging it up using their search function. I want to say the thread was titled "6.5 PRC on Elk" or something like that. It seems like it should make for a good gun.


https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/6-5-prc-on-elk.109886/
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: D-Rock425 on May 22, 2020, 08:02:52 AM
Sorry, no real world experience from me.

But it beats a Creedmoor by a couple hundred feet per second......   What's not to like?

I don't reload anymore, so 'd be a little worried about having factory ammo available long term.
I just purchased new rifle and this is what made me go with something else over the prc.  Went to 3 or 4 of the big box stores and none of them had prc on the shelf.  If your going to reload you're probably fine if not just something to think about.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Taco280AI on May 22, 2020, 08:12:57 AM
The 127 LRX would do well
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: bigdub257 on May 22, 2020, 08:43:22 AM
I ordered a Savage 110 ultralite in 6.5 PRC and received it a couple of weeks ago.  Just finished setting it up and am anxious to shoot it and see what it does.  Going to start off with Hornady 147 ELDM.  Range is still closed here in Gig Harbor so plan on finding a spot this weekend on the peninsula to give it a go.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jjhunter on May 22, 2020, 08:58:28 AM
I hunted with my CA Ridgeline 6.5 PRC last fall.  Packed it from mountain tops in Western Wyoming to the wheat fields of Whitman County. 

I bought mine to strictly shoot factory ammo as I handload for my customs.  I can tell you that it’s a great round, shoots factory ammo like a dream and that my customs that cost 3x’s as much are sitting in the safe this fall.

I took a big, 7 year old Wyoming buck at just over 650 yards and a mature whitetail buck at 230 yards with mine last fall.  Absolutely hammered both of them with factory 147 Eld-m.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 22, 2020, 09:09:28 AM
If a guy wants to shoot factory ammo it's about as good a option for a 6.5 as there is. One thing hornady does better than other manufacturers is that they put the backing behind their calibers to solidify them as a caliber to stick around. Prime example is the creedmoor.

The PRC doesn't do anything that a saum, wsm, or x284 norma won't do. It shoots the exact same bullets and roughly the exact same speeds. Let's not praise it as some revolutionary chambering  :chuckle: But if you aren't hand loading then the prc is a no brainer! Berger needs to hurry up and release loaded ammo with the 156's.  The exciting part of the prc is its popularity will spur big manufacturers like lapua to release some premium components. Something that most the other 6.5's are lacking
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on May 22, 2020, 10:07:35 AM
Good info. Pretty much what I thought.  :tup:

I'm not hand loading as much as I used to so factory pills are what I would shoot. I like how the 147s look on paper and carry enough weight to not drift to much in the wind. Moa or better out of a factory load is perfectly fine with me.

It hurts my feelings when guys tease me for using a creedmore without a man bun. Any issues with the PRC I should know about... :chuckle:

Kidding.

Now comes the fun part. Shopping.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: 2MANY on May 22, 2020, 11:57:55 AM
Guys, tease, and man bun should be discussed on a different forum.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on May 22, 2020, 02:17:01 PM
The exciting part of the prc is its popularity will spur big manufacturers like lapua to release some premium components. Something that most the other 6.5's are lacking

I sure hope you're right, but for some reason Lapua, at least to date, just won't make any brass with the magnum case head size.  I keep thinking that'll change but they've yet to do so.  :dunno:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 22, 2020, 03:29:25 PM
The exciting part of the prc is its popularity will spur big manufacturers like lapua to release some premium components. Something that most the other 6.5's are lacking

I sure hope you're right, but for some reason Lapua, at least to date, just won't make any brass with the magnum case head size.  I keep thinking that'll change but they've yet to do so.  :dunno:
its inevitable.  With companies like Peterson raising the bar lapua will eventually have to dive in. It continually blows me away at their stubbornness to actually produce some offerings that people want
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 22, 2020, 03:57:36 PM
Doesnt pertain to the prc, but i have an email from berger that states

“until the LAPUA 300 WIN MAG brass is available. We are using norma brass”

Hopefully that is a sign that more offerings are coming.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: mountainman on May 22, 2020, 06:38:39 PM
I hunted with my CA Ridgeline 6.5 PRC last fall.  Packed it from mountain tops in Western Wyoming to the wheat fields of Whitman County. 

I bought mine to strictly shoot factory ammo as I handload for my customs.  I can tell you that it’s a great round, shoots factory ammo like a dream and that my customs that cost 3x’s as much are sitting in the safe this fall.

