Optimal 6.5 PRC barrel length
- Thread starter Eamonn100
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troy fairweather
Member
Like most cartridges longer the better for speed, the 6.5 prc seems to do well with 24" tubes. I can hit 3k with 147s in mine. For use with a suppressor I'd think 20-22" would be ok, think I'd go 22" with a can, should be pretty close to 24" speeds. Tho if your just shooting paper or steel and don't mind the extra drop you could go shorter, but then maybe a creedmoor makes more sense .
So if I went for a 28" barrel... it's not going to drop off in speed? I'll just get more speed?
28" is not near when length becomes a hindrance to speed?
horsemen61
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I went with a 20 inch barrel I suppress it everytime I use it
troy fairweather
Member
Long barrels don't play well with Suppressors.
horsemen61
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^^ This all day my PRC was a26 inch barrel with a 7 inch Can it was awful so I had it cut back to 20 inches and I love it now
How was it awful? Please give me some details?
Are you doing long-range target shooting with 20" barrel and a suppressor?
troy fairweather
Member
Barrel will whip like a wet noodle.
Gtscotty
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Most folks aren't shooting LR matches with the PRC, at least from what I've seen at the local long range, it's more popular for hunting or crossover. What range are you shooting at, and what is your use, are you shooting matches, plinking steel...etc?
I have 24 and 26 inch barrels that I shoot suppressed for longer range, and have used in a few PRS style matches, but they're inconvenient for anything else and are certainly not what I'd use for a general purpose or hunting rifle. On the other side, I've shot my 18" 6mm ARC and 6.5 creeds out to 1,000 yds and they are still usable there, and much better for everything else, but wouldn't be my choice for a dedicated match rifle. With an 18" or 20" PRC, you should be able to equal or better the velocities on a long barrel Creed, which is plenty capable at whatever range you're likely to shoot at, while still being handy with a suppressor mounted.
There is some good info on shorter barrel builds in this thread with some PRCs in the range mentioned above, with velocities, etc.
16-18 inch shorty rifles
Only way to get one is a TS customs build or impact precision gets some from him for impact actions but few and far between
www.snipershide.com
Chuck R.
Member
A really good way to "visualize" the effect of a shorter barrel is to use a ballistic program and input both expected velocities.
Come up with some comparison criteria such as; MPBR, energy, drop, and the max range that you'll get guaranteed expansion.
Then check out the effect of the delta in MV due to barrel length. Once you realize that the 2-3" shorter barrel equals something like 30 yds in MPBR and expansion distance, it makes the decision easier.
Come up with some comparison criteria such as; MPBR, energy, drop, and the max range that you'll get guaranteed expansion.
Then check out the effect of the delta in MV due to barrel length. Once you realize that the 2-3" shorter barrel equals something like 30 yds in MPBR and expansion distance, it makes the decision easier.
I will be wanting to shoot my 6.5 PRC out as far as posssible. I won't be doing matches, but I will be out in the middle of nowhere shooting targets/steel.
My rifle will be 6,5 PRC because I want it to do both hunting and target shooting. I will learn target shooting, (500 meters to 1200 meters). Then after a few years start hunting.
Is changing barrels, (a long one for target shooting and a short suppressed one for hunting) a way to go about it?
I've read that longer barrel give you move speed... More speed = more accuracy. Do people do long range target with suppressors? I can leave my suppressor for the hunting barrel.
Thanks I will check out the link you gave me.
My rifle will be 6,5 PRC because I want it to do both hunting and target shooting. I will learn target shooting, (500 meters to 1200 meters). Then after a few years start hunting.
Is changing barrels, (a long one for target shooting and a short suppressed one for hunting) a way to go about it?
I've read that longer barrel give you move speed... More speed = more accuracy. Do people do long range target with suppressors? I can leave my suppressor for the hunting barrel.
Thanks I will check out the link you gave me.
How about if my 28" barrel is carbon fiber and the suppressor is 374.2137 grams?
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horsemen61
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How about if my 28" barrel is carbon fiber and the suppressor is 374.2137 grams?
Banish 30 Gold Package – Silencer Central
Shipped to YOUR Front Door. Nation’s Best Selling Multi-caliber 100% Titanium User-Servicable Silencer. Tested Quietest & Lightest. Pay While You Wait!
I wish you the best of luck I have no idea about carbon fiber
marksman13
Member
Speed does not equal accuracy. Not by a long shot (pun intended). Speed equals less drop and wind deflection if all other things are equal. If hunting is ANY part of the equation, ditch the idea of going with a barrel any longer than 24” and I would honestly try to stay closer to 22”. It’s just a cumbersome beast and the extra inches of barrel are not worth the awkwardness of carrying around what is essentially a 35”-37” barreled rifle with a counter weight stuck on the end of it.
The stock will be folding and I won't mind the extra inches.
Also the stock will be close to 26 ounces/737.088 grams.
