Ok I am finally getting to the point I can finish my PRS bolt rifle build. I have an MDT ACC chassis. Using a Terminus Zeus QC action and will probably get a barrel from Josh at patriot Valley Arms. I intend to go to 6mm GT. What should I look for as optimal barrel length? Probably going to go with an M24 barrel profile. Or should I just go with a 24" 6.5 Creedmore barrel until I finish my reloading set up in a few months?
PRS Rifle Build
- Thread starter cobra655
- Start date
Call and talk to Josh if you haven't. When I talked to him a few months ago when peicing together my first "PRS" rifle and not reloading yet he was a big fan of 6mm creedmore. I ended up coming across a good deal on a used proof 6.5cm that was readily available so I grabbed that to start. He took time out of his busy day to talk to me for a good 10 minutes and next barrel will almost certainly be from him. As far as barrel length and contour, 26" and Proof Comp Contour would be my choice.
26” is an easy length or if you wanted free velocity and a little more weight out front then go 28”. ETA M24 is a lighter option or you could go heavier if you wanted more weight up front. MTU or Comp contours will work too.
With factory ammo out there for the 6GT now you could go that route without loading but same for the 6.5 Creedmoor. You can get both barrels and easily swap them out also as everything is the same on the rifle but the barrel and ammo going between the two.
With factory ammo out there for the 6GT now you could go that route without loading but same for the 6.5 Creedmoor. You can get both barrels and easily swap them out also as everything is the same on the rifle but the barrel and ammo going between the two.
26" is the most common barrel length I see in the sport. Most guys also work up in barrel profile over time and end up at 1.25" straight tubes or a straight taper to 1.1" at the muzzle (me included).
I started on a 6.5 creed, went to a GT, and now I'm working on building a 6.5 creed along side my GT. Most factory ammo sucks in any caliber, but there are more and better options in a 6.5 creed. I think the factory GT ammo is pretty bad considering what the cartridge is capable of.
I started on a 6.5 creed, went to a GT, and now I'm working on building a 6.5 creed along side my GT. Most factory ammo sucks in any caliber, but there are more and better options in a 6.5 creed. I think the factory GT ammo is pretty bad considering what the cartridge is capable of.
Love my 6 Creedmoor ( as well as my 22 Creedmoor) but I would go for the 6 GT. I would also go for a heavy Varmit (About the same as MTU) barrel. The Creedmoors go through barrels much faster that the 6 BR or the 6 GT.
That depends on how you load for the 6 Creed. Load it down to where the 6GT is and they will last longer. Run them at 3150fps and you will burn them faster. That is how it got the barrel burner rep back when people shot close to the 3200fps limit. They don’t anymore.
Yeah mine is running about 3150ish. My daughter shoots it and is happy so that means I am Happy. 
Barrel contour these days is really about overall finished build weight. With your average competition chassis(before weight kits), an ATACR, G3, Khales 25x or 35x scope, heavy unimount, and M24/ Heavy Palma, muzzle brake, bipod you're looking at about 18 - 20lbs. That's on the lighter side of a PRS comp rifle. 10 years ago it would be considered heavy but today people are running 23 -28lbs. That's why CRB Comp or the Proof Heavy Comp barrels are more common than ever. You can certainly add weight by buying a weight kit, but it's additional money to get there and you can only stack so many weights on most chassis. Weight in the barrel is free weight. No cost difference between an M24, MTU, Comp, Heavy Comp barrel. And you will only be able to add about 4lbs in a lot of the common weight kits. Some more, some less. I would err on the side of a heavier barrel and then fine tune my weight with additional side or forend weights as necessary.
Here's a sample of weight measurements for you.
