How long is a 6.5 PRC rifle? A typical 6.5 PRC rifle with a 24-inch barrel is 44 to 45.25 inches long (111.76 to 114.94 cm). It weighs about 6 to 8.5 pounds (2.72 to 3.86 kg) unloaded, depending on the model.
The 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) was introduced by Hornady in 2018. It was designed to give hunters and long-range shooters a 6.5mm cartridge with meaningfully more velocity than the 6.5 Creedmoor, while still fitting in a short-action rifle. Almost every 6.5 PRC rifle is a bolt-action hunting or long-range rifle, and the standard barrel length is 24 inches, which is why most of them measure 44 to 45.25 inches from butt to muzzle.
6.5 PRC Rifle Length at a Glance
| Measurement | Inches | Centimeters | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel length (standard rifle) | 24 in | 60.96 cm | 609.6 mm |
| Overall length, 24-inch barrel (typical) | 44–45.25 in | 111.76–114.94 cm | 1117.6–1149.4 mm |
| Overall length, 20-inch barrel (Ruger American Gen II) | 41.75 in | 106.05 cm | 1060.5 mm |
| Overall length, 22-inch barrel (Bergara Platinum Stalker) | 39.75 in | 100.97 cm | 1009.7 mm |
| Overall length, 26-inch barrel (Ruger Precision Rifle) | 45.25 in | 114.94 cm | 1149.4 mm |
| Overall length, folded chassis (Christensen MPR) | 34 in | 86.36 cm | 863.6 mm |
| Cartridge overall length (max) | 2.955 in | 7.51 cm | 75.1 mm |
| Cartridge case length | 2.030 in | 5.16 cm | 51.6 mm |
| Bullet diameter | 0.264 in | 0.67 cm | 6.7 mm |
Quick tip: overall length changes with the stock and the barrel. Two rifles with the same 24-inch barrel can differ by more than an inch, so always check the manufacturer’s listed overall length for the exact model.
How Long Is a 6.5 PRC Rifle with a 24-Inch Barrel?
A 6.5 PRC rifle with a 24-inch barrel is 44 to 45.25 inches long. That is 111.76 to 114.94 centimeters, or 3.67 to 3.77 feet. The 24-inch barrel itself is 60.96 centimeters (609.6 mm) long, which is exactly 2 feet.
Most 24-inch 6.5 PRC rifles on the market fall inside this range. For example, the Winchester XPR measures 44 inches, the Mossberg Patriot and the Savage 110 Apex Hunter XP both measure 44.25 inches (112.40 cm), the Winchester XPR Renegade LR measures 44 inches, the Christensen Arms MPR measures 44.75 inches (113.67 cm) with its stock extended, and the Savage 110 High Country measures 45.25 inches (114.94 cm). The range is narrow because these rifles all share the same layout: a 24-inch barrel, a short-action receiver, and a standard hunting stock. The difference between 44 and 45.25 inches is 1.25 inches, which comes down to stock design and whether a muzzle brake or thread protector is fitted.
6.5 PRC Barrel Lengths: 20 Inches, 22 Inches, 24 Inches and 26 Inches
The 6.5 PRC was designed around a 24-inch barrel, and that is the length most factory rifles use. Shorter and longer barrels exist for special jobs, and each one changes the overall length.
- 24-inch barrel: the standard length. It gives the full factory velocity, about 2,960 feet per second with a 143 grain bullet. A 24-inch barrel is 60.96 cm (609.6 mm) long, and rifles built around it are 44 to 45.25 inches long overall.
- 26-inch barrel: the long-range option. The Ruger Precision Rifle uses a 26-inch barrel (66.04 cm, 660.4 mm) and measures 45.25 inches overall (114.94 cm). The extra 2 inches of barrel add velocity for shooting past 1,000 yards, but the rifle gets heavier and harder to carry in the field.
- 22-inch barrel: the handy middle ground. The Bergara Platinum Stalker uses a 22-inch barrel (55.88 cm, 558.8 mm) and measures 39.75 inches overall (100.97 cm) thanks to its compact stock. A 22-inch barrel gives up a little velocity but makes the rifle easier to carry and swing in thick cover.
