Bigfishonafly
Active Member
Is a 6.5 prc with 147 gr eld enough for black bears? What do you all think?
6.5 prc 147 gr for black bear
- Thread starter Bigfishonafly
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Shot placement and bullet construction is key. I like 30 and above,but a 6.5 will work. I would look for a better bullet. Partition, a frame ,grand slam,accubond, etc. Norma makes 156 grain bullets that would probably be my first choice. I like heavy for caliber hunting bullets if your rifle shoots them well. Bc shouldn't be an issue for most shots on bear.
Creedmoor shooter
Well-Known Member
Bear are not difficult to kill. We are avid black bear hunters and we've killed them from 6mms to 300 win mag. All of them died very quickly. I've taken one with the 140 amax at 2680fps from my father's 6.5 cm then this past season I took one with my 6.5 cm 140 hornady eld-m at 2773 fps. Neither went more than 20 yards. I do prefer 6.5mm as a minimum for bears just because they bleed like crap but it's not necessary.
Another Casual
Well-Known Member
If you're talking about the 147 ELD-M, I'd be looking for a tougher construction bullet for bear. I'd probably go with a monolithic or track down some 160 grain round noses and some load data to match if shots won't be far and you have the twist rate to run it.
FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
Plenty - we shoot them with 243s. I am going out this spring and will be taking either my 260 (130s) or my 25-06 (115s).
FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
Not all bears are created equal - black bears are not tough animals like the bigger meaner browns and grizzlies. We killed them with SSTs in my 243, which I consider a pretty weak bullet as far as construction goes.
FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
Depends on where you are hunting them doesn't it? Spot and stalk in Idaho we can take some long shots if we want to.
jasent
Well-Known Member
Bigfishonafly
Active Member
Thanks for the responses. I will be hunting with a 35 whelen. It should have plenty of stopping power. My daughter also will have a tag and I was stressing on what gun she should shoot with enough energy to make a clean kill and not recoil too much. She has a .243 Bar she shoots very well. Maybe we should reconsider and have her hunt with the rifle she has shot the most. I was thinking a 6.5 PRC would be a step up in power over the .243. But I agree shot placement is more important than power.
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
Provided you have enough penetration to reach the vitals from where you elected to place it.
FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
Her 243 will work awesome. Black bears are not tough animals, you don't need a lot of power to put them down.
Creedmoor shooter
Well-Known Member
If she can shoot the 6.5 prc well then I would advise the 6.5mm bullet just for a larger hole. If the bear runs then you'll have to track it. Bears dont bleed worth a crap. The 243 will work just fine though if shot placement is good. The bear wont go far.
The eldm doesn't have the locking ring like the else, but it has a thicker core upfront. I have found it needs mass to expand. I have had some fail to expand on small deer, but perform perfect on elk.
Once it expands it's like a Berger.
