Did the pandemic slow the growth of the 6.5 PRC?

[horsemen61]

Ok guys doing some mental gymnastics here with a friend and we got on the subject of the 6.5 PRC and he asked the question “If not for the Pandemic would the 6.5 PRC be more established”?

so I ask you would the 6.5 PRC enjoyed more growth if not for the pandemic and become widespread such as the 6.5 Creedmoor did?

 

[someguy2800]

It will never reach the popularity of 6.5C. Many people will buy it because it’s a thing to have but so few people actually need such a thing.

6.5 PRC is to 6.5 creedmoor as 300 win mag is to 308 win.

 

[Goosey]

Didn't have the original 6.5 excitement as it was just a Creedmoor follow-up, it doesn't have the same appeal, it's a magnum, not as well-balanced, shorter barrel life and .532" bolt face.

 

[Tirod]

Larger bolt action rounds won't break out since they can't be used in an AR15. When I first started shooting .308 was considered a bit small, .30-06 a start, and it worked up to 8mm Remington Magnum. All for large game.

Another forum recently asked what was being used - for American large game - and it ran from .223 to .300 BO. Things have changed, altho the minimum necessary force for elk, bear etc haven't. What has are who is hunting, and the larger or more dangerous game isn't typically considered. The whitetail population has increased - in MO it's now being harvested at 6X the rate of the 1970's. That has focused most Americans on cartridges that handle it.

 

[troy fairweather]

The prc has been more popular from the start then the creedmoor was, the 6.5cm took some time to take off. The 6.5 prc is probably the most popular 6.5 with a magnum bolt face now, it won't ever be as popular as a standard bolt face rifle tho.

 

[JDeere]

Just another 6.5 in Magnum and it's all about marketing. The 6.5 creed is a fine long range round in which it was developed for. The creed has been marketed well and that is what it is all about. Most of your average Hunters/shooters will do just fine with a ,30 or 7MM cal rifle. Not to mention .308 ammo is widely available at this point in time of limited availability.

 

[Riomouse911]

With all of Tio Jose’s (Federal) and here in Ca Tio Gavin’s (State) stimulus money that was bandied about during the pandemic, I would think that people with extra cash in pocket would’ve bought even more of them than in regular times. (Tio Gavin just sent out another $600 bucks just a few weeks ago.)

Like the guys said; it doesn’t offer what the Creedmoor round does (effectiveness in the hunting/target arena with very low recoil) so it will remain a choice of the magnum crowd.

Stay safe.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'm thinking the lockdown (loss of income) slowed down everything especially consumer spending.

 

[sequins]

I think PRC is a niche round. 6.5cm is very popular but still not as popular as 30 cal at least at my local plinking distance ranges.

I see 6.5cm at these ranges too, but a dasher or PRC or 6mm are rare for sure. The appeal of a 800yd round is just fundamentally limited.

 

[Robert]

Never heard of it.

 

[Dr T]

My reaction to the introduction was...YAWN, another new greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread cartridge. But, I have only been shooting for about 60 years.

And we went through this sort of thing about a decade ago with the WSM and then the WSSM rounds.

 

[Chuck R.]

Never heard of it.

Neither has probably most of the hunters/shooters that don't frequent gun forums or get the latest gun rag...

Even for the guys that do frequent boards, watch youtube, read magazines etc. the majority of those are stuck on 100-300yd ranges and really can't utilize the benefits of a 6.5PRC other than putting even more expensive holes in paper.

 

[Laphroaig]

The 6.5PRC's main attraction is to hunters who need/desire a cartridge that will kill stuff bigger than deer. Its a great solution for that use. However that demographic is much smaller than deer hunters/target shooters who don't need or want the extra power.

Niche.

 

[CapnMac]

Probably the biggest detriment would be all the other 6.5/7mm rounds presently available.

There's easily a half-dozen choices that are within a millimeter of each other, and all with very similar performance, too.

 

[Robert]

Neither has probably most of the hunters/shooters that don't frequent gun forums or get the latest gun rag...

Even for the guys that do frequent boards, watch youtube, read magazines etc. the majority of those are stuck on 100-300yd ranges and really can't utilize the benefits of a 6.5PRC other than putting even more expensive holes in paper.

