6.5 CM or 6.5 PRC

[Safari Dave]

I'm in agreement that a 6.5 is not an idea elk caliber, but many goobers are now trying to kill them with .243's/6mm, because of "expert" advise on other forums.

If you are a resident of a western US state, or you have the ability to be a "cull hunter," such that you have the time to wait on a perfect shot, then, so be it.

If you are like I am, and have only a week to put down a big bull elk, then why risk a small rifle?

I understand that shot placement with the proper bullet is, really, all that matters.

BUT, there are many non-resident elk hunters who might need to make a "less-than-ideal" shot on an elk. IMO, we need to be using bullets that can break heavy bone and send shrapnel through vital organs.

IMO, practice with a powerful rifle until you, no longer, flinch when you pull the trigger and you will be in the best situation.

This was my latest 3 shot group at 212yds with a .300 Winchester Magnum...

Practice, practice, practice...

 

[375Ruger416]

Looking for direction. Im considering getting a 6.5, im stuck between the creedmore and the PRC. Any advice or direction is much appreciated. Will be used for deer, pig, and possibly an elk in the future. TIA!

Have both, like both. If getting a 22 or 24” barrel CM is good, if 20” get the PRC. The PRC would be great out of a 24 or 26” barrel, but the CM doesn’t have enough velocity to spare to work well out of a shorter barrel.

My 24” 6.5 CM does less than 2600 fps with factory ELD-M’s out of my heavy target rifle though with a notably slow barrel in my Tikka T3x CTR. Meanwhile, my 20” PRC does 2815 fps which is a far more useful velocity. The 6.5 CM is noticeably easier to shoot as well. Neither is particularly heavy recoiling, but I do find I have to mind my technique with my 7 lb PRC to shoot it as well.

 

[375Ruger416]

Both are fantastic deer cartridges and will work for elk in a pinch. For elk, I’d take the PRC and a controlled expansion bullet. Or, better yet my 300 PRC which is what I’m planning on taking on my elk hunt this fall.

 

[cash_tx]

While I currently own a 6.5 PRC simply by virtue of trading into it in a deal that was favorable to me, I would go with the 6.5 CM were i starting from scratch; for deer and pigs. Ammo is readily available and it's gonna be around for awhile. For elk, I would move to a .30 caliber magnum or equivalent. What the 6.5 PRC gives you beyond the CM also takes you into territory that is better served by a larger caliber.

Don't get me wrong, the 6.5 PRC is hella accurate and very usable; but it's just not an ideal solution IMO.

 

[Daisy]

Both are great calibers for elk. I took mine this year with 6.5prc. He didn’t take one step. I did put a second round in him in the 3 seconds before he fell.

 

[WAB]

A good friend is one of the leaders in this field. He had great advice when I was doing a build. Decide on the game and likely distance, that should indicate the bullet and energy you need, from there you back into the cartridge to launch it. This caused me to build a 6.5 PRC. With this platform I am able to launch 142 gr ABLR at 2,900 fps. If I was after something bigger the next logical move in my mind would have been a 28 Nosler.

 

[sgt_zim]

For small bore cartridges, the 160 gr 6.5 mm bullet is in a class by itself. Unfortunately, the only one made is Woodleigh Weldcore and they're unobtanium outside of Oz presently. It has a staggeringly high BC for a true hunting bullet at .51, coupled with a sectional density higher than a 400 gr 404 Jeff and only slightly lower than that of a 400 gr 416. You'd have to go to 220 gr to get that sectional density out of a 308 bullet, and all the recoil that'll come with it.

For a 6.5 PRC, the best choice in my view is @Red Leg choice of NABLR 142 gr, irrespective of what you might hunt with it. At 3k fps up in elk country, ELD X 143 gr and especially ELD M 147 gr are probably going to perform poorly on even a 100 yard shot. Acceptable are Accubond and Partition 140 gr. At that MV, all 5 of those are still north of 2K fps and over 1500 ft lbs of energy out to 600+ yards.

At 3k fps and 10k feet of elevation, NABLR still has 2k+ fps and 1500 ft lbs out to an honest 1000 yards. A 10 mph full value wind will impart just under 7" of wind drift at 500 yards, and just under 30" at 1000 yards.

If that or long range target shooting aren't what you have in mind for a 6.5mm cartridge, stick with the 6.5 CM.

 

[ryno111]

I'm also a big fan of the 6.5 PRC (and the 7 PRC). Beyond 200 yards, the 6.5 PRC is ballistically similar to a 30-06. So, get a 6.5 PRC now...and get a 6 CM (not 6.5) next.

 

[pilar]

Winchester M70 .264wm pre 64 if it’s a hunting rifle ( low round count)
Or
6.5-284 Norma

 

[375er]

How about a 25-06 and 120 grain Nosler Partitions?

 

[YancyW]

Already own one, like i stated above I'm just looking to add a 6.5 to the collection

For me, if I had a 270 that shot 150gr well, I would get the CM for sure.

 

[TOBY458]

I own a couple of Creedmoors. So far I’ve only used them to shoot targets out to 400yds, and killed a deer with one of them this season. With today’s CDS style scopes, you basically just have to add a few more clicks above what you’d need with the PRC. I have been shooting with a couple of friends who have the PRC, and it is a fine round as well. If most of your hunting will be for deer sized game, inside of 500 yds, I’d say go for the Creedmoor. Ammo is everywhere for it, and unlikely to go away. The PRC will basically do the same thing as the CM for maybe another 100yds of effective range.
So shooting an Elk at 300 yds with the CM would give about the same performance as the PRC at 400 yds.
On another note, stay away from the Hornady Precision Hunter bullets for any animal above a Whitetail deer. We’ve found that those bullets expand rapidly and give poor penetration on anything besides a broad side shot on even smaller deer. They are very accurate, but not up to snuff as a true hunting bullet IME. This is based on shooting several deer and antelope with these bullets, in calibers 6.5CM, 270 Win and 280 AI.

 

[Manwe]

For deer I’d go with the CM. More than enough for deer at your max distance, cheaper to shoot, easier to find ammo, less recoil, etc

Chronographed (143 gr ELD-X commercial)
6.5 CM (2066 FPS @ 500)

Estimated (143 gr ELD-X commercial)
6.5 PRC (2268 FPS @ 500)

For comparisons…

Chronographed (178 gr ELD-X commercial)
308 Win (1806 FPS @ 500)

 

[Tra3]

I’d pick the 6.5 CM. Ammo availability is excellent and cheap. It is perfect for deer sized game and perfect for a starter rifle caliber for a new hunter.
I’ve shot only one bull elk with a 6.5 CM and found it lacking. It worked, just not that well. I’ve had much better results with elk using a .270 win, 7 rem mag and .300 win mag.

 

[375er]

I’d pick the 6.5 CM. Ammo availability is excellent and cheap. It is perfect for deer sized game and perfect for a starter rifle caliber for a new hunter.
I’ve shot only one bull elk with a 6.5 CM and found it lacking. It worked, just not that well. I’ve had much better results with elk using a .270 win, 7 rem mag and .300 win mag.

Bash the 30-06 all you want. This is a good example of why some cartridges have stood the test of time. Many ways to make something shootable without sacrificing on the terminal end.