First Elk Hunt - bullet of choice for 6.5 PRC

[Kimber7man]

Based on results from a few hunters who pile the animals up every year, I'll be different and use the 139 Scenar out of my 6.5 SAUM this year.

 

[snox801]

Man I know guys like the Berger's but you couldn't get me to try them again after using the hammers. I've never been able to catch a 6.5 hammer even using my creed on audad and pigs. Complete pass through of shoulders and great wound channel. Especially for the distance he wants. I personally think the creed runs out of energy before the hammer becomes to slow to open. So I step up in cartridges when that happens. 6.5 prc pushing the 124 hammers would be things dreams are made of.

 

[Deleted member 107796]

Personally, I don't see any magic bullet, pun intended, or game changing in Hammers. They seem to be differentiated from other mono offerings by way of controlled loss of mass vs staying nearly fully intact, a la Hornady GMX. I think all monos are great by way of lacking the concentricity issues with cored bullets and being able to reliably expand to 2x from our experience.

 

[Danehunter]

I recently bought a 6.5 PRC Browning X-Bolt Pro and I'd likely go with Nosler bullets for their weight retention along withthefronthalf mushrooming well.

Yeah, I'll use 143 gr. Hornady ELD-X on deer and antelope but not on cow or bull elk.

Eric B.

 

[FEENIX]

You got love plenty of choices. Another vote for the Bergers 140 or 156.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

The sectional density on the 156 is impressive! I bit the bullet and have a couple boxes coming in to play with. The more I look into this new Berger, the more impressed I am with it...

 

[BrentM]

Did a little testing with the PRC and 156 EOL last weekend. Did a velocity ladder with RL26. 52.5-55.5 grains. Surprisingly I was still not seeing any pressure signs that were notable at 55.5. Velocity at 55.5 in 22" proof was 2881. Not sure where it will end up but my guess is 2850-2900. The bearing ogive surface is .035-.045 less than 143-147 eld's.

 

[Quintus]

140 Partitions or 130 Sciroccos would my choice. I really like the Sciroccos in my PRC and am getting just under 3200FPS with RL22 and WLR primers from 24" barrel. I put 3 of them in a baseball from 450 yards yesterday afternoon. They have been very reliable for both expansion and penetration from the 260 rem thru the 26 Nosler all through the range of impact velocities.

 

[Plinker147]

156 EOL, we need some reports so you can test for us!!!

Killed a bull at 525yds with 140 VLDS, cow at 550 with 135 classic hunters out of 6.5-06, the 156 will do just as good or better. Lots of good bullet choices listed above, you do your part and the bullets will do there part.

 

[Slim13]

I've had great results with the 140 VLD's. Shot placement is everything with any bullet. Bullet construction is important but regardless of whether it's monolithic, cup and core or whatever - you still need to put the bullet in the vitals.

 

[Sniper97]

156 Berger!

 

[deerhunter64]

I have never shot an elk but I have shot mule deer and antelope with the 140 Accubond in my 65.-284 Norma. Deadly and I imagine quite adequate for elk.

 

[weatherbee]

Extended range is exactly what out to 500 yards is in this country, it's not really long range but your pushing normal gear and should be putting some rounds on your rifles and be ready to go.
I have a pretty good idea what bullets work good on elk in a 6.5, I've been playing with a 7mm lately but last year alone my buddies killed 18 elk with 6.5's most inside 500 yards, most with a 140 Berger all one shot kills, quick and clean. On wanted to try some 127 Barnes and those elk both required tracking and multiple shots with shot placement behind the shoulder, didn't even finish the box of bullets. I don't like 140 Bergers on elk because I read something about the construction I put a LOT of them through elk and then opened them up, I've done the same with a lot of other bullets and I still haven't seen a bullet in 6.5 that will give the consistent terminal performance of the 140 Berger though I'm super stoked to get some 156 Bergers into elk with the bigger 6.5's. I don't really give a hoot about what marketing tells you about bullet construction and what it will do, I'll shoot a few antelope and deer and if that looks good I'll run a few through elk, I open everything I shoot up and take a detailed look at bullet performance which is half the fun in hunting for me.

What do you mean by opening up? opening the ends of the Bergers? I shoot a 6.5-300 WBY. IT shoots 140 bergers and 143ELDX, 147M well. Just got a box of 156 EOL in.
Loaded some up the other day. 3400 FPS, but didnt get to group it. was 95 degrees and barrel got hot quick

 

[roninflag]

What bullet did you use? Elk pics? . I would have said the 140 partition or 139 scenar.