6.5CM vs 6.5PRC???

[Muntell]

I don't own either. There. I said it. But I do keep a keen eye out for modern developments and my next rifle, whenever that may be.

For whatever reason, the 6.5 caliber is hot. Best I can tell, it's one of the best compromises between killing power and recoil. That's one good thing.

And bullet manufacturers are, at this time in history, giving us all a lot of good choices. So are makers of loaded ammo. That's two.

And all these technological improvements seem to be heading towards "Given modern bullet design and modern powders, you don't need as fat a bullet as your Dad and Granddad used to in order to inflict the same damage."

So. In this modern, updated, world...
same damage, less recoil.
Or, same damage, less drop/wind drift.
Ot, more damage, same recoil

So, your two 6.5 mm choices here are both excellent.

If you need to find ammo in every town at any time and can't afford to lay in a few hundred rounds ahead of time until the next opportunity to buy, I'd go with the CM. It might also be a little cheaper per round.

For the external ballistics, I'd way, WAY, prefer the PRC.

Today, pandemic and all, it's as simple as going to Midway to order ammo And have it delivered to your door. It is in stock as I write now. But if you are going on an African safari and might need to be able to acquire rounds overseas, there are better choices than either.

And if you don't want to put up with much recoil, and there's no shame, nay, advantages in that; then go for the CM and be happy.

Both seem like great cartridges to me. The CM was designed for short actions and low recoil. The PRC won't fit in a short action but will deliver more velocity and more powerful external ballistics, at the price of a little more recoil and a SLIGHTLY heavier rifle ( which will SLIGHTLY tame that extra recoil). Given this understanding, me, I'd lean towards the PRC. Your mileage may vary.

If you haven't joined the Bergara Groups on FaceBook, do so. There are a lot of supporters on there and it will take a lot of reading on your part. Bergara's are a very nice rifle but their QC runs hot and cold. There may be better options out there that you will be happy with.

I didn't even think about looking online for a group. I figured Facebook kicked them all. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Muntell]

If you already own a .308 I would think it is obvious that the 6.5 CM uses this brass and so for logical reasons I would choose this caliber. On the other hand I would want the extra hammer provided by the 6.5 PRC which also appears extremely accurate. I was not thinking of another rifle until I saw this thread. Now on the look for my 6.5 PRC.

That's how I was when I was rifle shopping. I'd decided I wanted a CM then I seen they had a PRC, which I'd never heard of. So the search began, along with the turmoil of tryin to pick one

 

[Muntell]

The above post from BullElk54 was spot on. My 2 cents. I own a 6.5 Creed and a 6.5-284 Norma (the predecessor and ballistic twin of the PRC). Both are fantastic cartridges. Extremely accurate. Although the PRC is becoming more popular, their is nowhere near the amount of factory ammo available for it like the Creed. If you're never going to reload, and use the rifle for deer sized game, pick the Creed. I'd hunt elk with your 308. A good friend took his 6.5 CM elk hunting last year. He was as successful, but he said "I should have listened to you and borrowed your 300 WSM. I needed more Oomph!!"
Now, I'll muddy the waters a little. Loading with RL26 and the 143 ELDX, I can get 2950 fps out of my 6.5 Creedmoor. That's 50 fps less than my 6.5-284 Norma with the same bullet.
I'll leave you with this statement from my favorite outfitter in WY. "I don't like the Creedmoor, I think it's the man bun of cartridges".

I felt the exact same way about the CM when I first learned about it.

 

[Lonnie Pendleton]

Hello everyone, first post here. I'm looking at buying a new rifle, think I've decided on a Bergara. Now I have some questions about which caliber to get. The only bolt action rifle I currently own is a .308win. As tried as true as that caliber is, I'm wanting to go with something a little more modern, and have narrowed it down to the 6.5CM or 6.5PRC. I've done some searching around for opinions and reviews and haven't found exactly the questions I want answered, or the info is dated. For example I don't reload yet, so would be buying factory ammo for now. Is the PRC anywhere as available as the CM yet? I've looked online and haven't had much luck, just didn't know if it was from the current COVID crisis that I couldn't find any PRC ammo. Another major concern I have is recoil. How do the two compare in recoil? I would mostly be using this rifle for deer, and Varmit/predator hunting. However, living in Oklahoma, an elk hunt isn't out of the question. Thanks for any input!!!

I have the bergara hmr in 6.5cm,heck of a gun for what you get and will surely take all the animals you listed,probably all you need and the ammo and brass is cheaper to.

 

[375 JDJ]

I am from Oklahoma also and have hunted with 6.5CM for a little over 3 years years. At my ranch sometimes its a very close shot and sometimes it is over 500yds. I hunt coyotes, deer, & pigs. The 6.5CM is an excellent and very accurate round but, at distance I have lost a couple of animals that ran off my land or quit leaving a blood trail. I started using the 6.5PRC this year and I will never o back to the CM. The PRC hits harder and has more initial shock value. In less than ideal hunting situations the PRC is more forgiving. Like the gentleman said above, for target and shooting lots of rounds CM gets the nod. For hunting, PRC to me is superior.

