marcm1
Well-Known Member
just getting post in and building new deer gun what are thoughts on 6.5 prc?
6.5 prc
- Thread starter marcm1
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It works for deer
What species of Deer and what geographic location? What terrain will you be hunting in? Longest realistic hunting distance from you to harvest the Deer? What optics do you plan having on the rifle? What action are you planning on? What barrel manufacturer are you interested in? Any desire for other species (larger or smaller) that you will use the rifle for? Do you reload? What is your total build budget for the rifle/stock etc?
Many thanks and God Bless.
Many thanks and God Bless.
Sonart
New Member
Will the 6.5 PRC go up to moose ?
With the right bullet, range, and shot placement yes. In Europe the use 6.5x55 for moose and red deer regularly. 6.5x55 (high pressure loads) and 6.5 PRC are not to far off each other in velocity capabilities.
If you are talking long range moose shots I would pack a bigger rifle.
Buffalobwana
Well-Known Member
The 6.5's are popular right now. I bought a 20" 6.5 PRC Christensen Ridgeline FFT this year and it's already killed two Aoudad. It's a very capable round for medium sized North American game.
I picked 20" because I hunt with a can and anything longer gets unwieldy in brush.
I wouldn't use it on certain African species. Some are just too dang tenacious for any 6.5, but most deer species will die with a properly placed 6.5 bullet.
Moose ain't super tough, but choose the right bullet and don't shoot him at 800 yards and it should be fine.
I picked 20" because I hunt with a can and anything longer gets unwieldy in brush.
I wouldn't use it on certain African species. Some are just too dang tenacious for any 6.5, but most deer species will die with a properly placed 6.5 bullet.
Moose ain't super tough, but choose the right bullet and don't shoot him at 800 yards and it should be fine.
Inside 500 and especially inside 300 .472ish base short cartridges do fine. Bullet failure can happen even with the supposed reliable bullets. Crazy things happen when an animal gets shot. I have a 6.5prc in an AR, 22", 8t with coal capability to 2.870ish. Built for up to 135's initially, but for LaRue mags give me an extra 40thou over magpul m118's (reason for 135's). Now I can go 143's easily. No hunting for me, only shoot piggies and few yotes and p-dogs.
Its a great round for deer sized game.. I was able to take 2- mule deer, 1-bull elk and 1- moose with a Tika and the 156gr EOL this hunting season.. All one shot kills. All animals where taken within 200 yards.. In my oppion, at elthical shooting distances you will be happy with the PRC. If you want to shoot further on big game animals shoot a bigger round.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
It's crazy to think how long the 6.5 caliber has been around in various configurations. Piles of bullet options from fragmentation to solids for a wide range of hunting applications. My PRC has taken yotes, wolves, deer, and bison. I would not hesitate to use it on moose and elk is a given. (I bow hunt mainly) It's very capable. Being this is a long range page that doesn't mean long range is a hard number, it depends on everything from terrain, caliber, cartridge, and animal. Long range could be 400-600, or 800-1000. For me, anytime you are past PBR and have to account for external and terminal ballistics, we are dabbling in the long range arena.
Karamojo Bell killed elephants with 7x57 mauser with the right bullet and shot placement.
It would be in the same power factor range as 6
5prc roughly, probably less because of the loads from 100 years ago. I am sure they were not long range shots, but the animal is huge.
It would be in the same power factor range as 6
5prc roughly, probably less because of the loads from 100 years ago. I am sure they were not long range shots, but the animal is huge.
highfinblue
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine killed the biggest bull elk I have ever personally seen with a 260 Remington. Not sure of the distance, but it was a one shot kill, and this thing was a monster. I don't think he ever had it scored, but I've seen governor tag bulls that were super bulls that didn't compare. A well-placed shot is lethal with most modern cartridges, and the proper bullet at proper velocity. A 243 through the boiler room is better than a 338LM through the guts, in my opinion.
BrentM
Well-Known Member
Good point. What people don't think about is terminal performance of high sectional density bullets. There is a reason that number is printed on bullet boxes etc. High sectional density is a key factor in terminal performance. Add in a bullet that is designed for penetrating heavy tissue and bone and you have a potential recipe for success. A 6.5 really tops out at 150-160 class bullet and generally around 3000 fps. That combo is only going to yield a certain amount of potential of energy, basically kinetic energy. Mass and speed. Most people believe the more mass and speed the better, which is generally correct, but the mass and speed also needs sectional density. I feel all this is beyond most peoples ability to deal with so they just spout out things like, well its good for deer, but you need a 20mm for an elk.....
