Lack of 6.5PRC brass??
- Thread starter Huntz
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new2mud
Well-Known Member
^^^ This. It is not the lack of popularity, but the extreme popularity it has garnered especially in the past 6-12 months. Add to that the unprecedented demand for ALL brass, components and loaded ammunition in the past 6 months, and you have a perfect storm of lack of availability of "newer" popular cartridges like 6.5 PRC.
The shortage is due to popularity not lack of interest and as stated it's not just marketing. Most people don't give a $#^t about the letters PRC or even know what they stand for. It is just hard to beat the 6.5PRC in an off the shelf short action rifle. When you consider how long it takes load development, marketing, and production to get on board and get a new load out the door and Federal and Nosler and others will have ammo on the shelves for hunting this year I'd say you'll be fine. And in my opinion you can't beat the 6.5PRC if you accept it as a short action cartridge. If you have the "Should build it on a long action to maximize the potential with the longest bullet made" mentality there are some better options in long action in my opinion. I just verified this years hunting load in my PRC yesterday running 140 Grain Nosler Accubonds at 3126 pushed out by RL26 with an ES of 12 over 20 rounds and 10 shots in .58" over 2 - 5 shot strings. Right at 2" at 420 yards over 5 shots. From a non custom rifle. The factory 147ELDMs I was shooting for break in last year had an ES of 7. It is a dandy of a case.
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new2mud
Well-Known Member
Doesn't PRC stand for "assault rifle"?
Sorry, couldn't resist given today's social climate.
Yeah they are talking about banning PRC rifles especially if they are CRF. ADL or BDL, doesn't matter - they are dangerous, but not as bad as C19, of course.
WYO300RUM
Well-Known Member
GunWerks or ADG SAME
Was kind of thinking along the same lines. So bought a Savage 10 BA Evolution in 6.5 C to build a 6.5 PRC after I found out Hornady was going forward with the PRC. Now have built the bolt, got the PRC barrel and gauges, but yet to use them. (BTW so far really liking the Creedmoor and wearing it out) As soon as all this stupidity is over I will put on the PRC. Circumstances aren't allowing for a Elk hunt this year so no hurry...
Handloading is the way to go if you can. My thinking is that factory barely puts you at ELK energy at distance. According to Hornady factory 6.5 PRC 143 gr ELD-X Precision Hunter is 2960 fps out of a 24" and gets you to 4-500 yards. Of course that's depending on angle, wind ect. As a 'safety' margin I would like to get it moving north of 3100 fps at elevation for sure. Also I want to play with the Berger 6.5mm 156 gr. EOL Elite Hunter and see if they are as good as I think they should be.
Though I have heard Hornady brass is pretty good, I would probably pony up the $ to go with ADG as recommended by many here. Lots of good powder and bullets out there for it when you can find them again.
Edit: BTW the Savage took some 'customizing' to make it workable. Lost the NV bridge and high rail. Switched the stock for a folding MDT and the Trigger for a BASix. Very happy.
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