6.5 PRC Ballistics Tables From Major Ammunition Manufacturers

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Sep 23, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "6.5 PRC Ballistics Tables From 9 Biggest Ammo Brands"
(https://ammo.com/ballistics/6.5-prc-ballistics)

Congrats! You found our in-depth look at 6.5 PRC ballistics from the leading ammo manufacturers.

Save time by clicking the links below to jump to your preferred ammo company and find the ballistic specs you need for your favorite 6.5 PRC factory load. Looking to purchase any of these rounds? Browse our complete selection of 6.5 PRC ammo in stock and ready to ship.

6.5 PRC Ballistics Charts

Barnes Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Barnes VOR-TX 6.5 PRC 127 Grain LRX BT Ballistics Chart

Barnes VOR-TX 6.5 PRC 130 Grain TSX BT Ballistics Chart

Barnes Precision Match 6.5 PRC 145 Grain OTM BT Ballistics Chart

Berger Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Berger 6.5 PRC 140 Grain Elite Hunter Ballistics Chart

Berger 6.5 PRC 156 Grain Elite Hunter Ballistics Chart

Browning Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Browning Long Range Pro Hunter 6.5 PRC 140 Grain TGK Ballistics Chart

Browning Max Point 6.5 PRC 140 Grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Federal Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Federal 6.5 PRC 120 Grain Trophy Copper Ballistics Chart

Federal 6.5 PRC 130 Grain Terminal Ascent Ballistics Chart

Federal Fusion 6.5 PRC 140 Grain SP Ballistics Chart

Federal 6.5 PRC 143 Grain ELD-X Ballistics Chart

Hornady Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Hornady Outfitter 6.5 PRC 130 Grain CX Ballistics Chart

Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 Grain ELD-X Ballistics Chart

Hornady 6.5 PRC 147 Grain ELD Match Ballistics Chart

Norma Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Norma Whitetail 6.5 PRC 140 Grain SP Ballistics Chart

Norma Bondstrike Extreme 6.5 PRC 143 Grain Ballistic Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Nosler Expansion Tip 6.5 PRC 120 Grain E-Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 PRC 140 Grain AccuBond Ballistics Chart

Nosler 6.5 PRC 140 Grain Ballistic Tip Ballistics Chart

Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 PRC 142 Grain AccuBond LR Ballistics Chart

Remington Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Remington Premier CuT 6.5 PRC 130 Grain Copper Tipped Ballistics Chart

Remington Premier Long Range 6.5 PRC 140 Grain Impact Ballistics Chart

Remington Premier Match 6.5 PRC 140 Grain OTM Ballistics Chart

Remington Core-Lokt Tipped 6.5 PRC 140 Grain Polymer Tip Ballistics Chart

Winchester Ammunition Ballistics - 6.5 PRC

Winchester Copper Impact 6.5 PRC 125 Grain Copper Extreme Point Ballistics Chart

Winchester Match 6.5 PRC 140 Grain MatchKing HPBT Ballistics Chart

Winchester Expedition Big Game 6.5 PRC 142 Grain AccuBond LR Ballistics Chart

Administrative Note: The information above comes from the manufacturers. The ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and load. When manufacturer data were unavailable, ballistics were calculated using a ballistics calculator.

6.5 PRC Ballistics Trajectory Chart

A bullet’s trajectory is its flight path to the target. Shooters measure trajectory in various ways, including inches of bullet drop, milliradians (MIL), and minutes of angle (MOA).

A flat trajectory is preferred for long-range shooting because it requires the marksman to make fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge and 308 Winchester, with their high ballistic coefficient (BC) projectiles that exhibit relatively little drop at long range, are excellent examples of rifle cartridges with flat trajectories.

The 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge was conceived as a long-range rifle cartridge. It’s no surprise that its high BC bullets are ridiculously flat shooting and minimally affected by wind drift. Most 6.5 PRC loads drop less than 40 inches at 500 yards.

Below is a sample 6.5 PRC bullet drop chart that gives you a general idea of its trajectory.

Note: The chart above is an example of one 6.5 PRC load. Actual ballistic performance may vary depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions while shooting.

6.5 PRC Velocity

A bullet’s muzzle velocity is the rate at which it exits the barrel, measured in feet per second (fps).

