6.5 prc elk bullet poll!

What elk bullet?


  • Total voters
    318
To the OP @djprice91

Would it had been a better poll if you had the Nosler 130 Accubond, Swift 130 scirocco or Sierra 130 TGK and the 123 Hammer for under 500 yds? As the Berger and Hornady are clearly designed for longer shots past 500 yds where they can take advantage of their high BC, I'm not saying they wouldn't perform at close range but it would make a better apples to apples comparison. Also I'm not saying anything negative about any of the bullets because they're ALL great bullets just designed for different applications…. this is just my opinion.
I have some 140 accubonds and 140 partitions, I just haven't had time for load development with them
 
Here's my question for you hammer fans, In the 6.5 weather it is a creed or a PRC why don't you ever hear of anyone using a 140gr. Hammer. I would think it would be a awesome bullet choice in the PRC!
It would be hard too stabilize , my as well move too a 7 mm . It would take a 1-6 twist too stabilize it , monos are longer weight for weight compared too cup and core.
 
I have had good results with the Berger 156 shoot 3/4 inch at 200 yds. But it looks like Hammer 124 are winning this pole. I have not loaded the Hammer bullets but it looks like the 131 would be a better choice if you are shooting a 6.5 PRC with 1:7.5 twist. I am always trying to improve my mouse trap so was think I would load a few and see how they shoot. Any one will to share load data with these two Hammers?
 
Are these good at shorter ranges too?
No they are not they pancake on heavy bone. At 47 yards from starting out at 2920fps they wouldn't penetrate a 300lb bears skull from the rear quartering away on a followup shot. Fractured the skull but the bullet was there against the outside of the skull...that is when I stopped using the 147s.
 
At 500 yards and under I doubt you're going to see the benefits of the heavy, high BC pills. I like copper for speed and penetration, they might not perform as well on perfect broadside shots due to less expansion/fragmentation, but they'll plow through more flesh and bone on imperfect shots. I've had two separate lead bullet failures due to over expansion and little to no penetration and I was DARN lucky to hit the brachial artery on both animals or they would have been gone.

Been said, all options you listed will flatten an elk if you make a good shot.
 
No they are not they pancake on heavy bone. At 47 yards from starting out at 2920fps they wouldn't penetrate a 300lb bears skull from the rear quartering away on a followup shot. Fractured the skull but the bullet was there against the outside of the skull...that is when I stopped using the 147s.
Curious how a bear skull would translate to a bone. Cool test though! I have to think it would be a lot denser than any part of the shoulder. Maybe a leg bone? Do you have a picture?
 
Here are some eldm results from the last 2 years. Shots from 90-821 yards. 2 DRT, 2 ran about 50 yards, dead on their feet.
 

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Here's my question for you hammer fans, In the 6.5 weather it is a creed or a PRC why don't you ever hear of anyone using a 140gr. Hammer. I would think it would be a awesome bullet choice in the PRC!
We have a 137g Hammer Hunter. It requires a 1-6.5" twist or fast to make it fully stable. It is right on the edge of being too long for any twist. The density diff between copper and lead is 20%. This basically causes the copper bullet to be 20% longer for the weight than a lead core bullet of the same form.

In other words, few people have a fast enough twist to run a copper bullet in the 140g class. We do have a Shock Hammer the weighs 139g that will stabilize in an 8" twist. It is a long blunt nosed, nearly flat based bullet, in order to get to that heavy and still be stable in the 8" twist.
 
I used the eldm last year and took a deer at 508 yds. This year I'm going to run the eldx and see how it works. I have badlands and Eol's I will work up a load for and try out next.
 
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