An Introduction to the 6.5 PRC

Hunters and competition shooters are abuzz with one of the newest cartridges to hit the market: the 6.5 PRC. You may have visited your local bullet supplier in Canada and saw the shelves advertising this same cartridge (or not, depending on how ammunition supplies are faring). If you want to get up to speed about all the hype, here is an introduction to the 6.5 PRC.

The 6.5 PRC was developed by George Gardner in 2018. His goal was to design a cartridge that would be a proven contender in competition shooting. This is partly where the “PRC” designation comes from: it stands for “Precision Rifle Cartridge.”

In competition settings, shooters are not allowed to use bullets that are larger than .308” or have a velocity higher than 3,200 feet per second. Working within these limitations, Gardner set out to design a cartridge that would provide a distinct advantage.

The Winning Features

Gardner’s testing and engineering created a formidable contender--both at the range and on the hunting grounds. The 6.5 PRC has many attractive features in a cartridge, including:

Compatibility with Short-Action Rifles: The 6.5 PRC fits in rifles that cycle faster than their long-action relatives. This allows for rapid-fire shots in competition while giving hunters more flexibility when readying follow-up shots.

Desirable Ballistics: Compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5 PRC travels at a higher velocity. In other words, 6.5 PRC has lower bullet drop and can resist wind drift, allowing for more accurate shooting.

Conclusion

A faster and more energetic bullet has its advantages in competition and hunting. However, it also has a fair amount of drawbacks. Rifle barrels that mainly run 6.5 PRC will wear out faster than those chambering 6.5 Creedmoor. If you are a competitive shooter, the potential accuracy advantage of 6.5 PRC will cost more in maintenance and upkeep.

Regardless, 6.5 PRC might be a good alternative if you want get the most performance from your rifle. When shopping for firearms supplies, be on the lookout for this optimized rifle cartridge.