What Caliber For PRS Style Matches

[Justin Crossley]

I'm going to put together a short action Tikka for some local PRS-type matches. The rifle is currently a .243, and I'll probably just shoot it until the barrel is shot.

I would like to order the replacement barrel and start to gather components in the meantime. So, what would you go with and why?

 

[Travis Bertrand]

I’ll send you an essay I did for a class assignment on this very topic! Heading to a match right now but will when I get home


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[B23]

Are you wanting to stay 6mm but looking for something different then another 243? If so, the 6mm CM or 6x47 Lapua are good choices. If you want to go 6.5 those same cases but in their 6.5 versions are also pretty popular.

 

[Wrongside]

I started into PRS with a M700 243. The problem with Tikka 6mm is their RoT, or I'd definitely gone that way. The 243 worked ok, but I wasn't sad when the barrel was burnt out. Been shooting 6CM for the last couple of years, and it's been good. Many guys are using smaller capacity 6BR derivatives, and they are easier on barrels. It'll be time for a new barrel next year and I'm considering going 6GT, or just staying with the CM. Lots of great choices tho!

 

[Seeknelk]

Hard to beat a 6 CALIBER for that.

 

[Novahunter]

Depend a bit if you handload or are going to primarily buy factory ammo. 243 isn't a bad round. You'll probably burn the barrel out in 1600 rounds or less.

If shooting factory ammo: 6.5 Creed, 6 Creed, .308 (TAC class) are your best options.

If you hand load, the options are somewhat endless. The 6.5 Creed and 6.5x47L are the two main 6.5mm options you see at a match. More and more people are shooting 6mm, or even 22 caliber. 6 GT is gaining popularity, 6BR, 6BRA, 6mm Creed is still used a bit but it's so finicky and burns barrels very quickly so I've seen alot of competitors move away from the 6 creed.

PRS is a recoil management game. The worst thing you can do is pick a large round with a heavy bullet that generates significant recoil.

You want your gun to have some significant weight (most guns are in the 16 to 22lbs range), but also balance well. The balance point should be a few inches in front of the mag well.

I' started with the 260 Ackley Improved round, and shot 2 seasons with that rifle. Awesome ballistics, but the sharp shoulder created feeding issues, and the extra powder over a standard .260 created more recoil.

The prior 3 seasons I've moved to the 6.5x47L. It's not the sexiest ballistics, but it's insanely consistent and easy to load for which means less time doing load development and tuning the load or rifle. I developed one load for the 6.5x47L using Berger 130's and after 2500 rounds the accuracy, velocity and sd/es never changed. That consistency is valuable to me as I just don't have much time to chase accuracy loads or sd/es.

Start with what you have and shoot some local matches. Come out and learn and have fun. It's an addicting sport!

 

[willfrye027]

25 creedmoor is my vote! In love with mine, does everything I need it to without anything unnecessary. Easy to load for, easy to get components. 6cm would be another good choice with 25cm getting the edge for hunting use IMO

 

[Tex_F15]

The 6 GT is the latest and greatest. 40 deg shoulder, little more case capacity over the 6 creed, just shy of 3000 fps with 109 hybrids and SD in the low single digits.

 

[Novahunter]

The 6 GT is the latest and greatest. 40 deg shoulder, little more case capacity over the 6 creed, just shy of 3000 fps with 109 hybrids and SD in the low single digits.

Um, no that isn't true. 6GT is a 35 degree shoulder like the 6.5x47L.

The 6GT case capacity is quite a bit less than a Creedmoor case.

6GT loads are using around 33gr to 37gr of powder (depending on the powder). The 6GT does well with loads around 33gr of Varget because of the smaller case capacity.

Creedmoor loads typically use powders in the H4350 burn range and are 40 to 44gr of powder.

 

[Lawnboi]

I just screwed a 6creed prefit on my tikka. Might not be my choice if I was starting from scratch. Chose because of the following.

-Only had to buy a bushing and a mandrel
-Have a boat load h4350
-No need to fiddle with mags

I’m 3/4 through my second 6.5 creed barrel and have been happy but excited to give this 6mm thing a try. Pulled the 6.5 barrel a little early so that I can make sure this prefit works out. So far it’s on and headspace correctly so we are on our way.

This is also my first barrel I’ll be starting with components dedicated to the life of the barrel. Lapua brass, 1500 105 hybrids and a keg of h4350 should kill it next year.