I can barely afford to feed the rifles I have. If I jumped on every new have to have caliber that came out we'd starve. I'm sure it's very good at what it does. But so are my 308s. So I'm good. That's the beauty of firearms, there are ones to fit everyone's need and there is no wrong answer.

 

[someguy2800]

Seams like a excellent cartridge for the purpose it was designed for and if I had any inclination that I needed a tool for that job I would probably buy one or something like it. I had a 6.5x284 and I thought that was way overkill for what I wanted to do with it. The fields just aren’t that long here.

 

[Thomasss]

There are too many calibers in that realm and not enough interest. Several gun reviews have called the 6.5 PRC a "30.06 magnum". If that is true, then what about a Remington .280 or 7mm mag. The 7mm mag was also dubbed a ".30-.06 mag" And many people have found the Rem. .280 a nice alternative, although not very common any more. I am getting tired of all the manufacturers coming out with new cartridges expecting one to be "the magic bullet" that wins everyone's heart.

 

[Armorer 101]

The PRC is not a scratch for any itch I have or ever had.

 

[kmw1954]

Just came across this and after ready It makes me also wonder.
I have a rifle I am slowly building based on a Savage Model 11 receiver. I purchased it as a barreled action, looking mainly for the action, bolt, trigger. and with the intention that the 20" 243 barrel would be going away. This would be a cheap short range bench rifle to be used at 100/200/300 yard range targets and an informal league. The guys I talk with at the range that shoot this league are mostly shooting some form of 6mm, a few 308 and a couple 300WM..

After talking to a good number of the league members and hearing the history it seems at first most were shooting some form of 308 or 300 and then moved to the 6.5 and then to the 6mm. so it struck me why isn't anyone shooting a 25 at this range? Now I am leaning from going from 6BR to maybe a 250 Savage. Also it is in-between the 6.5CM and the 6mm XC. So why not?

 

[troy fairweather]

Just came across this and after ready It makes me also wonder.
I have a rifle I am slowly building based on a Savage Model 11 receiver. I purchased it as a barreled action, looking mainly for the action, bolt, trigger. and with the intention that the 20" 243 barrel would be going away. This would be a cheap short range bench rifle to be used at 100/200/300 yard range targets and an informal league. The guys I talk with at the range that shoot this league are mostly shooting some form of 6mm, a few 308 and a couple 300WM..

After talking to a good number of the league members and hearing the history it seems at first most were shooting some form of 308 or 300 and then moved to the 6.5 and then to the 6mm. so it struck me my isn't anyone shooting a 25 at this range? Now I am leaning from going from 6BR to maybe a 250 Savage. Also it is in-between the 6.5CM and the 6mm XC. So why not?

Because most 25 cal bullets suck, 6mm has proven it's worth.

 

[kmw1954]

So I am told. There are many new high BC 25cal bullets coming into the market, Berger has a number of them. Also this will not be trying to contend with the very long ranges (500-1k yds) that many are trying to achieve.

 

[troy fairweather]

So I am told. There are many new high BC 25cal bullets coming into the market, Berger has a number of them. Also this will not be trying to contend with the very long ranges (500-1k yds) that many are trying to achieve.

It's more then bc the 25 kinda falls in a weird spot where even the bullet construction isn't as good. 277 fall in the same spot.

 

[JFrank]

I would like it more if it had a 35 degree shoulder angle similar to a WSM . Other than I think of it as a Creedmoor on steroids.

 

[LoonWulf]

My experience is that the 6.5PRC is a fine round for someone who wants "just a bit more" than the CM can put out, but dosent want to deal with the Medium length action the 6.5-284 requires. the -284 made a run also but never really took off....
Ive had both at the same time, and the PRC IS capable of besting the 6.5-284 by a bit, but If you REALLY want to turn up the gas then a hot .264WM is where to start.

Part of my thinking as to why It WONT take off, is that like other folks have said, most people dont need/want to deal with more than the 6.5CM, 308, or .243.
I do think the sudden shortage hurt the sales to guys like me who ARE interested in trying new things to see if possibly they do something that we have already doesn't.....When you cant get brass, dies or ammo, it kinda kills ones interest in a "curiousity"

 

[JFrank]

@LoonWulf
It would also be near impossible to De thrown the 300 WSM as Heavy Gun king of the bench rest world or even be competitive in Light gun against the 6 mm's so that leaves prs or hunting.