From everything I have read I would really like to give the 6.5PRC a try. I have a 6.5 CM and I think thats a fine deer cartridge. The PRC just has that much more umph....
How did you like the VX-5? I have also tossed around the NF SHV 4-16, but I am not really a fan of the weight increase.I have the Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC with a VX6HD 3-18 x 44 and I love it. I had the VX 5 on it but swapped it out for a little more power. Great cartridge and great rifle. The combination is very sweet over the shoulder or on the pack. I have only been able to shoot it out to 600 yards but it is incredibly accurate with the 143 grain ELD-X and the 156 grain Berger's so far. I have not killed an elk with the PRC yet but have killed elk sized game in South Africa with a 6.5 x 284 with 140 grain Berger's and they have very similar ballistics. I also have the 300 PRC in a Traverse, I love it as well but the long action adds weight and so do the loaded rounds. I would recommend the 6.5 as well. Good luck with your rifle and good luck hunting.
Not bragging but I've killed 25 elk, most with rem 7 mag, 4 or 5 with the 6.5-284. Never had 1 wounded that got away & almost all were 1 shot kills. It's all about shot placement & accuracy. Shouldn't be hunting with a bigger caliber thinking that now you can take a bad shot cuz i got a big gun!It's all about terminal performance. Yes, the 6.5 has great ballistics and will kill an elk of shot placement is proper, but a 30 cal creates a larger wound channel and is just better on larger game. Lots of elk are lost to 7 Rem Mags for the same reason. Do some research on Nathan Fosters website (ballisticstudies.com). He has done a ton of research on different bullets and calibers and their wounding ability. It's eye opening.
I have a 6.5-284 Norma that I love, but my elk rifle is a 300 WSM or 338 Lapua. Again, shot placement and bullet selection are paramount, but I like adding in the extra wounding/killing capabilities of a 30 cal or larger.
I plan on using integral rings instead of a base. I looked up the charts, and I wont need a 20 MOA rail to get out to 1200 which is as far as I would ever target shoot. I doubt I will ever get to shoot that far.The Ridgeline long action is "barrel heavy" when carrying in hand by the action. I believe the short action with the shorter barrel will balance at the natural hand carry spot.
I have the long action and carry the rifle in my hand a good percentage of the time. It's not a dealbreaker, but just something to think about with a "mountain rifle".
another thing I will add, a rail will make the rifle difficult to wrap your hand around. With Hawkins Hybrid rings or Tally's, you can get you thumb between the action and scope during hand carry. The VX5HD in 3-15x42 barely fits between the rings with Hawkins Hybrids. Check your preferred scope mount that it will work with your action length.
with a brake, the recoil on the 300 PRC will be completely mellow imo. I have Christensen's side baffle brake on my 30 Nosler, both the radial and side baffle brakes work well.
How do you like the glass?I have a Christensen Mesa in .300 PRC. 3-15 vx-5 sitting in 20 moa talleys, it's quickly becoming my favorite rifle. Recoil is more than manageable, had my 12 year old daughter shooting it a couple weeks ago. She said she was done with it after she ran through the full box of Hornady 225eld-m. She weighs exactly 95 pounds, and literally giggled after the first shot and asked if she could keep going. My vote is the .300 prc
So far I'm really impressed with the scope. 120 rounds so far and it's tracking flawlessly. Haven't been able to get past 500yds yet but so far it's been greatHow do you like the glass?
Hey guys,
I am new to the forum, but I have read through plenty of posts. I am planning on buying a CA Ridgeline, a Leopold VX-5HD 3-15, with Talley lightweight integral rings. I know that is the glass and rifle combo I want to go with. I know I want either the 6.5PRC, or .300PRC for caliber. I know the 6.5PRC will give me a lighter all around rifle. I plan on using the rifle mostly for hunting and some target shooting. I live on the east coast, and have never hunted out west, but I plan on getting out west to hunt semi regularly. I like the idea of a 6.5PRC as an all around mountain gun but what is everyone's experience on Elk? I have seen videos of it being used out to 700+ yards, I wouldn't shoot that far on Elk probably keep it within 500. I also have my 45-70 if I am hunting somewhere and it is all closer range. So my question is do I go with the 6.5PRC or should I bump up to the 300 PRC? I know there are plenty of other tried and true calibers, but I am really interested in the new PRC line.