A longer 6.5 PRC rifle barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as the exploding propellant has more time to exert its energy against the projectile. The Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 grain ELD-X bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2,960 fps (out of a 24-inch barrel), which is about average for 6.5 PRC bullets.

Bullet weight and design significantly affect how much velocity a projectile will exhibit downrange. For example, lighter bullets tend to have higher velocities than heavier bullets, and polymer-tipped hollow point boat tail projectiles tend to conserve velocity more efficiently than traditional soft point bullets.

At 500 yards, the 143 grain ELD-X bullet conserves a velocity of approximately 2,248 fps.

Handloaded ammunition can achieve higher velocities than factory-loaded ammo, which is just one reason why reloading is so popular among competitive shooters. While it saves some money, producing enough rounds to justify it does require a time investment. For safety’s sake, we always recommend following your reloading manual’s instructions.

6.5 PRC Energy

Muzzle energy is the force a bullet possesses when it exits the rifle barrel. It is measured in foot-pounds (ft-lbs).

Heavier bullets tend to have higher muzzle energy. A projectile’s velocity plays a significant role, which is why lighter projectiles can have a higher muzzle energy than heavier ones. For example, the Nosler 142 grain AccuBond LR has a muzzle energy of 2,651 ft-lbs, and the Browning Max Point 140 grain Polymer Tip has a muzzle velocity of 2,949 ft-lbs.

Heavier projectiles conserve their energy more effectively downrange. The Nosler 142 grain AccuBond LR has a velocity of 1,513 ft-lbs at 500 yards, whereas the Browning Max Point 140 grain Polymer Tip has a velocity of 1,437 ft-lbs at 500 yards.

In a typical Christensen Arms, Savage or Weatherby bolt-action hunting rifle, the 6.5 PRC cartridge has a felt recoil of about 22 ft-lbs. This is reasonable for short-action rifles, but it is still more than the 6.5 Creedmoor.

6.5 PRC Effective Range

This new cartridge is worth considering if you’re looking to reach distant ranges with lower accompanying recoil than long-action rifles typically generate.

It has excellent terminal performance for ethically harvesting mule deer, whitetail deer, and other medium-sized American game animals at long distances.

Seasoned hunters can effectively take game animals at 750 yards with a high-quality 6.5 PRC rifle and round.

Target shooters, such as those who want to participate in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), will also enjoy the 6.5 PRC. It’s accurate out to 1,000 yards, and boasts longer barrel life than magnum cartridges.

How Do 6.5 PRC Ballistics Compare to Other Rifle Cartridges?

If you’re wondering how this new cartridge compares to some of the most proven rifle cartridges, such as the 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, 270 Winchester or 7mm Remington Magnum, then you’re in luck. We’ve gathered the ballistics of several other rifle rounds and directly compared them to the 6.5 PRC below.

6.5 PRC vs. 6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics Chart

We stock a full range of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo if you want to shoot the cartridge for yourself.

6.5 PRC vs. 308 Ballistics Chart

Browse our complete selection of 308 Winchester ammo in stock and ready to ship.

6.5 PRC vs. 7mm Rem Mag Ballistics Chart

For load-by-load numbers on the magnum, see our full 7mm Rem Mag ballistics tables.

6.5 PRC vs. 270 Win Ballistics Chart

Our 270 Winchester ballistics page carries the same chart-by-chart breakdown for every major 270 Win load.

This article is an integral part of our expansive ballistics chart resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

The team at Ammo.com has gathered and answered some of the most commonly asked questions about 6.5 PRC ballistics.

What is the effective range of a 6.5 PRC?

The effective range of a 6.5 PRC is about 750 yards for hunting and 1,000+ yards for target shooting.

What is a 6.5 PRC equivalent to?

The 6.5 PRC is similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x284 Norma, and 7mm PRC.

Does the 6.5 PRC kick more than 308?

No, the 6.5 PRC does not kick more than a 308. They have roughly the same amount of recoil.

Is 7mm better than 6.5 PRC?

The 7mm Rem Mag is better than the 6.5 PRC for elk hunting at extended ranges, whereas the 6.5 PRC is better than the 7mm Rem Mag for target shooting.

Written by

Wes Littlefield