Is the 6.5 PRC perfect for new hunters?

[@mikemelina7395]

The one cartridge you might have added to the comparisons is the .264WinMag, which is the original 6.5 magnum cartridge that all these "Johnny-come-lately" 6.5 mags are imitating. Like the .264wm, the 6.8W is another one of those cartridges that the industry itself is trying to kill, even though it's vastly superior to Hornady's cartridge. If the 6.8W got half the support the 6.5PRC gets, it would be the 21st century version of the 300wm/7mmRM, it's that good at what it does.

[@mikegoodwin2386]

264 Win Mag is a great cartridge that was ahead of it's time. Unfortunately it didn't catch on that well. The 7mm Rem Mag gained popularity and the 264 was left behind. It's still just as good as it ever was, and it'll do most of what all the new whiz-bang 6.5s do. The 6.5 PRC is a more modern cartridge design though. Shorter, fatter powder column contributes to more efficiency and more consistency. It fits in an (almost) short action. And it doesn't have the antiquated belt. It's designed to use the longer, heavier bullets that are popular today. The PRC is, IMO, the better choice now. Could you get a little more velocity out of a Win Mag with a hot handload? Maybe, probably. Would it make any real-world difference? Subjective, but I doubt it. Just like there's nothing at all wrong with the 7mm Rem Mag that has been loved for decades. The 7mm PRC is a more logical choice these days. (That's why I bought one, lol. So I may be a little biased.) I know a guy named Mike Molina. Just looking at the similarity in your name. I was like "Wait a min . . . . no, that's not him."

[@mikemelina7395]

@@mikegoodwin2386 The 6.5PRC uses the exact same bullets as the 264wm, they are ballistic twins. The 6.8W would do the same for the 6.5PRC that the 7mmRM did for the 264wm given the opportunity. IRL, 7PRC costs 2x what 7RM does and it's advantages are minimal. Now most rifle manufacturers are offering 8" twist barrels for the 7RM which removes any advantage the PRC had...beyond the "antiquated belt", which isn't an issue for anyone who owns a 7RM. Hornady is selling fishing lures, not to catch fish, but catch fishermen. Do you understand? They aren't breaking new ground.

[@mikegoodwin2386]

@@mikemelina7395 Good points, but if you put the long, heavy bullets in a 264 WM (or 7mm RM) you would have to seat them very deep in the case, taking up space that could otherwise be filled with powder. Plus seating them that deep makes them exit a little less consistently, affecting accuracy (probably not an issue for hunting accuracy, more a bench rest competition thing, but still). To avoid that you'd need to chamber them in a magnum action to seat them out longer. (Again, not a problem with like a Rem 700 that uses the same action for long-action cartridges and magnum-action cartridges. Maybe a different magazine.) So yes, with the right twist, and the right action, you can build a 264 WM to do everything a 6.5 PRC does, but the PRC is ready to go. And the short/fat powder column is still an advantage in efficiency and accuracy, even if the significance may be very debatable in a hunting rifle. No one is saying that the 264 WM or 7mm RM aren't still great. They are. As for ammo costs, people like me jumping on the PRC bandwagon are hoping they catch on like the 6.5 Creedmoor making them cost less and be more available. Hornady HAS broken new ground, but in small increments. It's not near as revolutionary as they'd have people believe. Their marketing is fantastic. What does the 6.5 Creedmoor do that you can't do with a 260 Remington (or the 6.5x55 Swede for that matter)? Very little. But the creed caught on like it was the greatest thing since smokeless powder. Is it more advanced? Yes. Is it really all that different? No.

[@longranger65]

Many of these are gnat’s ass difference from one another. I think the 6.5 PRC is a wonderful cartridge. I have 2 of them. They’re as easy to load as most of my other cartridges. One thing I like about the round is the recoil generated vs the downrange energy delivery.

[@WildBushGrit]

I agree, What's your favorite powder for it?

[@WombatAnnihilator]

I desperately wish the 6.8 western would’ve stuck around. But it was a day late and dollar short in the caliber market, perfectly timed to be eclipsed by the 6.5prc. Christiansen arms is definitely horrible. Ive considered the PRC but for my hunting, i still believe 308 or 6.5creedmoor is probably best still. As always, Great video! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@WildBushGrit]

The fiasco of the 6.8 Western is so sad, but I won't give up on it, its just so good! I still have hope for it, if manufacturer could support it more, but that comes with the demand. 308 and 6.5creed are still very relevant and you can't go wrong with either, especially if you hunt big games under 400 yards. My 6.5 creed shoots so good, that I turned it into my competition rifle. Now I just need to compete more XD. Cheers mate, thanks!

[@mikegoodwin2386]

@@WildBushGrit 6.8 Western looks like a GREAT cartridge design. Only thing wrong with it is that Hornady didn't invent it and Hornady's marketing is steam-rolling over everything these days. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're doing a good job selling their ideas.

[@tobybobo6539]

Several calibers are so so close, the average hunter (me😂) will never or can never tell the difference. As the charts you just showed. It’s all preference and as for me I choose a cva LRH 6.5 prc and caught two deers this year. I LOVE THE GUN AND CALIBER so far👍🏻

[@WildBushGrit]

That's a great choice! CVA barrels are made by their parent company, Bergara :) Their rifles are priced just right. Well done on the hunt! Filling up that freezer never gets dull. :)

[@tobybobo6539]

@@WildBushGritcome on 😂

[@Westerner_]

I’d rather have the slim body taper of the .270 or something similar.

[@FullDrawOutdoors]

Man I'm so glad I dodged a bullet with Christensen Arms. I've been looking to build my use for everything rifle. My plan was to buy The new Christesen Envoke that was released at the begging of this year. Well its still not on the market and I called and asked why. I was told they changed it to a 3 Lug bolt. That just told me all the stories I'm hearing of bad QC were probably correct. Now I'm either going with a Bergara barrel with a 700-action dropped into a MDT stock, or a Howa 1500 series. I will get it chambered in 6.5PRC.

[@WildBushGrit]

That's what I've done with my CA, I put it in the MDT's Oryx haven't shot with it yet. But that shatter my dreams of an ultra light rifle with the Mesa FFT at 5.5lbs. I am extremely happy with my bergara 6.5 prc and my howa 1500 mini action in 6.5 Grendel. I don't think you'll be disappointed either way. Also, Bergara is making barrels for CVA at a fraction of the cost. Toby in this comment section got a CVA LRH Cascade, and seems super happy!

[@edwardgerdemann2400]

The Tikka T3X Lite is an awesome rifle in a 6.5 PRC. It has a cold hammer-forged barrel that requires no break-in. This rifle in this cartridge just flat out shoots. I'd recommend it over both the Bergara and Howa. It's a better rifle.

[@Gdahron]

I haven't seen 6.5 PRC available locally for less than $53 a box, yet that chambering wont do anything that a .270 Win can't do as a hunting caliber. I think Ill pass. And if I figure that I just have to have high BC bullets, the 7mm Rem mag is still more affordable, available, powerful, etc...

[@Daltonleach11]

7 Rem Mag is awesome, but for someone who wants to reload it's a pita. That's only one demographic but just an example.

[@Pew_Professional]

Christensen is known for their inability to chamber barrels properly. We fix many every year. For the their price you are way better off to save a little more and step up to a custom rifle. Once you do you will never own another production rifle. I know I won’t.

[@peterpan9516]

@ 4 $ 3.50 per bullet, it is not :D. Maybe for those hunters willing to pay thousands of dollars for a deer hunt picture they will load to facebook

[@WildBushGrit]

XD, But seriously, is there a magnum round out there that is less than 3$ a pop?