Does the 6.5 PRC have enough ass?

[Ernie]

12 inch piece of steel.

Bottom muzzle brake? With ports only on the bottom? I’ve been told you want ports ONLY on the side. When I installed one of those on my AR-10 it helped tremendously with recoil.

Factory ammo for now. I may get into reloading in the future, but not something that’s on the radar for the time being.

As mentioned, a solid bottomed brake, means there are no holes/ports on the bottom of the brake.
A side discharge brake works great.
Even if it has holes on the top, it will not be a problem, if, it is a good quality brake.

Most of my elk kills have been under 500 yards. Have I killed elk beyond 6? Yes.
Even more of my elk kills have been under 400 yards.
The last elk (Cow/calf tag) I killed was with a 6.5 PRC. It had a PRS scope on it, but I didn't want to change out an optic, when I decided to use it.

This was with Hornady factory ammo.

Same XP-100, with a Sightron S-III scope, and the same ammunition at just over a grand, with a good friend shooting it. 3-shot group is right at 3.5"

 

[mtnrunner260]

Shot distance will also depend on where you are hunting.
Above tree line can offer shots as far as the eye can see.
In dark timber you may be lucky to have a shot over 100 yards.
If you know what type of habitat you'll be in try to practice for that. i.e. dark timber work on close range off hand shots.
I have killed elk with a 7x57, 7mag and 7-08. Have a new 6.5 PRC that I'm hoping to use this year.
Best of luck.

 

[BAKPAKR]

As mentioned, a solid bottomed brake, means there are no holes/ports on the bottom of the brake.
A side discharge brake works great.
Even if it has holes on the top, it will not be a problem, if, it is a good quality brake.

Most of my elk kills have been under 500 yards. Have I killed elk beyond 6? Yes.
Even more of my elk kills have been under 400 yards.
The last elk (Cow/calf tag) I killed was with a 6.5 PRC. It had a PRS scope on it, but I didn't want to change out an optic, when I decided to use it.

This was with Hornady factory ammo.

Same XP-100, with a Sightron S-III scope, and the same ammunition at just over a grand, with a good friend shooting it. 3-shot group is right at 3.5"

You broke the back half of your stock off!

Great shooting.

 

[Ernie]

Buttstocks are overrated

 

[Dos Perros]

As a bowhunter, when I see an animal at 900 yards, or 700 yards, or even 300 yards, I just get closer. It's pretty easy, I just walk over there.

 

[Ernie]

I like close-up, I like distance, and I like everything in between...
29 yards with an old Pearson Flame bow.

 

[Jjustus16]

As a bowhunter, when I see an animal at 900 yards, or 700 yards, or even 300 yards, I just get closer. It's pretty easy, I just walk over there.

Of course, if possible haha.

 

[Jjustus16]

I like close-up, I like distance, and I like everything in between...
29 yards with an old Pearson Flame bow.

Impressive. How are you getting that close Ernie?

 

[BAKPAKR]

Impressive. How are you getting that close Ernie?

You just sneak up on them. Or, better yet, let them come to you.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I’m here asking about shot opportunities from guys like you who have experience doing it. What is the expectation and norm for shots? Am I limiting myself? I think that’s a pretty fair question.

So maybe, keep your passive aggressive comments to yourself bud?

New to Western Hunting and asking about 700+ yard shots? Your post is getting the expected responses. Those that have been doing this a long time know that it's night and day shooting an animal in the mountains with a ton of variables at play as opposed to ringing Steel at the range. I think you should look at everyone's comments so far through a different lens and try not take it as a personal attack but rather good advice that you maybe didn't want to hear. There's a lot of good experienced western hunters responding to your post.

 

[Ernie]

Impressive. How are you getting that close Ernie?

Play the wind, calling, spot-and-stalk, making set-ups near water holes or regular pathways, plus just doing a very slow sneaky-sneak.
The bull here was on public land, and we called him in.
I set up in front of a tree, and pre-ranged a number of trees. Perfect double-lung shot, and went about 60 yards and piled up like this.

 

[Dos Perros]

Of course, if possible haha.

Well, if it weren't possible to walk over there, you certainly wouldn't shoot it with a rifle would you, because then you couldn't recover it.

 

[BAKPAKR]

BTW - you should get yourself a chronograph because you are going to have to find a factory round with a low extreme spread if you are considering long shots. My daughter used a borrowed 6.5 PRC with factory 147 gr ELD-Ms on two elk last year - one at 250 and another at a little over 500. Both dropped in their tracks. Despite her success, the friend who loaned us the rifle said that he wouldn’t use that ammo for longer range as the ES was pretty high in it, with his particular rifle.

