6.8 Western vs 6.5 PRC

Deerhntr71

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2015
Posts
134
Likes
6
Points
118
Location
North Dakota
Considering a Browning X-Bolt Speed in 6.8 Western or 6.5 PRC. Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on these two calibers.
 


7mmMag

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2015
Posts
951
Likes
129
Points
228
Location
SE ND
Depends on what your intentions are. The 6.8 is designed for 165-175 grain bullets and the 6.5 is designed for 140-147 grain bullets. The 6.5 will be flatter shooting because of the higher velocity and because .264 bullets has better BC than .277 bullets. The 6.8 will obviously have more kinetic energy though. The 6.8 will have a lot more recoil.
 

Kurtr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
18,240
Likes
1,973
Points
648
Location
Mobridge,Sd
The 156 Bergers in the prc are nasty. My brother has the browning and it’s a nice gun.
 

remm

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
May 18, 2015
Posts
1,127
Likes
59
Points
213
Location
Devils Lake
Not sure how ammo availability is right not for the 6.8 but good luck finding any 6.5prc if you don't reload.
 


SupressYourself

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2015
Posts
2,012
Likes
420
Points
333
Location
Not where I'd like to be
6.8 / .277 anything is for the gays. Fight me.


Unless Elk or Moose are also in play, 6.5 Creed is more than enough gun, friendlier to shoot, and gives you far more options for both guns and ammo.
 

Wall-eyes

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
965
Likes
349
Points
253
Both great as said above one little heavier bullet than other. For all the hunting I have done with pops over the years DYI or guides. Being able to shoot the gun accurately with the biggest bullet to take the game down instantly. Not alot of difference between the two I have looked into it before. I bought my kid the 280 nosler. He is a big man and has shoot a lot of my big calibers with EZ. I put in a lot of money, time and when that animal of a lifetime comes out I want it dead. BIGGER IS BETTER.
 

Callem'In

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Posts
644
Likes
17
Points
158
Location
Eastern ND
I shoot a 6.5 PRC and as Kurtr said the 156 Bergers are a knock out. Mine shoots great to 1000 with Hornady ELD-X, and the Bergers, Shoot not quite as well with the 140 Federal Terminal Ascent, but still fine for most people. Ammo availability is going to be key in this debate, even for reloaders as good components are hard to come by.
 

svnmag

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Posts
16,890
Likes
2,400
Points
773
Location
Here
6.8 / .277 anything is for the gays. Fight me.


Unless Elk or Moose are also in play, 6.5 Creed is more than enough gun, friendlier to shoot, and gives you far more options for both guns and ammo.


Pretty much what I was going to say. Although betraying my NDA secret code name, current ammo/scopes render anything "hotter" unnecessary for deer. Time to freshen my eye liner and retie the manbun. FWIW, I'll still tote the mag for the foreseeable future. I can shoot it. We're a good couple. I know her moods.
 

hoythunter

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Posts
48
Likes
6
Points
88
I've got a hells canyon 6.5 prc tried real hard to get it to shoot 140 accubonds never could get a load figured out (its twisted fast). Couldnt get it to group with the factory eldx ammo either. Sent it back to browning and they wouldnt tell me what they did to it but they got it to shoot factory hornady (i couldn't when it came back). My cousin took it and got a load developed using the 143's havnt picked it up yet but hopefully good to go now. I find myself grabbing my Tikka 7mag over it for hunting every time.
 


Kurtr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
18,240
Likes
1,973
Points
648
Location
Mobridge,Sd
I've got a hells canyon 6.5 prc tried real hard to get it to shoot 140 accubonds never could get a load figured out (its twisted fast). Couldnt get it to group with the factory eldx ammo either. Sent it back to browning and they wouldnt tell me what they did to it but they got it to shoot factory hornady (i couldn't when it came back). My cousin took it and got a load developed using the 143's havnt picked it up yet but hopefully good to go now. I find myself grabbing my Tikka 7mag over it for hunting every time.

it doesn’t like light bullets at all. Push the 156 Bergers or 147eldm and it will shoot them good.
 

