6.5 PRC for elk.

[stubblejumper]

6.5 prc 143 eldx = 3150 fps and 1817 ft lb at 500yard

7 mm RM 150 eldx = 3000 fps and 1650 ft lb at 500 yard

You are comparing a hot load with the 6.5PRC, and a fairly mild load with the 7mmremmag. I run the 6.5 PRC at 3050fps in my rifle, and I typically run a 150gr bullet at around 3100fos in my 7mmremmag rifles.

 

[45C]

You are comparing a hot load with the 6.5PRC, and a fairly mild load with the 7mmremmag. I run the 6.5 PRC at 3050fps in my rifle, and I typically run a 150gr bullet at around 3100fos in my 7mmremmag rifles.

Both are hottest loads listed in the Hornady 11 th edition

 

[stubblejumper]

Both are hottest loads listed in the Hornady 11 th edition

Look at different manuals, Nosler for example. I am quoting actual velocities from my rifles.

 

[remington jim]

6.5 prc 143 eldx = 3150 fps and 1817 ft lb at 500yard

7 mm RM 150 eldx = 3000 fps and 1650 ft lb at 500 yard

I like and shoot a custom 6.5 PRC with a 24 “ and to get a 143 grer in it to go 3150 would seize up the Bolt !

A 7 mm REM Mag will send a 150 ELDX to 3150 fps !

A 6.5 PRC will kill an Elk fine with a Good lung shot as will many other cartridges . But 500-800 yard shots are a LONG poke on ELK and you better hit him RIGHT or you will lose him . There TUFF animals . JMO RJ

 

[45C]

I like and shoot a custom 6.5 PRC with a 24 “ and to get a 143 grer in it to go 3150 would seize up the Bolt !

A 7 mm REM Mag will send a 150 ELDX to 3150 fps !

A 6.5 PRC will kill an Elk fine with a Good lung shot as will many other cartridges . But 500-800 yard shots are a LONG poke on ELK and you better hit him RIGHT or you will lose him . There TUFF animals . JMO RJ

Yes, I understand about shot placement, but that applies to all .
I chronied my 6.5 PRC a few days ago using 143 ELDX and max load of 7828 3036 fps.
No signs of over pressure

 

[Farmer2285]

I totally get buying/building a new gun and not using a .300wm( although it’s my everything gun) IMO you’d be better off buying/building a 7 prc for elk as the 7mm bullets seem to work better on bigger game.

 

[remington jim]

Yes, I understand about shot placement, but that applies to all .
I chronied my 6.5 PRC a few days ago using 143 ELDX and max load of 7828 3036 fps.
No signs of over pressure

You Bet ! As u know I’m all about shot placement over caliber !

And yes I get into the 3000 fps range too But to get to 3150 is off the deep end ! It’s a BIG stretch !
If it wasn’t you would be there . And so would I But you will need a 264 Win Mag to do that ! RJ

 

[bdb.hunting]

6.5/.264 projectiles are not ideal for large game. The properties that make .264's excellent for long range shooting (high BC's) inversely affects their effectiveness on game (high SD's). A high sectional density means the projectile will have a high degree of penetration, which on the surface this seems desirable, however if the bullet fails to expand (which a long narrow bullet will), it will pass through the target. If the shot is not well placed, the bullet will not cause sufficient trauma to immobilize or kill the target. Elk are very tough, and even when poorly hit with larger calibers, they survive. So the irony is that given the milder recoil, shootability, and great long range characteristics of a 6.5, you have a higher likelihood of hitting an animal at long range, however it is less likely that your shot will be lethal, unless both your projectile and shot are well chosen.

Regarding projectiles, if you insist on doing this, you want a bonded style bullet that will not fragment if your shot is close and energy/velocity are high, or fail to expand if your energy/velocity are low. The Nosler Partition/Accubond, Federal Terminal Ascent, Sako Gamehead/Hammerhead/Superhammerhead, Norma Bondstrike, Swift A-Frame, Hornady Interbond are effective hunting bullets at most ranges.

Frangible bullets, such as Hornady ELD-X/ELD-M or Bergers are effective if the shot is placed in the lungs/organs. They are not effective if placed in hard/dense areas where the bullet will expand/explode without much penetration.

Monolith bullets, such as Hornady CX or Barnes TSX/TTSX/LRX are the opposite of frangibles and require resistance to force them to expand, so ribcage shots that miss the lungs are not good as the bullet will pass through with little trauma. Shoulder shots are much better as the bullet will break bone and continue to petal and cause trauma until the bullet runs out of energy.

A 7mm or 30cal would be much more ethical if you insist on shooting elk at those distances.

