Elk 308 vs 6.5 PRC

[northernalpine]

168gr ELDM or TMK. You'll handicap yourself further w the copper stuff. The TMKs are bad medicine, try to keep it off the meaty bits.

This, +178gr ELD-X

 

[bjt307]

I’ve killed elk with a .308 with no issues. If you were only hunting one year for elk I wouldn’t be afraid to use your .308. If you were going to be hunting elk more in the future it may be worth stepping up your gun

 

[Bigborealaska]

Put my elk down 2 years ago with my 6.5 prc and a 147 eldx at 250 yards with devastating results. The bullet almost did too much damage to the meat.

 

[bjt307]

Looks like pure performance to me!

 

[fwee6]

I use 308 for all big game -deer, antelope, bear, and elk. I have shot 6 elk with my 308, between 60-250yards and all have gone down within 20 yards. I wouldn’t hesitate shooting out to 400 and would expect similar results. I currently use Barnes TTSX 168gr for my last 3 elk, but any high quality bullet should work if you place it in the right spot. My personal opinion is to keep life simple and just use your 308

Similar -- .308 has done the job many times for me. Hornady SST.

 

[2-Stix]

its more about bullet construction not caliber...look around the forms to find that evidence.

 

[WesternHunter56]

Wow! That is devastating! Good to know

 

[Ecampbell25]

I have shot elk with both calibers. I shot a nice bull at 289 yards with my 308 pushing ttsx 160s and shot a bull at 350 yd with my 6.5 prc 143s.

Both elk died quick. But I personally preferred the 308 as it left a bigger entrance and exit wound.

I would keep the 308

 

[mtwarden]

Truth is anything will work. I shot 165 Accubonds out of my 308 and it worked well on elk. Run the ballistics on some different bullets and see what you like.

How long is your barrel? Longer barrel .308 hits very hard.

165 Accubond’s here as well; they have performed very nicely for me

 

[Tex68w]

New stock, waiting on ATACR 4-16x42.

 

[energy369]

6.5 prc is faster, has more energy carrying farther for more knockdown capability, is flatter shooting, has more efficient bullets and recoils less. 308 is cheaper to shoot and has more ammo availability and has a wider bullet for bigger wound channel. It all boils down to preference or what you are shooting.

 

[35WhelenAI]

For reference, forget energy when talking bullet effectiveness on target. Proper expansion (velocity) with bullet integrity to reach the vitals is how it's done these days and should have been done all along.

I can vouch for a 130 gr TTSX on elk from a 30-06 at just under 3300 fps mv. Otherwise, a 150-165 gr class bonded bullet in a .308 Win is great. The meat destruction in a hunting round with the popular frangible bullets is wasteful.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Can't resist... take a 35 Whelen, lob a 200 gr TTSX out at around 2950-3000 fps with modern powders and watch things stop happening from any angle inside of 400 yds.

 

[tt280AI]

Wish I had used my 308 instead of 280AI two years ago on elk, just because. However, I figured if I took the 308 then I'd have a long shot. Since I took the AI I had a 170 yarder.

Did take my moose last year with the 308 around 270ish. Would do it again.

 

[Tex68w]

Final form in 20" 308 kit. Now I've gotta find the proper load for the hunt. Leaning 165's or 168's.

 

[Watrdawg]

If you are looking at factory ammo look into Federal 175gr Terminal Ascent. My brother is shooting that this year for elk and his rifle loves it. I'm shooting Fed TA in my 7PRC. I've shot the 175gr TA in my Rem 5R 308 and can easily keep a 5 shot 100 yard group in less than .5" group.

 

[saltfork]

Final form in 20" 308 kit. Now I've gotta find the proper load for the hunt. Leaning 165's or 168's.

That looks like a solid rig. Throw a 168 ELDM out of it and go kill stuff

 

[Tex68w]

That looks like a solid rig. Throw a 168 ELDM out of it and go kill stuff

It'll likely be one of the front runners.

 

[Mhahn2]

Final form in 20" 308 kit. Now I've gotta find the proper load for the hunt. Leaning 165's or 168's.

What did you end up using I have almost the same setup I’m building right now.

 

[Erebor]

I've been very impressed with how well the Ruger American rifles shoot from all that I've been around. Federal GMM is probably the most accurate ammunition one can buy in .308 Win, and seems to be the gold standard for testing the accuracy of the rifle. I usually don't shoot heavier than 168 grains out of the .308, as I believe 150-168 grains is the sweet spot for performance.

I did successfully hunt a 5 point bull elk with a .308 this year, and I used 130 grain TTSX ammunition. I can't recommend that bullet enough if you want a lower recoiling hunting round for someone recoil sensitive. The 125 NBT and AB make an excellent choice for deer sized game and smaller out to 400+ yards, but if elk is on the menu go with monometal bullet if using a lighter grain bullet.