Help me decide 6.5prc or 7prc

[TexanHunter]

So I'm looking at getting a new seekins Precision ph2 for western hunting. Mule deer/elk. My question is, would you go with 6.5prc or 7prc and why? I own a CA Ridgeline in 6.5prc and have zero issues with it. I have two sons that will eventually go out west with me to hunt so they will need a rifle to shoot as well.

 

[Davyalabama]

Good question, lots of articles out there on this. I'm more of a .30 guy. 300 win. mag has suited me well for many moons, yeah, they have the 300prc., I just don't see myself shooting match bullets. I tried that with bergers, they just aren't for my style of hunting.

 

[Marble]

I only have experience with the 6.5 directly. Right now I'm leaning towards the 6.5 based on some very anecdotal evidence. Mainly revolving around velocity.

If you are handholding then you'll have more options for ammo.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[elkguide]

Of the two you mentioned, I would go with the 6.5 PRC. Love the ones that I have, however, when I head out for elk (and deer) I grab a .300 Win Mag almost every time.

 

[Laramie]

My son and I each use 6.5 prc with the same ammo. It's convenient for us to shoot the same and the caliber has been very effective. In the last year I have seen it kill several antelope, deer, 3 elk, and 2 bull moose.

I was a 30 caliber guy for most of my 30+ year hunting career but the lower recoil, increased accuracy, flatter trajectory, and terminal effectiveness convinced me to switch. I don't feel there is much drop off from the big calibers (if any in most situations) so the other benefits make the 6.5 a great choice for us.

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

I have both, still shoot both and have killed Elk with both. 143 ELD-X kills just fine, but I look pushing 180 gr bullets out of the 7 with, to me, no difference in recoil from my 6.5.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

I have both, still shoot both and have killed Elk with both. 143 ELD-X kills just fine, but I look pushing 180 gr bullets out of the 7 with, to me, no difference in recoil from my 6.5.

so you think the 6.5 prc and 7 prc have about the same recoil?

 

[SuperDUECE22]

So I'm looking at getting a new seekins Precision ph2 for western hunting. Mule deer/elk. My question is, would you go with 6.5prc or 7prc and why? I own a CA Ridgeline in 6.5prc and have zero issues with it. I have two sons that will eventually go out west with me to hunt so they will need a rifle to shoot as well.

In your situation i would get another 6.5PRC than you can hopefully shoot the same ammo and can buy large quantities and hopefully stick with the same lot# for a while.

 

[Nicaburns]

so you think the 6.5 prc and 7 prc have about the same recoil?

I have both as well... 7prc definitely has more recoil but is still very manageable. Most calculations show it as about 30% more recoil but it sure doesn't seem that way in the field. The Seekins stock will manage recoil MUCH better than the CA Ridgeline so you may not notice much difference at all if you go with the 7mm PRC in the PH.
The 6.5 is definitely flatter out to at least 500 and is plenty for elk with good placement. Since it is HIGHLY unlikely that your CA and the Seekins will like the same ammo, there is no need to worry about both shooting the same caliber. I'd get the 7mm PRC just to have both calibers should you want more energy past 500.

 

[GoatPackr]

6.5 PRC
The 7 will have more recoil.
The 6.5 is plenty gun for any North American hunting

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

so you think the 6.5 prc and 7 prc have about the same recoil?

As @Nicaburns eluded too. My 7 PRC has a much better stock (Peak 44 Bastion) than the factory ridgeline, (which is what my 6.5 prc is as well), which might be contributing to the lack of difference i see. But both at the range and in the field, i truly feel like it is no different.

 

[doc holiday13]

7PRC... #endthread

I know 223 will work but any video I've seen of elk getting hit with a 6.5..... They don't react .. at all.

 

[Article 4]

I have both so that I can gun up for Elk and larger game. Would use the 7 in Africa for plains game too.

There is a small diff in recoil between the two and they are both fantastic options. Bigger bullets do have some advantages in hunting - as far as ballistics, according to Hornady, the 143 has an average G7 BC of about 304 while the 175 eldx has an avg G7 of 343 - both across muzzle to mach 1.75 averages and the 175 is more consistent. Flatter with the 175 and more energy.

 

[WeiserBucks]

7PRC... #endthread

I know 223 will work but any video I've seen of elk getting hit with a 6.5..... They don't react .. at all.

They just walked away and went on about their day? Or they died 20 seconds later?

 

[AkMtnRunner]

Lead bullets: 6.5, easy. Copper: check out the 7mm 160gr lrx.

 

[mtnbound]

So I'm looking at getting a new seekins Precision ph2 for western hunting. Mule deer/elk. My question is, would you go with 6.5prc or 7prc and why? I own a CA Ridgeline in 6.5prc and have zero issues with it. I have two sons that will eventually go out west with me to hunt so they will need a rifle to shoot as well.

What bullet do you want to use? What's your practical shooting distance? In matching platforms, 6.5prc will have less recoil than 7prc.

 

[doc holiday13]

They just walked away and went on about their day? Or they died 20 seconds later?

They died but went on abouttheir lives as if nothing happened except getting spooked. Theydidn't react to the bullet impact. The video Muley Freak did with his intro to the 6.5prc was my first seeing the cartridge in action. I was not impressed.

6.5 hits a wall with bullet weight. 180g bullet in 7prc has alot of umph. you can always go with a lighter bullet and have 3000+fps

 

[Lou270]

If getting a Seekins, consider the 6.8W. Best of both worlds. Recoils closer to 6.5 prc and heavier bullets/more energy like the 7 prc. Lots of Elk getting hammered with it on 6.8W FB page. Of the 2 PRC I would prefer the 6.5prc unless just dead set on shooting Elk at some extreme range where the LA and heavier recoil of 7prc makes sense.

Lou

 

[LostWapiti]

If getting a Seekins, consider the 6.8W. Best of both worlds. Recoils closer to 6.5 prc and heavier bullets/more energy like the 7 prc. Lots of Elk getting hammered with it on 6.8W FB page. Of the 2 PRC I would prefer the 6.5prc unless just dead set on shooting Elk at some extreme range where the LA and heavier recoil of 7prc makes sense.

Lou

This right here. 6.8W is so much more efficient using less power, less recoil, better external ballistics, and I don’t think the animal will notice the difference in the bullet. I don’t have one but I’m very tempted. It seems like the perfect cartridge when balancing efficiency, shootability, and killing power. 6.5 PRC is right there but some people are left wanting more heft and the 6.8 seems to make a lot more sense. If you don’t feel you need the heavier bullets then the 6.5PRC all day.

 

[Pharmseller]

They died but went on abouttheir lives as if nothing happened except getting spooked. Theydidn't react to the bullet impact. The video Muley Freak did with his intro to the 6.5prc was my first seeing the cartridge in action. I was not impressed.

6.5 hits a wall with bullet weight. 180g bullet in 7prc has alot of umph. you can always go with a lighter bullet and have 3000+fps

I shot a 4x4 Roosevelt bull through the lungs at about 100 yards, 300 Wby Mag, 180 Partition. He was looking right at me. All he did at the shot was turn his head and start to casually walk away. Another shot got his attention and the third dropped him.
Shot a spike bull through the lungs, walking, at about 60 yards, .30-06 with 180 Partition, loaded HOT. He kept walking. Second shot in the back of his head dropped him.
Should I be unimpressed with the 300 Wby Mag, or the .30-06? Maybe Partitions?