- 20-inch barrel: the compact hunting option. The Ruger American Gen II uses a 20-inch barrel (50.8 cm, 508 mm) and measures 41.75 inches overall (106.05 cm), while the Bergara Cima Pro with a 20-inch barrel measures 44 inches (111.76 cm). Short barrels lose roughly 25 to 30 feet per second of velocity per inch, so a 20-inch barrel still pushes a 143 grain bullet to about 2,840 feet per second.
Custom short builds go even further. Some shooters cut 6.5 PRC barrels down to 18 inches (45.72 cm) for a compact precision rifle, and those still reach about 2,750 to 2,800 feet per second with a 143 grain bullet.
How Much Does a 6.5 PRC Rifle Weigh?
A 6.5 PRC rifle weighs about 6 to 8.5 pounds (2.72 to 3.86 kg) unloaded. The exact weight depends on the barrel profile, the stock and the chassis. A light mountain rifle like the Savage 110 UltraLite weighs 6 pounds (2.72 kg) thanks to its carbon fiber wrapped barrel, the Ruger American Gen II weighs 6.4 pounds (2.90 kg), and a heavy-barrel hunting rifle like the Savage 110 High Country weighs 8.5 pounds (3.86 kg). Long-range chassis rifles such as the Ruger Precision Rifle sit at the heavy end of the range.
That weight is about the same as any other short-action bolt-action hunting rifle. A loaded magazine adds roughly half a pound, since 6.5 PRC rifles usually hold 3 to 5 rounds, and a scope adds roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds. So a ready-to-hunt 6.5 PRC rifle with a scope and a full magazine is about 7.5 to 10.5 pounds.
How Big Is the 6.5 PRC Cartridge?
The 6.5 PRC is a short, fat magnum cartridge built on a necked-down .300 Ruger Compact Magnum case. Its official name is 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge, and it was designed to fit a short-action rifle while burning more powder than the 6.5 Creedmoor.
- Bullet diameter: 0.264 inches (6.7 mm)
- Case length: 2.030 inches (51.6 mm)
- Overall cartridge length: 2.955 inches maximum (75.1 mm)
- Maximum pressure (SAAMI): 65,000 psi
- Common bullet weights: 120 to 156 grains
- Muzzle velocity: about 2,960 feet per second with a 143 grain ELD-X bullet, and about 2,910 feet per second with a 147 grain ELD Match bullet
- Twist rate: 1 in 8 inches, to stabilize long, heavy bullets
The case is the clever part. At 2.030 inches it is only 0.11 inches longer than a 6.5 Creedmoor case, but it holds about 28 percent more powder. That extra powder is what pushes the same .264-inch bullet about 260 feet per second faster than the Creedmoor. The cartridge uses a magnum bolt face (0.532 inches), so a rifle built for 6.5 Creedmoor cannot simply be rebarreled to 6.5 PRC without changing the bolt.
6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor: Same Size Rifle, More Speed
A 6.5 PRC rifle and a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle are the same size, because both cartridges fit the same short-action receiver. The difference is inside the cartridge, not in the rifle’s length.
Both fire the same 0.264-inch bullet. The 6.5 PRC case is 2.030 inches long (51.6 mm) while the Creedmoor case is 1.920 inches long (48.8 mm), so the PRC case is 0.11 inches longer. The loaded cartridges are 2.955 inches (75.1 mm) for the PRC and 2.825 inches (71.8 mm) for the Creedmoor, a difference of 0.13 inches. That small difference holds about 28 percent more powder, and with a 143 grain bullet the PRC leaves the muzzle at about 2,960 feet per second, roughly 260 feet per second faster than the Creedmoor.
In the field that means a flatter trajectory and more energy past 400 yards, which is why the PRC is popular for elk and mule deer at long range. The price is more recoil, a magnum bolt face, and a shorter barrel life, since the PRC burns more powder at 65,000 psi. For deer inside 300 yards the two are hard to tell apart, and the Creedmoor is cheaper to shoot. For big game past 400 yards, the PRC earns its extra size.
Everyday Size Comparisons: How Long Is a 6.5 PRC Rifle Really?
A number like 45.25 inches is hard to picture on its own. Here is how a 6.5 PRC rifle with a 24-inch barrel, at 44 to 45.25 inches long, compares with things you already know.
