18” 6.5 Creed Vs 20” 6.5 PRC

[lovetohunt93]

Just caught this part, there's not any more power in the PRC as they shoot the exact same projectiles. The benefit to more speed with the same projectile is a little less drop and a little better performance in wind, neither of which are a factor with a max shot distance of 450 yards. IMO the PRC in this scenario is a complete waste of powder and unnecessary recoil and ammo expense.

I appreciate this info. The PRC ammo is definitely more expensive compared to the creed. And as of now, I do not own any rifles with low recoil besides rimfires. Seeming like the creed is the way to go for my use case.

 

[Ajsomp]

I had a 20” 6.5 PRC. Great gun. I now shoot a 18” 6.5 creed. The PRC gave me more range than I needed at high recoil levels.

There are some companies bringing NAS3 cased ammo to market that will give you similar PRC velocities out of a creed. As that becomes more common I see less need for the PRC.

 

[Gadjet]

I had a 20” 6.5 PRC. Great gun. I now shoot a 18” 6.5 creed. The PRC gave me more range than I needed at high recoil levels.

There are some companies bringing NAS3 cased ammo to market that will give you similar PRC velocities out of a creed. As that becomes more common I see less need for the PRC.

What is an NAS3 case?

 

[gtriple]

What is an NAS3 case?

Nickel alloy shell. Allows for higher pressures

 

[Gadjet]

Nickel alloy shell. Allows for higher pressures

Just looked it up. Sounds interesting.

 

[tx_shooter]

I appreciate this info. The PRC ammo is definitely more expensive compared to the creed. And as of now, I do not own any rifles with low recoil besides rimfires. Seeming like the creed is the way to go for my use case.

I have 2 Tikka T3x in 6.5CM with 22" barrels. A few years ago I had to cut down my wife's Tikka to 16" to thread it for a suppressor. Now comes the problem in that I like hunting with her rifle more than mine. The 16" barrel with suppressor is still easy to maneuver in the field or hunting blind.



I was curious exactly how much FPS the 16" barrel was giving up so I tested it with a chrono. The same range day only 15 minutes apart so I could move over the suppressor to reduce a variable. The ammo was the same lot.

On top is the 22" barrel, lower is the 16" barrel. I confirmed that I was not losing enough FPS to worry about hunting out to 400 yds.


Side note - not sure why the significant difference in Std Dev. I plan to look into that more my next range trip.

 

[43.6N]

I have 2 Tikka T3x in 6.5CM with 22" barrels. A few years ago I had to cut down my wife's Tikka to 16" to thread it for a suppressor. Now comes the problem in that I like hunting with her rifle more than mine. The 16" barrel with suppressor is still easy to maneuver in the field or hunting blind.

View attachment 1023433

I was curious exactly how much FPS the 16" barrel was giving up so I tested it with a chrono. The same range day only 15 minutes apart so I could move over the suppressor to reduce a variable. The ammo was the same lot.

On top is the 22" barrel, lower is the 16" barrel. Load was 123gr bulk HP over 43.5gr of H4350 inside Hornady brass. I confirmed that I was not losing enough FPS to worry about hunting out to 400 yds.
View attachment 1023434

Dude, short barrels get addicting.
I’ve got a 16” 22creed that I built last fall. And pretty quickly your expectation of what a “long” barrel is get recalibrated. I started looking at every other rifle and asking “how long do I really need to get the job done?”

 

[tx_shooter]

Dude, short barrels get addicting.
I’ve got a 16” 22creed that I built last fall. And pretty quickly your expectation of what a “long” barrel is get recalibrated. I started looking at every other rifle and asking “how long do I really need to get the job done?”

100% truth!!! I have an 18" 6.5 Grendel that is great for the range; but when I go hunting in the field I grab the 12" 6.5 Grendel almost every single time. I usually run the EA Vox S supporessor on it for the shorter barrel and higher sustained rate of fire. The entire setup is easy to walk with in the field, balances great on a tripod, and easy to shoulder either left or right handed in a blind or backseat of a SXS or truck (ranch hunting of course).

