The 6.5mm Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC are new arrivals on the ammunition market. While the 6.5mm caliber has been around since 1891, these two cartridges are the reinvention of this caliber specifically designed for long range precision shooting.
Even though they look alike, there are differences between the two that can mean the difference for many shooters. Let’s understand what they are, and how you should pick one between these two.
TL;DR: 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 PRC | 6.5mm Creedmoor |
---|---|
Pros | Pros |
Incredible long range accuracy (1,500+ yards) | Light cartridge apt for medium and long range uses |
Powerful enough for big game hunting at medium range | Wide assortment of bullets and rifles to choose from |
Longer effective range | |
Cons | Cons |
Fewer bullet and rifle options | Better and popular alternatives are present in the same range |
Ammo is pricey and limited availability | Short barrel life |
Short barrel life | Lower stopping power than comparable counterparts |
Best For | Best For |
Long and ultra-long range shooting and hunting | Versatile round good for hunting, long range shooting, and even tactical use in semi-auto rifles |
History
The 6.5mm Creedmoor was developed in 2007 by Hornady and it hit the market in 2008 after approval by S.A.A.M.I. The cartridge quickly gained popularity among the hunting and long-range shooting community. It was also adopted by a few sniper units of the U.S military, which proves its might.
The 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is a relatively new round and it hit the shelves of gun shops in 2018. It was developed by G.A Precision and exclusively designed for long and ultra-long range accuracy.
Dimensions of 6.5 PRC vs 6.5mm Creedmoor
Both these rounds use a 0.264 inch diameter bullet, which is nothing new among hunters in the United States. The 6.5 PRC is based on the .30 Thompson Center case and the 6.5 PRC used the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum case. Both these cartridges have the same shoulder angle of 30 degrees, but the 6.5 PRC has a fatter and marginally longer case that allows it to hold more powder.
Both these rounds are meant for short actions and the available bullet weights range from 90 to 156 grains. However, bullets weighing between 140 and 150 grains are the most common. The incredible ballistic coefficients and sectional density (penetrating power) of these bullets are the winning factors.
Ballistics of 6.5 PRC vs 6.5mm Creedmoor
Since these cartridges use the same bullets and they have been designed for long-range use, you can expect high ballistic coefficients from both of them. The velocity of these rounds (at similar bullet weights) is comparable, although the 6.5 PRC flies about 250 - 300 fps faster than the 6.5 Creedmoor.
The clear reason for this is the higher case volume of the 6.5 PRC which holds more powder and translates to higher velocity and energy. So it is a flatter shooting round at long range.
6.5 PRC vs 6.5mm Creedmoor Ballistics Chart
Pic Credit: Federal Premium
Barrel Life Comparison
The exceptional long-range performance of both these rounds comes at the cost of barrel life. The 6.5mm Creedmoor has a maximum barrel life of 2,500 rounds until its amazing accuracy starts fading off. The 6.5 PRC has an even shorter barrel life of max. 2,000 rounds because of the higher chamber pressure (65,000 psi).
However, this short barrel life does not impact the wallet of an occasional hunter, but hurling many rounds downrange will prove expensive for recreational or competition shooters.
Ammunition Selection
There are about 14 factory loads available for the 6.5 PRC and about 60-70 for 6.5mm Creedmoor on the market. The 6.5mm Creedmoor has been around for a while and has reached the far corners of the country with many handloaders getting a chance to experiment with it. The 6.5 PRC is relatively new with fewer rifle options and you may not find ammo in every gun store.
Additionally, if you choose the 6.5 PRC, you should start learning a thing or two about handloading.
Rifle Selection
Almost every major rifle manufacturer offers a rifle chambered for the 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5 PRC is mostly limited to bolt action rifles and you’ll occasionally encounter any semi-auto models (like an AR-10 chambered for it). Whereas the 6.5mm Creedmoor has a more versatile rifle selection including bolt-action and semi-auto models.
Relevant Characteristics: 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 PRC | Specs | 6.5mm Creedmoor |
---|---|---|
Cell | ||
2,925 ft/s (w/ 140 gr FSP) | Velocity (at muzzle) | 2,750 ft/s (w/ 140 gr JSP |
2,659 ft-lbf (w/ 140 gr FSP) | Energy (at muzzle) | 2,351 ft-lbf (w/ 140 gr JSP) |
2.955” | Overall Length | 2.825” |
65,000 psi | Maximum Pressure | 62,000 psi |
143-147 gr | Common Bullet Weights | 143-147 gr |
1,200 yards+ | Maximum Effective Range | 1,200 yards |
Key Differences Between 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Creedmoor
Here are a few differences between the 6.5 PRC and 6.5mm Creedmoor which can mean the difference in some situations:
Dimensions
The 6.5 PRC is a longer and fatter cartridge compared to the 6.5mm Creedmoor. While both are suitable for short-actions, the 6.5 PRC is slightly bigger and holds more powder. This difference in case capacity is the prime reason for its better performance over the 6.5mm Creedmoor.
