Load For AZ Elk - 6.5 PRC

[Benjblt]

Looking for a some feedback on a load for elk in my 21" 6.5 PRC. I've been using my 300 WSM but I want to use my 6.5 PRC. I've been hunting bear and deer with the 6.5 and been using 125 HHT's with N560 going about 3080 fps. They've been hammering everything but haven't had a chance to shoot anything at distance. Hammer touts they'll do the job down to 1800 fps which is about 700 yards in the environement I'll be hunting elk. I'm a little nervous about prooving that out.

Question is do I switch to 143 ELD-X's or 147 ELD-M's? I think I can get these to just above 1800 fps out to 750 and 800 yards respectively. We've hired a guide for our hunt and he noted that average shot is about 500 but could be out further. I wouldn't trust myself out past 750 at my current skill level and that would be under absolutely perfect conditions (no wind, solid rest). Will the 147's do the job on elk and down to what velocity? Am I better off going with the 143's?

So far I have a load for the 143's worked up with H1000 at about 2870 fps. I bought Retumbo and have some N560. I've heard that you don't get full benefit of H1000 and Retumbo out of shorter barrels like mine (21") and that powders like N560 are the ticket. Thoughts?

 

[cole96]

I can’t give any advice on the bullets you listed, but the Berger is another solid choice. I run retumbo in my 22” 28 nosler (82gr) and it is excellent. Retumbo gives me a huge node and excellent accuracy. I know this wasn’t your exact question but chiming in

 

[Benjblt]

I can’t give any advice on the bullets you listed, but the Berger is another solid choice. I run retumbo in my 22” 28 nosler (82gr) and it is excellent. Retumbo gives me a huge node and excellent accuracy. I know this wasn’t your exact question but chiming in

This is exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for. Thank you. For sure I’d like to know if anyone had had any experience with the 147 on elk.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

You may check out the new 153 TMK. I've used the 147 M on cow Elk at CM speeds and it worked well.

 

[Azhunter10]

I have a 20” 6.5prc and use either the 144LRHT or the 156EOL. Both have worked really well for us and our preferred powder is N565 or N570.

 

[180ls1]

Have experience with the 124hh on elk, other critters as well but +300 fps over you. It works just fine.

 

[WRO]

I’ve had very good results with factory 147s.


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[Maverick1]

That will definitely not work on elk in Arizona.

It is more than adequate for elk in Wyoming and certainly good enough for elk in Colorado, but not good enough for elk in Arizona.

 

[fmyth]

I'll be hunting late season elk in AZ this year with my 18" 6.5C shooting 143ELD-Xs. That combo has worked great on 7 elk and 6 mule deer between 300-400 yards. I'm confident it will kill elk and mule deer at 500 yards if I need to shoot that far. My muzzle velocity is 400fps slower than yours so you should be fine well beyond my self imposed range of 500 yards.

 

[Dark timber]

H1000 and 147s are a well documented killer. You’re not burning 90+gr of powder. It’ll get a full burn in 21”.

 

[glock233]

143 ELDX or 153 TMK.

While the 147 is also pretty good, the extra lead in the tip has been observed by some to cause expansion problems at low speeds. One mechanism is the red tip breaks off strangely. This can jam things up.

The ELDX has a better design to prevent these possible problems. The performance of ELDX and ELDM is so similar, that I’d go with the one with better reliability over slightly better BC.