6.5prc or 243…. New Tikka conundrum.

[UnckleBob]

What does a 6.5 PRC really give you that your 308 cannot handle?

Maybe a little flatter trajectory (we have laser rangefinders to solve for that)?

Maybe a little more range? Realistically, are you (and should you) going to be shooting animals out past the range of you 308?

Maybe a little less wind drift? Is that even an issue where you hunt and how you hunt?

If those factors don't tell you that you need a 6.5 PRC, do not buy one.

Clearly, you want to buy a new rifle (who doesn't on this forum?)
- For non-handloaders, the coming 6CM Tikka offers the most performance.
- For handloaders, the 1-8 Twist Tikka 243 gets you to pretty much the same performance as the 6CM. I loaded up some 103's and 108's without even worrying about mag length.
- For everyone, the 243 has abundant, cheaper factory ammo than the 6CM ... and not by a little bit.

 

[nm.otter]

the 243 has abundant, cheaper factory ammo than the 6CM ... and not by a little bit.

...as long as you don't want to shoot slugs over 100 grains:

.243 Win Ammo grains(101-120)

In-stock best prices for 243 Win Ammo grains(101-120) | Cheap 243 Win Ammunition grains(101-120) - AmmoSeek.com

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6mm Creedmoor Ammo grains(101-120)

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[199p]

20" suppressed 6.5prc is a great combo

 

[UnckleBob]

...as long as you don't want to shoot slugs over 100 grains:

.243 Win Ammo grains(101-120)

In-stock best prices for 243 Win Ammo grains(101-120) | Cheap 243 Win Ammunition grains(101-120) - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

6mm Creedmoor Ammo grains(101-120)

In-stock best prices for 6mm Creedmoor Ammo grains(101-120) | Best 6mm Creedmoor Ammunition grains(101-120) - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

Do you think a deer or antelope cares if it is shot with a 103/108 Eld or any of bullets that people have been killing animals with 243's for the past 71 years?

There are 66 243 loads available on MidwayUSA today. 32 loads have projectiles 90g or higher. I can go to any local ammo store and find 243 multiple loads in stock for killing game.

So far, I have only found 6CM on the shelves at Bass Pro and Scheels. Academy won't have any on the shelf. My LGS won't have any.

 

[coyotekilla]

...as long as you don't want to shoot slugs over 100 grains:

.243 Win Ammo grains(101-120)

In-stock best prices for 243 Win Ammo grains(101-120) | Cheap 243 Win Ammunition grains(101-120) - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

6mm Creedmoor Ammo grains(101-120)

In-stock best prices for 6mm Creedmoor Ammo grains(101-120) | Best 6mm Creedmoor Ammunition grains(101-120) - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

The killing-ist little 6mm bullets is, 85gr sierra hpgk. Others work, 87 vmax, 100 soft point, but my odds on favorite, that 85 hp.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

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.

Yes. Get an M+ magazine.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

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

What makes you say that? Plenty of folks are successfully using 116-grain TMKs in Tikka .243s with 1:8” twist factory barrels and M+ magazines.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

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

I’d get the .243 Tikka T3X 1:8” twist, 20” factory threaded barrel. It’s a great choice. I got mine in stainless steel, but I consider that a preference, not a necessity.

With an M+ magazine, you can load any bullet you want out to ~2.95” and get excellent results from the new Sierra TMKs. Here’s a typical group with my 116-grain load.

The 116-grain TMK going ~2760 FPS is more than enough for anything in North America to further out than I expect to shoot at any animal. Where I hunt, at 3000 feet of elevation, it’s carrying 1800 FPS well past 700 yards.

Add on an OG 6.5 or 6-S or something similar and go kill.

With that said, if you want a 6.5 PRC because it adds inches to your prick (that’s what PRC stands for), then go for it. My friend’s son has one and it’s a nice rifle. It kicks about like a .270 of the same weight. I just don’t need a rifle that carries out past 800 yards. Not when I can get to 750 with less recoil.

 

[TradLife406]

6 UM.
But a fast twist 243 would be slick.

My 6.5 PRC was 12lb so the recoil was mild.

Euro has some fast twist 243's in stock.

 

[sdupontjr]

Keep the 308 and use the money you were going to spend on a new rifle, spend it on a suppressor. I was a 7mag shooter since my father bought it for me back in the early 90's. I still shoot it from time to time, but the pounding on my shoulder, like you mentioned, I couldn't take it anymore. Picked up a T3 308 and it still kicks pretty good. Installed a limb-saver and just recently had my barrel cut to 16" to install a Nomad Ti xc. I was surprised how much the suppressor reduced recoil. Personally, as others mentioned, what can the 6.5 CM do at those ranges that you can't already do with the 308? I'd keep what you have and install a good suppressor and go shoot stuff.

 

[dchum]

Keep the 308 and use the money you were going to spend on a new rifle, spend it on a suppressor. I was a 7mag shooter since my father bought it for me back in the early 90's. I still shoot it from time to time, but the pounding on my shoulder, like you mentioned, I couldn't take it anymore. Picked up a T3 308 and it still kicks pretty good. Installed a limb-saver and just recently had my barrel cut to 16" to install a Nomad Ti xc. I was surprised how much the suppressor reduced recoil. Personally, as others mentioned, what can the 6.5 CM do at those ranges that you can't already do with the 308? I'd keep what you have and install a good suppressor and go shoot stuff.


View attachment 1062145

I have a suppressor. Sorry if that was not clear

That is a nice rig you have there!

 

[flyfisher117]

Do you think a deer or antelope cares if it is shot with a 103/108 Eld or any of bullets that people have been killing animals with 243's for the past 71 years?

There are 66 243 loads available on MidwayUSA today. 32 loads have projectiles 90g or higher. I can go to any local ammo store and find 243 multiple loads in stock for killing game.

So far, I have only found 6CM on the shelves at Bass Pro and Scheels. Academy won't have any on the shelf. My LGS won't have any.

Meanwhile locally I can’t find anything for .243 maybe a box or two of superformance Vmax. 6 Creed I can find on every local shelf. Including my farm and ranch store.




OP get the .243. They’re fun to shoot. Maybe a softer recoil pad on the 6.5 PRC would make it a bit more fun to shoot though.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Meanwhile locally I can’t find anything for .243 maybe a box or two of superformance Vmax. 6 Creed I can find on every local shelf. Including my farm and ranch store.

Hell ya never know anymore. I was surprised how few places had 30-30 ammo last deer season. Not much reason to buy ammo locally anymore IMO

 

[ckt3]

I wouldn’t get a 6.5 PRC unless I needed those ballistics, which I doubt many people do. With the bullets I shoot and the ranges I hunt and target shoot, smaller cartridges with less recoil and cheaper components suffice. I wouldn’t be getting much more value out of a 6.5 PRC but I’d be paying the recoil, components, and barrel life tax.

 

[hereinaz]

.243 1/8 twist and be done… or wait till the 6 creed come.

 

[nm.otter]

Almost here https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/will-tikka-come-out-with-a-6-cm-soon.333184/post-4684714

 

[Castle Rock]

Just sold my PRC and gone back to 243 as my serious hunting rifle