Ideal barrel length for 6.5 PRC?

tRidiot

Perpetually dissatisfied
Minuteman
Jan 4, 2020
252
925
I see some people running up to 26".

I'm planning on ideally going out to really long distance, well over 1000 yards, I CAN shoot out to 1500 locally if I ever get that good. I am probably going with a Defiance Deviant Tactical LA so I can load the heavier bullets out to a longer COAL over 2.95". I looked into the XM length, but the chassis options are extremely limited, so I think the LA is going to be a better option for me, and from what I can find there aren't any real detrimental reasons not to use a LA, are there?

But the question is barrel length - my smith thinks I need to go pretty long. He says the PRC works best with the slower burning powders and with a longer barrel I will get the best results - of course, if I make it longer, I can always have it cut down later if I want to.

So, any advice? Like I said, my ultimate goal is really way out past 1000 yards, I'd like to be able to max out my local 1500 yard range - although I am realistic and realize that is going to take a lot of work and be a long time from now. I'm not being glib about it at all, but I do think I should be able to get out to 1k fairly soon - in the next couple of months.

So those of you running the 6.5 PRC, what barrel length do you have and what would you cange about it now that you have used it for a while, and has anyone experimented with the heavier longer bullets, longer barrel and very long distances?
 
I personally build my PRC to be a light weight hunter so i went with a 24" proof and because its purpose built to be light I wouldnt change anything about it. I lose roughly 40fps compared to the 26" guys. If you are building it specifically for long range targets and weight and maneuverability aren't issues then I would go with a long action with a 26-28" barrel. I have a 6.5x284 norma built on a 28" barrel that ive taken to a mile but with that being said I could easily take my 24" barreled PRC to a mile as well its just going to take a couple more clicks. If you can shoot accurately at 1000 and have your load worked out with low ES its really not all that different at 1500.