6.5 creedmoor or 6.5prc

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

At that point, why not get a 270, 280AI, or 7mm RM?

Have you looked at the numbers? They have a hell of a lot more in common.

6.5 PRC will give you less recoil than the 270 Win, 280 AI, and 7mm RM. Not a big deal for the He-Men of Rokslide but in the real world, recoil does impact folks' ability to shoot accurately.

Using “comparable” ammo (ex: commercial Federal Terminal Ascent)...

• 6.5 PRC
  • 130 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/2598 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 825 yards
• 270 Win
  • 136 gr bulet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/2718 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 785 yards
• 280 AI
  • 155 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 2930 fps/2955 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 895 yards
• 7mm RM
  • 155 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/3097 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 910 yards

For most hunting scenarios, it does not matter which of these you use.

 

[Unckebob]

Have you looked at the numbers? They have a hell of a lot more in common.

6.5 PRC will give you less recoil than the 270 Win, 280 AI, and 7mm RM. Not a big deal for the He-Men of Rokslide but in the real world, recoil does impact folks' ability to shoot accurately.

Using “comparable” ammo (ex: commercial Federal Terminal Ascent)...

• 6.5 PRC
  • 130 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/2598 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 825 yards
• 270 Win
  • 136 gr bulet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/2718 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 785 yards
• 280 AI
  • 155 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 2930 fps/2955 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 895 yards
• 7mm RM
  • 155 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/3097 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 910 yards

For most hunting scenarios, it does not matter which of these you use.

I cannot speak from experience to the recoil of the 6.5PRC but I understand it to be similar a 270 with rifle weight and load selection the major differentiators.

Rifle Recoil Table: Recoil Energy, Velocity and Level | Sportsman's Warehouse

A rifle recoil table and guide to rifle recoil energy, recoil velocity and recoil score

www.sportsmans.com

- If that is true, I would rather have the flexibility to fire heavier bullets (when needed) with the 270/280 class rifle. With the 6.5PRC, those heavy loads aren't an option. Basically, I think the 6.5PRC is too much for a deer cartridge and too little for a big game cartridge.

 

[swavescatter]

Basically, I think the 6.5PRC is too much for a deer cartridge and too little for a big game cartridge.

Uhhh… so only extra medium size game then???

 

[swavescatter]

Basically, I think the 6.5PRC is too much for a deer cartridge and too little for a big game cartridge.

Uhhh… so only extra medium size game then???

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I cannot speak from experience to the recoil of the 6.5PRC but I understand it to be similar a 270 with rifle weight and load selection the major differentiators.

Rifle Recoil Table: Recoil Energy, Velocity and Level | Sportsman's Warehouse

A rifle recoil table and guide to rifle recoil energy, recoil velocity and recoil score

www.sportsmans.com

- If that is true, I would rather have the flexibility to fire heavier bullets (when needed) with the 270/280 class rifle. With the 6.5PRC, those heavy loads aren't an option. Basically, I think the 6.5PRC is too much for a deer cartridge and too little for a big game cartridge.

Use what works for you.

I know that in my 6.5 PRC (bone stock Savage Ultralight) the 156 gr Bergers hit 1800 fps @ 1090 yards and were accurate. But they got bested by the 147 gr ELD-M which hit 1800 fps @ 1120 yards and produced even better accuracy than the Bergers. This is with handloads on a specific rifle.

It's all good and it is great to have options.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Uhhh… so only extra medium size game then???

Marginal for infant cottontail.

 

[swavescatter]

Marginal for infant cottontail.

True. I had to do a mag dump on a juvenile jackrabbit.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

CM

 

[woods89]

Have you looked at the numbers? They have a hell of a lot more in common.

6.5 PRC will give you less recoil than the 270 Win, 280 AI, and 7mm RM. Not a big deal for the He-Men of Rokslide but in the real world, recoil does impact folks' ability to shoot accurately.

Using “comparable” ammo (ex: commercial Federal Terminal Ascent)...

• 6.5 PRC
  • 130 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/2598 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 825 yards
• 270 Win
  • 136 gr bulet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/2718 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 785 yards
• 280 AI
  • 155 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 2930 fps/2955 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 895 yards
• 7mm RM
  • 155 gr bullet
  • Muzzle: 3000 fps/3097 ft-lbs
  • 1800 fps threshold: 910 yards

For most hunting scenarios, it does not matter which of these you use.

If you want to extend range as far as possible, there are definitely advantages to heavier bullets than 130s in 6.5mm. My Creedmoor, with 156 Bergers at 2650, hits 1800 fps above 700 yds at elevation.
There are good reasons to shoot 130-140 gr bullets, no doubt, but at some point BC does its thing.

Edited to add- Saw your posts further down, looks like you have personal experience with this.

 

[Formidilosus]

Form, I'd be curious to know your take on the OP's question ...

Frank is touting the 6.5 PRC as a better hunting option, but acknowledges that he doesn't hunt much.

Having seen the evidence here for the Creed, I'm with the OP in not being sure what the contexts would be, if any, that would warrant the PRC 'in real life'.

