Guide

6.5 PRC Ammo 2026: Hunting and Match Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 17 current 6.5 PRC loads on Federal's, Hornady's, Nosler's and Berger's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 5 from Federal, 5 from Hornady, 4 from Nosler and 3 from Berger. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 4 makers, not every 6.5 PRC load sold.

Grouping follows the usage label Federal prints on their own pages ("Big Game" or "Competition, Target Shooting"). Hornady, Nosler and Berger are listed in their own tables, because Hornady and Berger print no usage label, and Nosler uses a different one ("Deer Sized Game" or "Elk/Moose Sized Game"). The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses.

Hunting loads

These are the loads Federal label Big Game on their own pages. The labels read "Big Game, Long Range". Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal ELD-X	6.5 PRC	P65PRCELDX1	143 gr ELD-X	2,900 fps	2,670 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Fusion Rifle	6.5 PRC	F65PRCFS1	140 gr Fusion Soft Point	2,925 fps	2,659 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Fusion Tipped Rifle	6.5 PRC	F65PRCTFS1	140 gr Fusion Tipped	2,975 fps	2,751 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Terminal Ascent	6.5 PRC	P65PRCTA1	130 gr Terminal Ascent	3,000 fps	2,598 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Federal Trophy Copper	6.5 PRC	P65PRCTC1	120 gr Trophy Copper	3,050 fps	2,478 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line, such as Precision Hunter, Outfitter, American Whitetail and Match. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady American Whitetail Tipped	6.5mm PRC	81624	129 gr SST® American Whitetail® TIPPED	3,120 fps	2,788 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Match	6.5 PRC	81620	147 gr ELD® Match	2,910 fps	2,764 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Outfitter	6.5 PRC	81622	130 gr. CX® Outfitter®	2,975 fps	2,555 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Precision Hunter	6.5 PRC	81621	143 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter®	2,960 fps	2,782 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady V-Match	6.5mm PRC	81627	100 gr ELD-VT® V-MATCH®	3,450 fps	2,642 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page

Nosler loads

Nosler lists a use line on each page ("Deer Sized Game" or "Elk/Moose Sized Game"). The status is from Nosler's online store. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each page's ballistics table.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Nosler Ballistic Tip	6.5 PRC	43457	140 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting	2,900 fps	2,614 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Out of stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Expansion Tip	6.5 PRC	40688	120 gr Expansion Tip	3,100 fps	2,560 ft-lb	24 in	20	In stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond	6.5 PRC	61014	140 gr AccuBond	2,900 fps	2,614 ft-lb	24 in	20	Out of stock (Nosler store)
Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond Long Range	6.5 PRC	61232	142 gr AccuBond Long Range	2,900 fps	2,651 ft-lb	24 in	20	In stock (Nosler store)

Berger loads

Berger's pages list a "20ct" part number, which we show as the item number and a 20-round box, and the muzzle velocity and energy from its specification list or ballistics table. They show no stock status.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Berger Elite Hunter	6.5 PRC	50020	140 gr Elite Hunter	3,000 fps	2,798 ft-lb	26 in	20	No status shown on maker page
Berger Elite Hunter	6.5 PRC	50010	156 gr Elite Hunter	2,900 fps	2,914 ft-lb	26 in	20	No status shown on maker page
Berger Hybrid Target	6.5 PRC	50030	153.5 gr Hybrid Target	2,900 fps	2,876 ft-lb	26 in	20	No status shown on maker page

Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures in each maker's ballistics table. Test barrel is the length the maker lists. "Box" is the round count per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it changes daily. All pages checked November 4, 2026.

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Loads in our table run from 100 gr to 156 gr. The lightest is Hornady V-Match (81627) and the heaviest is Berger Elite Hunter (50010). The fastest listed muzzle velocity is 3,450 fps, Hornady V-Match 100 gr (81627), from a 24 in test barrel. The highest listed muzzle energy is 2,914 ft-lb, Berger Elite Hunter 156 gr (50010), from a 26 in test barrel. Because test barrels differ or are not listed, compare across makers with care.

