I'm currently putting together a 6.5 PRC as a crossover build for hunting (deer/antelope) as well as long range plinking (beyond 1,000). I had begun this journey thinking the PRC would overtake the CM and the few factory loads available would grow but perhaps the ammo shortage has stunted the proliferation of 6.5 PRC?

Should I consider giving up and going with a Creedmoor setup to have more flexible ammo options if I don't plan on getting into reloading anytime soon (despite admitting long range plinking typically demands reloading)?

Thanks for any advice

why is there is a need for 6.5 grendel, 6.5 creedmoor, and 6.5 PRC? Too many 6.5's. One of them needs to switch to 6.6. Or better yet, 6.66.

6.5 Grendel fits in an AR-15 frame, 6.5 Creedmoor fits in an AR-10 frame, 6.5 PRC offers more case capacity and a few hundred more FPS over the Creedmoor. It is also the newest of the group.

6.5 PRC has only been out a couple of years so it's too soon to see if it will be widely adopted.

I have a 6.5 SAUM aka Gap 4s which is the wildcat George Gardner used and promoted before working with Hornady to make it into SAAMI as the 6.5 PRC. My recommendation would be to stay the course with your plans and not be deterred by the current availability issues which are affecting most every cartridge.

Once Hornady got behind the 6.5 PRC and factory rifles are coming out with that chambering, the cartridge has a foothold and will likely last. If I could do it all over again I would have waited 6 months on my build and chambered in PRC instead of Gap 4s.

As you know, the 6.5 Creedmoor is cheaper and widely available, but if you want to really commit to long range hunting and shooting at 1,000 yards the PRC will give you advantages for both.

And PRC was never intended to or marketed as taking over 6.5 Creed. It is 6.5 Creed on steroids. Absolutely viable for hunting and designed for such.

I have a 6.5 gap (virtually same as prc) and it absolutely is a viable hunting round. It's the first gun I would grab out of the safe.

Seen a 6.5 PRC take care of two caribou pretty handily

Imo, all the 6.5 variants not named Creedmoor will go the way of the WSM, the AI, the SAUM, and the Nosler: they will be for reloaders and collectors, and guys who need something around the campfire to brag about.

There is nothing the PRC can do that the creed can't, minus some ballistic gack and D measuring.

You're not a professional hunter if you haven't switched to the 6.5 BC yet...

Perfect for East Texas WT standing at a feeder 50 yds away.

kappmeyer said:

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Imo, all the 6.5 variants not named Creedmoor will go the way of the WSM, the AI, the SAUM, and the Nosler: they will be for reloaders and collectors, and guys who need something around the campfire to brag about.

There is nothing the PRC can do that the creed can't, minus some ballistic gack and D measuring.

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Ya. 400 FPS is insignificant. 308 same as 300 win mag right?

shiftyandquick said:

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why is there is a need for 6.5 grendel, 6.5 creedmoor, and 6.5 PRC? Too many 6.5's. One of them needs to switch to 6.6. Or better yet, 6.66.

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Weatherby now has a 6.5 RPM. What's that?

kappmeyer said:

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There is nothing the PRC can do that the creed can't, minus some ballistic gack and D measuring.

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There is so much wrong with your statement and the fact that it has 3 blue stars to begin with.

shiftyandquick said:

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shiftyandquick said:

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why is there is a need for 6.5 grendel, 6.5 creedmoor, and 6.5 PRC? Too many 6.5's. One of them needs to switch to 6.6. Or better yet, 6.66.

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Weatherby now has a 6.5 RPM. What's that?

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6.5-284 Norma Longboi, for your $4k titanium action rifle that you'll take on that sheep hunt one day.

To answer the question, Yes. Its a fad. the 6.5 fillintheblanks were cooked up during a time when guns/ammo sales were down as compare to now. So the industry cooked up another dancing chicken and people went to it.

They do this every few years because there are only so many ways to sell you a 30-06 or .270. Creating new calibers creates new rifle and ammo sales. Some of the calibers stick, and are around forever, others not so much. See also the Short Mag craze of 15 or so years ago.

kappmeyer said:

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Imo, all the 6.5 variants not named Creedmoor will go the way of the WSM, the AI, the SAUM, and the Nosler: they will be for reloaders and collectors, and guys who need something around the campfire to brag about.

There is nothing the PRC can do that the creed can't, minus some ballistic gack and D measuring.

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I just won a rifle from RMEF in 6.5-300 WBY... the ammo is expensive and non-existent, but the ballistics look cool!

As long as you reload, stick with it. Fantastic cartridge for long range shooting, precision shooting, or killing any North American animal not named grizzly bear (and with the right bullet, would still do the trick).

Mine is a killing machine. I run the Berger 140 VLD's with 100% DRT success thus far.

To the OP, build the PRC, its here to stay.

Bpriefert said:

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kappmeyer said:

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There is nothing the PRC can do that the creed can't, minus some ballistic gack and D measuring.

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There is so much wrong with your statement and the fact that it has 3 blue stars to begin with.

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Care to expound?? It's not 400 fps, more like 200-250.

At 1000 yards:
143 ELD-X
6.5CM 1478 fps 693 ft/lb
6.5PRC 1654 fps 869 ft/lb

147 ELD-M
6.5CM 1577 fps 811 ft/lb
6.5PRC 1731 fps 978 ft/lb


If you're reloading thats all out the door, but pretty dang similar for any practical purpose with factory stuff.

