Bullet selection 6.5 PRC

[The_Whitetail_kid]

Would like some opinions here. In my CA Ridgeline 6.5 PRC h have been shooting the 156 Berger's. Been grouping really good sometimes and then not as good others which I really don't know why. Could be me, maybe maybe not. But my biggest issues is how Christensen arms has got such a small magazine for the bullets to go in, and I have to jump those 156's way more the Bergers tend to like to be jumped for them to fit in magazine due to the long length of the 156 Berger . I'm thinking this could have something to do with the inconsistency. Since I have to have to them in magazine, I'm thinking of trying a shorter bullet (or normal) like the 140 VLD, 143 ELD-X, or the 140 Accubond. I have vld and Eldx and know I can get my hands on some accubond. This year shots will be primarily close range (200 yards and in) with this gun on whitetail. Where I hunt is extremely thick and I either need a dang good blood trail or the animal to be DRT. Thoughts on what to use? Thanks

 

[The_Whitetail_kid]

I will add, I tend to shoot shoulders. Not very worried about meat loss if that changes anything. I'd rather have my animal DRT and sacrifice a shoulder.

 

[The Oregonian]

I recently had the same decision to make with a PRC that is being built for a sheep hunt this fall. I went with the 140 EH over the 156 for different reasons, but I have been using 140 VLD's in a creedmoor for a few years and they performed flawlessly and have been very accurate. The EH are supposed to be less sensitive to seating depth, which may be right up your alley. Just about all DRT's. Bergers, in my experience, are great but havent typically left a blood trail if they don't drop in sight. They have never run more than 100 yds but that can be a long way in thick woods.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

Guess which one I'd pick? For breaking them down or odd angles…!

 

[The_Whitetail_kid]

Guess which one I'd pick? For breaking them down or odd angles…!

One vote for the accubond….

 

[Kmccord]

If you are concerned about them running off, I would suggest shooting into the base of the neck into the spinal column. They will drop so fast you may not see it, done that with a big 8 pointer.

 

[MagnumManiac]

For those ranges either a 130g Accubond or 140g Accubond will get the job done.
I run either in my 6.5x47 Lapua on deer and they kill very well.
Another great bullet is the Scenar by Lapua.

Cheers.

 

[FEENIX]

Would like some opinions here. In my CA Ridgeline 6.5 PRC h have been shooting the 156 Berger's. Been grouping really good sometimes and then not as good others which I really don't know why. Could be me, maybe maybe not. But my biggest issues is how Christensen arms has got such a small magazine for the bullets to go in, and I have to jump those 156's way more the Bergers tend to like to be jumped for them to fit in magazine due to the long length of the 156 Berger . I'm thinking this could have something to do with the inconsistency. Since I have to have to them in magazine, I'm thinking of trying a shorter bullet (or normal) like the 140 VLD, 143 ELD-X, or the 140 Accubond. I have vld and Eldx and know I can get my hands on some accubond. This year shots will be primarily close range (200 yards and in) with this gun on whitetail. Where I hunt is extremely thick and I either need a dang good blood trail or the animal to be DRT. Thoughts on what to use? Thanks

 

[The_Whitetail_kid]

High shoulder definitely puts em down.

 

[entoptics]

With a 6.5PRC, inside of 400 yards, and a "shoulder + exit" shot strategy, I don't see how you could go wrong with one of these...

.264 Cal-124gr Hammer Hunter™ - Hammer Bullets

This is our most popular Hammer Hunter™. Designed for a 1-8" twist, this bullet will run in all the modern .264(6.5mm) rifles like the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 26 Nosler. The 124gr Hammer Hunter™ is responsible for taking big game all over the world.

hammerbullets.com

.264 Cal-125g Hammer HHT - Hammer Bullets

AT THIS TIME TIPS ARE CONSUMER INSTALLED TIPPING BLOCK INCLUDED WITH EACH ORDER The Hammer HT 125g designed for the 8" twist 6.5mm. With superior on game performance and an exceptional speed to bc ratio, this bullet is destined for greatness. This is an all around performer in any 6.5mm...

hammerbullets.com

LRX - Barnes Bullets

www.barnesbullets.com

.264 125gr Bulldozer-2 - Badlands precision, LLC

Length: 1.465″ BC (G1): .590 BC (G7): .302 Twist: 1-8″ Price: 50/BOX

badlandsprecision.com

You ought to be able to get at least 3050 fps, which will give you about 2200 fps and 1400 ftlbs of energy at ~400 yards at sea level. Should absolutely stomp on a whitetail (or elk for that matter), and by most reports, the Hammer/Barnes/Badlands bullets will likely shoot good. The Hammer/Badlands are a bit spendy, but probably not much worse than Accubonds.

 

[ADR..]

One vote for the accubond….

Especially for that kinda range, I'll make it two

 

[BEEMAN]

I second entoptics suggestions. The only one of those bullets I've used is the 124 HH. I shoot this out of a 6.5x47. Nothing has taken a step. For 200 yds and shoulder shots a light all copper bullet of your choice should work very good.

 

[Kimber7man]

For breaking down shoulders of deer within 200 yards, a TTSX driven at warp speed sounds about perfecto....

 

[Closetohome]

I'm building a lightweight 6.5 PRC/SI for just that purpose and dropping back to the 127 LRX. I dont shoot over 5-600 yards and speed offsets a bit of the BC advantage of the bigger bullets.