6.5 CM or 6.5 PRC for suppressed elk gun

[airmacnair]

I’ve seen a few threads kinda similar but not really exactly what im curious about..

I have an ultradyne tikka chassis that I love, and have been using my 308 in. This year I want to drop in a 6.5. I was pretty set on buying the 20” compact 6.5 CM to drop in to the chassis because I won’t be shooting past 400-500. Then a friend who was changing calibers gave me 200 total rounds of 6.5 prc Eldm and Eldx… I will be shooting a 7” suppressor, but I also have a folding stock. The 6.5 prc minimum length for a stock tikka is 22.5” but the nice Superlite with the cerakoted barrel is 24”. Based on my research the prc loses a lot of velocity when chopping the barrel due to it needing more barrel length to burn the “slower burning” powder?

Main question: Should I sell the ammo and just put it towards the 6.5 creedmoor or get the longer 6.5 prc to drop in? If I get the 6.5 prc, is it worth chopping the barrel down? Trying to think long term what will be the best option as far as effectiveness for hunting elk and also comfort of carrying through the backcountry. Thanks for your help and feedback!

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I would sell the ammo and get the rifle you want.

Unless the ammo was truly rare, I would not buy a rifle to justify using it. For example, I have one 8x57 JR and a bunch of ammo for it. If I found another 8x57 JR cheap, I could talk myself into buying it because I already have the ammo and dies.

 

[airmacnair]

Understood, thanks. But also if the prc is the better option when shooting suppressed (and maybe chopping it down) I don’t mind getting that.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Understood, thanks. But also if the prc is the better option when shooting suppressed (and maybe chopping it down) I don’t mind getting that.

Plug a decent 6.5 CM load from a 20” (or whatever barrel) into shooter at your elevation. Then decide whether you need more velocity. Even a boring 2500 FPS factory 140-grain load will work past 500 yards at 3000 feet of elevation.

 

[swavescatter]

My hunting circle hammers bull elk every year with 18” suppressed 6.5Creeds. Reloading a bit hotter than factory bridges the gap with the PRC, but even factory ammo is good past 500yds at our elevation.

I have a big heavy 6.5PRC that doesn’t get much use. Basically only adds value past 800yds and I’m not hunting at those distances.

 

[airmacnair]

Cool that’s good to know. Ya I’m in Colorado so most of our hunting is 8-12k feet. Plan on getting in to reloading soon too. The 18 to 20” suppressed CM sounds like a nice balance.

 

[AKarchery]

I have a 20” CM shooting about 2550 with factory 147 eldm & 143 eldx. (I get 2750 with the 130 tmk hand loads).

I also have a 22” PRC that is currently on the chopping block. It really offers nothing until well beyond my self imposed limitation of 600 plus yards. It does push both bullets in the factory offering 300 fps faster at the muzzle

Where you may want to step to the prc over the cm, would be shooting monolithic bullets over the other cup and core styles. Being that you will need to keep the impact velocity way up with the monos.

 

[NDHUNTER24]

I'd go with the 6.5 creed for your uses. I have a 20" 6.5 CM and i love it. If i did it again i would have went down to 18". For my intended ranges it does great. If you choose the PRC i would chop it down to 18".

 

[airmacnair]

Not to open a can of worms, but truly just curious...

Most folks seem to focus on the 1800 fps mark as the reliable expansion for the bullet. I have been trying to learn more about terminal ballistics recently and heard the hydrostatic shock is around 2200 fps. Does this play a factor at all for hunting? Should I be optimizing for the 1800 or 2200, or maybe somewhere in between.

 

[Ajsomp]

Not to open a can of worms, but truly just curious...

Most folks seem to focus on the 1800 fps mark as the reliable expansion for the bullet. I have been trying to learn more about terminal ballistics recently and heard the hydrostatic shock is around 2200 fps. Does this play a factor at all for hunting? Should I be optimizing for the 1800 or 2200, or maybe somewhere in between.

You get plenty of temporary wound cavity with 1800 FPS.

Not all bullets are created equal. Solid copper monos and Bergers should be kept above 2000. Most cup and core match style bullets are good to reliably open down to 1800. Some other bullets (TMK, ELDVT) may open at lower velocities but probably not enough data to reliably recommend a speed.

 

[schmidty3]

Im doing a 6mm for my next elk gun .

Drop down half a mil and BAM, same speeds as a 6.5 prc

 

[541hunter]

I’ve seen a few threads kinda similar but not really exactly what im curious about..

I have an ultradyne tikka chassis that I love, and have been using my 308 in. This year I want to drop in a 6.5. I was pretty set on buying the 20” compact 6.5 CM to drop in to the chassis because I won’t be shooting past 400-500. Then a friend who was changing calibers gave me 200 total rounds of 6.5 prc Eldm and Eldx… I will be shooting a 7” suppressor, but I also have a folding stock. The 6.5 prc minimum length for a stock tikka is 22.5” but the nice Superlite with the cerakoted barrel is 24”. Based on my research the prc loses a lot of velocity when chopping the barrel due to it needing more barrel length to burn the “slower burning” powder?