Chasing velocity is sooo old school.

But go ahead. Tell me why the PRC is superior.

I'll listen.

kappmeyer said:

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Imo, all the 6.5 variants not named Creedmoor will go the way of the WSM, the AI, the SAUM, and the Nosler: they will be for reloaders and collectors, and guys who need something around the campfire to brag about.

There is nothing the PRC can do that the creed can't, minus some ballistic gack and D measuring.

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The Grendel, being an AR 15 variant. Is not going anywhere.

Correct. Bc it's specifically tailored to the AR.

All these bolt action 6.5 fads have a following bc the Creed got too "normal", and every Nancy boy hunter/shooter needed something cooler with a fun head stamp.

They will be on to the next cool toy once George Gardner props up something new to sell his brass. Or Hornady. Or like vortex just did. Anything to be cooler and publish ballistic gack so some guy can tell me his 147 ELDM only drops 6.8 Mils at 800 yards instead of my 7.2.

Spare me.

I hunted with a guy this weekend who was shooting a Proof Research 6.5 PRC with a Swarovski scope. Maybe $5500 set up.

~140gr bullet at ~3000fps.

While I'm not sure what 6.5 offers that a 7mm Rem Mag can't do better, I'll say this:

His deer was shot a little back of the sweet spot and it bled like a crime scene in Dexter. Once they found it, some 150 yards from where it was shot, it'd bleed a huge pool and kicked around it in for a while.

Bad kill.

If you put the bullet where it's supposed to go, the chambering, velocity, bullet weight and construction... all tend to become less important (note I said less, not un).

I shot a bigger deer at longer range, with a good bit smaller projectile with a hair more velocity. (100gr .25-06) But I put the bullet where it needed to be.

My deer plowed the ground for 15 yards before falling over and dying.

Spend more money and time on accuracy and marksmanship. The chambering is not all that important.

For posterity and since I haven't posted here about it yet:




ETA: in fairness I did just read you're looking to do long range shooting. That I have no experience in and may be a sport 6.5 PRC excels at. I can't speak intelligently to that issue. I did purposely limit my commentary to the effects on animals for a reason.

phideaux_2003 said:

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ETA: in fairness I did just read you're looking to do long range shooting. That I have no experience in and may be a sport 6.5 PRC excels at. I can't speak intelligently to that issue. I did purposely limit my commentary to the effects on animals for a reason.

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6.5 PRC was developed by GA Precision for the Precision Rifle Series, hence it being named Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC).

That's great, I understand that. What does it do that 7mm Rem Mag doesn't? And that's a genuine question.

phideaux_2003 said:

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That's great, I understand that. What does it do that 7mm Rem Mag doesn't? And that's a genuine question.

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Non-belted, short action, higher sectional density. Nothing wrong w a 7mag though.

lexofer said:

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phideaux_2003 said:

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ETA: in fairness I did just read you're looking to do long range shooting. That I have no experience in and may be a sport 6.5 PRC excels at. I can't speak intelligently to that issue. I did purposely limit my commentary to the effects on animals for a reason.

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6.5 PRC was developed by GA Precision for the Precision Rifle Series, hence it being named Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC).

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And how many of the top guys in PRS are actually using it? I'm going to guess close to none, they've all pretty much moved to 6mm I think.

@phideaux_2003

I'm respectfully sort of challenging that logic (no offense at all). But wouldn't deriving even a slight conclusion from one story like that where the kill experience across two samples be far more weighted on bullet placement and other conditions than the cartridges, be misleading? (as long as the cartridges' are reasonably in the same family?) I know you emphasize placement, but I think that is all that can be taken away from this story. And in that regards, wouldn't accuracy (esp long range) make the PRC have the edge over a CM?

Very nice buck by the way!

But how are you supposed to kill a deer with a 6mm? 100% are going to run off and die in the woods a week later.

j/k and I'm aware 6.5 PRC hasn't been widely adopted in PRS, I was just giving it's background. Although it is the most popular cartridge in ELR (Extreme Long Range) competition.

All of the caliber squabbling on here this week has gotten kind of ridiculous.

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And in that regards, wouldn't accuracy (esp long range) make the PRC have the edge over a CM?

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How is the PRC inherently more accurate than the CM? Are you saying the PRC headstamp increasing accuracy somehow?

Theoretical accuracy none but practical accuracy the same bullet going at a faster speed will have less drop and a shorter travel time means less wind drift. Both make it easier to get a first round hit.

lexofer said:

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Theoretical accuracy none but practical accuracy the same bullet going at a faster speed will have less drop and a shorter travel time means less wind drift. Both make it easier to get a first round hit.

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Not going to convince this guy but you are absolutely correct. The creedmor is the end all be all for some even though the ballistic twin (6.5 swede) has been around 100 yrs with zero fan fair.

Bullet to bullet, at 500 yards, the Creed drifts 1.8 inches more than the PRC.

1.8 inches ain't making a first round hit difference.

lexofer said:

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Theoretical accuracy none but practical accuracy the same bullet going at a faster speed will have less drop and a shorter travel time means less wind drift. Both make it easier to get a first round hit.

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How exactly does amount of drop affect practical accuracy? Assuming you have reliable equipment.

kappmeyer said:

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1.8 inches ain't making a first round hit difference.

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That's not what she said.