Thread: 6.5 PRC itch

I love my 6.5x55’s. The Tikka/vortex combo took a very heavy Marlborough stag last roar. The old Swede variants I own have young fullas salivating at the range. It’s even better when they see how well they shoot. Luckily I have reasonable supplies of reloading components.

We have a few Tikka offerings in the 6.5 PRC and I am seriously considering getting into one. Ammo is an issue, however, as horrible as it sounds, being in the industry at times has its perks.

I can feel that itch...but for me it makes no sense compared to my 284. A couple of foot pounds of recoil difference, less barrel life and a smaller hole from a projectile with similar BC.

I'm running the 153 Atip at 2950 with rl26 from 22
6.5Saum may have a touch more horsepower but not a lot in it and will have the same problem with supply of components.
And give it a couple of months and factory PRC ammo will be on the shelves again but not 6.5 Saum.
Naturally a 7mm bullet will be better than a 6.5 terminally just as a 30cal is better than a 7mm.
A large part of me going 6.5 after years of 30cal was so my Son could shoot it.
I have a reduced load with 129 interlock he shoots that barely recoils more than his 223, tho that said he shot his last deer with my full power load and handed it alright which couldn't be said for my 30-284 pushing 178g at 3k.

If you have a hankering I say go for it....by the time you get the rifle sorted the next shipment will have arrived.

I'm surprised that there's not been consideration of a short action 270 .... like 270/284 or 270 SAUM. Yes, the 270WSM has been around for a while & is available but its a bit more of step up in powder capacity & recoil.
And there's not been a great selection of high bc pills for the 'ol 270 until recently. Still not brilliant but I bet you can find a better selection of 270 pills in NZ now days compared to 6.5. And terminal performance is pretty well established in the traditional 270.
A short barrel (18 - 20in) 270/284 would be an interesting project.

@chainsaw https://www.gameandfishmag.com/edito...rtridge/387680

More of an issue getting a fast twist .277 barrel I think

Originally Posted by chainsaw

I'm surprised that there's not been consideration of a short action 270 .... like 270/284 or 270 SAUM. Yes, the 270WSM has been around for a while & is available but its a bit more of step up in powder capacity & recoil.
And there's not been a great selection of high bc pills for the 'ol 270 until recently. Still not brilliant but I bet you can find a better selection of 270 pills in NZ now days compared to 6.5. And terminal performance is pretty well established in the traditional 270.
A short barrel (18 - 20in) 270/284 would be an interesting project.

Originally Posted by Kelton

@chainsaw https://www.gameandfishmag.com/edito...rtridge/387680

More of an issue getting a fast twist .277 barrel I think

Ryan on here obviously had the 27 Nosler built, with a fast twist barrel to shoot the 170gr Elite Hunters. I ended up buying that rifle for the action/trigger/stock and brake and its now a 300 RUM. Even when pushing the 170 gr at 3200-3300 fps the 27 Nosler still fell short of the ballistics of my 28 Nosler running a 195gr Elite Hunter at 3100.

So even with the best .277 cal bullets currently available, it still doesn't make sense compared to its 7mm counterpart. So i'd imagine a 270/284 or a 270 Saum would be equally a waste of time, best to stay with 7mm or 30 cal or larger for LR hunting IMO

Originally Posted by chainsaw

I'm surprised that there's not been consideration of a short action 270 .... like 270/284 or 270 SAUM. Yes, the 270WSM has been around for a while & is available but its a bit more of step up in powder capacity & recoil.
And there's not been a great selection of high bc pills for the 'ol 270 until recently. Still not brilliant but I bet you can find a better selection of 270 pills in NZ now days compared to 6.5. And terminal performance is pretty well established in the traditional 270.
A short barrel (18 - 20in) 270/284 would be an interesting project.

6.8 Western is trying to do this, but suspect it won't take off!