Main question: Should I sell the ammo and just put it towards the 6.5 creedmoor or get the longer 6.5 prc to drop in? If I get the 6.5 prc, is it worth chopping the barrel down? Trying to think long term what will be the best option as far as effectiveness for hunting elk and also comfort of carrying through the backcountry. Thanks for your help and feedback!

My 22” 6.5 creed shoots a 147 eldm at 2680 with my Ultra 7 suppressor.

My 20” 6.5 prc shoots a 156 Berger at 2850 fps with the same suppressor.

 

[omicron1792]

6.5prc doesn’t lose anymore speed with shorter barrel than any other cartridge.

I like the PRC for your setup.

 

[FLHunter87]

Hardly any recoil difference between the 2. In real world, in my experience and opinion, as I shoot both, the PRC will always have more velocity with same bullet and barrel length no matter similar the load is. For me that has ranged minimum of roughly 270FPS-300 fps plus or minus some as well. That’s just me and I purely do reloading not factory ammo. People can say what they want. Also factory ammo is basically the same as far as cost. Either one will work honestly and for me I just worry about velocity at distance and want to hit that mark needed which is typically 1800 fps for your normal Bullet. Really don’t need to worry about energy at distance. I look for accuracy when I load my ammo. I hardly ever load at maximum because it’s never needed for what I want to accomplish. I know I can get more but why bother? I would look at ballistics app and just see the range your looking. The CM I shoot is loaded with Superformance and use 140 SST at 2604 average. This gets 1800fps in the 500 yard range. Hunting I always take the PRC. I love the PRC. Right now I have a Browning X Bolt Pro in 6.5 PRC using 147eldm which I’m getting around 2840 fps and can shoot a 5 shoot .75” group at 200 yards and easily get 1” groups consistently at that distance. With that velocity I’m at a 800 yard range with velocity. I am actually looking into getting a custom gun built in the same caliber with a longer barrel. PRC is a very versatile caliber and ballistics are awesome. PRC all the way especially if you’re wanting a smaller barrel and wanting to stay with a 264 caliber. PRC will give you that extra bump in speed. If you have a folding stock, a extra couple inches shouldn’t affect you that much. You should do what makes sense for you. For me my build I’m looking at a 26” barrel with a folding stock. I’m sure I’m all over the place. What will the twist be for your barrel on the 6.5 PRC? If I go with my new build I’m looking to do it will have a 1:7.5. Feel free to message me if you’d like.

 

[hereinaz]

Won’t really matter, but I would sell the ammo and go 6.5 creed for your purposes.

 

[winter993]

I shoot both quite a bit.

I use my 6.5 PRC to kill things. I use my 6.5 Creedmoor to get good at shooting all year long, compete a bit, and enjoy an awesome bolt gun.

If I were in your situation, I will suppress the 6.5prc.

 

[dreamingWest]

I went PRC. This allows me to easily mimic the typical Creedmoor performance with a short suppressor friendly barrel.

Those three letters also seem to make Fudds less nervous (annoying) on an elk hunt. Which holds value to me.

 

[airmacnair]

Great insights here, much appreciated. I think there is definitely a place for both. And when suppressed I can only imagine the recoil difference is marginal. I think the argument makes sense to have the “high CM/low PRC” velocity out of the barrel when shooting at lower elevations. Based on a quick Berger calculator and a friends numbers (also a short suppressed 6.5 cm) with the 143 Eldx you can push that out to 700 yards optimizing for min velocity of 1800 fps and at 8k feet. I live at 6k ft and do most my hunting between 8-11k feet here in Colorado. Also I will not be making any 500+ yd shots in the near future as im not that confident yet.

I guess the follow up question would be, where I will be taking the majority of my shots with a bullet like an Eldx, is it worth having the higher velocity window of 2200-2600 FPS with the prc or would the 2000-2300 fps range of the CM be just as effective? Primarily thinking about optimal bullet terminal performance.

 

[nm.otter]

Those velocities seem a bit low.

I'm getting 2,550+ FPS out of a suppressed 20" 6.5 CM (T3x Superlite) shooting factory 140/143 Hornady ammo. It's lethal to at least 600 yards (6,000' DA).

For a just-under-8-pounds (all in) package, I would not want a single foot-pound of additional recoil. 6.5 PRC adds about four.

 

[43.6N]

Welcome to Rokslide. Lots of good advice given already.
I have an 18” 65creed and a 20” 65prc.

Between the two, both are great with a suppressor. The creed is just more enjoyable for me to shoot and carry. If you’re planning a lightweight chassis, the creedmoor would be my choice.

I love analogies, so here’s one:
If these were trucks, the Creedmoor would be an f150, and the PRC would be the f250.

One makes for a more pleasant daily driver. But both get the job done

And Chevy guys will always crap all over ford owners for “choosing the wrong brand.”