26 Nosler or 6.5 Prc Hunting

[yorke-1]

No I dont. I have a Grendel and used to shoot a 1896 Swedish Mauser. I have seen light bullets explode on the skin of animals because of thin jackets and extreme velocity. Like I said. I require a Rifle that delivers all I need to 600 yards. I'm currently laying in a VA bed just having another amputation. I'm restricted to roads and can't traverse uneven rocky ground. This is a result from Agent Orange and a year in Combat over 50 years ago. Like I sai, the 223 Rem/5.56x45 is a LEGAL weapon in Nevada of ELK and all other Big Game in the state. Shoot what you want, only please respect those animals also.

You can't compare a 6.5 Grendel (which I have and love) or 6.5x55 Swede (which is identical in performance to the 260/6.5x47 Lapua/Creedmoor) to chamberings which offer performance increases ranging from modest (PRC) to significant (Nosler/Weatherby). It also sounds like you're basing your opinion on the performance of poor quality bullets. I would never shoot an elk with a 123gr A-Max from a 26 Nosler at any range. Throw a 124gr Hammer Hunter in the same gun and you have a completely different level of performance. It's not the chambering's fault that inexperienced shooters make poor bullet choices.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

You can't compare a 6.5 Grendel (which I have and love) or 6.5x55 Swede (which is identical in performance to the 260/6.5x47 Lapua/Creedmoor) to chamberings which offer performance increases ranging from modest (PRC) to significant (Nosler/Weatherby). It also sounds like your basing your opinion on the performance of poor quality bullets. I would never shoot an elk with a 123gr A-Max from a 26 Nosler at any range. Throw a 124gr Hammer Hunter in the same gun and you have a completely different level of performance. It's not the chambering's fault that inexperienced shooters make poor bullet choices.

Cartridge choice equals vel potential. Bullet choice dictates what happens when the bullet arrives.

Well said Yorke!

 

[popgun240]

You can't compare a 6.5 Grendel (which I have and love) or 6.5x55 Swede (which is identical in performance to the 260/6.5x47 Lapua/Creedmoor) to chamberings which offer performance increases ranging from modest (PRC) to significant (Nosler/Weatherby). It also sounds like you're basing your opinion on the performance of poor quality bullets. I would never shoot an elk with a 123gr A-Max from a 26 Nosler at any range. Throw a 124gr Hammer Hunter in the same gun and you have a completely different level of performance. It's not the chambering's fault that inexperienced shooters make poor bullet choices.

 

[popgun240]

I agree, to many people DON'T use premium bullets, sole be cause of price. Again, circumstances won't allow me to hunt the High Country for Bull Elk, Desert Bighorn up in the high stuff. Since I'm a 100% Disabled Vietnam Veteran and an Amputee, I chose my Browning 300 Win Mag and load the Barnes 175 gr LRX-BT at just over 3100 fps Muzzle Velocity. If I wound an animal, I can't go chase after it. I had an AR with a DPMS 24" Hvy barrel. It actually put 5 shots into a single round hole at 100 yards. It's a legal Elk Rifle in Nevada but I'd never try to shoot an Elk with it. It had a Springfield Armoury 4x14x40 scopen the had a FFP reticle regulated out to 700 yards and hit targets at 500 yards with extreme accuracy. I'd never use it on anything larger than a Deer. It's that I still go with a minimum of 1500 foot pounds energy. I hunt open range land and shots can easily extend beyond 500 yards. So for me I rely on the 300 Win Mag with great barrel life and accuracy. Big cases and small bore usually mean short barrel life. I can't afford to keep replacing shot out barrels. The introduction of the .264 Ein Mag proved that . Short barrel life was that rounds biggest detractor. Maybe that's why the introduction of Remington 25/06 became so popular. Fast, accurate and a good barrel life. Something that means alot, otherwise I'd be shoot a fastest wiz bang available regardless of barrel life. Unfortunately, people abuse rifles, scopes and ammo an leave wounded game and shoot at another. That's what needs to be stopped.

