6.5-7mm PRC (Hornady)

[Wild Monkey]

Just a couple 2 or 3 years ago I posted a 7mm Wildcat design Perfect for the 3.3" Standard Rifle. On paper it allocated the perfect amount of room for the long for Caliber high BC projectiles as this is the primary reason for the Cartridge. Now after Hornady has come out with their version called the 7mm PRC I'm wondering if I made a grave error and should have utilized the High BC 6.5mm Projectiles instead. Also considering the now even more popular All-Copper Non-Lead hunting projectiles it's a real, well it's just a **** good idea really. Has anyone had experience with the Cartridge? "6.5-7mm PRC"

 

[SheepShapeAK]

Just a couple 2 or 3 years ago I posted a 7mm Wildcat design Perfect for the 3.3" Standard Rifle. On paper it allocated the perfect amount of room for the long for Caliber high BC projectiles as this is the primary reason for the Cartridge. Now after Hornady has come out with their version called the 7mm PRC I'm wondering if I made a grave error and should have utilized the High BC 6.5mm Projectiles instead. Also considering the now even more popular All-Copper Non-Lead hunting projectiles it's a real, well it's just a **** good idea really. Has anyone had experience with the Cartridge? "6.5-7mm PRC"

Not sure about necking down the SAAMI 7 PRC for a 6.5mm, but a lot of the F Class shooters are shooting the 7 PRCW which is the 6.5 PRC case necked up to .284.

SAAMI 7 PRC seems like a big case for a 6.5mm bullet.

 

[GetReel]

Not sure about necking down the SAAMI 7 PRC for a 6.5mm, but a lot of the F Class shooters are shooting the 7 PRCW which is the 6.5 PRC case necked up to .284.

SAAMI 7 PRC seems like a big case for a 6.5mm bullet.

Not as big as the 6.5x300wby mag.

If I had more time to dedicate to the project, I think I'd do a 6.5-7PRC. I like the case design and there is enough powder to push the heavies fast!

 

[SheepShapeAK]

Why even mess around with the minor leagues when you could just build something bigger that will maintain speed and energy at much longer distances, and cut wind much better?

You might have a lot of performance from a cartridge like that, but how repeatable is it, and how fast are you burning up a barrel? Not to mention how bad will your velocity migration be? No point in building a cartridge that needs a new barrel shortly after your load development is tuned in, unless of course you have the time, money, and desire for such a thing.

 

[Justice1327]

Just a couple 2 or 3 years ago I posted a 7mm Wildcat design Perfect for the 3.3" Standard Rifle. On paper it allocated the perfect amount of room for the long for Caliber high BC projectiles as this is the primary reason for the Cartridge. Now after Hornady has come out with their version called the 7mm PRC I'm wondering if I made a grave error and should have utilized the High BC 6.5mm Projectiles instead. Also considering the now even more popular All-Copper Non-Lead hunting projectiles it's a real, well it's just a **** good idea really. Has anyone had experience with the Cartridge? "6.5-7mm PRC"

Last week I sent Manson some dummy rounds for three different types of 6.5 mm bullets and 25 caliber bullets that will be a straight neck down of the Hornady 7PRC case. they said it will take them a few months to get those two and the other three ackley reamers to me.

 

[Wild Monkey]

Last week I sent Manson some dummy rounds for three different types of 6.5 mm bullets and 25 caliber bullets that will be a straight neck down of the Hornady 7PRC case. they said it will take them a few months to get those two and the other three ackley reamers to me.

So you're going Ackley? Then you need custom Dies? I was just thinking straight neck down. I don't know if I can hunt with the 7's due to my Pectoral being gone on my shooting shoulder. Are there sufficient All Copper 25 Caliber projectiles to consider? /// Edit: 25 Wby Mag comes to mind with a fast twist barrel....

 

[Justice1327]

So you're going Ackley? Then you need custom Dies? I was just thinking straight neck down. I don't know if I can hunt with the 7's due to my Pectoral being gone on my shooting shoulder. Are there sufficient All Copper 25 Caliber projectiles to consider? /// Edit: 25 Wby Mag comes to mind with a fast twist barrel....

No, I am doing a straight neck down of the seven PRC to a 6.5 and 257 caliber. The other three reamers are Ackley reamers 7x57, 6.5 x 55, and a 25 WSM… trying to get a longer neck for the 25 WSM. I have lots of 7 mm WSM brass, and wanted to neck it down. Not sure how much the neck will grow.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Why even mess around with the minor leagues when you could just build something bigger that will maintain speed and energy at much longer distances, and cut wind much better?

You might have a lot of performance from a cartridge like that, but how repeatable is it, and how fast are you burning up a barrel? Not to mention how bad will your velocity migration be? No point in building a cartridge that needs a new barrel shortly after your load development is tuned in, unless of course you have the time, money, and desire for such a thing.

BC is BC. Energy will definitely be different on target due to bullet weight, but retained velocity and wind drift would be pretty close between a 6.5mm 156 Elite @ G7 BC .347 and a .308 215 Hyb G7 BC .354. But if you push a 156 @ 3200+fps from a 6.5-7PRC, you are going to have a LOT less recoil than with a cartridge that could push a 215 @ 3200+fps. You are talking .300RUM or .300NMI case size.

Retained energy, on the otherhand, definitely goes to the big .308.

6500' AMSL & 30°F, 1400yds, 10mph full value wind from 270° (L-R), 10# rifle:

.308 245 Hyb @ 2900fps
477" drop, 75.6" drift, 1849fps, 1876ft/lbs, 1.815sec TOF, recoil energy 49.2lbs

.308 215 Hyb @ 3200fps
417" drop, 83.0" drift, 1873fps, 1675ft/lbs, 1.717sec TOF, recoil energy 43.27 lbs

6.5 156 Elite @ 3200fps
421" drop, 83.3" drift, 1850fps, 1186ft/lbs, 1.727sec TOF, recoil energy 24.4lb

 

[Phil Rizzo]

While you are calculating, do a 190 LRHT at 3100….

463" drop, 73" drift, 1826fps, 1407ft/lbs,1.76 TOF recoil:manageable

 

[SheepShapeAK]

BC is BC. Energy will definitely be different on target due to bullet weight, but retained velocity and wind drift would be pretty close between a 6.5mm 156 Elite @ G7 BC .347 and a .308 215 Hyb G7 BC .354. But if you push a 156 @ 3200+fps from a 6.5-7PRC, you are going to have a LOT less recoil than with a cartridge that could push a 215 @ 3200+fps. You are talking .300RUM or .300NMI case size.

Retained energy, on the otherhand, definitely goes to the big .308.

6500' AMSL & 30°F, 1400yds, 10mph full value wind from 270° (L-R), 10# rifle:

.308 245 Hyb @ 2900fps
477" drop, 75.6" drift, 1849fps, 1876ft/lbs, 1.815sec TOF, recoil energy 49.2lbs

.308 215 Hyb @ 3200fps
417" drop, 83.0" drift, 1873fps, 1675ft/lbs, 1.717sec TOF, recoil energy 43.27 lbs

6.5 156 Elite @ 3200fps
421" drop, 83.3" drift, 1850fps, 1186ft/lbs, 1.727sec TOF, recoil energy 24.4lb

All I know is the guys winning nationals for Long Range F Class aren't running any cartridge with a 6.5mm bullet.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

All I'd have to do to get those numbers is shoot from an elevation 1.2 miles higher than normal.