I was gifted a Christiansen Mesa chambered in 6.5 PRC for fathers day. I've been shooting the Hornady ELD-X bullets in their Precision Hunter line of ammo. I have this thing shooting sub-MOA and really like the way I am grouping with this setup. However, I have been shooting these bullets for obvious reasons....its literally the only factory hunting ammunition for this caliber. That being said, I am not so sure I'm sold on the construction of these bullets. They shoot well out of my gun but they seem awful soft and the jackets seem to separate from the core (based on buddies bullets they've recovered from animals they've killed and gel tests I have seen with this particular bullet). I have two elk tags for this coming fall and I don't really care to have a bad experience with hitting a shoulder and regretting my decision to go with the Precision Hunter ammo. Should I have someone reload some of this brass I have with a different bullet? Two that are particularly on my mind are the Barnes LRX 127 gr and the Nosler Partition 140 gr. Both of these bullets should bust through a heavy elk shoulder in the event that i send one into the shoulder this fall....not so sure that the ELD-X by Hornady will carry into the shoulder like the other two mentioned. Curious to get some feedback on first hand experience and wisdom from the more experienced elk hunters out there. This fall will be my first time elk hunting. Should I stick with whats grouping well or should I get some more solidly constructed bullets hand loaded? If I knew I could get the same accuracy out of the other two mentioned, I would surely make the switch.

I'd prefer a 142g Nosler Long Range AB or Swift 130g Scirocco II or Barnes 127g LRX or 140 Partition to the ELD-X.

Not a fan of cup/core bullets and high impact velocities for big game. Hoping Federal makes the 6.5mm Edge TLR available as a component before I get my 6.5 PRC built.

Definitely find you a good handloader ( it sounds like you do not handload) In the smaller caliber like 6.5/284 (which is comparable), I used 120/125 Noslers for deer/antelope like pure lightning bolts! While I would shoot and elk witht he 125 partition, I like the Monos or heavier Partitions on elk. The Barnes 127 LRX is one I personally would try first. Good luck to you and you must be "one wonderful Father" to get a Mesa for Fathers Day!

With the kind of speed that you are dealing with, I would go with the 127 LRX. I have not used it, as I do not need a super-tough bullet. If you do some searching, there have been quite a few accounts of how well they work and they will stay together at the higher speeds. Standard bullets work well at moderate velocities, but speed and copper go together.

lol- I am blessed to have three awesome young kids and a fantastic wife. The oldest is 5, then 3 and 1. My wife asked the 5 and 3 year old what they should get me for fathers day. The 5 year old spoke up without any hesitation at all..."lets get him a gun!"

My dog got me a gun safe and a Nightforce for Dad’s Day. Twice daily runs with the dog paid dividends. Congrats on your new Stick.
😎

There's a hundred different ways to code a purchase. That's funny right there

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a local guy reload some ammo for me. I'm leaning hard toward the 127 LRX right now. I need to get dies for the 6.5 PRC as my guy doesn't have dies for the PRC yet. Any suggestions on good dies? I'm not a reloading guy obviously. I'll probably ask him what he prefers and go from there.

You need to become a reloader. You'll be glad you did.

FWIW, the 127 LRX wasn't as accurate as the 120 E-Tip and 120 TTSX in my 26 Nosler. But you don't know until you try it.

DF

Hesp, where are you? Tell him what you do with the 120 TTSX in your 6.5/06?

I like and use Hornady New Dimension dies. 6.5 PRC for a bit less than $40 at Midway USA. I learned how to use dies/press from a good friend myself. Before that, I was a self taught LEE Loader, you "hammered them in the die and hammered them out. Primed, charge, seat the bullet, hammer a crimp, good to go". ha I traded a rifle for an RCBS Rock Chucker Reloading Kit. I already had scales. I still use that same Rock Chucker from 1978! Get you a couple boxes of ammo, shoot them at the range, breaking in your rifle, getting your scope set. Take rifle, brass, dies, your bullet choice to your friend. Watch him close. Let him work up a good load. Then, you start learning from him how to load "that load" yourself, on his equipment. Then you will know what you need for your own set up when you are ready. Good luck to you pard!

Family and friends took 11 big game animals last fall with my 6.5 PRC, four elk, three mule deer bucks, two whitetails, two antelope, all with 139gr scenars.

If that isn't a fair size test sample, I don't know what is......

The 139 Scenar is never a bad choice. My Shilen barreled Swede does best with that bullet over MRP.

DF

Pat what distances were these shot at? Does be scenar exit or does it act more like a berger?

Pat,

Do you shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor? And if yes, what scenar and what load, if you can share?

Lots of variables in whether any bullet is going to leave an exit or not..... I’ve had some Scenars exit, some not. Just like any other....

I’m sure Pat will agree that the Scenar is more robust than the Bergers,ELDs, AMaxes etc. I keep them in 123, 139, 150, 155, and 180s and they’ve pretty much replaced all others as my game bullet.

Obviously not Pat, but I've seen reports of him using the CM. He's off and running with the PRC for now.

