6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC Enough/Effective for Elk?

When you choose a caliber plan on the biggest caliber you can shoot well...... how far you are going to want to kill at....
practice with it...... snap shooting,.....also RH...LH....from an elevation if you hunt that way.....
As said previous..... you can hunt with a 22 rf.... if that`s all you got...... but you have to have .....and be able to complete a perfect shot...
As said previous also too much penetration is better than not enough.... with expanding bullets.....
I know a guide up in Gardner Mt.... that carried a 220 swift...... for years......head shots only shot alot of elk....bulls and cows.. never had a problem...... another Indian guide up in Canada didn't own a gun .....cause of drinking habits..... would borrow a friends 22 rf rifle and one cartridge every October...... shot a moose every year..... bulls and cows..... didn't matter.... he wanted the meat....
Thing is...if you want to take a particular trophy animal.... and it doesn't present a broadside shot.... it can turn into a very long disappointing tracking session for days........
OMHO..... let the flames rol.....

FEENIX said:

For my unwritten rule, it is only a 200Y difference. I used Berger's ammunition in 6.5Cm and 6.5 PRC, loaded with 156 Berger.

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That makes a lot more sense.

the blur said:

The 6.5 PRC is good for 1000 yard kills. I'm personally comfortable with the CM out to 400.

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I don't understand why a 6.5 PRC would be effective 600 yards further than a 6.5 Creedmoor?

My thoughts are that a 6.5 PRC would only be effective about 200+- yards more than a 6.5 Creedmoor. All subject to the pill used, barrel length and muzzle velocity.

Here is a big Bull killed at 660 with a 6.5/140 Berger started at 3050, impact velocity was ~2300. The Creed will launch it around 2700, and retain ~2000 at that range.

69precision said:

That makes a lot more sense.

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6.5 PRC = 2960 FPS MV, 750Y, 2170 FPS, 1556 FT-LBS
6.5 CM = 2680 FPS MV, 550Y, 2084 FPS, 1504 FT-LBS

not implying this is anyone in particular, but in general, some folks seem to use .30 cals as a crutch, "I can shoot that bull anywhere and he'll drop with this 225gr". factors far more imprtant than caliber IMO are bullet selection, impact velocity (not energy) and the #1, shot placement. I shoot a .30 cal pretty well at longer ranges, some don't. That said, I'm far more accurate lighter recoiling round.

I took a cow at 705 with a 6.5prc with a 22" bbl, she walked 10 ft and expired. Wouldn't shoot a mono at that range in the PRC, but a good tipped bullet, you bet. Put it in the vitals and you have meat, miss the vitals, regardless of caliber and you don't.

Pretty sure if you run the math, even a 26" 6 creed with 115 DTACs has the velocity to upset out to 800 or so.

I started killing elk with 165 grain Sierra GameKings. It only took one season for our group to figure out that elk were not just "big deer". Back in those days, there wasn't the selection of quality bullets we have today. My belief is you have to hit them first and then worry about terminal performance. Nosler partitions were the only affordable "quality " bullets and I could not get them to shoot in any of the rifles I was loading for at that time. I used 180 grain GameKings for a while until I was able to get the 180 grain TTSX to shoot.
My reason for the rambling story is that I don't want to be accused of shooting elk from behind the computer screen. It is my belief and opinion that as hunters, we owe respect to the elk to kill them in the most humane manner we can use. In my opinion, if you choose to use lighter calibers, you should make the stalk to get closer than 400 yards.
I venture to say that an awful lot of elk have been taken with 22 long rifle. Doesn't make it the best caliber for elk.
My experience, to quote some guy named Ruark, is to "use enough gun".

257Tony said:

Here is a big Bull killed at 660 with a 6.5/140 Berger started at 3050, impact velocity was ~2300. The Creed will launch it around 2700, and retain ~2000 at that range.

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Great shot!

RugerHawg413 said:

Hello,
I have two rifles that I am deciding on which one of them to make my main go to rifle, one is a 6.5 CM and the other is a 6.5 PRC. The only concern that I have about them is, is that are either 6.5 CM or 6.5 PRC effective on elk? I have heard a lot of people go back and forth regarding 6.5 CM for elk. But, I am having a harder time finding info regarding 6.5 PRC on elk. I prefer the 6.5 CM rifle to the 6.5 PRC. So, I guess my real question is 6.5 Creedmoor effective on elk??

I have found a 7mm rem mag that I like, but would rather not spend the cash on something while I already have something that works just fine.

Any and all info and wisdom are appreciated! Thank you!

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My neighbor has killed 11 elk with a creed from 150-500 and all been 1 and done. It's just fine for reasonable distances. Prc is just more juice and should give you another 2-300 yards without issue. The prc saum and 6.5-284 are similar in performance.

Calvin45 said:

That kind of stupidity has nothing to do with caliber tho! I've seen morons do that with their 300 magnums as well. If you pull the trigger, you go check for blood, even if you're certain you missed. That's how I was raised anyway.

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My point was not that. My point being is that goes both ways. Some people hate and tell horror stories about the creedmore when it's operating error. With the other side saying oh I killed one with a 22. Point being that better tools for the job come along. A 6.5 creedmore is better than a 30-30 for elk. Both when used not responsibly will kill a lot of elk but also wound them.

Rum Man said:

This question from the OP is loaded ....

My thoughts :

Can a Chevett race a Mustang ...well of course ....will it have a chance of Winning.....possibly but most likely not .

As we all know it's the bullet placement.

When you can stuff a 300 gr bullet in the case mouth .....I will try a 6.5 for Elk . JMO

Why do they call it a 6.5 need more ??
Its in plane English ! How could one argue that !
But that's why we have so many choices of Caliber's.

This forum promotes Long Range correct, so no 6.5 For my Elk Hunting .
Your mileage might be different.

Rum Man

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There used to be an LRH member, but I cannot remember his screen name; his sig line says elk caliber starts at .33.

I know of a local business owner who hunts Africa and all over the U.S. and all he uses is a 6.5 PRC with box ammo. He as killed most everything possible excluding dangerous game in Africa and almost everything excluding Grizzly here at home. I carried mine this fall for Elk and Left My spare 300WSM in the case.

Hey y'all, I think its spelled CREEDMOOR. I've shot Elk with both calibers at 500 & 550 respectively, but I must say the 6.5 PRC is much snappier. I had to use my buddies 6.5 Creed as an emergency stand in when my rifle, a 7mm-08 went south (145 gr Barnes LRX @ 2850)--it was a last day, last hunt scenario. It worked out, 1 shot DRT...but I like a little more jack for Elk than a 6.5 Creed. That said, my buddy swears by his and he also got his bull at a mere 165 yds...slacker!

FEENIX said:

There used to be an LRH member, but I cannot remember his screen name; his sig line says elk caliber starts at .33.

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Whoever it was, they were objectively wrong lol. Many(most) elk in the last century have fallen to something smaller than a .33. Shoot them at a reasonable distance with the right bullet and a 243 puts them down no problem.