6.5 PRC in 20 inch barrel

[Onehorse]

I'm interested in buying a Bergara Stoke in 6.5 PRC because it fits me perfectly. That rifle has a 20 inch barrel, and I am wondering if it will have excessive muzzle blast without a suppressor. I know that the velocity will be reduced - that's OK. Does anyone have any first-hand experience with shooting a 6.5 PRC from a barrel of this length? Thanks

 

[Glendon Mullins]

hello fellow stoke owner , just got the same gun, gimme a week or two to get to the range and i can let ya know my experience

 

[Onehorse]

hello fellow stoke owner , just got the same gun, gimme a week or two to get to the range and i can let ya know my experience

Cool! Good luck with your new rifle. I will be looking forward to your results. I am curious - what made you decide on that particular rifle?

 

[mlevimadden]

I have a 20" threaded pre-fit barrel on a tikka t3 in 6.5 PRC that I have shot with a bare muzzle and suppressed. It has a decent amount of muzzle blast with bare muzzle but nothing like shooting a braked rifle or even a bare muzzle 30 cal magnum in a traditional 24-26" barrel.

Not sure if that is helpful, but I'd be trying to install a suppressor on a 20" barrel regardless if it's legal in your state.

 

[Weldor]

I have a 20" fierce, I did not notice any more blast , shot it with the brake and without. Also mostly shoot it suppressed now. I don't think it is any thing to worry about.

 

[wwy]

I've got a stoke in 6.5 prc. Great rifle, really like it. Load work up was pretty much nonexistent, it just shoots everything. I shot it a few times when new without a can, I don't recall it being that abbrasive but it's been happily suppressed since. Everything now that isn't suppressed hits me as being pretty obnoxious so I might not be a good judge. I bought it specifically because of the short threaded barrel, and I wanted to give bergara a try.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Cool! Good luck with your new rifle. I will be looking forward to your results. I am curious - what made you decide on that particular rifle?

Well last fall i went to Montana Mule Deer hunting and carried a 6.5 creedmore Savage 110 Predator, and a savage 270 precision rifle. I knew the precision rifle was gonna be a load to carry around, but it was more my back up gun or something to use if i dont walk that far from the truck. Bu the creedmore proved to be a little heavy as well. the predator verison has 24 inch barrell and such

They both proved to be too much to carry around for miles lol. I also hunt alot with my kids and they struggled with each gun, only way they could shoot was prone.

I started looking at lighweight compact rifles, and being that I am only like 5'7 with short arms, i found that many of the compact and "lady" rifle models fit me lol. I was almost about to buy the Weatherby compact in 7mm-08 and the sales guy was like, let me show u another good one, and he handed me that stoke, and i worked the bolt and shouldered it and, i knew it was what i was looking for, i liked the weatherby, but the bolt was alot smoother on the stoke

 

[Onehorse]

Well last fall i went to Montana Mule Deer hunting and carried a 6.5 creedmore Savage 110 Predator, and a savage 270 precision rifle. I knew the precision rifle was gonna be a load to carry around, but it was more my back up gun or something to use if i dont walk that far from the truck. Bu the creedmore proved to be a little heavy as well. the predator verison has 24 inch barrell and such

They both proved to be too much to carry around for miles lol. I also hunt alot with my kids and they struggled with each gun, only way they could shoot was prone.

I started looking at lighweight compact rifles, and being that I am only like 5'7 with short arms, i found that many of the compact and "lady" rifle models fit me lol. I was almost about to buy the Weatherby compact in 7mm-08 and the sales guy was like, let me show u another good one, and he handed me that stoke, and i worked the bolt and shouldered it and, i knew it was what i was looking for, i liked the weatherby, but the bolt was alot smoother on the stoke

Thanks for the answer.
I live in Montana. Where did you hunt here, and where do you live? I'm an old-timer, so I'm always looking for lighter more comfortable rifles. My favorite hunting is for antelope - those big elk are hard to pack out. The speed goats are a lot easier to deal with after they're on the ground. (LOL)

 

[Weldor]

That's why I like the Fierce, 5 lbs and change. Mountain ascent is lightweight also. No more heavyweights for me , like others have said to much weight to carry around. Working on the Howa super light right now. At 4.6 lbs. it's amazing. Feels like a BB gun LOL.

 

[43.6N]

Hey OP, I ended up cutting my Seekins havak bravo down to 20”.
Factory 147 Hornady Match ammo chronos at 2800fps.
I worked up a load with vhitavuori N565, magnum primers, and 147 eldm that gets me 2850 with very tight groups and velocity consistency. I was able to push velocity up to low 2900’s before I ran into pressure on hot days/direct sunlight fwiw. My OAL was constrained to 2.955 due to magazine feeding.
20” is an excellent length. Muzzle blast is a non issue for my rig.