To the OP. I would read what Omer wrote a few times. He expanded and explained things quite well. More than the average user would and he has the experience and knowledge to back up the data.

B

 

[DGY]

Well you guys did it again, the new guy get here want to buy a new rifle he has tons of experience and need confirmation on a possibly marginal cartridge for the task at hand and you guys scared him, he’s gonnnne.
So sad
I have no experiences with elk, but a few with moose and caribou, always inside 300m never with a magnum but always with 30cal and up(30-06, 8x57,9.3x62) I would be lying if I said that they all took one shot or less , so I won’t!
I think we need to be kinder to the new ones, especially the ones with tons of experience

 

[45C]

I’m sure lots of guys take 500-800 yard shots at moose,bear,etc . Not the Elk though.
All with the rem core-loc , no less.
Some get lucky some know what they’re doing and the other 90% miss

 

[Titan 08]

I can’t speak to the distance shot on elk, but in the last three years my son has taken two bull moose with his 6.5 PRC, one on his draw tag and one on a partner tag. Both were in the lungs and were one shot kills at under 150 yards. He was using Hornady Superformance SST, unknown grain weight.

 

[hoytcanon]

I love how people cherry-pick their numbers to make "the data" support their argument... like Dr. Fauci, convincing you to wear a mask and lock yourself in your house.

Read the thread back and you will see what I mean.

 

[JohnnyCarlsson]

I love how people cherry-pick their numbers to make "the data" support their argument... like Dr. Fauci, convincing you to wear a mask and lock yourself in your house.

Read the thread back and you will see what I mean.

I still wear a mask when driving my car alone, because it makes me “feel” safe. That’s what it’s all about, anyway, isn’t it? “Feelings”.

 

[iron cat]

I’m sure lots of guys take 500-800 yard shots at moose,bear,etc . Not the Elk though.
All with the rem core-loc , no less.
Some get lucky some know what they’re doing and the other 90% miss

I know more than a few hunters that have killed elk passed 500 with non belted magnum cartridges in 6.5mm and 7mm, one in fact was a 280 Remington at 742 yards.
Cat

 

[stubblejumper]

I know more than a few hunters that have killed elk passed 500 with non belted magnum cartridges in 6.5mm and 7mm, one in fact was a 280 Remington at 742 yards.
Cat

People with the right skills, and that select their shots carefully can accomplish this. The problem is that the hunting shows and advertising make it seem like it's simple to do, as long as you buy their sponsors equipment. Then the people that fall for this, wound and lose animals, because they don't know any better.

 

[iron cat]

Totally agree! We hear all the time from people who say they zero their rifles at 100 yards and kill animals out to 500 with a center hold or " just a bit higher"!
Cat

 

[Titan 08]

Totally agree! We hear all the time from people who say they zero their rifles at 100 yards and kill animals out to 500 with a center hold or " just a bit higher"!
Cat

I zero at 100 yards, my longest shots are never more than 350 yards (and that was only once), however I keep a ballistics chart taped to the left side of my buttstock, most shots are well under 200 yards, very seldom any further and only on bigger game. Know your capabilities and stay within them.

 

[Smokinyotes]

Fine and well if you are competent and capable to kill at extended ranges but there are a significant amount of new hunters that think they are a sniper. It takes a quality scope, rifle and rest in order to make these shots along with lots of practice. My longest shot was 760 yards on a mule buck. It took me forever to get steady enough for the shot and I probably wouldn’t shoot a animal at that distance again.

 

[iron cat]

I zero at 100 yards, my longest shots are never more than 350 yards (and that was only once), however I keep a ballistics chart taped to the left side of my buttstock, most shots are well under 200 yards, very seldom any further and only on bigger game. Know your capabilities and stay within them.

exactly, at 200 there is no issue at all, the problem is at 300 with a 100 zero, a 6.5 140 grain Match King ( pretty flat shooting d accurate 6.5 bullet) will be right around 2.88 MOA low- 9 inches of drop from the line of sight, which is doable for many people .
at 500 it is danged near 7.5MOA low a full 38" from the line of sight!
Taking into account the depth of an elk , let alone a deer, its pretty tough to estimate the distance - almost impossible to do on a regular basis .
Cat

 

[iron cat]

I use a 6.5prc, handloaded 156 berger EOL's that shoot sub half moa and i wouldnt shoot an elk that far. A recent 565 yard shoot produced a 5 inch group with field conditions, so its definitely up to the task.

Are you guaranteed to be shooting the elk that far?

This is a very valid point. The cartridge itself is up to the task with the proper bullet, but the biggest variable ( being the nut behind the bolt) is always a wild card!
Cat