6.5 PRC/SAUM shortest barrel length

Joined
Mar 7, 2024
Messages
29
Current build is a 6.5PRC or SAUM built with the following:

ARC CDG short action
TT primary
MDT HNT26 folder
Atlas Bipod
ATACR 7-35 (MOA for all you haters)
TBAC Ultra 9 (compensating for something)
H1000
Hornady 143gr ELD-X
Hornady once fired brass (will probably buy Lapua)

I’m not settled on barrel length yet. I’ve seen some run down to 18” with good performance. Looking for some of you guys with experience in your builds. I’d like to shoot out to a mile. Shoot coyotes out to 1000. Shoot deer and elk out to 800.
 

WyOwen

FNG
Joined
Nov 9, 2021
Messages
29
6.5 prc - 18” barrel- 450 rounds down the tube- 156 Eol, ADG brass, wlrm primer, 59 gr or retumbo, Loaded to max mag length- 2909 fps -



Did not mess with any other bullets or powders with this rifle as I got everything I wanted with this load.

I have better tools for a mile, I know the bullet would get there tho.

Killed a bull elk at 739yards, and a cow elk at 584yards this season. Both only took one shot. Died quickly
 
OP
O
Joined
Mar 7, 2024
Messages
29
I have a 21” 6.5SAUM Improved.

144 Berger LRHT/H1000 3100fps.

Have shot to a mile. 14.5 MIL at 8000’ DA.

I don’t know what the MOA conversion is because MOA is gay. 😁
“Improved” meaning you had the throat milled for extra case length?

MOGay huh?! Haha
 

hereinaz

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Messages
3,713
Location
Arizona
I can shoot all sorts of stuff to a mile, but what is your expectation for precision?

Have you looked at a ballistic calculator for typical wind drift in your area?

My 22 BR with 80 grain ELDm bullets is still going fast enough out to 950 to initiate expansion and kill coyotes, but it will drift a lot.

To shoot to a mile, you have to find a bullet and velocity at your environmental conditions—temp, pressure, humidity and see if the bullet is still supersonic. My 22 BR won’t do it without going subsonic first. Some bullets handle the transonic phase better than others.

A friend’s 22 inch 6.5 PRC rifle with factory loads is transonic at the same distance as my 22 BR, about 1200-1300 yards at the lower elevation we are at the range.

To shoot a mile, and have bullets supersonic, you usually need to squeeze all the velocity possible from the barrel length. Or be shooting in hot temperatures at high elevations.

The short rifle movement is fine for any typical hunting range, but the mile shot will suffer without the velocity.
 
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