6.5prc or 243…. New Tikka conundrum.

[dchum]

I recently purchased a Trijicon Credo 2.5–15 HX and was pretty dead set on putting it on top of a Tikka T3x in 6.5 PRC.

This past week, I went out to help a buddy sight in his new 6.5 PRC (Christensen Arms Ridgeline), and the thing kicked like a mule IMO. It was way worse than expected in terms of felt recoil. We were just running a thread protector since he doesn’t have a suppressor yet. Neither of us like muzzle brakes, but we both agreed he should probably swap one on.

I’ve read that .270 Win has comparable recoil to 6.5 PRC, but I’ve never shot a .270 that felt like that. I’m guessing the ~6 lb ridline rifles just really jump. And I know the T3x is the same if not lighter.

That experience has me second guessing my T3x build completely. So much so that now .243 Win is starting to sound like a good idea. I do shoot suppressed, a 18inch 308 Bergara but I haven’t tried a 6.5 PRC with a can yet. I just know the T3x is a pretty light rifle, so maybe I need to go smaller.

Should I just get a T3x in .243 Win and call it a day?

I’m mainly concerned with elk, aoudad, and nilgai out to about 450–550 yards. That’s really it.

Help me drink the Kool-Aid

 

[Pilsner]

Why not just drop back to 6.5 creed and be done with it?
My CA MPR in 6.5 PRC was fine to shoot suppressed recoil wise but its slightly heavier than your tikka. It being a short barrel PRC yielded about the same MV as my 24" inch creedmors did so there wasn't any real performance advantage to putting up with the extra recoil.

 

[easternoregonballistics]

I would still recommend the 6.5 PRC. The recoil can be a bit stiff without any muzzle devices but with a suppressor its downright pleasant. You can always download it a bit to dampen the recoil. A 120-130 class bullet would do excellently. Ive found tikkas kick a bit more than other rifles in the same caliber. I really enjoy my one I still have but I think ill buy brownings from here on out

 

[dchum]

Why not just drop back to 6.5 creed and be done with it?
My CA MPR in 6.5 PRC was fine to shoot suppressed recoil wise but its slightly heavier than your tikka. It being a short barrel PRC yielded about the same MV as my 24" inch creedmors did so there wasn't any real performance advantage to putting up with the extra recoil.

Ya I’ve thought about just a 6.5CM,
but I feel it and my 18inch 308win would be a very redundant paring in-terms of performance.

Thank you for the food for thought. I’m lost!

 

[MCGHeel]

I recently purchased a Trijicon Credo 2.5–15 HX and was pretty dead set on putting it on top of a Tikka T3x in 6.5 PRC.

This past week, I went out to help a buddy sight in his new 6.5 PRC (Christensen Arms Ridgeline), and the thing kicked like a mule IMO. It was way worse than expected in terms of felt recoil. We were just running a thread protector since he doesn’t have a suppressor yet. Neither of us like muzzle brakes, but we both agreed he should probably swap one on.

I’ve read that .270 Win has comparable recoil to 6.5 PRC, but I’ve never shot a .270 that felt like that. I’m guessing the ~6 lb ridline rifles just really jump. And I know the T3x is the same if not lighter.

That experience has me second guessing my T3x build completely. So much so that now .243 Win is starting to sound like a good idea. I do shoot suppressed, a 18inch 308 Bergara but I haven’t tried a 6.5 PRC with a can yet. I just know the T3x is a pretty light rifle, so maybe I need to go smaller.

Should I just get a T3x in .243 Win and call it a day?

I’m mainly concerned with elk, aoudad, and nilgai out to about 450–550 yards. That’s really it.

Help me drink the Kool-Aid

Bought a t3x lite 6.5 prc about a month ago. Have it set up with maven rs1.2 and has aero lahar 30k on muzzle. Weight is almost dead nuts 10 pounds. Recoil is no problem. My BIL is pretty recoil sensitive, in fact getting rid of his 270, and he shot the 65 prc and was totally fine with it comparatively. I compare it to my unbraked 6.5 cm Bergara hmr pro weighing in around 12-13 pounds. I think for your stated goals the prc is the route to go especially if you’ll shorten the 22” barrel at all. If you said 20” 6.5 cm and under 500 yards exclusively, I’d say creedmoor


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[Chris in TN]

If I could go back 30 years I'd tell 20-year-old me to keep that .243 carbine I traded for and sell something else instead. Anything else.

