20” Barrel 6.5 PRC

[coachmks]

I have the itch for a new lightweight 6.5 PRC. Currently shooting a Weatherby Vanguard Talon in 6.5 PRC with a 24” barrel. The Weatherby is MOA when I do my part, but I want something with a vertical grip stock and I just do not love the Weatherby, even though it shoots great for a $1200 gun from the factory with a Peak 44 stock. I have a Seekins in 300 win mag and it’s 1/2 moa all day. The new Element M3 in 6.5 PRC only comes in a 20” barrel. Am I going to regret going from a 24” to a 20” barrel? I do plan on using a suppressor so the 20” is attractive for that reason. I will be shooting handloads if that matters. If the Element had a 22” barrel, I would have bought one by now.

 

[coachmks]

On a side note, Fierce has 22” barrels and are less expensive than the Element for comparable guns, but buying a Fierce makes me nervous.

 

[83cj-7]

I don’t think that 2” of barrel will have a great impact on speed if that’s what you’re thinking. I have had 3 different 6.5 GAP/SAUM rifles which is pretty close to the PRC. One was 20” one was 18” and the current one is 19”. All of them pretty much shot the same speeds with like bullet and powder combos. Accuracy loads have been 129 ABLR @ 2950, 135 Berger CH @ 3000, 156 Berger EH @ 2780 to 2825. I’ve decided that the 156 is the bullet I’m going to use. The BC is awesome and they kill fantastic. I’m about to do another barrel in 7.5 twist at 20” just for the 156s as I hunt and shoot near sea level, the 8 twist is marginally stable. The 20” barrel with a 6” suppressor is just about perfect in my opinion.

 

[Weldor]

On a side note, Fierce has 22” barrels and are less expensive than the Element for comparable guns, but buying a Fierce makes me nervous.

My Fierce Ct Carbon roque works just fine. 20 " bbl. The titanium is a little sticky and takes sometime to get used to. It's racked up a couple of cow Elk and several whitetails and hogs.

 

[coachmks]

I like the 22” on the Fierce. It’s just hard to find good stories about their customer service.

 

[coast range]

I think you would love going to a 20” barrel if you’re going to run it suppressed anyway. Sure you’ll loose a bit of velocity but carry will be a lot sweeter

 

[coachmks]

I cannot find reliable info on the weight of the Element. Seekins says 6.0 pounds but others are saying they have the short action element and it weights 7 pounds bare. I do not want a 7 pound bare rifle.

 

[bigmanny666]

My 20” fierce with an 8” can handles pretty nice in the woods. Only shooting factory 143 eldx so far and get 2750 fps., hand loading will be in the future when I run out of this case of ammo.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

I have a 21” 6.5 PRC and wish I would have gone 19”.

 

[Tanner]

I wouldn’t want anything over 20” if I was going to be hunting suppressed, they get to feeling like you could pole vault with them. 147s at 2800+/- will hammer game as far as you can shoot reliably enough to be shooting at anyways.

 

[coachmks]

I ended up with the Seekins Element M3. Cannot say I’m happy with it. Accuracy is decent. It was 10 ounces heavier than Seekins told me it would be. Had an issue with the magazine and had to get a replacement. They do not come with a thread protector. Only have about 40 rounds through it so the jury is still out on velocity but I am only seeing 2720 average with 143 grain Norma Bondstrikes. That load ran around 2925 out of the 24” gun I had. I do have some 130 grain offerings loaded, but I have not had a chance to shoot them.

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

I ended up with the Seekins Element M3. Cannot say I’m happy with it. Accuracy is decent. It was 10 ounces heavier than Seekins told me it would be. Had an issue with the magazine and had to get a replacement. They do not come with a thread protector. Only have about 40 rounds through it so the jury is still out on velocity but I am only seeing 2720 average with 143 grain Norma Bondstrikes. That load ran around 2925 out of the 24” gun I had. I do have some 130 grain offerings loaded, but I have not had a chance to shoot them.