Baseball Bat
A standard adult baseball bat is about 34 inches long (86.36 cm). A 6.5 PRC rifle is 10 to 11.25 inches longer than a bat, so if you hold a bat next to the rifle, the muzzle sticks out almost a foot past the end of the bat.
Skateboard
A standard skateboard deck is about 31.5 inches long (80.01 cm). A 6.5 PRC rifle is 12.5 to 13.75 inches longer than a skateboard, or about 40 percent longer than the deck. Two skateboard decks end to end would be 63 inches, about 18 to 19 inches longer than one rifle.
Snowboard
A typical adult snowboard is about 59 inches long (149.86 cm). A 6.5 PRC rifle is 13.75 to 15 inches shorter than a snowboard, or about 75 to 77 percent as long. If you stand a rifle next to a snowboard, the board towers over it by more than a foot.
Surfboard
A standard shortboard surfboard is about 72 inches long (182.88 cm), which is exactly 6 feet. A 6.5 PRC rifle is 26.75 to 28 inches shorter than a surfboard, or about 61 to 63 percent as long. The rifle’s 24-inch barrel alone is exactly one third of a surfboard’s length.
Upright Vacuum Cleaner
A standard upright vacuum cleaner is about 43 inches tall (109.22 cm). A 6.5 PRC rifle is almost exactly the same length: the shortest 24-inch models are 1 inch longer than a vacuum, and the longest are 2.25 inches longer. Stand a rifle next to a vacuum and you can barely tell which is taller.
Garden Rake
A standard garden rake with its handle is about 60 inches long (152.4 cm). A 6.5 PRC rifle is 14.75 to 16 inches shorter than a garden rake, or about 73 to 75 percent as long. Two rifles end to end would be 88 to 90.5 inches, about 28 to 30.5 inches longer than one rake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a 6.5 PRC rifle?
A 6.5 PRC rifle with a 24-inch barrel is 44 to 45.25 inches long (111.76 to 114.94 cm), depending on the model, and weighs about 6 to 8.5 pounds (2.72 to 3.86 kg). Short 20-inch barrel models are about 41.75 to 44 inches long.
What is the most common barrel length for a 6.5 PRC rifle?
The most common barrel length is 24 inches (60.96 cm). Almost every factory 6.5 PRC hunting rifle uses a 24-inch barrel, because that is the length Hornady used for the cartridge’s published ballistics. Long-range models use 26 inches and compact hunting models use 20 to 22 inches.
How much does a 6.5 PRC rifle weigh?
A 6.5 PRC rifle weighs about 6 to 8.5 pounds (2.72 to 3.86 kg) unloaded. Light mountain rifles like the Savage 110 UltraLite weigh 6 pounds, the Ruger American Gen II weighs 6.4 pounds, and heavy-barrel models like the Savage 110 High Country weigh 8.5 pounds. A scope adds roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds.
How long is the 6.5 PRC cartridge?
The 6.5 PRC cartridge is 2.955 inches long at maximum (75.1 mm), with a case length of 2.030 inches (51.6 mm) and a bullet diameter of 0.264 inches (6.7 mm). Its case is about 0.11 inches longer than a 6.5 Creedmoor case.
Is 6.5 PRC the same as 6.5 Creedmoor?
No. Both fire the same 0.264-inch bullet and fit short-action rifles of the same size, but the 6.5 PRC has a longer case (2.030 inches vs 1.920 inches), holds about 28 percent more powder, and pushes a 143 grain bullet about 260 feet per second faster. The PRC also needs a magnum bolt face, while the Creedmoor uses a standard bolt face.
Conclusion
A 6.5 PRC rifle with a 24-inch barrel is 44 to 45.25 inches long (111.76 to 114.94 cm) and weighs about 6 to 8.5 pounds (2.72 to 3.86 kg). That makes it almost exactly the same length as an upright vacuum cleaner, about a foot longer than a baseball bat, and about 15 inches shorter than a garden rake. Its real advantage is not its size but its cartridge: a short 2.030-inch case and a .264-inch bullet that deliver about 260 feet per second more than the 6.5 Creedmoor from a rifle of the same size. If you want a flat-shooting, long-range hunting rifle that still fits in a short action, the 6.5 PRC earns its length.
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Hi, I’m Michael Carter, I write simple, everyday size guides so you can picture any measurement in seconds.