Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk experiences with 6.5 PRC and 156 gr EOL

My brother loves his new Tikka in 6.5 PRC and it shoots handloaded 156 EOL very well, mv 2932 fps.

Does anyone have on-game experience with this combo, specifically on elk?





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Have a friend that semi guides on his company's ranch. (Bunch of rich guys bought some land and now raise cattle as tax write off.) Anyway, the ranch has several 6.5's setup as donor guns for incoming hunters (6.5 Creede and PRC). He swears by it. Said they never lost an elk yet, and I have no reason to doubt him. A few interesting caveats though, all shots are from a rest in a premade blind, shots range from 100-500 yards, and the bullets do not exit the animal. I don't remember his exact load and bullet, but it was 100% a hunting bullet - I remember that because I asked.

EOL's description of how their bullet works is consistent with what he sees. "Elite Hunters are designed to penetrate 2-3″ and then begin to expand and create a massive wound cavity up to 15″. The hydrostatic shock causes most animals to drop immediately." This is what he sees, massive internal devastation but not deep.

It would not be my goto, I like an expanding solid that penetrates through the animal, but no reason to say your load won't work just as well or even better. To each his own.

I killed two bull elk in 2019 with an Elite Accuracy (Jim See) 6.5 GAP 4S in a titanium mountain rifle using the 156 Berger at 2850 fps. One elk was killed in Wyoming and one in NW Colorado, both 5x5 raghorns. Shot at 150 and 250 yards, both elk were stoned, the Colorado elk was on the dead run at me and the drop was rather sensational!

Have never even seen a 6.5 PRC or the bullet your asking about. But have used my 6.5x06 on elk with 140gr Hornady interlocks. Three shots and three elk. I also have a 6.5x55 and a 260 Rem and would use either in a heart beat on elk with that 140gr Hornady! The most important part of killing is properly using what you have in your hands.

Great post.




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Hydrostatic shock conributes to meat loss, somewhat. Any info on meat loss with the EOLs?

If you don't shoot 'em in the meat, there is little meat loss. go figger......

Elk got lots of meats unless you Bonnie & Clyde ‘em.

I wish I was good enough for neck shots but my skills aren’t far enough advanced for comfort.




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I'd love to elk hunt some day. Got a very nice savage 99 from my grandfather I would like to use if I can ever make it north far enough to elk hunt.

I shot an elk in the lungs like I do deer since I didn’t know any better. She died like deer do with little meat damage. Beginner’s luck I guess?

I’ve made the mistake of shooting too far forward a time or two, hit the shoulder knuckle and blammo, bloodshot everywhere.

Hit them between the slats is much better.




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How many times has a guide said "choot 'em in the meat!"

I never considered them for elk after using them on deer/big hogs here with my 6.5 PRC (20” suppressed) and 6.5 SAUM velocities at extended ranges. They were too erratic and hard for my liking.