6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC Enough/Effective for Elk?

[bsims01]

The consensus is a 6.5 is plenty of gun from what I've read, but bullet selection is key. What factory bullets do you recommend or have personal success with for elk.

 

[snox801]

The consensus is a 6.5 is plenty of gun from what I've read, but bullet selection is key. What factory bullets do you recommend or have personal success with for elk.

All mine have been taken with hammers. I was using Hornady eld and x bullets for a long while. But I was having less than fantastic results. Very few exits and longer than expected tracking or game traveling after shots.
I think factory bullet is also a tough one cause you can find a few places loading hammers, but would you consider them factory? I consider anything that is not loaded for a specific rifle factory. Some may not

 

[Caulder]

Depends on weight of bullet and barrel length. I gained nothing with 26 in a 22" tube. But lost with it using the 123gr hammer. I have best luck with varget or rl15

So you are using varget with a 6.5 PRC and the 123gr hammers? Interesting. What range of powder weights did you use for your pressure test? I would love to find success with varget and the 6.5 prc

 

[dlgiese]

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!

6.5's are adequate to 400-600 yards. I prefer a larger caliber but shot placement is key. I shot a bull at 415 yards last year, with a .308 and 180 partitions, and put two shots through his vitals and one high breaking the spine, before he realized he was dead. All 3 shots were fatal but elk are tough animals.

I have seen one shot kills with 6.5's and watched wounded elk run away after being hit with Magnums. I watched three people shoot into a herd of elk at 400 yards last year, all with magnum rifles. When the shooting stopped, they had one dead bull, and one wounded, which was never recovered. They would have been better served with a rifle they could shoot accurately…amongst other things.

I don't believe the 6.5 is the magic slayer everyone thinks it to be. I believe people have good success with it because the lower recoil allows them to make accurate shots. Very few people can make accurate shots past 400 yards with any rifle/caliber in my experience (I own a 500 yard rifle range). Your rifles will work with a good bullet and shot placement. Good luck and shoot well.

 

[FEENIX]

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.

@Mike 338

 

[MOA or bust]

On my first elk hunt I took a .270 Win (somewhat comparable to 6.5PRC) because that's all I had (and was successful).
Next few elk hunts I carried a 7RM. Then for 15 years used a .300WM. New elk rifle is a 28 Nosler.
If you're getting to go on an elk hunt, take your PRC, if you shoot it well.

 

[LTH181818]

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!

Every time there is discussion on elk cartridges, the rifle discussion seems to be missing. After taken many bulls with .270/.280's I went to 7RM, 338's then to 300 mags. Now like 7mm's with heavy bullets. ( rangefinders )
Killed more Elk before RangeFinders than after. Hitting lungs was never a big problem inside 350 yards. Now twice that distance because better gear, is not that hard.
I would rather carry weight in optics, than my rifle. I like light ( bare ~8lb ). If I was using a .300 it would need to be heavier in order for me to shoot as well at long-range.
If the recoil was the same I would always shoot bigger.
My opinion in responding to your question, I think the 7mm rem. will give you a couple hundred more killing range. I have no idea what your comfort level or abilities are.

 

[Ucsdryder]

The consensus is a 6.5 is plenty of gun from what I've read, but bullet selection is key. What factory bullets do you recommend or have personal success with for elk.

Eldm or Berger would be my choice. I personally would stay away from a mono.

 

[RugerHawg413]

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".

Understood and agreed!

 

[RugerHawg413]

Every time there is discussion on elk cartridges, the rifle discussion seems to be missing. After taken many bulls with .270/.280's I went to 7RM, 338's then to 300 mags. Now like 7mm's with heavy bullets. ( rangefinders )
Killed more Elk before RangeFinders than after. Hitting lungs was never a big problem inside 350 yards. Now twice that distance because better gear, is not that hard.
I would rather carry weight in optics, than my rifle. I like light ( bare ~8lb ). If I was using a .300 it would need to be heavier in order for me to shoot as well at long-range.
If the recoil was the same I would always shoot bigger.
My opinion in responding to your question, I think the 7mm rem. will give you a couple hundred more killing range. I have no idea what your comfort level or abilities are.

Understood and agreed, thank you!

 

[PatriotHenry]

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!

Tons of good comments and testimonials on this thread.

Short answer yes. With the creed I personally would not stretch it much past 350-400yds. PRC 550-600yds. With my 6.5 of a different flavor 700 is my personal max. If I need to go longer I switch to my 300NM.

One of my best friends has 2 boys that each took bulls this past season with a WBY 6.5 RPM (factory 140 Nosler AB @ 3,000fps)-pretty close comparison to the PRC. Both one shot pretty much DRT, distances were 180ish and 250ish yards.

My 2 cents.

PH

 

[Ldigio21]

Both will certainly work! However, I hunted with a 6.5SST a few years ago. Took the new toy instead of choosing one of several more suitable options. I got my elk with some luck and a good angle but, I sure felt undergunned the whole trip. Won't do that again!
If a 6.5 will do, a 7 will do it better so let's just take a 338 to be sure… is my philosophy going forward.
Good luck with your hunt!

There clearly is some wisdom there. Just remember your gun is not only for what you are hunting but what may be hunting you. I was struck with this fact in 1998 in B.C. on a stone sheep hunt. I was in a small clearing surrounded by alders. We had seen a grizzly a little earlier. Looked like a locomotive smashing through the alders coming at myself and two guides. Had my 270 ip, safety off, finger on the trigger, and 30 yards of open space. Pretty sure it was not going to end well. Suddenly the alders smashed open and it was a caribou . A tremendous relief at that moment. After that, I carry a rifle that can handle what I might run into. Just saying, in the west we are not ar the top of the food chain anymore.

 

[Culpeper]

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. D

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

Rely on the fundamentals. Bullet choice and within a more than reasonable calculated point blank range based on your ability as a rifleman in good weather conditions. This may be the underlying reason, as you mentioned, you've heard a lot of people go back and forth.

 

[RugerHawg413]

Rely on the fundamentals. Bullet choice and within a more than reasonable calculated point blank range based on your ability as a rifleman in good weather conditions. This may be the underlying reason, as you mentioned, you've heard a lot of people go back and forth.

Understood, thank you!