6.5 PRC Build - Planning Advice

[lovetohunt93]

I have been toying with the idea of building a 6.5 PRC, likely on one of the Zermatt actions. I have done a lot of reading on this and see people have been building them on short, medium, and long actions (with mag spacer). Some people say the shorts work just fine, while others say the 6.5 PRC feeds better in a long action. Any advice here on what might be the "most correct way"? It is worth noting that I do not reload, and likely will only be shooting factory ammo. I would like to stay away from the medium actions if possible to have more stock options.

Also, this will likely be on the Zermatt Origin action. If someone thinks it is worth while stepping up to the TL3 or SR3 please let me know. This will be mainly a hunting rifle and occasionally targets/steel.

I plan to use a 24" barrel to get the most speed benefit out of the PRC. Most of my hunting shots are under 350 yards so the Creed would likely do well for me too. I just like the thought of the PRC having a little more speed.

Thanks!

 

[Firestone]

Short works fine for the ones I have done

 

[wpeach1912]

Short action will be fine. Factory ammo is going to be loaded to SAAMI spec which is for short action. The origin will work great. It doesn’t make sense stepping up to a TL3. If you’re going to pay more, get an impact NBK or a Lone Peak Fuzion Alpine Cut. An 18-20” PRC will do what you need too.

 

[dkim]

I have a SR3 long action and an Origin short action. The same prefit can be used on both (the SR3 has to be a long action). I have used the long action with the Hawkins Hunter DBM system with a mag box spacer and it works fine. I handload and the max OAL using some bullets exceeds what a short action magazine can accommodate. Right now the barrel is on the short action Origin and it feeds fine too. I am in the process of developing loads for it that are a bit shorter than what I used when the barrel was on the SR3.

If you only will use factory ammo, then the short Origin will be fine. If you handload and want more flexibility in load development a long action or medium action length may be preferred.

 

[lovetohunt93]

I have a SR3 long action and an Origin short action. The same prefit can be used on both (the SR3 has to be a long action). I have used the long action with the Hawkins Hunter DBM system with a mag box spacer and it works fine. I handload and the max OAL using some bullets exceeds what a short action magazine can accommodate. Right now the barrel is on the short action Origin and it feeds fine too. I am in the process of developing loads for it that are a bit shorter than what I used when the barrel was on the SR3.

If you only will use factory ammo, then the short Origin will be fine. If you handload and want more flexibility in load development a long action or medium action length may be preferred.

You mentioned the SR3 has to be a long action, could you please explain why?

I will likely be using a Hawkins Hunter DBM on whatever action I decide on. I used that on a build last year and really like it.

 

[dkim]

The barrel tenon specs for the SR3, TL3 long actions are the same as the Origin (which have the same specs for the short,medium, and long actions). See https://www.zermattarms.com/?page_id=3435

I think the differences in the SR3, TL3 long and short/medium actions is because of a magazine accommodation in the TL3 short action, but I could be wrong about that. I think I heard that on Hornady podcast #201.

 

[dkim]

If you wanted to you could run a 6.5 PRC barrel on a SR3/TL3 short or medium action, but that barrel could not directly be used on an origin short action.

 

[dkim]

I hope I'm not confusing the crap out of you because I may be getting confused myself!

 

[Azhunter10]

I built mine a Terminus Zues LA QC and I have zero feeding issues from a CIP length long action.

I’m running the Berger 156s

 

[lovetohunt93]

I hope I'm not confusing the crap out of you because I may be getting confused myself!

Yeah that all makes sense, thank you!