Velocity and Energy
The 6.5 PRC has almost 300 fps higher velocity and 250-300 fpe (foot pound energy) more energy compared to the 6.5mm Creedmoor at any given range. The 6.5 PRC stays supersonic at about 1,650 yards, whereas the 6.5mm Creedmoor drops below those speeds at about 1,475 yards.
Staying supersonic helps a round with stability and predictability in accuracy at any given range. This small but significant difference in the velocity and energy gives the 6.5 PRC an edge over the 6.5mm Creedmoor.
Recoil
A 7 lbs rifle chambered for the 6.5 PRC generates about 16 ft-lbs of recoil energy. A similar rifle chambered for the 6.5mm Creedmoor generates about 12 ft-lbs of recoil energy. This difference makes the 6.5mm Creedmoor rifle more controllable and comfortable to shoot during long sessions.
Advantages of 6.5 PRC
- Flatter trajectory, less wind drift, and longer effective range
- Higher velocity with more retained energy at any given range
- Amazing performance at long and ultra-long distances
Advantages of 6.5mm Creedmoor
- Amazing round for long range hunting
- Also works well in semi-auto rifles due to short size and low recoil
- Impressively accurate out to 1,300 yards
Use-Case Comparison: 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor
The most realistic comparison of these two rounds is to understand their effectiveness in their apt use cases. Their real-life performance on the ground is eventually all that matters. So let’s find out which of these rounds comes up as the winner in different situations.
Long Range Use
The 6.5mm Creedmoor and the 6.5 PRC mostly use the same bullets with equal ballistic factors such as ballistic coefficient and sectional density. However, the 6.5 PRC is undoubtedly a better long range round when compared to the 6.5mm Creedmoor.
The reason is its longer effective range, flatter trajectory, and lesser wind drift. All thanks to the higher case capacity which allows its bullets to be propelled at higher velocities. The recoil of the 6.5 PRC is also manageable for a seasoned long-range shooter.
While the 6.5mm Creedmoor is also a long-range round, it has about 300 yards shooter supersonic range than the 6.5 PRC. If you are shooting out to 1,000 or 1,200 yards, you can go for the 6.5mm Creedmoor, but the 6.5 PRC is the jack of all trades in long-range shooting.
Winner: 6.5 PRC
Hunting
While the 6.5 PRC hasn't had enough time to establish itself on the market, the 6.5mm Creedmoor has become a favorite among hunters in the country. Despite other popular cartridges such as the .308 Win, .270 Rem, and .30-06 Springfield, the 6.5mm Creedmoor has earned a good reputation, particularly among handloaders.
It is worth noting that the 6.5 PRC offers more power and accuracy compared to the 6.5mm Creedmoor. When it comes to hunting, both cartridges are excellent choices for deer hunting.
However, if you plan to hunt big game, the 6.5 PRC has the advantage of a longer effective range. On the other hand, the 6.5mm Creedmoor offers a wider variety of bullet options, making it a better choice for hunting overall.
Additionally, most hunting is typically done within 250 yards. Both of these rounds carry sufficient energy to take down an elk-sized game at that range.
However, when comparing the two, the 6.5mm Creedmoor has more bullet and rifle options available, making it the more versatile round of the two.
Winner: 6.5mm Creedmoor
Final Thoughts: 6.5 PRC vs 6.5mm Creedmoor
The 6.5 PRC and 6.5mm Creedmoor fire the same bullets, but what differentiates them is their case capacity. The 6.5 PRC holds more powder which allows its bullets to shoot at a higher velocity and energy at any point than the 6.5mm Creedmoor. The 6.5 PRC is certainly better than the 6.5mm Creedmoor in range, accuracy (trajectory), and stopping power.
On the other hand, the 6.5mm Creedmoor has more bullet and rifle options, and a more versatile use case. It is comparatively closer to the other popular versatile rounds like the .308 Win and .264 Win.
People Also Ask!
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about these cartridges.
6.5 PRC vs 6.5mm Creedmoor at 1000 yards?
Using similar bullet weights (140 grains) and types (soft point), at 1,000 yards, the 6.5 PRC drops 347.2 inches and has about 480 ft-lbs energy. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a drop of 402.4 inches and 422 ft-lbs energy. Both these rounds stay supersonic at 1,000 yards, but 6.5 PRC has better drop and energy numbers.
6.5 PRC vs 6.5mm Creedmoor Recoil Difference?
The 6.5 PRC has a little more recoil than the 6.5 Creedmoor due to its higher pressure, volume, and velocity.