 

[gtriple]

Dude, short barrels get addicting.
I’ve got a 16” 22creed that I built last fall. And pretty quickly your expectation of what a “long” barrel is get recalibrated. I started looking at every other rifle and asking “how long do I really need to get the job done?”

I started with a 24” 6.5CM, then got a 22” 6.5prc, then cut the 6.5cm to 20”, then got an 18” 7prc, and now I just finished a 16.5” 22CM. I’m already starting to think about SBR’ing something down to 14”.

 

[Dbevans]

8.5 b&c bear at 550 with 6.5


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[43.6N]

I started with a 24” 6.5CM, then got a 22” 6.5prc, then cut the 6.5cm to 20”, then got an 18” 7prc, and now I just finished a 16.5” 22CM. I’m already starting to think about SBR’ing something down to 14”.

@lovetohunt93
For the sake of the OP original question of hunting the UP I did a quick 6.5creed min velocity calculation. I wanted to see what a 16” or shorter barrel would do ballistically.

Set DA to 0ft
And calculated min MV needed to keep 1800fps out at 500yds. I used the two bullets that I’m most interested in hunting with: the 130 and 153 Sierra TMK.

With the 130, he would need about 2600fps.
With the 153, he would need about 2475fps.
Both easily obtainable with a 16” 6.5creed and safe pressure reloads.

For a pure hunting gun, 16” 6.5creed is looking pretty sweet on paper.

 

[43.6N]

8.5 b&c bear at 550 with 6.5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dude, what a monster! Well done

 

[Tahoe1305]

I’m running an 18” 6.5 PRC with the 143gr ELD-X at 2800 fps which is basically a 28” Creedmoor with 10” less barrel.

You talking factory or hand loads?

My 21” tikka 6.5C shoots 143/ 2850fps (1gr under pressure signs).

 

[mt100gr.]

You talking factory or hand loads?

My 21” tikka 6.5C shoots 143/ 2850fps (1gr under pressure signs).

RL26?

 

[Tahoe1305]

HahahHa. Yessir. That said I’ve gotten the same with superformance in the 6.5C and use that more these days.

I have 20lb of RL26 but tend to save that for the larger capacity magnums.

 

[BigNate]

If it was up to me I'd go 25 CM. It will kill deer and black bear as far away as you are proficient.

If you honestly think it's to small you could use the '06, which might make you feel better, but really doesn't do anything different.

 

[mt100gr.]

HahahHa. Yessir. That said I’ve gotten the same with superformance in the 6.5C and use that more these days.

I have 20lb of RL26 but tend to save that for the larger capacity magnums.

Nice! RL26 in the 6.5cm is a wonderful thing! I have an 18" 6.5cm pushing the 147s at 2745fps with RL26. My 18" 6.5saum gets another 120+ fps (N560) but the creedmoor usually gets the nod for days in the field.

I also have a much slower 6.5cm (147s @ 2560) and it kills just as readily at any range within my skill set.

 

[CMP70306]

You talking factory or hand loads?

My 21” tikka 6.5C shoots 143/ 2850fps (1gr under pressure signs).

Handload with 55.7gr N560 in Hornady brass.

 

[lovetohunt93]

If it was up to me I'd go 25 CM. It will kill deer and black bear as far away as you are proficient.

If you honestly think it's to small you could use the '06, which might make you feel better, but really doesn't do anything different.

I would get the 25 for sure if there was more factory ammo support. On paper the 25 is very impressive.

 

[Braaap]

That last sentence was one of my main concerns and I am happy you and others addressed that clearly. I didn't want to get the creed and think I left something behind by not getting the PRC.

For a MI deer rifle, its sounding like the 18" creed might be the best way to go and likely will outperform my skill set anyhow.

The 18” creed is not just a MI deer rifle. I live out west and hunt everything with a 19” 6.5cm suppressed. Everyone has been saying the 6.5prc doesn’t get you anything for MI and I agree. Get the creed.