The creedmoor recoils less, with wind drift so similar that no human can call it- exact same MPH bracket for same bullet at real MV’s at 600 yards, and 1 MPH higher for the 6.5 PRC at 800 yards (5k DA). Hit rates are higher from what I see from 0-600+/- yards with the 6.5 CM due to people shooting them more, and shooting them better. I would actually choose a 6mm such as the 6CM as hit (kill) rates are even higher.

The deal is that so few people have the ability to shoot and recover game in mountainous environments on demand at 600+ yards, that I don’t give much credence to it. Anyone that legitimately has the on demand ability of consistently killing and recovering game at 600+ yards in broken terrain will not need to ask what they should be shooting.

 

[Dobermann]

Anyone that legitimately has the on demand ability of consistently killing and recovering game at 600+ yards in broken terrain will not need to ask what they should be shooting.

Thanks Form.

Willing to admit that I don't ... which is why I asked!

 

[Formidilosus]

Thanks Form.

Willing to admit that I don't ... which is why I asked!

Haha. Fair enough. While it is 180° from almost all that is written and talked about, everything I see is that less recoil is better than more. I’m averaging around 12-14 elk that I shoot, or that I spot for shot a year now. Plus at least that many deer. As well and antelope, bear, etc. That’s on top of serious number of animals shot in the last couple of decades.

I have seen no difference in elk reaction or time to incapacitation between large magnums and various 22, 24, and 26cals. That’s from very close range to 994 yards. But there is a clear difference in how many rodeos the little guns don’t create, versus the ones that happen with big ones.

 

[woods89]

The creedmoor recoils less, with wind drift so similar that no human can call it- exact same MPH bracket for same bullet at real MV’s at 600 yards, and 1 MPH higher for the 6.5 PRC at 800 yards (5k DA). Hit rates are higher from what I see from 0-600+/- yards with the 6.5 CM due to people shooting them more, and shooting them better. I would actually choose a 6mm such as the 6CM as hit (kill) rates are even higher.

The deal is that so few people have the ability to shoot and recover game in mountainous environments on demand at 600+ yards, that I don’t give much credence to it. Anyone that legitimately has the on demand ability of consistently killing and recovering game at 600+ yards in broken terrain will not need to ask what they should be shooting.

Your last paragraph is spot on, in my less than expert opinion. The slice of people competent enough to be effective beyond 600 does exist, and I know an example or two, but it's a pretty small slice. Some wind blasted ridge at 10,000 ft is a completely different scenario than the comfortable environment of the 'net.

The only scenario where I might pick the PRC is if I had to shoot monos, and needed lots of velocity. Thank goodness I don't have to......

 

[woods89]

Thanks Form.

Willing to admit that I don't ... which is why I asked!

I'll freely admit the same !

 

[Unckebob]

Today, I was at Cabelas picking up 30-06 ammo for dad's rifle. 5 loads to pick from.

There were tons of options for 6.5CM, 308, 270, & 7RM. Basically, the old faithfuls + the CM. There must have been 10 options for the 6.5 CM.

Not available: 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, 6.8 Western. The huters shooting them are SOL for deer season unless they reload or can find it online.

 

[SwiftShot]

Today, I was at Cabelas picking up 30-06 ammo for dad's rifle. 5 loads to pick from.

There were tons of options for 6.5CM, 308, 270, & 7RM. Basically, the old faithfuls + the CM. There must have been 10 options for the 6.5 CM.

Not available: 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, 6.8 Western. The huts shooting them are SOL for deer season unless they reload or can find it online.

The big box here has tons of the 6.8 Western. I don't think they have ever got any more, it just has never sold and they have cases of the crap.

 

[General RE LEE]

Bump for a good thread. I sent my Bergara 6.5 PRC back for warranty work but my faithful Tikka T3 X 6.5 Creedmoor shoots hand loaded 143 ELD-X sub MOA at 2725 fps. Sometimes I wonder why I even bought the PRC. I’ve dropped several deer on the spot with the 6.5 Creedmoor and not sure what advantage if any the 6.5 PRC would of had.

 

[Ikmclean]

Another vote for creedmore, and if you find that you want to shoot longer distance or larger game in a couple years add a 7prc down the road

 

[Mad_Martin]

I know this isn't my thread, although where does the 6.5 RPM stand with these 2 cartridges?

 

[Longleaf]

Bump for a good thread. I sent my Bergara 6.5 PRC back for warranty work but my faithful Tikka T3 X 6.5 Creedmoor shoots hand loaded 143 ELD-X sub MOA at 2725 fps. Sometimes I wonder why I even bought the PRC. I’ve dropped several deer on the spot with the 6.5 Creedmoor and not sure what advantage if any the 6.5 PRC would of had.

I keep running into pressure signs with my PRC and have a hard time finding different powders to try (2900 w/ 140s) . I keep going back to my bergara 18” CM shooting 130 vld at 2800, the PRC really doesn’t have much advantage for me in the whitetail woods.