6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a cartridge of nice debate. Point out it amongst completely different teams of shooters, seize some popcorn, and wait; somebody goes to get triggered. Nevertheless, point out the 6.5 PRC in a bunch of shooters and the response might be completely different. The 6.5 PRC is cherished by hunters. I haven’t heard of any complaints about its efficiency even relating to elk. However what are the true variations between the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor?

Let’s put the web discussion board smack discuss apart for a second and take a look at the target variations between the 2 cartridges by way of ballistics, accuracy, recoil, and rifle availability. 

Intro to the 6.5 Creed

I nonetheless don’t perceive the 6.5 Creed hate, however I’m not a reloader, and my searching with it has been restricted to antelope, mule, and whitetail deer. Whereas I’ve had nice success taking all of the aforementioned recreation with the 6.5 Creedmoor, it has most of my adoration as a goal cartridge. Launched in 2007 by Hornady, the Creed didn’t obtain true reputation till a number of years later. Learn in regards to the full history of the 6.5 Creedmoor here.

The 6.5 Creedmoor has a excessive ballistic coefficient because of its ​​streamlined form. It stays supersonic with a 140 gr. bullet, like Hornady’s ELD Match, past 1400 yards, which, in my kind of capturing, carries weight. I’m primarily a goal shooter, partaking metal targets at varied distances to a mile and past. I compete in native PRS model matches a number of occasions a yr, and I’ve competed in ELR competitors as effectively. 

I’ve discovered that the 6.5 Creedmoor is a enjoyable one-mile shooter so long as circumstances aren’t too forbidding. On prime of that the recoil is manageable, and could also be thought of mild relying on what you’re used to. Add to that barrel life, which is often past 4,500 rounds so long as you’re maintaining the load to sane ranges. Sure, the 6.5 Creedmoor has changed the .308 because the do-all king so far as I’m involved.

Intro to the 6.5 PRC 

In 2018 Hornady launched the 6.5 PRC. I used to be excited in regards to the claimed and true 250 fps enhance in velocity over the Creedmoor. I used to be in love earlier than even capturing it however I wasn’t conscious of the challenges it offered in the way in which of added recoil and decreased journal capability — you lose three rounds in an in any other case 10-round journal. The elevated velocity means extra barrel put on too however the additional pace would permit me to run a shorter barrel and nonetheless have the ballistic efficiency I needed for banging metal. I want shorter barrels primarily as a result of I virtually at all times shoot suppressed. Suppressed rifles could be fairly lengthy, and shorter barrels maintain the general size extra manageable.

The manufacturing facility load of 143 grains within the Hornady ELD-X provides you round 3,000 fps, and there are after all many different masses out there as effectively. Lengthy vary aggressive shooters have discovered a good friend within the 6.5 PRC pushing heavier bullets like Hornady’s 153-grain A-TIPs. With commonplace manufacturing facility masses just like the 147 gr. ELD-M you possibly can shoot a mile with relative ease. All that is finished in a brief motion receiver. Learn our full guide to the 6.5 PRC right here.

Ballistics

As you possibly can see beneath, the 6.5 PRC boasts 300 fps greater than that of a 6.5 Creedmoor and it does this, not less than in match bullet trim, with a 147 gr. ELDM whereas the Creedmoor pushes the 140 gr. ELDM. That is obvious within the chart exhibiting each barrels 24 inches in size.

6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr. ELDM 24” Barrel

6.5 PRC 147 gr. ELDM 24” Barrel

Issues change considerably when the PRC barrel is a 20-inch though the match load remains to be practically 100 fps quicker. However the searching masses take a giant hit, with velocities practically the identical because the 24-inch Creedmoor barrel. This being the case, vitality on the right track would be the similar. In different phrases, the 20-inch PRC is not any simpler than the 6.5 Creedmoor. Sure, you profit from a shorter rifle, however you additionally acquire extra recoil.

