How long until the 6.5 PRC takes off ?

[Llama Bob]

If you’ve missed the many publications of statistics for the last several years pointing out the massive decline in hunter recruitment, you must have been living under a rock.

Oh I haven't "missed" them. I'm just waiting to see desirable tags going unclaimed. Until then I strongly suspect people are reacting to the massive pressure on public hunting lands. It's difficult to argue something is declining when there's a giant line waiting for it.

 

[Varminterror]

Oh I haven't "missed" them. I'm just waiting to see desirable tags going unclaimed. Until then I strongly suspect people are reacting to the massive pressure on public hunting lands. It's difficult to argue something is declining when there's a giant line waiting for it.

The cited declines are always in hunting licenses. For example, nationwide, there was a 20% decrease in license sales from 2011 to 2016 (OL article). MNDNR reported 2019 as a 20 year low, following consistent decline of hunting/small game licenses.

Sure, limited tags are still being claimed, but fewer folks are hunting overall. More problematic are two trends - 1) the proportion of young hunters is falling, as new hunters are not being recruited, and 2) conservation funds are struggling as less and less revenue crosses their desk from licenses each year.

You’re kidding yourself, maybe pulling the rock over your own hole, if you have missed these stats. Hunting is hurting in a bad way.

 

[Legionnaire]

Stage of life and career have eaten my time to hunt. Retirement is a few years away, but then I plan to get back to it and once again get my certification as a hunter safety instructor. I enjoy introducing others to hunting almost as much as I enjoy being afield.

To the real point of the thread, I recently acquired a Bergara HMR Pro in 6.5 PRC; stuck an Area 419 Hellfire brake on it. I've only had it to the range a couple of times to date, but I've smiled all the way home each outing. I don't care whether it becomes popular or not; I probably have enough brass to wear out the barrel, and if I can still get brass at that point, I'll rebarrel in the same cartridge.

 

[MCMXI]

300 PRC has far more interests to me than 6.5 PRC but I don't have much use for it. I would like a big heavy chassis gun in 300 PRC with some obnoxious 34-35mm dia tube optic on it. But what am I going to use it for?

I have an Accuracy International AWM chambered in .300 Win Mag with an obnoxious 34mm tubed Premier Reticles optic mounted. I have two Lothar Walther barrels for that rifle and it's a pity that I couldn't have one of them reamed to work with the .300 PRC. The twist rate might be too slow so maybe that would have been a non-starter from the get go. I am going to look into maybe getting a .300 PRC barrel for it though, once I've checked to see if the magazine would work. SAAMI shows a max length of 3.700" for the .300 PRC and the AWM .300 Win Mag magazines are long enough for .338 Lapua Mag so maybe it'd work.

 

[LoonWulf]

I have an Accuracy International AWM chambered in .300 Win Mag with an obnoxious 34mm tubed Premier Reticles optic mounted. I have two Lothar Walther barrels for that rifle and it's a pity that I couldn't have one of them reamed to work with the .300 PRC. The twist rate might be too slow so maybe that would have been a non-starter from the get go. I am going to look into maybe getting a .300 PRC barrel for it though, once I've checked to see if the magazine would work. SAAMI shows a max length of 3.700" for the .300 PRC and the AWM .300 Win Mag magazines are long enough for .338 Lapua Mag so maybe it'd work.

Id think the mags would work fine. I run .338 Ultra magazines for my .375 ruger with a coal of 3.55 and Ive got plenty of space to go out if need be. If the .338 lapua fits, the ultra would fit.
The only hang up ive seen with the .375 ruger is that its just fat enough, with just enough less taper that it dosent like double stack belted mag boxes. Ive tried it in every one i could find and it will almost always jam. I doubt youd have an issue with a single stack tho.
The 300PRC is on my play with list also, seems like just about the right capacity and length for the heavy .30s

 

[MCMXI]

The 300PRC is on my play with list also, seems like just about the right capacity and length for the heavy .30s

I measured some .338 LM and .300 Win Mag AWM magazines. The only difference is the height of the magazine with the .338 being taller to allow five rounds to fit (shown at rear in photo below). The inside length dimension is 3.640" for both so a little short of the SAAMI max cartridge length. Do you happen to know the COAL of the Hornady 225gr match ammunition?

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/300-prc-225-gr-eld-match#!/

Proof offers pre-fit 300 PRC barrels for the AWM ... sure would be interesting to compare to the .300 Win Mag.

 

[LoonWulf]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw1YwR8OMTM9FG-gVWszYCaJ

Hornadys supplement 300prc data. They list 3.685 as the COAL tested for the 225s or heavier.

You might check with Proof to see what they throat their barrels at. They might have a better idea of where you'd actually be at.

 

[MCMXI]

Hornadys supplement 300prc data. They list 3.685 as the COAL tested for the 225s or heavier.

You might check with Proof to see what they throat their barrels at. They might have a better idea of where you'd actually be at.

Interesting. So that ammunition wouldn't fit in my magazines. I'll have to do some more research before I spend $$$$ on a 300 PRC barrel. As you mentioned, talking with Proof would be a good start.