 

[Jjustus16]

Play the wind, calling, spot-and-stalk, making set-ups near water holes or regular pathways, plus just doing a very slow sneaky-sneak.
The bull here was on public land, and we called him in.
I set up in front of a tree, and pre-ranged a number of trees. Perfect double-lung shot, and went about 60 yards and piled up like this.

That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jjustus16]

Well, if it weren't possible to walk over there, you certainly wouldn't shoot it with a rifle would you, because then you couldn't recover it.

I was looking at it as are they gonna give you that chance. Fellas are pretty smart. I’ve heard a lot of stories about chasing a bull and then he gets over the ridge and he’s gone..

I suppose that’s the name of the game though. I’ve had some pretty distant shots on big bucks that I passed on thinking I could get him in closer only to have him disappear.

 

[venado mula]

Most modern cartridges have enough "ass" to kill anything. If guys are taking game with traditional archery equipment, it speaks volumes for why guys debate killing power of cartridges. The more accurate one the better.

 

[Laramie]

That felt very passive aggressive lol. Im here asking for advice man. No need to be like that.

FYI: I’m ringing steel at 800 yards with a 7RM consistently.

There is a need to be "like that". I have hunted elk and guided elk hunters since the late 80s. 99% of the time the caliber and bullet combination, is not the limiting factor. The hunters ability is. Marketing and advertising for new equipment and new cartridges leads a lot of new people to believe that the average Joe can shoot an elk easily beyond 500 yards. That just isn't reality for most people. For the sake of the elk you will be shooting at, please keep an open mind to some of the messages and suggestions being offered.

FYI - My 14 year old is ringing steel at similar ranges. He is getting better at trigger control but he has no clue how to judge wind, and is nowhere near good enough to take a cold bore shot, with his heart racing, from an uncomfortable position, at long range. There is so much more to it than being able to control your trigger finger.

Again, I wish you good luck.

 

[Jjustus16]

There is a need to be "like that". I have hunted elk and guided elk hunters since the late 80s. 99% of the time the caliber and bullet combination, is not the limiting factor. The hunters ability is. Marketing and advertising for new equipment and new cartridges leads a lot of new people to believe that the average Joe can shoot an elk easily beyond 500 yards. That just isn't reality for most people. For the sake of the elk you will be shooting at, please keep an open mind to some of the messages and suggestions being offered.

FYI - My 14 year old is ringing steel at similar ranges. He is getting better at trigger control but he has no clue how to judge wind, and is nowhere near good enough to take a cold bore shot, with his heart racing, from an uncomfortable position, at long range. There is so much more to it than being able to control your trigger finger.

Again, I wish you good luck.

I appreciate your input. I’ll let you know that I am heeding everyone’s advice and not just throwing it to the wayside. I get that I’m naive in this new game, but that’s why I’m here asking questions and looking through forums.

You guys could get the point across with kinder words, rather than saying “maybe learn how to hunt elk first.” That’s not adding much value to the conversation.
Don’t hate me for not growing up out west and having no experience hunting elk. I’m here to listen and learn.

Again, thanks for your input. And I’m sorry if I took your comment the wrong way.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Well, if it weren't possible to walk over there, you certainly wouldn't shoot it with a rifle would you, because then you couldn't recover it.

Although OP subsequently clarified his comment, it triggered a question I have had for a long time - how many long range “hunters” judge a hit or a miss solely by whether or not the animal shows some obvious sign of a hit rather than checking for blood? When you start shooting across canyons, it can take some time and effort to get to where the animal was standing at the time of the shot. Also, elk can soak up a lot of lead without much reaction.

 

[wind gypsy]

1. Yes
2. No.

Agreed.

The shooter is the limitation, not the cartridge. OP, take it from a flatlander who got into precision rifles while l lived out west, shooting steel on a flat range in the midwest rarely translates well into knowing your limits/capabilities out west. I got lulled into false confidence from pounding steel at distance from the same couple ranges and was humbled in different conditions I'd never shot in before. It's easy to recall pounding steel plates after making corrections at the range and forget that your first shot was lousy. Lots of people post their long range success on the internet but neglect to share their whiffs, rodeos, and wound loss. Until you've shot at distance in a number of different terrains and fully understood how the wind is changing bullet impact, taking shots at the distance you're discussing is usually unethical. Wind doesn't just move your bullet sideways. There is a whole lot of different directions wind can come from and they all change POI differently.