6.5 PRC 143 gr. ELDX 20” Barrel

6.5 Creedmoor 143 gr. ELDX 24” Barrel

Accuracy

Few issues are extra satisfying in precision capturing than punching tiny teams at 100 yards. It’s much more satisfying when you are able to do that with a “searching” rifle as effectively. Total the 6.5 Creedmoor is extraordinarily exact and it’s uncommon that I take a look at a rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor that doesn’t shoot sub-MOA, five-shot teams with particular ammo. If the construct is strong, whether or not manufacturing facility or customized, and it has an excellent 1:8 twist barrel, it’ll greater than seemingly shoot Hornady’s 140 gr. ELD-M load effectively. In case your 6.5 Creedmoor gained’t shoot the 140 gr. ELD Match, there’s seemingly one thing mistaken along with your rifle.

I’ve had good luck with the 6.5 PRC as effectively. At this level, I could sound like a damaged report, however Hornady’s 147 gr. ELD Match load has at all times been a exact spherical and let’s not overlook that it was the one one out there for a while.

Felt Recoil

As you seemingly already know, the 6.5 PRC is a magnum cartridge, primarily based off of the .375 Ruger with a .532” case head and it requires a .540 bolt face. Sure it’s nonetheless quick motion however brings with it a substantial quantity of recoil. Don’t let the 6.5 half idiot you. If I needed to evaluate the recoil of a 6.5 PRC to something, it will be somewhat stouter than a .308 Winchester, relying on the rifle weights and bullet weights, after all. No, it’s not insufferable recoil, but when your capturing requires recognizing your individual misses and impacts, it’s sufficient to vary the result.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is gentle recoiling, and in my shoulder estimation, 20 % lower than a .308. When you’ve got a muzzle brake or suppressor in your rig, the 6.5 Creedmoor makes for a fantastic companion for almost any capturing you need to do. The minimal recoil coupled with the ballistics are two of the the explanation why the 6.5 Creedmoor is a no brainer for a rifle buy.

To place fundamental numbers to this, an 8-pound rifle in 6.5 PRC generates 18.6 f-p of recoil and the 6.5 Creed generates 14.9 f-p in recoil, each firing 143-grain bullets. For reference, an 8-pound .308 Win. firing a 180-grain bullet generates about 17.5 f-p in recoil. 

Rifle Availability

Buying an excellent high quality manufacturing facility rifle in both chambering isn’t a lot of a problem. In reality the choices are practically countless if you need a manufacturing facility goal rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, or a searching rifle chambered in both 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 PRC. You identify the producer they usually seemingly have a goal targeted Creedmoor and a light-weight searching variant. One solely must do a fast on-line search to uncover a plethora of choices.

We’re within the glory days of rifles. Rifle actions and barrel selections are plentiful if you wish to construct your individual. Many shooters are choosing barreled actions and shopping for their very own inventory or chassis, bolting them collectively and making a “personalised” rifle versus a conventional customized construct. In reality the rifle that I used for reviewing each the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC searching masses was the identical Falkor MT-7 motion, fitted with completely different Proof Analysis prefit barrels. I merely torqued off the 6.5 Creedmoor barrel, and torqued on the 6.5 PRC, and changed the bolt (I ordered two bolts with the Falkor motion). The outcomes converse for themselves whenever you take a look at my outcomes. If I can do that, anybody can.

I also needs to point out the distinction in magazines in the event you go for a removable journal in your rifle. You’ll want to make use of a .300 WSM journal for the 6.5 PRC, whereas the 6.5 Creedmoor makes use of an AICS journal except the rifle requires a proprietary kind journal.

Learn Subsequent: Best 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles

Capturing the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor

Years in the past, after having a 6.5 Creedmoor constructed with a barrel from a benchrest-focused producer, I shot teams utilizing seven completely different manufacturing facility masses (one five-shot group per load, per rifle). Whereas I can’t discover the goal (this was a while in 2017), I bear in mind particularly that the general group measurement common was sub .6 inches. So I got down to attempt that fast spot examine once more utilizing a target-focused rifle and a lighter, hunting-focused rifle, for every chambering, for a complete of 4 completely different rifle setups.