What did your rifle weigh? Mine is just over 8lbs with a can and NF optic. As far as thread protector? It comes with a muzzle break, did you take that off? If so then you’d have to buy a thread protector. Not sure the complaint about velocity, 2750 is all I get with factory ammo. Hand load and you will be well above that. I hand load 140s, 143s and 147s. But I do not push max velocity because I shoot a lot and buying a new barrel isn’t an option yet from seekins. Not sure why people compare it to a 24 inch barrel…. It’s not so you won’t see the same shit. If you wanted 24 than should have gone that route but I can promise you a 24 inch barrel with a 6-8 inch can really sucks to hunt with. Taken many caribou doing that. I wouldn’t recommend.

 

[omicron1792]

I get 2835 out of 20” with factory 140gr tipped fusions.

I bet your barrel speeds up some.

 

[coachmks]

Weight with scope and suppressor was over 9 pounds. I no longer have this gun.

 

[coachmks]

What did your rifle weigh? Mine is just over 8lbs with a can and NF optic. As far as thread protector? It comes with a muzzle break, did you take that off? If so then you’d have to buy a thread protector. Not sure the complaint about velocity, 2750 is all I get with factory ammo. Hand load and you will be well above that. I hand load 140s, 143s and 147s. But I do not push max velocity because I shoot a lot and buying a new barrel isn’t an option yet from seekins. Not sure why people compare it to a 24 inch barrel…. It’s not so you won’t see the same shit. If you wanted 24 than should have gone that route but I can promise you a 24 inch barrel with a 6-8 inch can really sucks to hunt with. Taken many caribou doing that. I wouldn’t recommend.

I did not have or plan on having a suppressor when I bought it. Since the purchase, I did end up getting a suppressor. I did not want to hunt with a muzzle brake. My PH 2 came with a thread protector so I found it strange that the element did not come with one. Yes, everyone knows cutting off 4” of barrel will reduce velocities. I think I tricked myself into believing multiple posters saying they were getting 2900fps with factory loads in a 20” barrel. Maybe they are getting that velocity, but I sure did not see anything close to 2900fps. I was going to load my own to get higher velocities. My main issue was Seekins told me the gun would weigh 6.0 pounds, but that was not the case. Once it was scoped, then added a 7.5 ounce suppressor, it was over 9 pounds. That was not what I wanted and I was not keeping a $2850 gun that did not fit what I wanted or what I was told I was going to get in regards to weight. Seekins offered to buy the gun back and I took them up on the offer.

 

[Samson7x]

Have you replaced the M3 with anything?

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

I did not have or plan on having a suppressor when I bought it. Since the purchase, I did end up getting a suppressor. I did not want to hunt with a muzzle brake. My PH 2 came with a thread protector so I found it strange that the element did not come with one. Yes, everyone knows cutting off 4” of barrel will reduce velocities. I think I tricked myself into believing multiple posters saying they were getting 2900fps with factory loads in a 20” barrel. Maybe they are getting that velocity, but I sure did not see anything close to 2900fps. I was going to load my own to get higher velocities. My main issue was Seekins told me the gun would weigh 6.0 pounds, but that was not the case. Once it was scoped, then added a 7.5 ounce suppressor, it was over 9 pounds. That was not what I wanted and I was not keeping a $2850 gun that did not fit what I wanted or what I was told I was going to get in regards to weight. Seekins offered to buy the gun back and I took them up on the offer.

Ahh i can not speak to the PH2, i have also never ran a magnum without a break. a lot harder to get on target but to each their own. I have not been close to 2900 with factory ammo. i am around 2750. I am working up loads and have matched factory data without coming close to max loads. so I would say it is promising to get back to 2850-2950. as far as weight, maybe you got a dud? I just reweighed mine to be sure. with a suppressor, NF optic, mag, and send it level i am at 8.8 lbs. Glad they bought it back, Seekins customer service is why i buy from them. Curious what route you went because for me, i could not find a gun that would be loaded under 9lbs for 2700 bucks. my custom builds all run 5-6k.

cheers