XLR Envy Pro C6 with PRS weight kit package($460), Comp contour 25" barrel, Hawkins updraft, single pull CkyePod, NF ATACR, Hawkins Heavy Tactical mount, TL3 : 24lbs
Zermatt TL3, ATX chassis with folder, NF 7x35 ATACR, Hawkins Heavy Tactical mount, Hawkins Updraft brake, CkyePod, 26" CRB Comp, 4.5lbs of side and fore end weights($400): 26lbs
Zermatt TL3, ATX chassis w folder, NF 7x35, Hawkins Heavy Tactical mount, 26" Heavy Palma, TBAC U9, CkyePod: 19lbs
ATACR in Hawkins mount: 3.5lbs
Single pull CkyePod: 1.5lbs
AICS mag: 6oz
Hawkins updraft brake: 6.5oz
Envy Pro before weight kits: 4lbs
PRS Comp package: 6.5lbs
Zermatt TL3 action: 32oz
26" M24(0.920 at the muzzle): 6lbs
26" Proof Comp contour (1.000 at the muzzle): 6.5lb
26" CRB Comp contour (1.125 at the muzzle): 7.5lb
Average precision rifle suppressor with cover: 1lb
1.2" straight tube barrels are an option but they can run into fitment issues with certain chassis and shrouds. The CRB Comp or Proof Heavy Comp contour at 1.1" muzzle is kind of the best of both worlds in fitment free and max weight.
As far as cartridge I think you could go either way on 6.5CM or 6CM. I haven't seen barrel life be all that significant between a 6 Creedmoor vs a 6GT. I have seen more variability in barrel life from barrel to barrel more so than cartridge to cartridge. I just had a 6Dasher go out at 1400rds. I would favor 6GT over 6CM for recoil purposes but I think you need to be reloading. I guess there's technically 6GT loaded factory out there but it ain't like the availability and price of CM. Maybe there's an advantage of going 6CM so as you begin accumulating reloading gear and eventually decide to go 6GT you can at least have the efficiency of 6mm bullet commonality. Regardless, when you get to 500-600 rds get your next barrel in the queue.
Here's a sample of weight measurements for you.
XLR Envy Pro C6 with PRS weight kit package($460), Comp contour 25" barrel, Hawkins updraft, single pull CkyePod, NF ATACR, Hawkins Heavy Tactical mount, TL3 : 24lbs
Zermatt TL3, ATX chassis with folder, NF 7x35 ATACR, Hawkins Heavy Tactical mount, Hawkins Updraft brake, CkyePod, 26" CRB Comp, 4.5lbs of side and fore end weights($400): 26lbs
Zermatt TL3, ATX chassis w folder, NF 7x35, Hawkins Heavy Tactical mount, 26" Heavy Palma, TBAC U9, CkyePod: 19lbs
ATACR in Hawkins mount: 3.5lbs
Single pull CkyePod: 1.5lbs
AICS mag: 6oz
Hawkins updraft brake: 6.5oz
Envy Pro before weight kits: 4lbs
PRS Comp package: 6.5lbs
Zermatt TL3 action: 32oz
26" M24(0.920 at the muzzle): 6lbs
26" Proof Comp contour (1.000 at the muzzle): 6.5lb
26" CRB Comp contour (1.125 at the muzzle): 7.5lb
Average precision rifle suppressor with cover: 1lb
1.2" straight tube barrels are an option but they can run into fitment issues with certain chassis and shrouds. The CRB Comp or Proof Heavy Comp contour at 1.1" muzzle is kind of the best of both worlds in fitment free and max weight.
As far as cartridge I think you could go either way on 6.5CM or 6CM. I haven't seen barrel life be all that significant between a 6 Creedmoor vs a 6GT. I have seen more variability in barrel life from barrel to barrel more so than cartridge to cartridge. I just had a 6Dasher go out at 1400rds. I would favor 6GT over 6CM for recoil purposes but I think you need to be reloading. I guess there's technically 6GT loaded factory out there but it ain't like the availability and price of CM. Maybe there's an advantage of going 6CM so as you begin accumulating reloading gear and eventually decide to go 6GT you can at least have the efficiency of 6mm bullet commonality. Regardless, when you get to 500-600 rds get your next barrel in the queue.
I feel 26 inch of beat length for speed and maneuvering the rifle. I recently went from a 6.5cm to 6BRA and had Josh spin my up a 26in proof competition contour. It’s a hammer! Like it so much I just ordered 2 more barrels the same way.
Don’t chase too much velocity, it will actually hinder you and wear your barrels out faster. That’s why I chose the BRA. Accurate, easy to load for, and better barrel life. Allows you to practice more. Just some things to consider.
Don’t chase too much velocity, it will actually hinder you and wear your barrels out faster. That’s why I chose the BRA. Accurate, easy to load for, and better barrel life. Allows you to practice more. Just some things to consider.