I took a big, 7 year old Wyoming buck at just over 650 yards and a mature whitetail buck at 230 yards with mine last fall.  Absolutely hammered both of them with factory 147 Eld-m.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Awesome! Some will downplay CA rifles, but they shoot! Especially in this caliber!
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: bullfisher on May 23, 2020, 08:18:38 AM
Built my PRC from a 300wm action. Specifically to shoot the 156, which was just a rumor at the time. My current load with them is just over 2900fps from a 23" 7twist. Shoots amazing and I would consider my current barrel a little slow.
Shelves were full of factory ammo and even brass in the beginning but now everyone's sold out. Now that the manufacturers are finally offering the PRC off the shelf, it's become very popular and ammo support hasn't caught back up.
My barrel has the 188 freebore which I believe is standard now. It's a laser no matter where I seat the bergers. Same with the SMK 150's. The 143eldx was a little more finicky however the factory 143 and 147's shot good.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on May 23, 2020, 10:41:19 AM
Doesnt pertain to the prc, but i have an email from berger that states

“until the LAPUA 300 WIN MAG brass is available. We are using norma brass”

Hopefully that is a sign that more offerings are coming.

I've talked to Kevin Thomas, Lapua USA Rep, a few different times about Lapua making some of the more popular magnum brass and he always has told me the same thing, they have no plans to do so.  Maybe someday that'll all change but I'm not holding my breath for it to happen any time soon.

As for any of the 300 Win mag brass that has Lapua stamped on it, per Kevin, that was a brief subcontract deal Lapua did quite some time ago and that brass was actually made by Norma, not Lapua.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jjhunter on May 23, 2020, 11:12:29 PM
3 shot group fired yesterday to check zero @ 100 before I ran the PRC out to 600. 

Shot off bipod, prone with my fist as the rear bag.  Factory 147’s.

The little CA is scary accurate; especially out at 600 and beyond.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: huntnphool on May 24, 2020, 01:37:15 AM
3 shot group fired yesterday to check zero @ 100 before I ran the PRC out to 600. 

Shot off bipod, prone with my fist as the rear bag.  Factory 147’s.

The little CA is scary accurate; especially out at 600 and beyond.

 And?...
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on May 24, 2020, 05:40:24 AM
 :tup: 
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on March 19, 2021, 02:26:43 PM
Little update.

So I picked up a xbolt hell's canyon a few months ago. Took my time putting it together since stuff was hard to find. Topped it with a Ziess. Threw a sling on and have spent the last three months hoarding ammo.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on March 19, 2021, 02:28:25 PM
Was able to sneak out to my buddies range today for a while. Not ideal conditions with rain squals and swirling wind 15-20.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on March 19, 2021, 02:31:31 PM
Got a few rounds threw her for some break in then stretched it out a little to 200.

So far not much of a difference between the 147s and the 143s.

Sequence of group's since I'm still dialing the scope in.
Group 1 middle low.
Group 2 middle high.
Group 3 left.
Group 4 right.

Little more tweaking and it should be good. Ran out of time.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 19, 2021, 02:39:03 PM
That'll kill a caribou id say  :tup: id do the world a favor and throw those 143's in the trash though  :chuckle: :peep:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on March 19, 2021, 02:47:29 PM
That'll kill a caribou id say  :tup: id do the world a favor and throw those 143's in the trash though  :chuckle: :peep:

If anything I'll keep them as a retirement investment...one day they'll probably be $100 a round... :chuckle:

I think I have some ballistic gel lined up so first I test.  I've heard good and bad about them . Will see.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 19, 2021, 02:58:45 PM
Dont let that booger "I mean bereger :chuckle:" slinger deter you from the eldx :chuckle:

I have personally croaked around 30 animal with them the last few years. From 50-780 yards. The first series came apart more and was more like a ballistic tip. The 2nd gen is better, now I still prefer accubonds but they are a solid choice. Plus the 6.5 and 7 stw love them so thats what they get fed.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Jonathan_S on March 19, 2021, 03:04:03 PM
ELDx work great! I used 100 of them last weekend to fireform.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: go4steelhd on March 19, 2021, 03:28:41 PM
200 yards prone off of a bi-pod

343 yards prone off of a bi-pod

6.5 PRC
143 grain Eldx
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: highside74 on March 19, 2021, 03:44:42 PM
200 yards prone off of a bi-pod

343 yards prone off of a bi-pod

6.5 PRC
143 grain Eldx

Factory or hand loads?
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: go4steelhd on March 19, 2021, 04:05:06 PM
Hand loads from Pendleton ammunition
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 19, 2021, 04:13:43 PM
Dont let that booger "I mean bereger :chuckle:" slinger deter you from the eldx :chuckle:

I have personally croaked around 30 animal with them the last few years. From 50-780 yards. The first series came apart more and was more like a ballistic tip. The 2nd gen is better, now I still prefer accubonds but they are a solid choice. Plus the 6.5 and 7 stw love them so thats what they get fed.
I thought of you the other night. I was watching a dall sheep hunt where the guy talked up the 143 eldx (hornady sponsored show of course) then had to shoot a ram 4 times at 150 yards before it finally died  :chuckle: I was like man that brings back some memories  :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: highside74 on March 19, 2021, 04:15:15 PM
Shots fired.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 19, 2021, 04:17:19 PM
Gotta keep our back and forth going  :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 19, 2021, 04:26:44 PM
Dont let that booger "I mean bereger :chuckle:" slinger deter you from the eldx :chuckle:

I have personally croaked around 30 animal with them the last few years. From 50-780 yards. The first series came apart more and was more like a ballistic tip. The 2nd gen is better, now I still prefer accubonds but they are a solid choice. Plus the 6.5 and 7 stw love them so thats what they get fed.
I thought of you the other night. I was watching a dall sheep hunt where the guy talked up the 143 eldx (hornady sponsored show of course) then had to shoot a ram 4 times at 150 yards before it finally died  :chuckle: I was like man that brings back some memories  :chuckle:

 :chuckle: It don't help when they shoot them in the hoof! If it was a berger, would have dropped dead from a hoof shot! Not one anaimal can take a berger bullet shot and even take one step! Even if its the hoof!
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 19, 2021, 04:28:51 PM
AT LEAST we can agree on Accubonds  :tup: :chuckle: :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Mtnwalker on March 19, 2021, 04:30:06 PM
Dont let that booger "I mean bereger :chuckle:" slinger deter you from the eldx :chuckle:

I have personally croaked around 30 animal with them the last few years. From 50-780 yards. The first series came apart more and was more like a ballistic tip. The 2nd gen is better, now I still prefer accubonds but they are a solid choice. Plus the 6.5 and 7 stw love them so thats what they get fed.
I thought of you the other night. I was watching a dall sheep hunt where the guy talked up the 143 eldx (hornady sponsored show of course) then had to shoot a ram 4 times at 150 yards before it finally died  :chuckle: I was like man that brings back some memories  :chuckle:

LIES! The last muley I fed some eldx to only took 3 well placed shots to get him dead.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 19, 2021, 04:31:41 PM
You guys must be loading them backwards :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Mtnwalker on March 19, 2021, 04:34:42 PM
To be fair mine were of the .284 variety so  :dunno:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 19, 2021, 04:40:00 PM
AHHHHH there is the problem right there not enough man bun :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jasnt on March 19, 2021, 04:40:11 PM
ELDx work great! I used 100 of them last weekend to fireform.
:chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: BUTTER on March 19, 2021, 05:15:27 PM
I love my PRC have only had it for 9 months and shot my white tail with the eld x's he was on his bed and never woke up. Id say they work
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on March 19, 2021, 05:41:16 PM
Any of you with Christensen Arms Ridgeline 6.5 PRC ever look at the inside of the barrel with a borescope?  I bought one a couple weeks ago, borescoped it right out of the box and this was my reaction  :yike:

I was actually pretty disappointed how it looked.  Tool marks up and down the barrel.  The throat didn't appear to be cut all that well and just kind of an all around crappy looking barrel.  It's about what I would have expected from a $6-700 over the counter production gun but certainly not what I was expecting to see from it.  I do have to say CA was great about wanting to get it back and didn't hesitate in the slightest about sending me a prepaid FedEx label so maybe I just got unlucky.  No big deal I know it happens but It'll be interesting to see what it looks like when I get it back.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: ipkus on March 19, 2021, 07:59:20 PM
Nope, never looked.  When it puts 3 inside 3" at 700 I don't care if it's got buck teeth, a tatoo of Cardi B, and jock itch, it will work for what I need it to do.

You could tell me it has the 'rona and I would shoot it if it shoots like mine does.

The inside of my barrel could look like a graffiti contest and I'm not calling CA about it!

Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jasnt on March 19, 2021, 08:36:59 PM
Bore scopes I’m pretty sure where invented by barrel manufacters.  Most folks see what the barrel looks like and freak out.  But B23 has some experience in this area.  Personally I’d see how it shot before making a call but I’ve seen what looked like dry lake bed shoot 1/4” and barrrls that looked great shoot 3”. 
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on March 19, 2021, 10:07:02 PM
I hear what you're saying but it has also been my experience rough barrels can shoot very well but they also have a tendency to foul much more rapidly and be copper hogs.

I considered seeing how it would shoot but I'm setting this gun up to give my dad and it will, at least for awhile, be shot with factory Hornady 147 Match ammo and that stuff is just to hard to come by I really didn't want to waste any of it seeing "if" it would shoot.

It's been kind of a long time since I've bought an over the counter factory gun, maybe I'm expecting to much from it.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: milldozer on March 22, 2021, 08:14:54 AM
Those of you who shoot the 147 ELD-M over the 143 ELD-X on game, why is that?  Any benefits besides the 4 gr's and slightly better BC?
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jjhunter on March 22, 2021, 08:45:56 AM
The 147s shot a little better in my rifle...and better B.C.   There wasn’t a lot of info on performance on game animals when I bought mine a couple of years ago, but I took two bucks the first year, one at 650 and one at 250 and the bullet performed perfectly on both critters.

Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: milldozer on March 22, 2021, 10:18:28 AM
Did they hold together and expand reasonably well?
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: spoonman on March 22, 2021, 10:28:12 AM
Did they hold together and expand reasonably well?

I highly doubt they did since they are not designed to hold together and or mushroom at all.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: milldozer on March 22, 2021, 10:53:12 AM
Thats what I'm wondering.  Did they perform more like a Berger or an Accubond?
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: spoonman on March 22, 2021, 10:56:33 AM
Thats what I'm wondering.  Did they perform more like a Berger or an Accubond?

They perform more like a Berger from what I’ve seen .
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jjhunter on March 22, 2021, 11:50:12 AM
The 147s shot a little better in my rifle...and better B.C.   There wasn’t a lot of info on performance on game animals when I bought mine a couple of years ago, but I took two bucks the first year, one at 650 and one at 250 and the bullet performed perfectly on both critters.

By “perfect”, I mean dropped where standing.  I did not recover bullets.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Mtnwalker on March 22, 2021, 01:06:46 PM
Ive been happier with the 147's than I have with eldx on the handful deer we've killed with em. At creed velocities we've recovered some nice 80ish grain mushrooms if it didn't exit. Prc may be a different story at higher velocities, I can't answer that.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: milldozer on March 22, 2021, 02:05:16 PM
Thanks for the feedback.  I've got an HCA 6.5 PRC on order that I'm excited to get my hands on!
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: dilleytech on March 22, 2021, 03:06:13 PM
Thanks for the feedback.  I've got an HCA 6.5 PRC on order that I'm excited to get my hands on!

Curious do you have ammo yet? I was looking it up the other day out of curiosity. 7-8$ a round!! Whoa..
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: milldozer on March 22, 2021, 03:18:11 PM
I plan to reload.  I have been able to piece together components, though I'm still waiting on back-ordered brass.  Still have a few months to wait for the rifle though.

Midway had some 147 eld-m's a couple weeks ago.  Picked up a box of those (was like $3.50/round after shipping) as a fall back.  Still crazy expensive.  I don't plan to buy much, if any, factory ammo in the future.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: spoonman on March 22, 2021, 03:21:21 PM
It’s been rough finding factory ammo. I got lucky when I was in Montana for work and picked up some. Got a box the other day at Cabelas in Lacey and a couple more a while back at Sportsman’s. Those were all ELDM. I just paid too much for 3 boxes of ELDX online. Haven’t shot my rifle yet so need to see what it likes then sell off what it doesn’t.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on March 22, 2021, 04:13:34 PM
Even getting brass or dies for the 6.5 PRC isn't all that easy.  Just had 50 pcs of new unprimed ADG 6.5PRC brass delivered today that I was lucky enough to talk a friend out of and I got a set of Redding dies from Midway a couple weeks ago. 

Now I have dies, brass, primers, powder, Hornady 147 Match ammo, scope, rings, rail and no gun to use any of it with.   :o
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: fishngamereaper on March 22, 2021, 06:24:10 PM
I'm saving all my brass. On the bubble right now for reloading. If I decide not to I'll have a fair amount available in the next couple months...for a reasonable price, or barter... depending.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: milldozer on March 23, 2021, 09:01:53 AM
I reached out to Lapua CS and they said their PRC brass will be shipping by the end of June. You can back order that stuff on a couple websites now.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 23, 2021, 09:55:30 AM
Aka December  :chuckle:
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on March 23, 2021, 12:00:39 PM
Aka December  :chuckle:

Yeah, and of what year?  I know Lapua claims this stuff is supposed to be out in the second quarter of the year but the second quarter of what year.  :rolleyes:

It'll be interesting to see what the case capacity is of the Lapua 6.5 PRC compared to Hornady and ADG.  Now that I have some ADG cases I'm going to compare their case capacity to Hornady.  I think I've read the ADG is slightly less.
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 23, 2021, 02:18:53 PM
Been so long since I ordered the new lapua brass can't remember if I ordered 300 WM OR 300 PRC ? I better check my emails before I order that barrel .
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: b23 on March 23, 2021, 03:56:09 PM
Been so long since I ordered the new lapua brass can't remember if I ordered 300 WM OR 300 PRC ? I better check my emails before I order that barrel .

Yeah I've heard they tend to shoot a little better when the brass and chamber actually match one another but that's just what I've heard.  :chuckle:

Probably will make sizing a bit easier as well. lol
Title: Re: 6.5 PRC
Post by: jasnt on March 23, 2021, 08:19:03 PM
I figured I’d have my brass about the time my barrel burns out. 
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