6.5 PRC on a SA

[codym]

Hey guys I've got a remington 700 SA, 6.5 barrel blank and a manners stock inletted for cdi bottom metal. I was planning on doing a 6.5 creed for long range shooting or maybe PRS if matches ever get going around here. I've since shifted my thoughts to possibly building a PRC. I know I would need a mag bolt but I'm not sure what diameter. Would I be able to get everything out of a PRC in a SA? I would most likely be shooting a 140 gn bullet. If I used the CDI bottom metal what mags would I need to use to not have feeding issues? I'm just considering my options. I reload but really dont want to have to turn necks. This rifle will be a range/long range deer gun.

 

[yorke-1]

You'll need to have a standard mag (.535") bolt face. The PRC was designed to work out of a short action so you won't be giving up anything in the performance department. Any of the WSM magazines will work with no issues, but I think the Accurate Mag one is the only that's available. For a reamer you can just use a SAAMI spec reamer and be good to go with no neck turning and still be able to shoot factory ammo if you wanted to.

 

[Greyfox]

I was considering using one of my Remington 700 SA to build a rifle. My understanding is that there have been reamer modifications since the introduction of the 6.5 PRC, the latest using a longer throat to accommodate the longer high BC bullets and increasing powder capacity. Much like the 6.5x284, you can use a short action, but performance can be maximized with a long action, or one of the medium length actions that are available. The longer high BC 140's or the 2.95" COAL of the factory Hornady 143/147 ELD's is 2.95".
Unless I'm missing something(which is certainly possible), this seems like it would be a tight squeeze in a SA.

 

[codym]

Grey fox that was my concern, I don't want to build one and then be handicapped by coal. I don't know if I would getting much over a 6.5 creed if I can't seat the bullets where they need to be.

 

[xsn10s]

I think to run at the longer COL you need the Wyatt's box mag adapter. There are some ACIS mags designed to run longer. But I think those are harder to get last I heard. As always anything is possibly with time and money. Some of the Savage "short actions" can run the longer COL right from the factory. I think the Tikka action can run longer with a modification to the bolt stop. But on a Rem 700 I think the only current mods are the Wyatt box mag, and some ACIS mags made to run around 2.995", I think.

 

[xsn10s]

This might be the mag I was talking about. If so it's designed to run 2.920". http://alphaindmfg.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

 

[xsn10s]

Ooops sorry disregard. That's 308 win case. Won't work with the 6.5 PRC. Sorry for the confusions.

 

[codym]

Looks like the wsm version would get me to 2.97, are you all seeing longer coals on you prc's?

 

[xsn10s]

Looks like these will work. http://www.alphaindmfg.com/products.html
Type 3 or 4.

 

[xsn10s]

Look on the bottom of CDI's faq page. Looks like 308 mag with feed lip mod or the alpha 300 WSM mags will work. But I'd call to see about COL lengths. http://www.cdiprecisiongunworks.com/dbm-faqs.html

 

[Deleted member 103481]

mine is being built on a short action and using accurate wsm mags. These fit the 2.95 147 eldm fine (says my gunsmith who has built many)

 

[xsn10s]

Looks like the CDI 308 mag with the lip mod and reinforcement plate taken out will fit 2.950" also.

 

[Jerry M]

If you are shooting PRS matches, take a look at the cartridges being used
http://precisionrifleblog.com/2017/02/16/long-range-calibers-cartridges-what-the-pros-use/
Definitely a trend toward >magnum cartridges.

I began shooting field matches in 2001 when a majority used .308W, then there was a switch to the short magnums (7 mm) for a few years, then .243 Win and 6.5 started being very popular. There were always people shooting .300 WM and bigger. But no muzzle brakes were allowed and later matches began having longer strings of fire, which were a disadvantage for most humans shooting the WM. Opposite end of the spectrum with the .243 was if the spotter was not paying close attention they could miss an impact from the lighter bullet as it did not 'move' the plates substantially. Then comes the 6.5 Remington and Creedmoor...

At a training class in 2016 I shot a a 7 mm Remington Magnum w/168 Nosler OTM and the guy shooting next to me was shooting factory Hornady 6.5 CM. We were within a few clicks of elevation adjustment at 1,200 yards. I really do understand why this cartridge is popular for the PRS matches. I do not see a majority of shooters going 'back' to magnum cases YMMV.

If you just want one, well that's a whole other reason.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[WildRose]

Grey fox that was my concern, I don't want to build one and then be handicapped by coal. I don't know if I would getting much over a 6.5 creed if I can't seat the bullets where they need to be.

200FPs with the PRC and it will work much better in the SA.