Speed vs Weight For Hunting, Which Do You Prefer?

[Paulyester]

I have a cow elk hunt coming up next week and I would be interested in everyone's opinion on bullet choice. I will be using my 6.5 PRC with 22" barrel. I have two loads that I can use, 156gr Berger at 2900 FPS, or 140 gr at 3050 FPS. Which would you choose for cow elk inside 500 yards and why?

 

[sndmn11]

What's the 140 bullet?

 

[TxLite]

Whichever shot better. Preference to the Berger because they just tend to shoot well in my rifles.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Fun gifs aside, that speed difference is negligible within 500 yards. Assuming they both shoot well in the gun, whichever bullet you prefer terminal performance wise.

 

[JFK]

150fps isn’t going to make a difference. Take the one that shoots better.

 

[180ls1]

When in doubt, the one with less wind drift because that's what I suck the most with.

 

[CJ_BG]

If the 140 is also a berger then the 156gr.

 

[RockAndSage]

Heavier, in general. Most of the heavier designs seem to buck wind better, but the greater sectional density also seems to do a better job of killing by penetrating deeper before they lose too much mass and stop. Wouldn't matter as much for deer, but on elk it would definitely be my preference without knowing anything else.

 

[schmidty3]

My dad popped a doe at 530 yards a few weeks back with the 156s. 2750 mv. It was pretty devastating. Ive seen the 140 vlds do nasty things too. Id run the 156s though. It probably doesn't matter.

 

[Matt5266]

Don't over think it. Take what shoots best

 

[Castle Rock]

I really like the 130s for flatter mid range trajectory and less recoil, I don’t mind losing a bit of meat.

 

[wind gypsy]

Whatever shoots better and you have more faith in terminally. External ballistics, consistency, recoil, terminal performance all play a part and the weight of a bullet doesn't dictate any of those things on it's own.

 

[Paulyester]

As a follow up, I should have put in the original post, 140 is also Berger, obviously the 156 is a Berger. Both shoot around .75, so that is a moot point. 140 is cheaper, that's about the only difference.