HNT26 Chassis System
The first purpose-built hunting chassis from MDT. Weighing in starting at 26oz (for chassis stock, buttstock, forend and pistol grip combined), this is the most ultra-light hunting rifle chassis on the market.
mdttac.com
"ballistic program"?? Can you recommend one for me?
"Once you realize that the 2-3" shorter barrel equals something like 30 yds in MPBR and expansion distance"... In layman's/beginner terms? Sorry and please?
marksman13
Member
In layman’s terms you are giving up about thirty yards of ground in a hunting situation by going with a shorter handier rifle. It’s well worth the trade off. I’ve run suppressors on 26” barreled hunting rifles. I no longer own a rifle with a barrel over 24” and I wish the 24” barrel was 22”, but I’m not willing to spend the money to re-barrel it. A folding stock honestly is not going to make a long barreled rifle with a suppressor any easier to hunt with. I’m not telling you what to do with your money, but I’ll tell you from experience, suppressor owners end up with shorter barrels unless they are truly looking for a competition rifle to squeeze every bit of velocity out of a given cartridge and in those cases, they generally aren’t using suppressors.
Chuck R.
Member
I use Strelok Pro, but there's multiple available on line.
MPBR is Maximum Point Blank Range, which is a sighting method to maximize the distance you can shoot at a given target size without being x amount of inches high, or low. Basically a dead hold = so many yards. A lot of guys no longer use it, but it can be used as an evaluation criteria, just like energy or MV at a certain distance.
So, IF you calculate MPBR for a 6" TGT, the program will calculate a maximum distance the you can sight in for that will ensure your trajectory doesn't go higher that 3. something inches, nor lower than 3. something inches and it will give you that range. The higher MV will give you a flatter trajectory and an increased MPBR.
Minimum Expansion velocity is the bullet manufactures recommended minimum impact velocity at which there bullet will expand.
A general school of thought is an inch of barrel usually equals about 30 FPS all things being equal (but they never are.)
These are just examples I'm making up:
So, if your 26" barrel is supposed to get 3000 FPS, you could expect around 2940 from a 24" barrel in theory. ( the only real way to know is to chronograph it.)
You plug 3000 FPS with a given bullet it and run a ballistic chart, which will give you your drop at distance, MV and energy.
You plug in your 2940 FPS same bullet, same weather and you run another ballistic chart.
IF your manufacturer recommends 1800 FPS for reliable expansion, each starting MV will have a different distance when it falls below that number. 3000 might get you 650yds, while 2940 gets you 607 yds.
IF you've set your minimum energy criteria to be 1000 lbs, each MV (or load, or barrel length for this) will have a different distance when it hits that and drops below.
Again the higher MV will have more retained energy over distance.
Same with MPBR, each barrel length and subsequent velocity will have its own MPBR, the longer barrel/higher MV will have a greater distance.
Taking the above into consideration will give you an idea of the performance you're trading for the shorter barrel.
So when you crunch the numbers, you might well decide that the trade-off for a few yards in effectiveness is worth it for some increased portability and some weight savings.
Saying I want as much MV as possible briefs well, until you're dragging a 26" barreled rifle into a blind to make a 100+ yard shot.
It's just a way to visualize the effect..
C-grunt
Member
Like others have said, a good long barrel is great for target shooting but will be a hinderance when out hunting with it. Add a suppressor on the end and it gets worse.
Some barrel lengths like 22 inches are a good trade off. A 22 inch 6.5 PRC will easily get you to 1200 meters if you have the skill. Ive shot farther with a 22 inch 6.5 Creedmoor which pushes a 140 grain bullet at around 2720 FPS.
Changing barrels for each application is definitely an option, but actions and pre-fit barrels for that are going to cost some good money. The quick change barrel in my Accuracy International AT works great and is very easy to do. But that rifle weighs way to much to take hunting.
Some barrel lengths like 22 inches are a good trade off. A 22 inch 6.5 PRC will easily get you to 1200 meters if you have the skill. Ive shot farther with a 22 inch 6.5 Creedmoor which pushes a 140 grain bullet at around 2720 FPS.
Changing barrels for each application is definitely an option, but actions and pre-fit barrels for that are going to cost some good money. The quick change barrel in my Accuracy International AT works great and is very easy to do. But that rifle weighs way to much to take hunting.
I like long barrels, most of mine are 24-26", and I dont find them unreasonably difficult to use even in very thick cover. Stick a suppressor on the end of a 26" though and I dont think it would be nearly so comfortable even with my preference of using long tubes.
LocoGringo
Member
Basically, you're trying to do two different things with one rifle and a periodic alteration (suppressor). Something has to be compromised. You've got to decide what is more important and focus on that. Firearms are tools...fit the right tool to the task.
Long range is not hunting and a suppressor alters things, especially on long barrels. You're probably looking at 2 rifles.
Long range is not hunting and a suppressor alters things, especially on long barrels. You're probably looking at 2 rifles.
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