6.5 prc enough gun for elk

[808hoghunter]

Any thoughts on a proof mtr 300wm

 

[Prieto9000]

While I don't have any personal experience with anything 6.5mm, I will say this, every outfitter/guide that I have talked to has been honest and said please do not bring anything 6.5. They've had nothing but problems with wounded animals and people believing they are better marksman, then they really are. They would much rather see hunters show up to camp with the standards, 30-06, 270, 7rm, 300WM, etc. As I've said, I have no personal experience with any 6.5 caliber, this is just what I've been told by many guides.

How can a 270 be any different than a 6.5 PRC?? 140ish gr pills almost the same diameter @ almost the same MV. I just can't see it. I've heard that don't bring any 6.5 anything song too but can't see the difference. I believe it's more of a bullet selection problem. BC doesn't kill, bulllet construction does. People always try to shoot the highest bc bullet available, but it's not always the best suited for the job.

 

[blvette75]

OK - so posters are shooting elk with everything from .223 to 340Wby and are very successful. Lets ask a slightly different question:

Given an unlimited choice of rifles in any chambering; what would you consider to be the ideal cartridge for hunting elk in an unknown location and climate?

You get only ONE choice.

Well I have always used a 300 win mag with 180 grain Nosler partitions. Then rebarreled that rifle and developed a 265 grain long range accubond for 338 win mag. Well when I weighed that rifle with scope no bipod was quite a bit heavier approaching 13.5 lbs with no ammunition in it. Then bought another 300 win mag have an 200 grain eldx round, I have worked up. But came to this blog, after I saw the specs for a Berger 156 grain ammunition in 6.5 prc that about equaled a 6.5 x 300 Weatherby load, which brought me here. Still looking to use my 300 win mag, but lighter rifle with same results. At my age I am interested in lighter rifles.

 

[memtb]

Well I have always used a 300 win mag with 180 grain Nosler partitions. Then rebarreled that rifle and developed a 265 grain long range accubond for 338 win mag. Well when I weighed that rifle with scope no bipod was quite a bit heavier approaching 13.5 lbs with no ammunition in it. Then bought another 300 win mag have an 200 grain eldx round, I have worked up. But came to this blog, after I saw the specs for a Berger 156 grain ammunition in 6.5 prc that about equaled a 6.5 x 300 Weatherby load, which brought me here. Still looking to use my 300 win mag, but lighter rifle with same results. At my age I am interested in lighter rifles.

Same here….I've been considering weight since the late '80's, and I'm only 70 now! 13.5 + pounds is 4+ pounds more than I want to carry on a hunt!

However, recoil on most any cartridge should be pretty tame at that weight! I often said this about my hunting rifle……when carrying I wish it were 2 lbs lighter and when shooting……2 lbs heavier! It gets carried a whole lot more than shot! memtb

 

[cabelasken]

Same here….I've been considering weight since the late '80's, and I'm only 70 now! 13.5 + pounds is 4+ pounds more than I want to carry on a hunt!

However, recoil on most any cartridge should be pretty tame at that weight! I often said this about my hunting rifle……when carrying I wish it were 2 lbs lighter and when shooting……2 lbs heavier! It gets carried a whole lot more than shot! memtb

I take a close looks at rifle and scope weights before any purchase now a days. My current hunting rigs consist of 3- 280AI's, One kimber with Mk5 Leupold 3 x 15 with talley mts that weighs around 7 lbs, and two Browning x bolts at a little over 8 pounds. These took the place of a custom 300 WSM by Brown Precision at 8 1/2 lbs.

 

[memtb]

I take a close looks at rifle and scope weights before any purchase now a days. My current hunting rigs consist of 3- 280AI's, One kimber with Mk5 Leupold 3 x 15 with talley mts that weighs around 7 lbs, and two Browning x bolts at a little over 8 pounds. These took the place of a custom 300 WSM by Brown Precision at 8 1/2 lbs.

I hear ya! My "only" hunting rifle comes in at a fraction over 9 pounds scoped, loaded, and slung. My vanity wants it to come in at 9 or under……but, the facts "is" the facts!

Truthfully…..I don't think I'd "enjoy" the recoil provided by my cartridge in a "light" rifle. 9 pounds is a pretty good compromise between functionality and practicality!

