6.5 prc enough gun for elk

[Beluebow]

If a 308 with 150gr bullets is a 900yrd elk cartridge....I gotta believe a 6.5PRC is as well.

 

[ZAK13]

While I don't have any personal experience with anything 6.5mm, I will say this, every outfitter/guide that I have talked to has been honest and said please do not bring anything 6.5. They've had nothing but problems with wounded animals and people believing they are better marksman, then they really are. They would much rather see hunters show up to camp with the standards, 30-06, 270, 7rm, 300WM, etc. As I've said, I have no personal experience with any 6.5 caliber, this is just what I've been told by many guides.

 

[bultinkle]

I once watched a guy put an internal box full of partitions from a rum into a bulls stomach. Nothing about it made me think "thank goodness he's got a 300 rum and not a 6.5"

I'd personally put my money into practice and range time with your rifle personally instead of wasting time and thought trying to buy performance.

 

[Plinker147]

We have shot lots of elk with a 6.5. Never have had any issues, several at 500-600 yds with 129 LRAB, 135 Berger classic, and 140 Berger VLD. My kid shot a bull through the shoulder at 525 and it penetrated. So any good bullet out of 6.5 PRC will work. Elk won't drop in there tracks unless you hit spine or CNS. I've shot a bull with a 338 at 200 yards and he just stood there like nothing happened. Same scenario with my 280AI. If they are still standing I put another one in them. All these bulls would have died the first shot but I don't leave anything for chance no matter what cartridge I'm shooting. You will be fine with 6.5.

Now there is nothing wrong with buying another gun, I tend to build new guns for special hunts just cuz. 7 PRC would be my choice, be a great addition.

I also wlll say that when our goal was to drop them in there tracks with shoulder shots we used 338's.

 

[LTH181818]

Ok the largest caliber I now own is 6.5prc … considering doing an elk hunt for the first time . Would I be better suited doing a 7prc or possibly even 300prc … I've never left the Hawaiian islands to hunt before so I'm thinking a 300prc might be a bit much on axis deer and pigs after… I chosen those calibers due to inherent accuracy of cartridges, I'll be using factory ammo as supplies for reloading suck here. Thanks

What ever is easiest to take out two lungs at the range you are going to shoot.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I've posted this before, but I'll put it here again seeing that you asked.

Several years ago, when I was searching for an elk outfitter; I asked the potential outfitters/guides what they recommended for a cartridge. Almost without exception, they responded with the recommendation of a 300mag in any given flavor.

Ultimately, I used a 30Nosler and had very good results.

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

Here's the typical results of our 6.5's on elk - we found a sweet spot with the 156's with start velocity of 2800-3000 FPS.

Don't overthink it - tuck em' behind the shoulder, get ready to work.

 

[Old Rooster]

My first elk hunt was a disaster.I walked up a 7000 ft mountain and took a shot at huge bull elk at 300 yards while trying to breathe and not pass out with a 300 Savage.I went home with a smaller elk that year but ALWAYS planned better.
Took the 30-06 next time and exercised by running with a backpack full of rocks to get in shape and went up west at least 3-4 day earlier to get acclimated to altitude.(I was young back then)
Since 1998 I live in elk country and my personal feelings are shot placement is the most important part of elk hunting but I carry a 300 win mag and one day would love to have a 300 PRC.Just my personal feelings and have friends that use a 6.5 PRC and connect more often than this old man

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

...not my first choice but with a great bullet and shot placement I guess it'll work....get to the range.

 

[rogerstv]

Too much of a chance in hitting big bone.

Exactly !! Breaking bones may or may not result in a quick harvest. Turning the heart and/or lungs into gelatin will result in a quick harvest.

 

[Old Rooster]

I bet this elk hunter wished he had done things differently before he died:

Hunter killed by animal he wounded the day before

Mark David, from Oregan, was bow hunting on private property when the incident occurred.

7news.com.au

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Ok the largest caliber I now own is 6.5prc … considering doing an elk hunt for the first time . Would I be better suited doing a 7prc or possibly even 300prc … I've never left the Hawaiian islands to hunt before so I'm thinking a 300prc might be a bit much on axis deer and pigs after… I chosen those calibers due to inherent accuracy of cartridges, I'll be using factory ammo as supplies for reloading suck here. Thanks

Just about any 6.5mm will work with the correct load/BULLET and correct shot placement!!!
Also range. don't expect to shoot 2K yds

 

[808hoghunter]

Here's the typical results of our 6.5's on elk - we found a sweet spot with the 156's with start velocity of 2800-3000 FPS.

Don't overthink it - tuck em' behind the shoulder, get ready to work.

Nice , Mike from HCA actually built my 6.5 and possibly the 7

 

[cabelasken]

You see hunny what happened was my 6.5 grendel was next to my dads 300winmag one weekend, 9 months later this bastard 7prc showed up in my safe.. I like it

I always take 2 cases but one rifle to the range and then return home with two rifles and two cases. It has worked every time for the past 35 years.