Sako S20 6.5PRC Testing

[grfox92]

I wish there was more stock options for these rifles.

I wonder how much it would cost have a blank from Mcmillan inletted.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

 

[Lowhighlander]

@swavescatter have you measured any of your fired brass? I used a headspace comparator and my fired brass only grew .005-.0010. Wondered if the chamber was tight or just the thicker Norma brass didn’t move much after one firing

 

[Brucebarker024]

I was getting 2800 fps out of my 18" creed suppressed with handloads.

Hopefully Beretta can get me taken care of and handloads can wake it up.

I’m only getting 2500 from a 20 inch tikka in 6.5 creed with handloaded 147s. What’s your load?

 

[swavescatter]

I’m only getting 2500 from a 20 inch tikka in 6.5 creed with handloaded 147s. What’s your load?

It was… crunchy. No pressure signs though but right at the edge. Also not a tikka so add a free hundred fps.

 

[swavescatter]

@swavescatter have you measured any of your fired brass? I used a headspace comparator and my fired brass only grew .005-.0010. Wondered if the chamber was tight or just the thicker Norma brass didn’t move much after one firing

Only measured one of each.

Norma grew 1.5 thou
Hornady Match grew 3 thou
Hornady ELDX grew 1 thou

 

[swavescatter]

Just measured once fired Norma brass from my Fierce Reaper that had a verified FUBARd barrel and wouldn’t chamber factory Hornady.

Norma brass grew 2.5 thou in that

 

[Brucebarker024]

It was… crunchy. No pressure signs though but right at the edge. Also not a tikka so add a free hundred fps.

Copy haha. The tikka barrel is definitely a hindrance plus the alpha brass also slows me down.

 

[Bama67]

Man I gotta say I would be bummed if I jumped up to a heavier, harder kicking, PRC and loads came out at the same speed as they do my 18" Kimber 6.5 CM.
Guess hand loading the PRC is the way to go.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

Copy haha. The tikka barrel is definitely a hindrance plus the alpha brass also slows me down.

Tikka barrels aren't slow.

 

[swavescatter]

Well I chopped a couple inches off and added a suppressor - looks like I only lost about 35 fps muzzle velocity with the Norma.



I lost about 20 fps with 147gr ELD Match and 43 fps with the ELDX factory ammos. Swapped out scopes to my ATACR. Heavy little rig now...

 

[DisplacedHusky]

Well I chopped a couple inches off and added a suppressor - looks like I only lost about 35 fps muzzle velocity with the Norma.

View attachment 695560

I lost about 20 fps with 147gr ELD Match and 43 fps with the ELDX factory ammos. Swapped out scopes to my ATACR. Heavy little rig now...

View attachment 695562

How many inches did you cut off and were those numbers total fps lost or fps lost per inch removed?

 

[swavescatter]

About 2"but I didn't measure exactly, just in front of the flutes.

Total fps lost, not per inch, but I wasn't using my suppressor initially. So likely what you would expect apples to apples (25 fps/inch)...

 

[swavescatter]

Pretty good group, right? Top hole was last shot.

I'd say it's extremely promising, considering this was a load workup with N565 using Large and Magnum primers (156gr Berger EOL) all in one string...

 

[Jimss]

Those are impressive groups from a factory rifle!

My son and I bought 3 of the s20’s. A 6.5 PRC, 30 06, and 300 win mag. My favorite of all of them may surprise you. It’s the 300 win! I put an Area 419 sidewinder muzzlebreak on it and it kicks less than the PRC. It also shoots super tight groups. My son shot a mtn goat with the 300 win at 240 yards and the goat dropped in his tracks!

The drop of the PRC at 400 yards with a 140ish grain bullet is 7” more than a 150 grain 300 win bullet. The PRC also travels approximately 400 fps slower at 400 yards.

I think you can see why I chose the 300 win vs PRC as my favorite!

 

[Loco4dux]

@swavescatter I’d be interested in the total weight of your set up as well

 

[swavescatter]

With my big ATACR on there it’s probably 11-12lbs. Not a backcountry rifle setup for sure.

 

[Loco4dux]

Tradeoffs… they’re still on there for 1,099. Very tempted.

 

[wind gypsy]

Pretty good group, right? Top hole was last shot.
View attachment 779488
I'd say it's extremely promising, considering this was a load workup with N565 using Large and Magnum primers (156gr Berger EOL) all in one string...

View attachment 779489

“My node is 58.0-59.2 with x primer and 58.0-59.0 with the other primer”

Impressive group! Small sample size but the consistent velocity step up with magnum primers seems like a preferable outcome.

 

[swavescatter]

“My node is 58.0-59.2 with x primer and 58.0-59.0 with the other primer”

Impressive group! Small sample size but the consistent velocity step up with magnum primers seems like a preferable outcome.

Sako S20 don’t care

 

[swavescatter]

Switched to the precision stock, shortened the trigger reach (maybe too short now) and lightened up the trigger pull (maybe too light).


Decided to load up 59.0 grains of N565 with 10 each FED210M and FED215M. Battling mirage bad as the session went on. Sun was shining directly at the objective too. Rough...



Large rifle primers were not surprising, but I should be able to tighten that up if I could see the target better (was kind of in a hurry).



Magnum primers weren't too bad, but I shot them 2nd and mirage was much worse. The shot to the right I'm not counting as it was pretty much an accidental discharge. I was adjusting slightly while coming out of the scope but finger bumped the trigger (was going to let mirage bleed off).

Only surprise is the increased velocity from Magnum Primers. Could be from hot chamber? It was cooler outside than my initial load workup (though those are single shot).