Energy or bullet diameter most important?

[264WM]

Just depends on what you are wanting out of a bullet. Pushing a 85gr hp at 3827fps, 100gr BT at 3700pfs or a 160gr PPSN at 3200+ fps does everything I need from my 264WM

 

[MOA or bust]

For elk, I think you need a bullet of at least 165gr, preferably a monolithic or nosler partition and traveling at least 1800fps at impact.

 

[L2land]

I've been contemplating where my heart lies on this too lately. I think it's the late winter rifle dreams getting to me. I've killed elk, deer, and antelope with my 7mm-08 and 168 VLDs at about 2600 fps out to 600 yds. Now I'm trying to decide if a 6.5 PRC should be trusted to do the same at mid ranges with smaller bullets. I know people that have had good results and there's plenty of stories of bad results. At the end of the day I think you have to know what shots are on the table with a given bullet type and speed.

 

[Magnum44270]

For elk, I think you need a bullet of at least 165gr, preferably a monolithic or nosler partition and traveling at least 1800fps at impact.

6.5x55 142 ABLR, 185yds 2 steps and tipped over dead. Broke front shoulder and caught in offside hide.

 

[dogz]

If you're happy with your 7/08 you'll be more than happy with the 6.5!

Killing just isn't rocket science no matter how hard people try to make it.

Give most any decent bullet enough speed to wreck the lungs and you'll have dead criitter...rapidly

 

[MOA or bust]

Yes, even big bull elk can be killed with small caliber rifles, but not reliably. I have seen a lady kill a bull with a .243, but it took 3 hits to bring him down. I've seen a guy kill a bull with a 6.5 prc, but again 3 shots to the chest before he went down.
I have a bunch of rifles, but I would reach for my .300 WM or 28 Nosler for an elk hunt. Maybe take my 7 mag as a backup/spare rifle, but not my 6.5 prc or .270 as I have better choices.
I bet the % of wounded/got away elk is higher for 6.5 Creedmore than .300 WM if the hunter is proficient.

 

[Magnum44270]

Yes, even big bull elk can be killed with small caliber rifles, but not reliably. I have seen a lady kill a bull with a .243, but it took 3 hits to bring him down. I've seen a guy kill a bull with a 6.5 prc, but again 3 shots to the chest before he went down.
I have a bunch of rifles, but I would reach for my .300 WM or 28 Nosler for an elk hunt. Maybe take my 7 mag as a backup/spare rifle, but not my 6.5 prc or .270 as I have better choices.
I bet the % of wounded/got away elk is higher for 6.5 Creedmore than .300 WM if the hunter is proficient.

The bull above is from a side by side double..mine was 1 shot shoulder, double lung and heart, took 2 steps and was dead in 10 seconds. My hunting partner double lungged his twice behind the shoulder and it ran 80yds and was dead in a minute..... 6.5x55 swede 142 ablr vs 300Wby 180gttsx.... its all bullet and placemet

 

[L2land]

Placement over displacement. Everything is dead on their feet when you get the heart…

 

[Rich Coyle]

How did you get 7000 ft/lbs energy???
Muzzle??
Distance??

One of the trajectory sights on the 'net. I don't remember which one, sorry. Maybe someone who knows the formula for energy can post the correct number for a 90 grain bullet running 4, 250 feet per second.

 

[memtb]

One of the trajectory sights on the 'net. I don't remember which one, sorry. Maybe someone who knows the formula for energy can post the correct number for a 90 grain bullet running 4, 250 feet per second.

I think you can compute it with…..https://shooterscalculator.com/! memtb

 

[Rich Coyle]

memtb

Thanks.

P.S. I just went and signed up. The correct number is 3,696ft/lb. Still a lot, but only about half.

 

[L2land]

There you have it. A 90gr at 4250fps is the same as a 300 PRC with 225gr at 2800 fps at the muzzle. except that whole inertia thing.

 

[memtb]

There you have it. A 90gr at 4250fps is the same as a 300 PRC with 225gr at 2800 fps at the muzzle. except that whole inertia thing.

Oh how I hate it when logic enters into a conversation! memtb

 

[Rich Coyle]

Oh how I hate it when logic enters into a conversation! memtb

Me too. I love and use ignorant prejudice.