I’ll buy another 6.5 creed barrel once I can get my hands on 2k 144 bergers. I have no issues now that I went to a chassis with spotting on anything that’s not super wobbly.

If the 6creed ends up fussy I likely will just replace it with another 6.5 creed. I’m almost 2k rounds on my barrel and havnt needed to touch anything, havnt needed to mess with my dope ever and havnt needed to adjust more than a tenth on zero shooting Berger 140s and 144s

 

[Quicksilver]

25 creedmoor is my vote! In love with mine, does everything I need it to without anything unnecessary. Easy to load for, easy to get components. 6cm would be another good choice with 25cm getting the edge for hunting use IMO

I’m switching from 6.5 to 25 creed for my next barrel on my match rifle. One day I might go 6 creed but the 25 is intriguing!

 

[Justin Crossley]

A lot of great points already. Keep them coming!

Also, I'm not totally new to the sport. I've shot a few matches already with the .243 and also with my 6.5-06 AI. Obviously that one isn't ideal being a long action.

I almost never shoot factory ammo so I'll be loading everything for this rifle like the rest of my rifles.

 

[Lawnboi]

A lot of great points already. Keep them coming!

Also, I'm not totally new to the sport. I've shot a few matches already with the .243 and also with my 6.5-06 AI. Obviously that one isn't ideal being a long action.

I almost never shoot factory ammo so I'll be loading everything for this rifle like the rest of my rifles.

Do you plan on doing a prefit or going the traditional route?

 

[Tex_F15]

Um, no that isn't true. 6GT is a 35 degree shoulder like the 6.5x47L.

The 6GT case capacity is quite a bit less than a Creedmoor case.

6GT loads are using around 33gr to 37gr of powder (depending on the powder). The 6GT does well with loads around 33gr of Varget because of the smaller case capacity.

Creedmoor loads typically use powders in the H4350 burn range and are 40 to 44gr of powder.

Sorry, mixed shoulders and capacity with 6 Dasher, too many to count in the 6mm world these days

In that case, less powder, lower SDs, can actual find primers (SRPs), and it's pushing 109s near 3000 fps with less powder (varget) and better barrel life than a 6 creed pushing 107s at nearly identical speeds with 4350 and LRPs. Bonus, you don't have to tell folks you shoot a Creedmoor.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Do you plan on doing a prefit or going the traditional route?

I'll likely have the chamber cut by my gunsmith.

 

[B23]

Um, no that isn't true. 6GT is a 35 degree shoulder like the 6.5x47L.

I think the 6.5x47 Lapua has a 30° shoulder not 35° doesn't it?

 

[B23]

To further muddy the water, if you're looking for something that's maybe a little different than the popular 6x47L or 6CM you may want to take a look at David Tubb's 6XC. If I recall, with regard to case capacity, the 6XC is right in the middle between the 6CM and 6x47L. I'm pretty sure all three have 30° shoulders and they're all very similar in case capacity.

 

[Wrench]

I'd probably look at component availability and go from there. It's cool to have a gt or br....but it's gotta eat. As much as I want to hate the creed parent....parts are EVERYWHERE and they don't need unicorn powder.

 

[ID_Matt]

I don't think it has been mentioned yet and I am amazed! I went with 6 dasher for my most recent barrel, coming from a 6 creed. The dasher seems to have plenty of performance and is the most consistent thing I have ever reloaded for. The creed out did it by 100 FPS or so but I was always having to retune my load. Load development with the dasher was crazy easy and once it broke in, I have not touched it. Been running the same exact load for 1,000 rounds now and it will fairly easily shoot 10 rounds under 0.5 moa. Another strong point for it is alpha brass, have been very happy with that. I am using AW mags with a spacer but have used the mdt single stack mags and they ran great as well. Spacers are key though.

I think you also need to strongly consider the cartridge based on what powder you have ample supply of. If Varget - then I think dasher is the clear choice. If H4350 - then you would be looking at GT or one of the 47's or creeds.

 

[XLR]

I think your geographical location depends on the caliber to go with! If you aren't shooting in much wind, the BRA or dasher are hard to get away from. In the west where wind seems to factor in a little more, 6.5 creed. I have a BRA and 6.5 creed which I swap around depending on the time of the year. Guys are going to say it doesn't matter for wind but I believe the 6.5 handles up and down drafts a little better compared to the small 6mms. You can also see where your bullet hits a lot better with the 6.5 whether its on plate or not. That's my 2 cents but I think that either caliber will have its advantages and disadvantages.