6.5 prc enough gun for elk

[AGGRO]

50bmg loaded with hammers. Only way to kill an elk past 50yds.

Might even look into depleted uranium rounds..

Just ordered some .50 cal hammers. Told Steve I owe him a beer. If I ever get up there I'mma go broke.

 

[manitou]

im curious why is that?

There are so many variables...
the next guy might drop it in it's footprints with a high shoulder shot.

Bullet construction has every bit as much to do with it as anything.

Also, a high shoulder can mean a lot of things. How high? How low? Two inches right? Three inches left?

Use a good bullet and put it where it needs to be. Be ready for anomolies. We've all either seen them or experienced them.

 

[manitou]

People kill elk with a .243, 25-06 and 30-30 here in WY. None would be MY first choice, but remember the 6.5 CM was touted as a great elk cartridge and the prc has more poop in it's pants.

 

[Jerry M]

W.D.M. Bell killed elephants with a lesser 6.5 Than the prc. Elephant croppers today us ak47 7.62x39 to kill whole herds of elephant at a time. Yet there is no country that allows less the a big .375 to hunt elephants? There are better choice for sure,but the 6.5 prc will get it done. Oh yeah and like Bell after you harvest your elk, don't forget to collect your ivory.

I don't think anyone believes the a good shot with a 6.5 PRC, (again in the vitals) would not kill an elk. But will it do so 100% of the time from any angle?
Comparing shooting elephants, that have never seen a human, at close range in the head, is not the best analogy. Also Bell was a fantastic shot. As far as hosing an animal with a machine gun, what percent suffers unnecessarily or go off wounded? Again not the best analogy..

 

[bultinkle]

Having a caliber that can reach the vitals on a less than perfect situation is subject to a lot of debate.

So what scenarios are we scared of here?

Trying to shoot bull elk in the pooper?

This forum loves bergers in 30 cal (so do I) and my last one into a bull didn't exit on a perfect broadside. (I don't care)

So if we are generally ok with shooting frangibles in 30 cals that don't always penetrate offside, why are we all of a sudden scared of having to send the same penetrating depth bullet up the butt of an elk if we took a different rifle because the number at the front of the cartridge is different??

The people that aren't into frangibles are usually shooting coppers… and they are going to penetrate fine either way so again it's back to no difference.

So the scenario I'm left with is the mystical "my bullet blew up on an elk shoulder" that is said a lot and photographed pretty much never.

There are other forums with huge threads showing 6.5 elk kills absolutely smashing through shoulders, exiting, and generally killing elk and everything else. The people killing elk with 6.5s on here have chimed in saying it's a non issue and we still have this same tune from people that don't use them saying they don't work in hypothetical situations

 

[808hoghunter]

W.D.M. Bell killed elephants with a lesser 6.5 Than the prc. Elephant croppers today us ak47 7.62x39 to kill whole herds of elephant at a time. Yet there is no country that allows less the a big .375 to hunt elephants? There are better choice for sure,but the 6.5 prc will get it done. Oh yeah and like Bell after you harvest your elk, don't forget to collect your ivory

I need to look into the ivory and how to remove it…

 

[stazmania]

I don't think anyone believes the a good shot with a 6.5 PRC, (again in the vitals) would not kill an elk. But will it do so 100% of the time from any angle?
Comparing shooting elephants, that have never seen a human, at close range in the head, is not the best analogy. Also Bell was a fantastic shot. As far as hosing an animal with a machine gun, what percent suffers unnecessarily or go off wounded? Again not the best analogy..

The point is if you put the bullet in the right spot it will do the job. When croppers kill a herd nothing gets away, the whole family unit is killed, as humanly and quickly as possible. If you can't handle the overpopulation cropping and precision shooting analogy that is real life, I am sorry that I offend you. Not really. Get over it,

I don't think anyone believes the a good shot with a 6.5 PRC, (again in the vitals) would not kill an elk. But will it do so 100% of the time from any angle?
Comparing shooting elephants, that have never seen a human, at close range in the head, is not the best analogy. Also Bell was a fantastic shot. As far as hosing an animal with a machine gun, what percent suffers unnecessarily or go off wounded? Again not the best analogy..