I just "crunched" the numbers for an 8 pound rifle in my cartridge…..60+ ft/lbs recoil is a bit much for this timid soul!
memtb

 

[Allen Kitts]

I just came back from a Red Stag Hunt in New Zealand. I took a 6.5 PRC with 140 Grain Nosler Accubonds and my buddy took his 6.5 PRC with 143 ELD-X bullets. I shot my stag at 483 yards and he went 10 feet. Bullet penetrated straight throught the front shoulder and into the lungs, no issues at all. Found the bullet in the offside hide. Now I don't think a Red Stag is quite as big as some of the elk I have killed but they are as big as a cow elk or a raghorn bull. The performance of the ELD-X out of my buddies PRC took several animals as well but I was not happy with the performance of the bullet on his stag or his Tahr. I would not recommend them for elk based on what I saw on this trip. JMO. I think putting a good, quality bullet in the boiler room makes for a very dead animal. I don't agree with bigger is better. I will take a good quality bullet placed cleanly in the boiler room every time over a larger caliber bullet and a marginal hit. If you shoot the 6.5 PRC well and have confidence in it, it will do it gob as long as you do yours.

 

[TxHeartShot]

OK - so posters are shooting elk with everything from .223 to 340Wby and are very successful. Lets ask a slightly different question:

Given an unlimited choice of rifles in any chambering; what would you consider to be the ideal cartridge for hunting elk in an unknown location and climate?

You get only ONE choice.

7mm STW with 160 gr Trophy Bonded Tip bullet...I have absolute confidence in this combo. All I have to do is my part of the equation, good shot placement, and start packin' out meat!

 

[blvette75]

Same here….I've been considering weight since the late '80's, and I'm only 70 now! 13.5 + pounds is 4+ pounds more than I want to carry on a hunt!

However, recoil on most any cartridge should be pretty tame at that weight! I often said this about my hunting rifle……when carrying I wish it were 2 lbs lighter and when shooting……2 lbs heavier! It gets carried a whole lot more than shot! memtb

Yep, my new 300 win mag setup is about 2.5 lbs lighter, CA Mesa, shot so well during break-in bought the MRP folding stock for it.

 

[cabelasken]

I hear ya! My "only" hunting rifle comes in at a fraction over 9 pounds scoped, loaded, and slung. My vanity wants it to come in at 9 or under……but, the facts "is" the facts!

Truthfully…..I don't think I'd "enjoy" the recoil provided by my cartridge in a "light" rifle. 9 pounds is a pretty good compromise between functionality and practicality!

I just "crunched" the numbers for an 8 pound rifle in my cartridge…..60+ ft/lbs recoil is a bit much for this timid soul!
memtb

Yep - my 338 win mag - a Brown Precision hunting rig is only 8.5 lbs and is my max tolerance for recoil. In fact, I have not shot it 7 or 8 years so maybe it is beyond my max now!! LOL. A pre 64 model 70 action, it is a beautiful rifle.

 

[dogz]

Yep - my 338 win mag - a Brown Precision hunting rig is only 8.5 lbs and is my max tolerance for recoil. In fact, I have not shot it 7 or 8 years so maybe it is beyond my max now!! LOL. A pre 64 model 70 action, it is a beautiful rifle.

That's a hella cool rifle! I toted a 700 in a Brown and a 70 in a Brown both in 340 Wby for close to 2 decades. Ran thru 2 Schneider barrels, both were wonderfully accurate and incredibly capable! Chucks to elk they had life covered.

 

[buzby]

A guy with a case of ammo through his rifle of caliber, is more dangerous than a guy with a new rifle of any caliber.

Also no one shoot better with more recoil.

6.5prc is sufficient. If you want a new rifle, you want a new rifle. It's not because the 6.5 won't kill elk. New rifles are fun though! Just leave enough time and ammo budget to be proficient, and enjoy the hunt!

 

[memtb]

A guy with a case of ammo through his rifle of caliber, is more dangerous than a guy with a new rifle of any caliber.

!

Your other two comments were pretty clear and accurate! However, the meaning of the above quote from your post eludes me! Please explain! memtb

 

[bultinkle]

Delete. Not gonna talk for others