The 6.5’s

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wildfowler.250

wildfowler.250

Well-Known Member
Folks I’m sure this has been covered a lot and I can’t get my head around it - probably because there’s nothing in it.

I’ve used the old man’s Swede,(I encouraged him to get one so I could dabble) and I like everything bar the trajectory to be honest. It doesn’t feel quite as ‘flat’ or ‘bang flop’ as my .270. It is slightly kinder on the shoulder,(not really a big deal unless shooting paper). It kills deer the same as the .270 though at the end of the day. I’ve maybe just got more confidence with the larger caliber.

I’ve been really tempted to change to a 6.5. Just for the sake of it really.

The PRC may go close to my .270 for performance.

The Swede does have about 11% more capacity than the CM home loaded I believe.

The CM is so popular it seems sensible. At what range does it start to max out on uk sized deer? Lest be honest, most deer are shot sub 200 yards but if you’ve a wounded deer going over the next hill, it’s nice to have enough legs.


Heart wants a PRC. Head says rebarrel .270 to a 6.5x55 and sense is probably the 6.5CM?
 
I have a PRC and a Creedmoor, and had .270s for years.

PRC is very similar to a .270. It’s just a bit ‘more’ in every respect. A bit more terminal energy. A bit less drift. A bit less drop. A bit less recoil. If you’re used to using a .270, it will seem very familiar indeed. It’s an excellent open hill round, and an emphatic killer. The downside is that it can make a nasty mess of small deer at close range - but that’s true of a .270.

Creedmoor is a good 200-250fps slower for any specific bullet weight and barrel length combination (ie. A 143gr eldx will go at 2750fps out of a 24” Creedmoor but 3000fps out of a 24” PRC).

Creedmoor is a great general purpose, no brain mid range cartridge at sensible distances. I’m happy shooting anything with it out to about 200m, but expect to start seeing runners beyond about 150, especially with larger deer. At about 250, runners become standard with larger deer unless your shot hits CNS/hilar. I have a self imposed cutoff of 300m on all deer with my Creedmoor - even roe deer run when hit at that range.

I use my PRC for longer range shots on larger deer (sika in clearfell in particular). Or long range roe deer in windy conditions. I use my Creedmoor for shorter range farmland and woodland.

I’ve not shot a 6.5x55 much, but I think you’d be very hard pressed to find any detectable difference between the x55 and a Creedmoor.

So there you go. If you want something like a .270, get a PRC (or a .270). If you want something like a 6.5x55, get a Creedmoor (or a 6.5x55).
 
Go with the prc if it’s what the heart wants! I shoot a swede and will stick with it as it’s awesome with 120grn Barnes or hornady cx. Comfortably slings them over 2000fps out to just over 400m. When it comes to a rebarrel I may re assess.
The thing that puts me off the high performance 6.5’s is things like carbon rings, shorter barrel life etc. I think the creedmoor is very forgiving in that sense.
 
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I think prc is great in every way except barrel life which according to Hornady who invented it say is around 1000 rounds. I push my 6.5x55 pretty hard and get good results to 350m on reds with the correct bullets (yew tree tlr @ 3060fps) additionally i very rarely loose sight picture which I particularly love as i can see shot reaction. I think bullet type and speed combo is the deal. I’d quite like a prc but I shoot a lot and would wear it out pretty fast also I can’t quite face the getting all the reloading gear for it. Basically the 6.5x55 will kill anything I’ve got a chance of hitting at the ranges I’m competent at upto 350-400m 6.5 cm is too slow for me btw.
My advice get whatever you want it’ll not make a lot of difference lol
 
wildfowler.250 said:
Folks I’m sure this has been covered a lot and I can’t get my head around it - probably because there’s nothing in it.