Hey sniper 1004 what part of Oklahoma you from ?

 

[Andrew Cowling]

If you already own a .308 I would think it is obvious that the 6.5 CM uses this brass and so for logical reasons I would choose this caliber. On the other hand I would want the extra hammer provided by the 6.5 PRC which also appears extremely accurate. I was not thinking of another rifle until I saw this thread. Now on the look for my 6.5 PRC.

Um no. 260 remington is made from 308 winchester brass. 6.5 CM is a different beast

 

[Muntell]

Hey sniper 1004 what part of Oklahoma you from ?

I'm in southwest ok, if you're interested lol

 

[sable tireur]

Snowboy said:

If you already own a .308 I would think it is obvious that the 6.5 CM uses this brass and so for logical reasons I would choose this caliber. On the other hand I would want the extra hammer provided by the 6.5 PRC which also appears extremely accurate. I was not thinking of another rifle until I saw this thread. Now on the look for my 6.5 PRC.

Um no. 260 remington is made from 308 winchester brass. 6.5 CM is a different beast

Technically the 6.5 Creedmoor is based on the .30 TC cartridge.

 

[Kmccord]

If you are hunting WT and Hogs/varmints then the Creedmoor, you will have more ammo opportunities with this one versus the PRC. If you plan on hunting elk, you already have a 308 to use for elk. I have a Bergara B14 HMR and I can tell you it is very accurate right out of the box.

 

[SteelBanger]

I have a 6.5 CM and the only game I've ever pointed it at has been coyotes, but I wouldn't hesitate to put it on deer, antelope and similar small - medium sized game. With Elk potential in your situation I would step up to the PRC and that would be the minimal cartridge I would select. I know I know, the CM has taken Elk before, and it surely has, but I would want the extra horsepower on such big game and hopefully save a lost animal or a mile track in the back country.

As for the rifle, I have spent many hours researching and reading up on Bergara's as well as handling them and they are certainly fine rifles, but at the end of the day I would choose a Tikka over the Bergara.

 

[Snowboy]

Um no. 260 remington is made from 308 winchester brass. 6.5 CM is a different beast

Oops my bad.

 

[dougduey]

As for the rifle, I have spent many hours researching and reading up on Bergara's as well as handling them and they are certainly fine rifles, but at the end of the day I would choose a Tikka over the Bergara.

2 things to consider for both the Tikka and Begara. Both are very accurate out of the box, and I think you'll be happy with either one.
Tikka's are very versatile and easy to have rebarreled and changed to a different cartridge. Proof has prefit barrels that will take you gunsmith no time to install and headspace. I changed my Tikka from a 243 to the 6.5 Creed with one of these prefits. I bought a new B&C stock, too. I got my barrel installed, stock barrel channel opened up, and rifle back in a week from my gunsmith. It's a tack driver.
Begara will rebarrel your rifle for around $400 out the door. Just send it to their facility here in the US, and they'll take care of it. That's one heck of a deal.
So, you've got options........which is a good problem to have.

 

[Starlite]

OP
one thing I'd ask you to confirm if you pull the trigger on the Bergara B-14 HMR in 6.5CM; is it new old stock? If so, get your dealer to contact Bergara for a new bolt shroud. In fact I'd have them check it even if it's new. There is a video on YouTube that shows the difference.
I, and others had an issue with the threads stripping out; where the firing pin wasn't striking the primer. Bergara recognized this and changed them. They were awesome and shipped me the improved model.

on a side note.....as a reloader I did a ladder test on the Hornady 160gr RN projectile. I was happily surprised how accurate (.420"MOA) and powerful this is out to the 200M I tested too. It's my new Black Bear cartridge for the deep thick dark woods here in NE of Canada. My point is, the bergara (mine anyway) seems to shoot accurate with any cartridge I load. 95gr to 160gr. Between the 6.5 and your 308 you'll have a very wide range.

 

[Muntell]

OP
one thing I'd ask you to confirm if you pull the trigger on the Bergara B-14 HMR in 6.5CM; is it new old stock? If so, get your dealer to contact Bergara for a new bolt shroud. In fact I'd have them check it even if it's new. There is a video on YouTube that shows the difference.
I, and others had an issue with the threads stripping out; where the firing pin wasn't striking the primer. Bergara recognized this and changed them. They were awesome and shipped me the improved model.

on a side note.....as a reloader I did a ladder test on the Hornady 160gr RN projectile. I was happily surprised how accurate (.420"MOA) and powerful this is out to the 200M I tested too. It's my new Black Bear cartridge for the deep thick dark woods here in NE of Canada. My point is, the bergara (mine anyway) seems to shoot accurate with any cartridge I load. 95gr to 160gr. Between the 6.5 and your 308 you'll have a very wide range.

I seen the video you're talking about. When I seen the problem it made me weary of them. However, when I seen they're response and fix, it restored my confidence in them.