The makers label loads for game or for target use. They don't tell you one weight is right for a species. The right choice depends on bullet construction, range and your state's rules. Check your state hunting rules and your state wildlife agency before you buy.

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 17 loads, 8 list 24 in, 6 list no test barrel, 3 list 26 in. The loads with no test barrel are from Federal and Nosler. A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for rifle cartridges such as the 6.5 PRC is 24 in.

No barrel-length-velocity page exists yet for the 6.5 PRC. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers other cartridges. The closest we have is 6.5 Creedmoor barrel length data for the 6.5 Creedmoor, a different cartridge, so do not read its numbers as 6.5 PRC data.

6.5 PRC: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "6.5 PRECISION RIFLE CARTRIDGE [6.5 PRC]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 06/13/2018 and revised 11/18/2021. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 650 in psi/100). Crusher pressures are not established. Its reference velocity, measured at 15 feet from the SAAMI test barrel, is 2,900 fps for a 147 gr bullet. Cartridge overall length runs from 2.755 in minimum to 2.955 in maximum. Case length is 2.030 in (−.020), and bullet diameter is .2644 in (−.0030). Bore is .256 in and groove is .264 in, with 6 grooves and a twist of 1 in 8.00 in, right-hand (marked optional). The SAAMI velocity and pressure test barrel is 24.000 in (±.010) with 6 grooves and a 1:8.00 twist. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF.

SAAMI says all standard rifle test barrels are 24 in long and that exterior ballistic data for centerfire rifle cartridges is based on that length. Its listed exceptions (7.62x39, 277 Sig Fury, 30 Carbine, 300 AAC Blackout, 300 HAM'R, 350 Legend, 350 Remington Magnum, 360 Buckhammer, 400 Legend and 44 Remington Magnum) do not include the 6.5 PRC.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: we opened 14 Winchester rifle pages whose item numbers start with 270 (or are the 6.5 PRC item RED65PRC) on Nov. 4, and every one said "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no Winchester figures to copy.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we did not verify its product pages.
Remington: Remington's rifle caliber menu lists no 6.5 PRC page, so no Remington 6.5 PRC load is in the table.
Barnes, Browning, Norma and others: not checked this round, so none are in the tables.
Federal: Federal's custom-shop pages (FCS65PRC) print no velocity or energy, and Federal's unprimed brass is a component, so none are in the tables. Federal's loads were found through its sitemap, caliber pages and site search, so a load missing from those would not be here.
Hornady: loads come from Hornady's product sitemap, so a load missing from that sitemap would not be in the table.
Test barrels and stock status: Federal and Nosler pages list no test barrel on some loads, and Hornady's and Berger's pages list no stock status.

Rifles for 6.5 PRC

The 6.5 PRC is a rifle cartridge, and the loads in the tables run from 100 gr to 156 gr. See also new rifle releases and the new hunting rifles of 2026.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal and Nosler show availability on their own product pages (Nosler shows it in its online store). Hornady and Berger's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see 6.5 Grendel ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 7mm PRC ammo, .300 PRC ammo, .308 Win ammo, 7mm Rem Mag ammo, the barrel length vs velocity data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

More comparisons: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5 PRC.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for 6.5 PRC?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 65,000 psi for 6.5 PRC, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 650 in psi/100).

What grain is 6.5 PRC ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 100 gr to 156 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.

How fast is 6.5 PRC ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 2,900 fps to 3,450 fps, and muzzle energies from 2,478 ft-lb to 2,914 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box.

Do you list prices or stock for 6.5 PRC ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's and Berger's pages show none.

6.5 PRC Ammo 2026: Hunting and Match Loads From the Makers

Hunting loads

Hornady loads

Nosler loads

Berger loads

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

6.5 PRC: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for 6.5 PRC

Where to buy

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Hunting loads

Hornady loads

Nosler loads

Berger loads

Which bullet weight? What the makers' numbers show

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

6.5 PRC: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for 6.5 PRC

Where to buy

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report