I’ve used the old man’s Swede,(I encouraged him to get one so I could dabble) and I like everything bar the trajectory to be honest. It doesn’t feel quite as ‘flat’ or ‘bang flop’ as my .270. It is slightly kinder on the shoulder,(not really a big deal unless shooting paper). It kills deer the same as the .270 though at the end of the day. I’ve maybe just got more confidence with the larger caliber.

I’ve been really tempted to change to a 6.5. Just for the sake of it really.

The PRC may go close to my .270 for performance.

The Swede does have about 11% more capacity than the CM home loaded I believe.

The CM is so popular it seems sensible. At what range does it start to max out on uk sized deer? Lest be honest, most deer are shot sub 200 yards but if you’ve a wounded deer going over the next hill, it’s nice to have enough legs.


Heart wants a PRC. Head says rebarrel .270 to a 6.5x55 and sense is probably the 6.5CM?
Click to expand...
Changing from your current rifle will have minimal effect on everything other than your bank account. Changing a rifle or having a rebarrel will result in your bank balance being at a minimum £1,000 less than it was before.
 
Lots of |decent 6.5 cm on sale now, due to the military range issue. You may be better off buying on second hand and a cheap plastic stock to stalk with. Sell the fancy fitted stock if you like, reducing you outlay.
 
Heym SR20 said:
Changing from your current rifle will have minimal effect on everything other than your bank account. Changing a rifle or having a rebarrel will result in your bank balance being at a minimum £1,000 less than it was before.
Click to expand...
Exactly my experience indeed I thought was that worth it to shoot the same deer at the same distances?!!
 
Can I recommend 120gn bullets for the swede?
I have mine custom loaded by Paul at Case Prep and I find that they shoot pretty flat out to 200m. Not as flat as the 243 but much flatter than the 308.
The 120’s are enough bullet to take anything in the uk and yet don’t blow small deer to bits.
 
TringSaint said:
Can I recommend 120gn bullets for the swede?
I have mine custom loaded by Paul at Case Prep and I find that they shoot pretty flat out to 200m. Not as flat as the 243 but much flatter than the 308.
The 120’s are enough bullet to take anything in the uk and yet don’t blow small deer to bits.
Click to expand...

Cheers folks! Seems like it’s a lot of the same but different. I think sometimes a new rifle spices up what is otherwise the same old but I appreciate it’s money down the drain,(that can be spent on stalking trips or elsewhere).

TringSaint, fire away. I didn’t have great success with the prohunters. Nosler BT’s seem like hens teeth and I’ve heard messy? Suggestions welcome!
 
wildfowler.250 said:
Cheers folks! Seems like it’s a lot of the same but different. I think sometimes a new rifle spices up what is otherwise the same old but I appreciate it’s money down the drain,(that can be spent on stalking trips or elsewhere).

TringSaint, fire away. I didn’t have great success with the prohunters. Nosler BT’s seem like hens teeth and I’ve heard messy? Suggestions welcome!
Click to expand...
Good Q!! I will have to ask Paul what he loads mine with! All I know is that they have pinky brown ballistic tip and they kill very well.
Let me do some digging for you
 
Has anyone shot a short barrel 6.5 prc, say 16", and compared it to say a 20" or more creedmoor for velocity?

I'm just wondering if you can have your cake and eat it; a shorter, more compact, rifle package going faster than creedmoor.
 
eldon said:
Has anyone shot a short barrel 6.5 prc, say 16", and compared it to say a 20" or more creedmoor for velocity?

I'm just wondering if you can have your cake and eat it; a shorter, more compact, rifle package going faster than creedmoor.
Click to expand...

Conversation has been had before, like for like you’ll get an increase in MV. There’ll be a ton of people telling you there’s no point having a PRC unless it’s a five foot barrel to get epic MV; apparently any other use concept isn’t acceptable.

In reality as long as you’re getting high percentage powder burn so it’s not spitting flames and trashing barrels, the PRC is faster than a CM. just make sure you’re reloading as you’ll need to work up a load for a more niche use case.
 
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