Best weight bullet in 6.5x284 for Elk

[OldElkHunter1961]

Yep, that useless old .270 couldn't get it done...Right ???

Or, conversely, who needs a slow bullet the size of a bath tub!

 

[OldElkHunter1961]

Much like thongs one size seldom fits most.

 

[VLD Pilot]

Or, conversely, who needs a slow bullet the size of a bath tub!

I think most know what an ideal Elk round is or can pretty much come up with a couple 308/338 cartridge picks. That said, some 6.5s, 6.8s and 7s get it done. There's zero questions about that fact. This is just a very controversial thread that it draws alot of opinions. Not worth going too much further with as it's been covered in dozens of other threads on this forum.

 

[VLD Pilot]

It's interesting to me to read all the success stories with 6.5 bullets but, unless I missed it, no one talks about the failures when things go bad. I used to shoot a 7 mag for elk and killed many elk with it but I also had a couple lost elk. One in particular happened when I spooked a group of elk out of a timbered draw, around 15 or so with a spike. The elk had all stoped and were on high alert looking directly at me from about 150 yards. I got set up on the spike and was slowly squeezing the trigger and just as I was about to touch it off they all bolted causing a gut shot. Sounded like I hit a ripe watermellon. The elk ran up a ridge line that separated two canyons that was so rocky I could not even find a track and, as is common with a gut shot, no blood. I could not even tell which drainage they went into. Spent a lot of time searching but never saw him again. A couple years ago my son had a very similar situation where he had spotted a group of elk in an opening on the edge of some timber. There was a spike out in the open and a raghorn moving in and out of the edge of the timber. He was trying to get a shot on the raghorn when suddenly the elk started getting nervous and milling around so he decided to take the shot on the spike. Just as had happened to me several years ago, just as he was touching it off, the elk spooked and he gut shot it. Only difference was he was shooting a 375 RUM with a 329 grain Hammer at over 2800 fps. Blew a hole through both sides and dropped him! If you hunt elk long enough you are likely to run into a situation were everything doesn't go as planned. I feel better hunting with enough gun to help lessen the chance of a lost animal in these circumstances. I now shoot a 338 edge for elk.

I think the ones that are recommending another cartridge/caliber are those people that things went bad with. If not, why vote it down as an adequate round ? The people on this thread that are promoting it haven't had a bad experience. That's probably why no failures have been read about. There are failures from all cartridges used on Elk. You won't hear about those other ones either.

 

[RockyRandy]

I can't imagine that any of them wouldn't work well with proper shot placement. However, since you mentioned the Hammer bullets as a consideration; I'd go with the 124HH which is their most popular 6.5 bullet, or so I've been told. They shoot very well out of my 6.5PRC and their terminal performance is at least as good as they claim, maybe better.

The other good thing about Hammer bullets is that you can ALWAYS get them. No searching all over the internet praying that the bullet you need will become available before you leave for your hunt.

I would agree with the availability of the hammers. I ordered the 139 in September and had them in a week. I haven't killed anything with them so the verdict is still out but have never heard or read anything bad about them.

 

[BigNate]

These threads can be entertaining but not really give the OP any confidence.

I don't use "energy" numbers to decide anything. Today's bullets are more thoroughly tested, and documented than ever. Performance of the bullet is determined primarily by design and velocity. If you take a shot at a distance where the velocity has fallen below the design threshold it won't work as designed. Bullets designed to work at 600 don't usually do well at 60, and that is why these questions get such a wide range of answers.

What kind of territory you hunt, what expectations do you have for shots, near, far, rushed in tight cover, all come into play.

Bullet choice is more important than cartridge. Placement is important regardless of what you're shooting, more than how big the bullet is.
A poor choice in bullet out of a RUM isn't going to make it all better. Neither is a perfect bullet matched to a cartridge being used outside its design parameters.

I've only had two elk drop like they were poleaxed. One was at ridiculously close range with a .338WM and a neck shot, and the other was just over 100 yards with a .25-06 and was through the slats. Most will go 25 to 40 and tip over with vitals hit.

 

[Eric H]

I'm going with the 6.5x284.

 

[VLD Pilot]

I'm going with the 6.5x284.

Your NOT under gunned.

 

[VLD Pilot]

I'm going with the 6.5x284.

The bullets you listed are all LR bullets. I've killed Elk with the 140 Nosler Partition at distance and it performed very well. Range wasn't over 500 yards but just under in a couple scenarios. Few were just over 350. Had one Elk walk 20 yards and drop. The others took two steps and wobbled and dropped. Same results I've got with the 160 Nosler Partition in a 7mm mag on Elk. I suspect I'd get that result with the 30s and 338s also. Hit them where you aim and it's lights out. I've heard stories that they can carry alot of lead just haven't experienced it.

 

[D$tring]

I've submitted an application for an Elk hunt and want to be ready if I'm lucky. What weight should I use as I have 127gr LRX, 140GR ACCUBOND BT, 143GR ELDX, 140Gr VLD Hunting, 130GR VLD Hunting and 156EOLs. Thought of getting HAMMERs as they're very consistent in weight and structure. Any load guidance would help also.

I prefer the 140-143 range for my 6.5x284. Shoot whichever one groups best with tightest ES/SD. They will all kill well.

 

[Hard rock]

May I ask what combination of powder and COAL?

Eric if you have a 1-8 twist the 123gr absolute hammer or the 124 gr hammer hunter will work .The 123 gr absolute will give you at least a 150 fps gain over the 124 gr hammer hunter and the 124 gr hammer hunter will give you a 100 fps gain over a 120 gr or so Barnes . You should easily reach 3300 fps plus with the 123 gr absolute using N165 N560 rl23 Rl19 26 Rl23 or h4831 sc . Look at the hammer hunter load data and the absolute hammer load data on this site . The members here including myself have been compiling load data . If you have concerns about how the hammer bullets perform call Steve at Hammer bullets and you can ask what will work they are great too deal with . The 124 gr has taken game all over the world including Africa Plains game as of my understanding . Good Luck

 

[Hard rock]

You might want to take a serious look at the 109 gr Absolute Hammer. I've got it running 3511 fps and it destroyed a huge pronghorn this past August. Extremely flat shooting

I'm running it 3700 plus out of my PRC

 

[Hard rock]

I'm running it 3700 plus out of my PRC

Eric unless you already have go too the official hammer bullets terminal performance ( picture heavy ) site on LRH and ease your mind on the performance of Hammer bullets

 

[Eric H]

Eric unless you already have go too the official hammer bullets terminal performance ( picture heavy ) site on LRH and ease your mind on the performance of Hammer bullets

Now that's convincing!!!