I've shot the 123 Scenar in my 6,5 CM with good results.

Here's my best load out of a light M-700 with Shilen barrel in McWoody Mtn Rifle stock.

As others have posted, Scenars are just so easy to load for, with good performance both at the range and on critters.

DF

David, My Tikka T3X Creed loves the 139 Scenar and Rl 26! This was 17 shots in a row starting with a cold clean bore. Will take it out to 600 soon as I can and see how they do!

fixt it for ya, DF

It's da boolit, not the headstamp...


RTSJ. What's you magic powder charge for that load?

May need to try it.

DF

DF, 48gr RL26. .010 off the lands.


Roy

Thanks, Roy.

That combo seems to be working for you.

DF

Folks may not realize how impressive that is...

I’m impressed.

DF

I do....

Here’s 20 at 200 yards from a 308...The maker is someone you and I know. Grins 😎

A little Live Oak action...……..???

Lots of good things have been said about Scott Weichel’s builds being extremely well made and very accurate. I will know in a few weeks when one of his customs lands on my steps.

The maker of the 308 Win is unknown...But, the shooter is well known to a few.

😎

I am working on load development for the 6.5 prc. I'm using ADG brass and swift scirocco 2 bullets for now. I'll also do custom loads for each gun. Now a licensed FFL. Food for thought.

To the OP... I'm taking my PRC and the factory ELDX ammo out after elk/deer in a couple weeks.
2 years ago that bullet penetrated a few feet and bones of a large muley buck (6.5/284) and last year "iddave" shot a nice bull in Idaho w/ that bullet in my 6.5 4S. With the way that factory ammo shoots in my rifle, too close to gametime for me to want to change it up.

139 scenar all day everyday....

Yup. That 143 ELD-X at 570 yards put a good bull down within 20 yards. Good penetration, and insides were appropriately mixed up. It's stupid accurate in the three 6.5s I've tried it in.

Dave

My 6.5 GAP likes the 156 grain Berger at 2850 fps.

I'm running 130 Berger's at 3200....

For dies I like Forster, ask your reloader what he likes and if he uses the Lee Collet dies. You would have to cobble the Lee die together by getting a WSM body and then 6.5 mm sizer collet and mandrel.

The ELD-X will be fine for longer shots and behind the shoulder, but like you I would feel better with a bullet that works on all shots. On Elk if they are near a canyon or a fence line I can't cross I aim for the off side shoulder. The LRX or any of the premium bullets will work for this. The Nosler LRAB would be worth a try as it's shape is similar to the ELD-X so there is a chance you would get good accuracy with them too.

That seems slow. My 156 EOL load for the 6.5CM is at 2770 in a 22” tube.

I think we can all assume that is not within SAAMI spec.

It’s seated loooong... ...and Lapua brass. grin :-)

156 EOL vs 147ELDM

Here’s a quick 10 from a Scott Weichel build. This is the Berger 140 Hybrid factory load. I pulled the shït out of the one that landed high.

Here’s a few 156 EOL’s at 200 out of another Live Oak Accuracy (Scott Weichel) build.

Kingston--my loads are from Copper Creek Ammo, rifle is fairly new (Long Range Rifles Mountain Rifle with 24" barrel), less than 100 rounds down the tube. The first group I shot was 1/4", wish I knew how to post pics. Box says they are supposed to be going 2930 fps!

So, you guys are saying that the 139 Scenar in a 6.5 Creedmoor has good results on elk? At what speed you able to push it and how far was the elk?

Well folks. Since I have gotten to use the new 6.5 PRC I thought I would shoot out an update. I didn't change my ammo selection and continued shooting the Precision Hunter 143 gr. ELD-X bullets. I harvested 2 elk, 2 whitetails, 1 antelope and my wife also used this setup to kill her first whitetail. With 6 animals down from this setup this is what I have to say..... These bullets are incredibly soft. In fact I would probably classify them as explosive. The elk are obviously very tough and have thick hides, heavy bones and all-in-all they're a beast of an animal. However, on every animal I shot I discovered that the bullet pushed through the hide without opening up but as soon as the bullet gets past the hide it opens up and begins to expand very rapidly. Even the deer and antelope I killed had huge entry wounds. In fact the entry wounds were bigger than the exit wounds because I didn't really have any exit wounds. The bullets didn't exit either elk, only exited one deer and the antelope had a big chunk of shrapnel exit out the backstrap (which I had a downward angle shot that hit behind the shoulder but must have deflected on a rib and threw a chunk of bullet upward toward the backstrap). Now, before someone roasts me for putting this out on the air here I want to clarify something. I am not complaining here. I actually cannot complain at all. I didn't lose a single animal. I didn't have a miserable blood trail. The elk I shot were dead within 10 yards of where I shot them, both shot right behind the shoulder. The antelope dropped in his tracks. My wifes deer ran 40 yards and left a crazy bloodtrail. One deer I shot dropped in its tracks with a high shoulder shot and the other ran a total of about 30 yards. This isn't a pitty party about how terrible the bullets are. My concern is that these super soft bullets might not penetrate enough for me some day. I think an elk hit directly in the shoulder might not allow enough penetration for get into the vitals.

