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.

 

[Junkel87]

Yes. I don’t know if this is a question to hit posts or if honest.

Read small cal threads 223 to 6.5 kill threads

Where do you find these threads? I've searched and can't ever find them.

 

[Ajsomp]

Where do you find these threads? I've searched and can't ever find them.

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jun 3, 2019

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

---

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...

• PNWGATOR
• Replies: 11,298
• Forum: Firearms

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[Ajsomp]

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Dec 17, 2021

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...

• woods89
• Replies: 1,671
• Forum: Firearms

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[Stache Attack]

Where do you find these threads? I've searched and can't ever find them.

Looks like @Ajsomp beat me to it

 

[swampy14]

Yes. Don't mess with a CM though. The PRC is super light recoiling, so why would you go CM? Go PRC. My two cents.

Confused by this cause ballistically a 20” prc is equivalent to a 24” cm. It’s the same when it comes to velocities. Just barrels are different

 

[Harvey_NW]

Confused by this cause ballistically a 20” prc is equivalent to a 24” cm. It’s the same when it comes to velocities. Just barrels are different

I think a 20" PRC will still be faster than a 24" Creed with factory ammos, and with hand loads I can still hit 2950 in a 21 1/2" factory Tikka PRC barrel with 143's if I load near pressure.

Regardless, the point would be that you can go shorter for balance with a suppressor and keep superior ballistics.

 

[salinedude]

More than enough. Personally seen 3 elk die with this exact setup. Send it!

 

[Packmansion]

If you get a 6.5 prc with a barrel longer than 20" just throw it in the trash. My 16" ar-15 6 arc goes out to 650 yards with 1800fps at my elevation.

 

[JackButler]

On another note, you guys seem pretty knowledgeable and I have another question. What benefits do a 20” 6.5 prc have over a 20” 308?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As far as making elk dead under 500 yards, I’d say not much. A little less windage and drop but at those ranges less of an issue. The prc can stretch your effective range out further for sure. I shot a bull in the 350” range last season with a 20” 308 and it didn’t take a step.

 

[Ajsomp]

As far as making elk dead under 500 yards, I’d say not much. A little less windage and drop but at those ranges less of an issue. The prc can stretch your effective range out further for sure. I shot a bull in the 350” range last season with a 20” 308 and it didn’t take a step.

Wind holds. Don’t get me wrong, I killed my antelope with a 175 grain at 434 meters a few years ago, so it can be done. But the modern bullets buck wind better for sure.

 

[PNWGATOR]

910 yds with my 20” 6.5PRC

 

[Ecampbell25]

I shot a nice bull a few years ago with my 6.5 prc 20 inch barrel shooting factory eldx 143 2844.

Bull was quartering away one shot kill.

 

[Pistolpete28]

To the OP, no you need at least a 50 BMG for elk. Elk are big, and you need a cartridge with authority……

 

[Pistolpete28]

All jokes aside, based on all the smaller cartridges threads, I’d say a shorter barreled 6.5 prc is plenty. I killed my first elk with a 270 win.