SupressYourself

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2015
Posts
2,012
Likes
420
Points
333
Location
Not where I'd like to be
Pretty much what I was going to say. Although betraying my NDA secret code name, current ammo/scopes render anything "hotter" unnecessary for deer. Time to freshen my eye liner and retie the manbun. FWIW, I'll still tote the mag for the foreseeable future. I can shoot it. We're a good couple. I know her moods.

The 7mm Rem Mag is often overlooked because the design is a bit dated, but it's a great long range choice. I'm launching a 180 ELDM at 3020 fps. That'll shoot flatter than a 300 PRC (or 300 Win Mag) with a 225 ELDM out to nearly 2000 yards, and do it with about 10% less powder.
 
Last edited:

Kurtr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
18,240
Likes
1,973
Points
648
Location
Mobridge,Sd
The 7mm Rem Mag is often overlooked because the design is a bit dated, but it's a great long range choice. I'm launching a 180 ELDM at 3020 fps. That'll shoot flatter than a 300 PRC (or 300 Win Mag) with a 225 ELDM out to nearly 2000 yards, and do it with about 10% less powder.

My brother got some 245 berger eol for his 300 prc those are some thumpers. he pushes the 250 atips at 2650 so should be a little faster with the bergers
 

JMF

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
May 19, 2015
Posts
1,700
Likes
69
Points
248
Location
Mandan
The 7mm Rem Mag is often overlooked because the design is a bit dated, but it's a great long range choice. I'm launching a 180 ELDM at 3020 fps. That'll shoot flatter than a 300 PRC (or 300 Win Mag) with a 225 ELDM out to nearly 2000 yards, and do it with about 10% less powder.

What powder are you using?
 


svnmag

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Posts
16,890
Likes
2,400
Points
773
Location
Here
The 7mm Rem Mag is often overlooked because the design is a bit dated, but it's a great long range choice. I'm launching a 180 ELDM at 3020 fps. That'll shoot flatter than a 300 PRC (or 300 Win Mag) with a 225 ELDM out to nearly 2000 yards, and do it with about 10% less powder.


Holy hell. Truthfully I'd be a bit skairt to touch that sumbitch off. I'll stick with the Fusion 150's at 3110. 3in high @ 100 in the boiler room to 350. Kills 'em extra dead.
 

bucksnbears

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
May 16, 2015
Posts
2,027
Likes
473
Points
333
Location
Moorhead
Just get a plain old .270/7mag and live life.
Most people by these "new" cartridges to say "I've got this new cartridge ":;:exactly
 

PrairieGhost

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
May 15, 2015
Posts
10,329
Likes
684
Points
443
Location
Drifting the high plains
The 7mm Rem Mag is often overlooked because the design is a bit dated, but it's a great long range choice. I'm launching a 180 ELDM at 3020 fps. That'll shoot flatter than a 300 PRC (or 300 Win Mag) with a 225 ELDM out to nearly 2000 yards, and do it with about 10% less powder.

I'm 74 years old with rotator surgery in both shoulders, and still you just made me want another rifle. I wish my 270 had a faster twist becausevI have had my eye on heavy bullets for a few years. I have never owned a .284 in anything. At my age with artificial knees I think my mountain hunting may be over, but I would like a 7msg just because.
 

SDMF

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
10,908
Likes
620
Points
438
I wish my 270 had a faster twist because I've have had my eye on heavy bullets for a few years.

Re-barrel w/1:7 or 1:8. Chamber to 270Win so you can continue to use the brass you already have.

140gn Badlands Super BullDozer @3050-3150 via r26 from a 22" bbl.

Thank me later.

Regarding the OP, nobody would want to have to make a living on the difference between the 6.5PRC vs. 6.8 Western as it applies to actually killing game. Personally if faced with only those 2 choices I'd opt for the PRC as my gut tells me it'll have greater commercial support in the long-term both ammo and brass availability will be better w/the PRC.
 


Recent Posts

Friends of NDA

Top Posters of the Month

  • This month: 167
  • This month: 137
  • This month: 121
  • This month: 110
  • This month: 105
  • This month: 88
  • This month: 84
  • This month: 79
  • This month: 76
  • This month: 76
Top Bottom