Is a 20 inch 6.5 PRC enough for elk?

[Schmo]

I am taking the year off from going "out west" this year

My condolences

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

Well, I once shot a small-ish bull at 240 ish yards with a 7x57, 140 grain Accubond that was around 2750 at the muzzle, likely around 2200 FPS on impact - the bullet cut through about 2 ft of elk on the diagonal before it exited, wrecked the aorta and upper lungs, and the elk made it about 15 steps/yards before it took a dirt-nap, leaving a blood trail a near-blind man could follow in the near-dark (I was that man who followed that trail, LOL).

So... consider, a 140 grain 6.5 accubond (assuming that's what you went with), at even a modest 2950 FPS muzzle velocity (6.5 PRC should manage that, even in the shorter barrel), would be clocking that same 2200 FPS-ish at 400 yards... so I'd say, yep, 100% confident that'd make it happen, cap'n.


To be clear, I'm not saying 2200 FPS is required - I'm just making a rough 1:1 comparison of 140 grains of accubond at Velocity X and what to expect.

 

[HandgunHTR]

My condolences

Ehh, don't feel bad for me. The main reason is that I have 2 separate TX trips for exotics coming up and a Newfoundland trip for moose already on the books. Plus, as normal I will probably have at least 2 or 3 impromptu whitetail trips with customers and/or vendors.

 

[Schmo]

Ehh, don't feel bad for me. The main reason is that I have 2 separate TX trips for exotics coming up and a Newfoundland trip for moose already on the books. Plus, as normal I will probably have at least 2 or 3 impromptu whitetail trips with customers and/or vendors.

And here I was feeling bad for you. I quit!

 

[MarkOrtiz]

That 6.5 PRC sounds like the hot ticket. Fast and flat, with high BC bullets that will do what you need. Just add a suppressor. I went 7mm PRC and would probably be just as happy with a 20" 6.5 PRC for what I do.

 

[Buglebrush]

Nice job. You should be proud of her.

I just said, “for too many shots.” My dad gave 10-year old me a Mauser 98a and 200 rounds of military surplus ammunition. After starting off well, I gave myself a hell of a flinch. I’ve always been recoil averse since then (aka a sissy). The hatchet job Navy Medicine did on my shoulder just turned that up to eleven.

____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

A modern stock with good recoil pad and muzzle brake changes everything.