NON-TYPICAL rifle build in mind; need some help...

[PRCLITE]

I am thinking about starting a somewhat unorthadox build and need help from the experts out there. I'm currently hunting with a 6.5PRC which I love. I've have been shooting/hunting suppressed on/off with it and the only thing I don't like is the length of the barrel and suppressor together which on my current rifle is 31".

I've got an idea to build on a hot rod cartridge but cut the barrel down to 19 or 20 inches which will give me the barrel length I want but also slow my cartridge down as to not burn my barrel out so quickly. The key for me is to pick a cartridge either in the 6.5mm or 7mm family that usually screams with a standard 24 or 26 inch barrel and by cutting it down still achieves the same or better numbers than I'm getting with the PRC. If I would cut the PRC down, I would have less energy and speed than a 6.5CM which isn't what I want. The big deal is I need to pick a caliber that will still have efficient powder burn with a shorter barrel. I'm thinking one of the short mags is going to get the nod, but I'm not completely sure. Any suggestions on caliber?

 

[MarkTheFark]

I'd pick a bullet weight and velocity target to help you narrow it down. By saying you want something that "usually screams" and then at the same time saying you want to tame it down to save barrel life, it seems you have some conflicting goals.

I run my 6.5CM at 20" and get 2900fps with the 124 Hammers. It is a great balance of speed/performance from a shorter barrel and longer barrel life. I considered PRC for the 20" barrel, but several guys I trust said I'd get likely get 1,000-1,200 rounds of barrel life. Obviously that depends on powder, rate of fire, etc.

I am also working on a short 7SAUM, which will be more sufficient for bigger game, whereas my 6.5 CM is for deer-sized game and steel.

 

[Rick Richard]

I would think something in the SAUM or WSM line up.

 

[elkaholic]

I am thinking about starting a somewhat unorthadox build and need help from the experts out there. I'm currently hunting with a 6.5PRC which I love. I've have been shooting/hunting suppressed on/off with it and the only thing I don't like is the length of the barrel and suppressor together which on my current rifle is 31".

I've got an idea to build on a hot rod cartridge but cut the barrel down to 19 or 20 inches which will give me the barrel length I want but also slow my cartridge down as to not burn my barrel out so quickly. The key for me is to pick a cartridge either in the 6.5mm or 7mm family that usually screams with a standard 24 or 26 inch barrel and by cutting it down still achieves the same or better numbers than I'm getting with the PRC. If I would cut the PRC down, I would have less energy and speed than a 6.5CM which isn't what I want. The big deal is I need to pick a caliber that will still have efficient powder burn with a shorter barrel. I'm thinking one of the short mags is going to get the nod, but I'm not completely sure. Any suggestions on caliber?

I think you're talking about a Sherman Short. 6.5 with 156 @20" upbto 3000'
shermanwildcatcartridges. com

 

[Tiny Tim]

Agree with Rick. You would be better served by an efficient cartridge. Perhaps a Sherman. If you go too large on the cartridge, it'll be a fire breathing dragon that will likely cause carbon buildup and possibly other issues with a suppressor unless it's made for it.

 

[PRCLITE]

I'd pick a bullet weight and velocity target to help you narrow it down. By saying you want something that "usually screams" and then at the same time saying you want to tame it down to save barrel life, it seems you have some conflicting goals.

I run my 6.5CM at 20" and get 2900fps with the 124 Hammers. It is a great balance of speed/performance from a shorter barrel and longer barrel life. I considered PRC for the 20" barrel, but several guys I trust said I'd get likely get 1,000-1,200 rounds of barrel life. Obviously that depends on powder, rate of fire, etc.

I am also working on a short 7SAUM, which will be more sufficient for bigger game, whereas my 6.5 CM is for deer-sized game and steel.

I appreciate the reply but my goals are not conflicting. I'm looking to slow down a bullet that typically is traveling at 3200+ FPS out of a standard barrel length, yet lessen the barrel length which will slow it down, but still maintain equal to or better energy/speed as my 6.5PRC. I'm currently pushed a 143gr. ELD-X at 3130FPS. By shortening the barrel to say 20", I can have an overall barrel length of 26" or so which would be easier to handle through the woods and on hikes. I want a caliber that smokes the 6.5PRC so I have room to play with barrel length and not lose any overall performance compared to what I have now.

