Notorious BEN
FNG
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2025
- Messages
- 23
I'm interested in getting a 6.5 PRC with a 24" barrel. I've started hand loading and so I'm not so worried about factory ammo cost and availabliity per se.
As I debate my choice on a PRC, I found comments on barrel heating occuring faster and remembered that the last time I was at the range, there was a guy shotting a rifle with a carbon barrel in 7mm PRC having to wait 5 minutes between shots because the barrel heat would affect his point of impact otherwise.
And I realize the 7mm PRC also has a bigger case capacity than a 6.5 PRC.
I currently am working on a load for my 243 and I have a Chamber Chiller. I set a timer for 2 minutes to leave the chiller in and it does a good job of getting the barrel cooled off enough between shots that I don't feel like barrel heat is a factor in load development.
So in my thinking of 6.5 PRC, does anyone have an idea of how fast a barrel would heat up and the time for waiting between shots in comparison to another cartridge in the 308 family (including the 6.5 Creedmoor) and also how it would compare to something in the 30-06 family like a .270?
Different powder capacities but it's also comparing a short action magnum in the 6.5 PRC to an overbore sub-magnum in the 243. But then again the 243 has similar powder capacity to a 6.5 Creedmoor and the 7mm-08. Then you move up in powder capacity with something like a .270 or even the different versions of the .280 but in a longer case and how does that affect barrel heating versus the 6.5 PRC.
Nothing wrong with any of the cartridges listed, just curious if anyone has looked into that or has experience.
As I debate my choice on a PRC, I found comments on barrel heating occuring faster and remembered that the last time I was at the range, there was a guy shotting a rifle with a carbon barrel in 7mm PRC having to wait 5 minutes between shots because the barrel heat would affect his point of impact otherwise.
And I realize the 7mm PRC also has a bigger case capacity than a 6.5 PRC.
I currently am working on a load for my 243 and I have a Chamber Chiller. I set a timer for 2 minutes to leave the chiller in and it does a good job of getting the barrel cooled off enough between shots that I don't feel like barrel heat is a factor in load development.
So in my thinking of 6.5 PRC, does anyone have an idea of how fast a barrel would heat up and the time for waiting between shots in comparison to another cartridge in the 308 family (including the 6.5 Creedmoor) and also how it would compare to something in the 30-06 family like a .270?
Different powder capacities but it's also comparing a short action magnum in the 6.5 PRC to an overbore sub-magnum in the 243. But then again the 243 has similar powder capacity to a 6.5 Creedmoor and the 7mm-08. Then you move up in powder capacity with something like a .270 or even the different versions of the .280 but in a longer case and how does that affect barrel heating versus the 6.5 PRC.
Nothing wrong with any of the cartridges listed, just curious if anyone has looked into that or has experience.