My method was fairly easy and easy. I fired one five-shot group of every kind of ammunition via every rifle, using the goal masses within the goal rifles, and the searching masses within the searching rifles. The one exception to this was a further five-shot group shot via the shorter barrel of the searching PRC utilizing the 147 gr. ELD-M goal load. I did this as a result of I needed to know the way a lot slower the heavy goal load could be from the shorter barrel. Velocities had been collected for every load utilizing the superb Garmin Xero chrono.

Goal Rifle 1

6.5 Creedmoor, Falkor Seven motion, Falkor Chassis, Proof SS Competitors Profile barrel (1:8), Timney Set off, Leupold MK5HD 7-37x56mm, MDT Ckyepod, 23 lbs.

Goal Rifle 2

6.5 PRC, trued Remington 700 motion, Hawk Hill Customized MTU profile barrel (1:7.5), Timney Set off, Steiner T6xi 5-30×56, MDT Ckyepod, 20 lbs.

Searching Rifle 1

6.5 Creedmoor, Falkor MT-7 motion, AG Composite AG Hunter fiberglass inventory (no bedding), Proof Prefit 24” Sendero profile barrel (1:8), Set off Tech Set off, Leupold MK5HS 3-18x44mm, Atlas bipod, Elite Iron Asset Lite suppressor, 11lb flat.

Searching Rifle 2 

Similar as searching rifle 1, swapped out prefit barrel, bolt, and journal for six.5 PRC chambering. 

These rifles are on the reverse ends of the rifle spectrum particularly whenever you think about goal ammo versus searching ammo, however I used to be really fairly stunned by the outcomes. With eight completely different Creedmoor manufacturing facility masses shot via the goal rifle, and 6 completely different masses shot via the searching rifle, the numbers weren’t too far aside. Common group measurement of all of the goal load teams was .712 inches whereas the searching load group was 1.02 inches. Had I finished at six masses with the goal rifle, the outcomes would have been even nearer.

I also needs to observe that I shot the goal rifle at 30x magnification (approach an excessive amount of magnification) on the optic whereas I maxed out the hunter’s optic at 18x with comparable damaged reticles. Level of influence didn’t shift a lot both, and I maintained the identical level of goal on the backside tip of the diamond on every goal.

6.5 PRC outcomes had been somewhat extra stunning. Sadly I solely had one goal load, the 147 gr. ELD-M from Hornady. It managed a .527-inch five-round group. The searching rifle, with 4 completely different masses averaged .70 inches with a better of .65 inches from Hornady’s Clothes shop 130 grain CX. That’s simply insane to me. A barrel I threaded on the night time earlier than, after capturing the 6.5 Creedmoor, circled and averaged sub 3/4 MOA. No customized work. No handloading, fiberglass inventory, with no bedding. The 20-inch CF barrel did hand over velocity although, with roughly a 250 fps drop in common velocity. With 4 inches much less barrel, the 6.5 PRC is mainly a 6.5 Creedmoor with extra recoil.

Last Ideas on the 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor

The .264 is a good and confirmed caliber. Like anything it has its efficiency limitations. For goal capturing in both chambering, it’s correct and fairly exact. Recoil turns into an element with the 6.5 PRC and solely in light-weight rifles.

For searching functions, larger velocities needs to be maintained for effectiveness no matter which chambering you select. The good thing about the PRC is that you may run shorter rifles, thus maintaining the general size extra manageable even whereas suppressed. This can be a huge deal for a lot of hunters. If that’s your objective, chances are you’ll need to restrict your recreation to particular sizes, and be extra conservative along with your capturing distances. Ultimately, shot placement is king. Apply accordingly.