You seem a little sensitive. The point is that the with the right bullet construction in the right spot a 6.5 prc will harvest the largest of game. Bell pick his shots. open sights, usually around fifty yards, The croppers that eradicate elephant herds do it as a job and kill the entire family unit when the do. It is not hunting it is culling. The point is that the minuscule 7.62x39 killed hundreds of elephants, and yes humanly as anything else nature has to offer. Don't be so sensitive, but know this if I find a elk hunt that is spear, blow gun, or sling shot, I am probably going to give it a try. LOL

 

[stazmania]

Wow I made a double post. Now it looks like I'm a little sensitive. LOL Shoot what you like. Know your equipment/gear limitations and personal limitations, and don't worry what others do or think. enjoy your hunt.

 

[Elk Crazy]

so glad I found this website with REAL hunters. Im tired of people saying 6.5cm or 6.5prc is too small for elk. I work at a Buffalo refuge and we're overpopulated with elk so we try to shoot 50 cows a year and all we use are 6.5 creedmoors. Last year I shot a cow at 680 with my creedmoor but I practiced that distance all summer so I was confident taking that shot. Double lung she went 15 yards. I also shot one at 410 in the neck (our preferred shot placement) because they don't go anywhere after a neck shot

 

[Jerry M]

Boy, This thread has gone sideways. Good luck to the OP with any caliber he decides to use.

 

[808hoghunter]

Boy, This thread has gone sideways. Good luck to the OK with any caliber he decides to use.

Thanks…. 7 prc barrel is on order and action on Monday… what scopes do everyone recommend… I was thinking 2.5-10

 

[Calvin45]

**** a part of me was secretly wanting everyone to say go bigger

In that case go bigger. The heart wants what the heart wants and you have the justification for a new rifle. You NEEEEEED a new rifle for this!

If going for factory ammo available everywhere and a dedicated elk gun I'm telling you right now…you NEEEEEEED a .300 win mag!!!!!

 

[ZAK13]

I can understand that, but you also must consider the people they are talking about. I have a friend who is a guide who has just as many horror stories of guys showing up with RUM's and 300 Weatherby's who were terrified to shoot their guns and made terrible shots with the idea that the bigger bullet would make up for poor shot placement. He would have preferred guys show up with a 243 and confidence than a magnum. It can in many respects come down to the hands weilding the tool. Got a buddy who put his bull elk down last season at 696 yards with a 6,5 PRC and factory Precision Hunter Ammo. My first elk was a spike I shot with a 243 at 500 yards with a 100 grain interlock. Put it where it needed to be and it stood for a few seconds and dropped.

Some hunters would be better served by sticking with classics and what they can actually handle well. Being able to put the bullet where it needs to be trumps all. Also knowing your capabilities and the rifles.

I don't disagree with you. Bring a rifle that you're very comfortable with. But when talking to various guides and the 6.5 whatever comes up in the first minute or two of conversation, it does make you wonder.

 

[RockyRandy]

Why? This hypothetical is asked once a week, and isnt what OP asked.

Maybe Instead of what the ideal cartridge is we should ask what the ideal amount of rounds downrange and wind practice per year is with a hunting rifle to insure we can hit a 8" plate at 5-600 yards with our given equipment in any conditions in any scenario in any location.

We get lots of questions about hypotheticals designed to purchase terminal performance in un ideal scenarios and zero about the guy behind the trigger.

I personally feel like people are constantly buying new guns for one off elk hunts that are "powerful enough" leaving the guns they have experience and trust with at home, shooting them 50 times and then taking them hunting instead of using all that time and money on range time and ammo learning the rifle they already know in harsh or various conditions that may present themselves.

I couldn't agree more