I started using a 6.5 PRC in 2019 and I've had some success with it in what has become a pair of parts sharing hybrid rifles.
The first time I hunted with it I shot a crow at 300 yards, the next day I killed my first bear and an 8pt by 10 am on the first ever Saturday opener in PA. The bullets used were a combination of the 122gr Lehigh controlled chaos and the 124gr Hammer Hunter. The buck dropped instantly with a frontal chest shot and the bear died with 4 shots though 3 of them were individually fatal but I kept shooting until he dropped.
In 2020 I took the rifle to a long range shooting class shooting the 153.5gr Hybrid Target at around 2910 fps, the bullet performed perfectly for target shooting past 1000 yards but the pointed tip would rule it out for hunting purposes. I ended up killing the barrel a week before deer season with a final round count of around 1100.
The barrel was replaced with a duplicate proof prefit and it took an additional 2 does including one on the first ever Sunday rifle hunt in PA. They were taken using the 123gr Absolute Hammer at just under 3320 fps but I don't have any pictures.
In 2021 the rifle got a change up with the barrel and scoped being moved to a new action and chassis, still shooting the 123gr AH it accounted for another doe and a broken antler former 7pt. The doe made it approximately 20 yards and the buck ran for about 60, both deer were bumped by other hunters and amped up on adrenaline which is why they made it so far despite significant internal trauma.
Entrance
Exit
Heart damage
My dad was also using the 123AH at approximately 3050 fps in a 6.5 PRC with an 18" barrel, he killed a doe stone dead on the run at 100 yards and a second doe at 500 yards.
Overall I've been incredibly happy with the performance of the 6.5 PRC with it accounting for 7 deer and a bear, my rifle is currently getting another change as I will be saving the 24" proof for target work and replacing it with an 18" to better handle with a suppressor while hunting. That should drop my velocity from 3350 to 3100 so I am going to try the 109gr Absolute hammer to see if I can get to velocity back up into the 3300 fps range. I plan on using this rifle and cartridge as my main rifle for the foreseeable future here in PA.