Now, the other thing I've taken into consideration is the speed at which these bullets hit the animals. The bull I killed was at 258, the cow was at 303, wifes deer was at 135, deer one was at 150, deer two was at 220, antelope was at 158. Not only are these bullets soft but they hit these animals at a speed well north of 2500 fps.

My reloading source I mentioned earlier in this thread is going to load me up some Barnes LRX 127 gr. bullets and dial in a load that shoots well for me. The guy is a 6.5 nut so he should be able to help me get this thing dialed and shooting a tougher bullet that I personally feel a bit more comfortable with.

Anyway, thought I would post my findings. For what its worth I figured it wouldnt hurt anything

Thanks for the follow up. I just bought a CA Mesa in 6.5 PRC. It shipped yesterday. For these small southern Whitetail I am going to load ABs. If I ever get a chance to go for elk, the 140 Partition is the only bullet for me.

Where did you do your elk hunt? Did you use a guide?

Here are two 143 ELD-Xs we pulled out of TDNs bull this fall. Distance was 425ish, and chambering was a 6.5 PRC.

I used the same bullet from a 6.5 SAUM last year and killed a bull a bit over 500.

I also saw three bucks taken quite spectacularly at ranges from 10 yards to about 200 with the 143 ELD-X from a 6.5 Creedmoor this fall.

Count me as a fan of the bullet.

Dave

I did my elk hunt in the NW part of Colorado. All self guided. A buddy and I both went and had an absolute blast. I watched a documentary on a research project done on game meat to test lead contamination. I guess you could say it scared me away from lead core bullets lol. I have a buddy who has used nothing but Barnes Triple Shock bullets the past several years and has killed numerous elk, mule deer, whitetails and antelope with them. Even a 650 yard shot on an antelope, proving the "they don't open up at long distances on thin skinned game" theory out the window. At the end of the day its more about shot placement than anything. Again, I wont knock the ELD-X because they've killed several critters for me. However, I only found one bullet that looked like the ones @iddave posted. And I've watched numerous kill reels with the 6.5mm ELD-X bullets at 500+ yards on all kinds of game. I've seen the same type of carnage on a kill reel with Berger bullets of all kinds. Again, place the bullet where it should go and all else will take care of itself. The thing that personally keeps me a touch uneasy about the ELD-X is not the high shoulder or behind the shoulder shots. It's the shots that center-post a leg bone. The Barnes will blow through a leg bone and on the other hand will penetrate and destroy the lungs on a shot behind the shoulder. Also, I don't think any animal can with stand a high-shoulder shot with any bullet.

If your hunting deer , large mature muley bucks, 200 lb + the Barnes 100gr TTSX or Hammer 110gr mono's will take them with ease. Virtually no blood shot meat even when shoulder bone is struck. . Mild recoil, fun to shoot. This bullet out of my 6.5x06 smacks my 522yd target with authority. Will most always give complete penetration on the largest deer.,. Has to be used to appreciate & understand it's capability. For elk same bullet in 120gr.

Tag

I have killed a half-dozen animals with the bullet; mostly from my 6.5-284 at 2970 ish and one bull and a couple of deer from a Creed with the anemic Hornady factory ammo. I am pretty sure all have been exits. The first animal I shot was a 6x6 bull elk at 250ish with KRP. Bull tumbled forward at the shot and fell 20 yards down the hill. Bullet exited.

They expand very reliably for sure. Until I see a problem, I am a fan.

OP, you would be more pleased with the ELD-X if you were to take your animals at longer distances. All of the long range bullets on the market including the ELD-X perform best at slower impact velocities I.e “long range”. If your animals are typically taken at 250 yds or less you will like solids you mentioned or even a bonded bullet better. Those bullets will give you more of the results you are looking for at the distances you are shooting.

I’ve seen almost all of the above mentioned bullets crashed into deer, elk, and antelope over the past couple of years.... from inside 50 yards, to outside 500. In cartridges ranging from 20” barreled .260 to .264 Win Mag.

The 139 Scenar is never a bad choice, always exits, and I have t seen a critter go very far after taking one.

I like the 127 LRX, they shoot good out of everything I’ve tried them in, and I never worry about shot angles.... I just aim for the exit with them. Nothing I’ve seen shot with them (including a cow elk at 500+) has taken a single step after impact. They’ve been quite impressive.

I’m still a bit dubious on the 143 ELD-X. Everything I’ve seen shot with them dies..... but performance has been a bit erratic.

Paul,

What’s your thoughts on your PRC? Been considering the same rifle. Thanks

Randall

OP,

Nosler is coming out with 3 factory loads for the 6.5PRC soon. I saw this on their website recently. 140 AB’s, 142 LRAB and 120 E-tip.

I am interested in the same rifle but had the exact concerns as you but it looks like the PRC is gaining some traction. Fingers crossed.