Since discussing this round not sure if this belongs in hunting or here...
Cross posted, but wanted to see what me fellow Texans opinions/views are.

I have a friend who lives in Montana and I have an open invitation to come hunting (Whitetail, Mule Deer, Elk, etc.). I live in north central TX so my hunting is limited to mostly feral hogs and whitetail where my 30-30, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.5 Creedmoor are more than enough to get the job done.

I know Elk tags are luck of the draw, but knowing that Elk-sized game is potentially available, I found myself questioning what is "enough gun". There many many articles to read ranging from 6.5 creedmoor is sufficient to it's nowhere near enough. Now, bullet weight, construction, shot placement, all that plays a factor for sure. All things being perfect, broad side shot, 100 yds or less, etc. etc. 6.5 creedmoor with 143gr ELD-X bullet is capable.

Don't think i've ever encountered "perfect conditions" when hunting, so I don't count on that.

Studying up on the 6.5 PRC, the ballistics on-paper are pretty impressive. Using the same 143gr ELD-X bullet as the Creedmoor, the PRC out-punches .270 Win., and delivers near the same TERMINAL energy as 30-06 and 7mm Mag but with less recoil.

I've been told by a few "just get a 30-06". That option isn't off the table, but I tend to like short action cartridges. I hand load so ammo availability/cost doesn't concern me.

So, I guess my questions are:
1) Do you have any experience with the PRC (I know it wasn't designed as a hunting cartridge, but neither was the 30-06 and many others), and if so, in what capacity?
2) Have you hunted with the PRC or would you consider it?
3) What is your overall opinion on the 6.5 PRC for Elk-sized game?

I don't want this to turn into a 6.5 bashing thread, there are plenty of those.

Thanks for your insight.

You’ll need/want to step up to a medium or long action if you want the best ballistics possible with those heavier weighted bullets.

The 6.5 PRC is an awesome caliber. I own two rifles chambered in it. You know what they say about opinions but I think it is close to the perfect caliber. Ballistics are great, recoil isn't bad, and it will confidently take down anything in the US. The downside is ammo is outrageous. Factory ELD-X is going for $7 a round right now. I wish the ammo was cheaper but I don't go plinking with the thing. I can afford $7 per animal I shoot.

If it was me, i would step up a little more. I know you like short actions but a 280 AI would be pretty ideal for longer range and heavier animals.

Or…. A 7mm PRC. Sounds like a good project to me.

If you can let go of the short action want...

Because of the brass problem. And because of the marginal reports of the 6.5 PRC (6.5 SAUM) the "Easy Button" is a 7mm Rem Mag with 180's (what I use and have killed three elk with it) or the .300 Win Mag with 200's or 210-215's. Loaded tons of the .300 Win Mag. Lots of photos sent to me of dead elk and three dead Moose.

Americans like .30 caps, and during all this mess the last two years, some form of .30 cal bullets has been available.

But, 7mm is my love. It will do it all. Up close and far away.

(7mm WSM)

Is that case generically hard to load for, or just the 300 WSM? Or is this all in my head?

I'm a member of a 6.5 PRC FB Group and see lot's of pics of Elk taken cleanly. I would not hesitate to use it on Elk with a good hunting bullet.

if you already have a 6.5 CM go buy a .300 win mag. That covers the whole continent.

All in your head. I have done very, very well with 270 WSM, 7mm WSM, and .300 WSM.

Got them all shooting tight and making speed.

Don't forget the 28 Nosler loaded with 195's

It will deliver foot pounds, buck the wind, fly far and true, change the oil, check the tires, and start the cooking fire.

Horizon Firearms has been selling and using the 7MM PRC for the last two hunting seasons with excellent luck running 175gr ELD-x Bullets around 2850 from 20-22 inch barrels.

Seems very similar to the 284 Winchester to me personally and while it can work in Short action long is better.

As far as that goes the 6.5 PRC will get the job done.

If you're going to stick with a short action, the 7mm08 and a 140 Accubond will kill any elk on the planet.

My favorite caliber and bullet size.

Do a 284, lots of excellent brass out there plus it holds lots of records and has good life

For a pure hunting rifle, if I were looking for a 6.5 it would be the 6.5-300 Weatherby Mag. Based on zero experience with any 6.5 cartridge bahahahaha. It is faster and has less wind drift than damn near any other cartridge in a sporting rifle, and recoil about like a 30-06. There are a lot of 6.5’s “almost” as bad as this one.

If I could have any rifle in the world it would be a custom 6.5-300 with a 26” barrel and with the 127 grain Barnes LRX loaded to the absolute max, by a pro.

If you think I am crazy, I blame this forum for my way of thinking and dreaming, lol.

For whatever reason I have not paid any attention to the new 6.8 Western cartridge from Winchester/ Browning but noticed a large stack of new ammo in a store today I looked at it closer.
Dang a 175 gr .270 caliber high BC bullet running 2830 fps kinda grabbed my attention. They took a play from Hornady’s playbook it looks like to me. Slightly larger case but very similar to the 6.5 PRC in a heavy for caliber high BC bullet in a fast twist barrel looks to be a good combo especially for all the 6.5 haters out there.

A well practiced hunter with a 6.5-300 Weatherby loaded with the aforementioned 127 LRX doing over 3300 fps, in a tower blind, in the middle of a big pasture/field would be able to control a whole bunch of real estate.

Thanks Bryan...now you have me thinking about one

Or maybe a 22 Creedmoor running a 80gr ELD -X bullet at 3450 from a 26inch barrel burning half the powder and no recoil with less drop and wind drift. Not for elk of course but not many hunt elk from tower in fields.

Sorry, I forgot about the Elk in Montana part and went off on a tangent about what I would use a 6.5-300 Weatherby for lol. Apologies to the OP.

As has been discussed the 6.5 PRC with the right bullet will take Elk cleanly.

Thanks for all the replies and info thus far. Lots to ponder....

3300 fps is just getting started. A good hand loader should have no problem pushing 3400 fps or faster. It’s unreal.

All these newer faster Mo better cartridges, it’s only been incremental until now.

I think the 6.5-300 Weatherby could do what everyone else has been trying to do for decades. I don’t care how long the barrel lasts.

Still maybe incremental compared to the PRC. I don’t know, 6.5 PRC just doesn’t intrigue me.

The problem with the 6.5-300 WBY, and the 26 Nosler is being an over-bore. Whole lot of powder under not much bullet. They will go fast, but it is tough to get them to shoot very tight.