6.5 prc max oal custom actions Sa vs medium action

[DroptineNW]

I’m looking into running a 6.5 prc. I was going to rock a new mdt crbn stock with a sa action. Thinking of doing the defiance anti x sa 75 throw. Proof 6.5 prc prefit barrel. Run Acis mdt mags with no front plate. I want to have the option to rock 156 Berger’s or eldms. I’m a speed guy so I prefer more the better. I also want to use this rifle for nrl hunter matches and transition into seasons with the same setup. Will I want to look into a xm or even a la option for those bullets? Can I get away with the sa? I want to run the crbn stock but it’s only available in sa. Otherwise I would run a peak 44 or Rokstock. I want a full length arca rail. There is also a xlr where I can just get a xm+ anti x. I could do tikka sa or la(not to much knowledge on tikkas.) I’m trying to get into the smaller bullet world for all my stuff is 7prc or bigger.
I want to maximize this round as best I can and need some help on if the sa will be enough or not. Thank you guys for your recommendations or thoughts. I’m likely overthinking this.

 

[Nicodez]

6.5 PRC can be done in short action. But to “maximize” the cartridge it should be ran in a medium action.

Ran a PRC for NRL Hunter in a short action with Berger 144s and had no issues. Loading for 156s will be challenging due to the bullet design. I found that 156s didn’t like to jump more than .050

 

[longrangelead]

My reamer is cut w/.140" freebore that allows 156's seated to 2.95" coal.
That's about as long as you need and puts the boat tail at the neck/shoulder.
The Bat Vesper S will run 3" if you use UM bottom/mags.

 

[wapitispokes]

I think the UM Bottom metal & mags matched with the Vesper S (or Defiance Anti-X SA) allows a max COAL of 3.15. Referencing longrangelead's comment above, that would give you LOTS of cushion vs. his 2.95" COAL with 156 bullets. (I'm assuming if the max COAL with the Vesper S and UM BM is 3.15, you probably shouldn't plan to load longer than 3.05 to 3.10.)

But, if it were me, and I was building the rifle you described, and the stock I wanted could be purchased in the medium action inlet, I'd go medium action without a second thought. You would have more room for forward compatibility with other cartridges. Such as 7 SAUM, and I believe you could go 7 PRC with the medium action in the future. Perhaps there are 6.5 variants in that length range. After all, you will be using a magnum bolt face. And with the medium action you would have the option to seat bullets well above the neck shoulder JXN. As an added bonus, if the rifle is built around a M action, you wouldn't stress about whether or not your chosen cartridge/bullet combo would work well in Hawkins SA bottom metal that is marketed as having a max COAL of about 2.95" (working from memory).

There have been some suggestionsI that the UM bottom metal and mags may not function as well as Hawkins, but I really haven't heard / read much on that front. Also, the mags protrude more from the bottom of the UM bottom metal, vs the Hawkins. Maybe @longrangelead or others have experience with UM bottom metal vs Hawkins M5.

I'm somewhat up to speed on this topic because I am in the early stages of a SA 7 SAUM build using either standard short action bottom metal or UM bottom metal. I would have gone Medium action but the Manners folding stock that I selected is not made to fit a medium action - and will not be anytime soon. So, my stock forced me into either SA or LA, and between those two I choose SA.

I am not an expert, but my research has suggested that a 6.5 PRC with heavy bullets seated above the neck shoulder jxn has about the same COAL as a 7 SAUM with 175/180's. Maybe the PRC is a few thou shorter ...