 

[elkaholic]

I appreciate the reply but my goals are not conflicting. I'm looking to slow down a bullet that typically is traveling at 3200+ FPS out of a standard barrel length, yet lessen the barrel length which will slow it down, but still maintain equal to or better energy/speed as my 6.5PRC. I'm currently pushed a 143gr. ELD-X at 3130FPS. By shortening the barrel to say 20", I can have an overall barrel length of 26" or so which would be easier to handle through the woods and on hikes. I want a caliber that smokes the 6.5PRC so I have room to play with barrel length and not lose any overall performance compared to what I have now.

SS

 

[PRCLITE]

SS

I would definitely have to get back into reloading to go with this correct?

 

[Elk Hunter 338]

I run a 300 RUM on a 20 and 22" barrel suppressed .. pick a cartridge and shoot it!
there is no replacement for displacement sorry .((you ever seen a 454 pull 3 second 1/4 mile time!!??) didn't think so ...
take my word for it as I've done a ton of short barreled stuff and i can tell you this all the 6.5 short fatties are not smoking each other!! there all within a few FPS of one another no matter what powder you put in them. equally!

what I'm saying is I've done them or been around them all pretty much and if you want a cartridge that simple smokes (over 250+fps in my opinion is smoking something) the 6.5 prc your looking at a medium or long action cartridge !!!

 

[PRCLITE]

I run a 300 RUM on a 20 and 22" barrel suppressed .. pick a cartridge and shoot it!
there is no replacement for displacement sorry .((you ever seen a 454 pull 3 second 1/4 mile time!!??) didn't think so ...
take my word for it as I've done a ton of short barreled stuff and i can tell you this all the 6.5 short fatties are not smoking each other!! there all within a few FPS of one another no matter what powder you put in them. equally!

what im saying is if you want a cartridge that simple smokes (over 250+fps in my opinion is smoking something) the 6.5 prc your looking at a long action cartridge !!!

I have nothing against a long action at all. I've had my share of long actions and didn't mind them one bit. My whole concern was getting enough energy/speed to ethically take elk at longer ranges. I always thought the magnum cartridges needed the longer barrel length to burn the powder. Just curious what type of speeds you are getting with a 300RUM on a 20" barrel?

 

[elkaholic]

I would definitely have to get back into reloading to go with this correct?

correct

 

[nkyshooter]

The "large" cartridges that hold "lots" of powder is how we get bullets moving "fast" ... but they need the longer barrel length to achieve it ... by going shorter, you give the powder less time to work, therefore you have to go with faster powders, which means you will reach max pressure more quickly which means you have to not put any more in which means lower velocities ...

The Factory cartridges that are closest to what you're trying to accomplish are probably going to be the 6.5 PRC, the WSM's and the RSAUM's ... but you will loose enough velocity by going that short that you will need to move into the wildcat space which means you will have to reload or have someone else load for you ...

6.5 SS wildcat may be your best bet for what you're trying to do ...

If you care about powder efficiency (not everyone does - but I do - particularly when components are scarce and slow powders are a challenge) you might want to look at a custom throated 260 ackley and/or 7mm-08 ackley that will let you seat heavies long ... they are shy of the performance of the 6.5 PRC in the 26" barrels ... but ... at 20" barrel length, you may find they actually OUT perform due to that efficiency and abilility to burn faster powders with less pressure problems therefore losing less velocity per inch of barrel forfeited ...

Best of luck with your build - nothing better than building a rifle and watching it come together and hitting distant targets that first time!

 

[PRCLITE]

correct

What is the availability of their brass usually? I'm assuming you run a sherman

 

[PRCLITE]

The "large" cartridges that hold "lots" of powder is how we get bullets moving "fast" ... but they need the longer barrel length to achieve it ... by going shorter, you give the powder less time to work, therefore you have to go with faster powders, which means you will reach max pressure more quickly which means you have to not put any more in which means lower velocities ...

The Factory cartridges that are closest to what you're trying to accomplish are probably going to be the 6.5 PRC, the WSM's and the RSAUM's ... but you will loose enough velocity by going that short that you will need to move into the wildcat space which means you will have to reload or have someone else load for you ...

6.5 SS wildcat may be your best bet for what you're trying to do ...

If you care about powder efficiency (not everyone does - but I do - particularly when components are scarce and slow powders are a challenge) you might want to look at a custom throated 260 ackley and/or 7mm-08 ackley that will let you seat heavies long ... they are shy of the performance of the 6.5 PRC in the 26" barrels ... but ... at 20" barrel length, you may find they actually OUT perform due to that efficiency and abilility to burn faster powders with less pressure problems therefore losing less velocity per inch of barrel forfeited ...

Best of luck with your build - nothing better than building a rifle and watching it come together and hitting distant targets that first time!

I appreciate the info. I will definitely look into the AI calibers as well as the Shermans!