I'd get the .243.

 

[Kenn]

I have a Tikka 6.5 PRC, 6.5CM, 243 and a .270. The .270 and PRC both have B&C stocks and upgraded recoil pads. The PRC kicks less than the .270 and is well within my comfort range. It was initially a .300 WM which got more intolerable the older I got so I rebarrelled it. I won't use a brake, but I recently added a Banish Backcountry suppressor and that made it more comfortable, but not a dramatic change. As far as comfort though, hard to beat a .243.

 

[dchum]

I have a Tikka 6.5 PRC, 6.5CM, 243 and a .270. The .270 and PRC both have B&C stocks and upgraded recoil pads. The PRC kicks less than the .270 and is well within my comfort range. It was initially a .300 WM which got more intolerable the older I got so I rebarrelled it. I won't use a brake, but I recently added a Banish Backcountry suppressor and that made it more comfortable, but not a dramatic change. As far as comfort though, hard to beat a .243.

That is valuable insight. I never considered myself recoil sensitive but that was an interesting range session,
I think I just got accustomed to Supressed shooting.

Yes but now I’m thinking of the pluses of a Supressed full weight 243. Maybe see what all this “spotting impact on animals” is all about! Ha.

Thanks for your comment and insight.

 

[nm.otter]

6mm Creedmoors are coming soon...

 

[MuleyFever]

Its interesting reading your experience. I shot a 6.5 PRC for the first time last weekend and was surprised how mild the recoil was. It was a Seekins which I think is about 7lbs bare and was suppressed.

 

[dchum]

It’s interesting reading your experience. I shot a 6.5 PRC for the first time last weekend and was surprised how mild the recoil was. It was a Seekins which I think is about 7lbs bare and was suppressed.

Yes, it was very surprising to me more than anything.

Ive shot 375H&H model 70 just fine and my favorite gun is a very svelte Ruger #1 in 30/06 shooting 180gr. That’s been on two trips with me to Namibia.

This Ridgeline was just jumpy as all get out.
Seems if it would have been Supressed with a decent weighted can my experience would have been vastly different and a T3x would probably be on its way to my FFL as we speak.

But that was not the case.

 

[dchum]

6mm Creedmoors are coming soon...

Now that is interesting,
the 20inch 1-8twsit 243 is calling my name. But I was curious is 108 eld-m would fit in mag etc.

 

[benconfused]

T3x 6.5prc 24' + Rokstok and OG65. Very noticeable difference when adding the suppressor. Smoothed the recoil out and I could immediately tell. Without the suppressor recoil is still manageable IMO, but it's all subjective. For ref, I'm 5'9, 180

 

[MCGHeel]

That is valuable insight. I never considered myself recoil sensitive but that was an interesting range session,
I think I just got accustomed to Supressed shooting.

Yes but now I’m thinking of the pluses of a Supressed full weight 243. Maybe see what all this “spotting impact on animals” is all about! Ha.

Thanks for your comment and insight.

I can “almost” spot impacts at the 150-200 yard range at about 6-8x zoom with the 6.5 prc. At 4 should be doable. Hits were definitely in scope field of view, just at the bottom. This wasn’t possible before I added the suppressor


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[Flymost]

I have 2, a stock 24” and a suppressed 20” (zg). The stock prc has a noticeably larger kick than the suppressed. The 20” suppressed is quite mild.

 

[nm.otter]

the 20inch 1-8twsit 243 is calling my name. But I was curious is 108 eld-m would fit in mag etc.

Plenty of relevant discussion here -- it's doable, but 116s are going to be tough.

The Creedmoors that briefly appeared on Sako's site a few weeks back were 1:7.5" twist (SAAMI spec).

 

[swavescatter]

My son killed a big ol fat cow elk this winter with my 243 loaded with 108's. Nearly perfect seating depth and above 1800fps past 750yds. 18" barrel, T3X blued 1:8 twist. One shot at 440yds and went 10yds

 

[Steve300xcw]

I can get closer than 450-550 so that has never been a concern.

That said, a 243 is never a bad choice