 

[Tex LR]

26 Nosler. Very good performance on large game (shot and dropped two Scimitar Oryx bulls last summer with Nosler 140G Accubonds). Both of mine are very accurate with US869 and 140G bullets. I'm also a fan of the .264 Win. No experience with the PRC but I'm sure its a fine cartridge as well. Given your stated round count per year I don't believe you have to worry about burning up a 26 anytime soon. Best of luck.

 

[IHFarmer07]

I vote 6.5prc, I'm having a switch barrel 6.5prc built off a bighorn origin.
Look in your area and see what ammunition is available the most if in case you decide to not reload for unknown reasons, look at the component costs if you do reload
Is weight an issue, long action vs short action, long can be a little heavier than a short.
Recoil will be more with the 26N.
How far will shots be taken will be a factor, if you aren't hunting very far, what's the use in all that HP? I mean I get more horse power is generally better but in some circumstances is is worth it in the end.
Here's a link to a video that kind of explains the pluses and minuses to both 6.5saum and the 6.5x06ai and some interesting information on both for the ppl saying 6.5x06ai. I know the saum isn't part of the choices but this is good information.

 

[kpwelder]

Wait a second you really thinking 26 nosler only has barrel life of 600 rounds

 

[Sending156s]

Wait a second you really thinking 26 nosler only has barrel life of 600 rounds

Per Bartlein they are seeing a max of ~ 800 rounds fired before problems with accuracy. Best thing to do is call & talk with Bartlein, Krieger, or any barrel maker that doesn't have a vested interest in the 26 Nosler. 800 rounds is less than a year for me. They can also confirm 2000 - 2500+ round life out of the 6.5 PRC.

Would not expect nor want you to believe me. It only takes a phone call. There's some fine people that make barrels and they are happy to talk to you.

 

[yorke-1]

Per Bartlein they are seeing a max of ~ 800 rounds fired before problems with accuracy. Best thing to do is call & talk with Bartlein, Krieger, or any barrel maker that doesn't have a vested interest in the 26 Nosler. 800 rounds is less than a year for me. They can also confirm 2000 - 2500+ round life out of the 6.5 PRC.

Would not expect nor want you to believe me. It only takes a phone call. There's some fine people that make barrels and they are happy to talk to you.

If you're firing 800 rounds a year through a 26 Nosler, then the cost to rebarrel it shouldn't be an issue. It was never designed to be a high volume plinking gun; it's a hunting cartridge.

You wouldn't put a set of high performance race tires on your daily driver and then complain about tread life, so why would you use a high performance chambering for general plinking and complain about barrel life?

 

[HARPERC]

Barrel life in my opinion should be relevant only to those having just one rifle in the safe.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

If one wanted maximum perfomance and only shooting 20 rounds a year, why not the 6.5-.300 Weatherby? You can buy in a Vanguard version for $497 from buds right now. Less efficient than even the 26 Nosler; can't believe I am saying that, but you would have max speed and with a $16 trigger spring have a super trigger that would break cleanly as low as 1.5 lbs and fully adjustable upwards. Could upgrade the stock at a later date, but start out with under 1 MOA accurracy..

FOUND A DEAL... $600
Weatherby Vanguard Badlands 6.5-300 Wby Mag Bolt Action Rifle 26" Barrel 3 Rounds Badlands Camo Synthetic Stock Burnt Bronze Cerakote Finish
Adjustable Two Stage Match Trigger $600
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...s&refType=&from=fn&ecList=7&ecCategory=472501

6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum ammo
Range: $1.96 - $4.95 PER ROUND
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/6.5-300-weatherby-magnum

(L) 130-GR. SWIFT SCIROCCO
(R) 127-GR. BARNES LRX

OR THESE:
Weatherby Select Plus Norma Spitzer 140 Grain Brass 6.5-300 Wby. Mag 20Rds
Specifications:

• 
  
  • 140 Grains
  • Norma Spitzer bullet
  • 20 rounds per box
  • Muzzle velocity: 3304 fps
  • Velocity at 100 yards: 3085 fps
  • Velocity at 300 yards: 2679 fps
  • Velocity at 500 yards: 2308 fps
  • Muzzle Energy: 3393 ft/lbs
  • Energy at 100 yards: 2959 ft/lbs
  • Energy at 300 yards: 2232 ft/lbs
  • Energy at 500 yards: 1656 ft/lbs
  • Uses: Long Range Hunting, Medium Sized Game

https://grabagun.com/wby-6-5-300-wby-ma-140gr-sptz.html

BETTER YET:
Weatherby Select Plus 140GR BERGER VLD 6.5-300 Wby. Mag 20Rds

• 
  
  
  • 140 Grains
  • Berger VLD projectile
  • 20 rounds per box
  • 3315 FPS at the muzzle

https://grabagun.com/wby-6-5-300-wby-ma-140gr-vld.html


------------------
Weatherby Unprimed Brass 6.5-300 Wby. Mag 20Rds $36.09
https://grabagun.com/wthby-brass653-up-brass-6-5-300-wby.html

--------------------
LOAD DATA
https://www.weatherby.com/media/weatherby/65300_Loads.pdf

-----------------------------

 

[Litehiker]

Well, yes, the 6.5 -300 Weatherby is fast but also a barrel burner. If, like me, you practice a lot and shoot hunter matches it would burn out a barrel within 800 rounds. At that point I'm just getting nicely familiar with a rifle.

So I'm sticking with the 6.5 PRC for Nevada hunting.
I'm selling my 6.5 Creedmoor Browning X-Bolt Pro and getting a 6.5 PRC X-Bolt Pro as soon as they are available. None yet "in-country" but should arrive by late July according to Browning.

That cartridge/rifle combination is my dream hunting setup. BUT... If I get lucky and draw a bull elk tag I still have my Browning A-Bolt in .300 Win mag.
Eric B.

 

[djm670]

Well, yes, the 6.5 -300 Weatherby is fast but also a barrel burner. If, like me, you practice a lot and shoot hunter matches it would burn out a barrel within 800 rounds. At that point I'm just getting nicely familiar with a rifle.

So I'm sticking with the 6.5 PRC for Nevada hunting.
I'm selling my 6.5 Creedmoor Browning X-Bolt Pro and getting a 6.5 PRC X-Bolt Pro as soon as they are available. None yet "in-country" but should arrive by late July according to Browning.

That cartridge/rifle combination is my dream hunting setup. BUT... If I get lucky and draw a bull elk tag I still have my Browning A-Bolt in .300 Win mag.
Eric B.

But the Original Poster was only going to shoot about 20 rounds a year using as a hunting rifle.. for that purpose it would be tough to pass up starting out with the low prices of the available Weatherby Vanguards.. or Accuguards.. A $16 trigger spring, maybe a new stock.. depending on how it shoots and 3 boxes of ammo and one would be in business, with a scope one has laying around or sitting on a rifle that is not used much.

But if one is a high volume shooter.. the 6.5 PRC would be a better choice.. not much doubt about that.

 

[popgun240]

Well, yes, the 6.5 -300 Weatherby is fast but also a barrel burner. If, like me, you practice a lot and shoot hunter matches it would burn out a barrel within 800 rounds. At that point I'm just getting nicely familiar with a rifle.

So I'm sticking with the 6.5 PRC for Nevada hunting.
I'm selling my 6.5 Creedmoor Browning X-Bolt Pro and getting a 6.5 PRC X-Bolt Pro as soon as they are available. None yet "in-country" but should arrive by late July according to Browning.

That cartridge/rifle combination is my dream hunting setup. BUT... If I get lucky and draw a bull elk tag I still have my Browning A-Bolt in .300 Win mag.
Eric B.