What am I missing - New Cartridge

jackstrawIII said:
I have a 6.5 PRC I'm working to develop a load for. Seems like a great deer cartridge if I can bring the group size down a bit.

With that said, I wouldn't have bought it as an elk gun. If I was looking at your arsenal (which is a nice, sensible roundup of deer calibers) looking to go up to elk, I'd be going "farther up" to something like a 300 WSM or similar. You already have a 270 and a 308. The 270 is very similar to the 6.5 PRC for up to 400 yards (the distance you mentioned) and the 308 is a great option too.

So, if you're looking for more than those... you're going to have to go heavier to get it. Hence the 300 WSM.
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Ain't looking anymore. Got all the info I needed to stick with what I have and load for accuracy and knock-down power. Thanks.
 
I know things have been decided, but thought this was relevant to the topic. My buddies daughter had a cow hunt, opening day was yesterday. She took a mature cow elk at 281 yards with a Tikka T3 Superlight in .308 Win. She's a little recoil sensitive yet so Dad loaded up 125 grain Accubonds, and was very happy with the results. Quartering to shot presentation, cut the recovered bullet out of the liver.





 
taylorce1 said:
I know things have been decided, but thought this was relevant to the topic. My buddies daughter had a cow hunt, opening day was yesterday. She took a mature cow elk at 281 yards with a Tikka T3 Superlight in .308 Win. She's a little recoil sensitive yet so Dad loaded up 125 grain Accubonds, and was very happy with the results. Quartering to shot presentation, cut the recovered bullet out of the liver.





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That's awesome! I am really wanting to use the 270, but the 308 is not out of the question. Got plenty of time to work up loads and check accuracy.

I can see where that Tikka would have a thump.
 
I've only downed three elk and one was a female so I'm no expert. My longest shot was about 225 yards or so while hunting within the Bear Lodge Mountains of Wyoming. My .308 Savage lever gun works well for me shooting plain but effective 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Good hunting to you! - Jack
 
Jack O'Conner said:
I've only downed three elk and one was a female so I'm no expert. My longest shot was about 225 yards or so while hunting within the Bear Lodge Mountains of Wyoming. My .308 Savage lever gun works well for me shooting plain but effective 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Good hunting to you! - Jack
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Thanks Jack.
 
You probably already bought your new rifle. I know what it's like having cash to buy a gun burning in your pocket . . but if I had $900 plus a few more I'd pick up a Ruger Marlin Mayodan 45-70 and tuck it away. Probably be worth more in 20 years!
 
Lot's of new stuff out there. Been looking. Something that has good knockdown power (elk size), flat shooter (maximum point blank out to 400) and recoil that is manageable. 6.5 PRC has caught my eye and seems to be offered in most rifles now.
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When someone says Elk, I go to 7mm as the minimum. So a 7PRC would be a better choice over the 6.5PRC (for me). Or, the sleeper .280AI. :)

I didn't say the PRC wasn't the winner on paper. All I'm saying is you have elk covered, and 19 yards and 194 ft-lbs isn't going to make you not get an elk. I also said get a PRC if you really want it.
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Yes, for all practical purposes, you have Elk covered to 400 yards no sweat. IMHO, you really should be looking at either a larger diameter, or longer range to separate from the .270 and 6.5s.

280AI is about 7mm Mag ballistics, based on the .30-06 case. Better case life, more efficient and easy to reload as opposed to the belteds. Now, what is better, a .280AI or a 7PRC. Well, on paper, the 7PRC wins. In practicality, the .280AI will be cheaper to load for. .280Rems actually shoot well out of them, to form the brass.

For Elk, again, IMHO, I want 7mm or better in caliber, 30 better, so maybe 300PRC, or bump up to another personal favorite, the .338-06. I love mine, and while I will take a 6.5 for my Cow Elk shortly, it is only since I recently had two discs replaced in my neck. Match rifle, comp and tripod...minimizing the recoil is paramount based on surgeon's orders.
 
MarkCO said:
When someone says Elk, I go to 7mm as the minimum. So a 7PRC would be a better choice over the 6.5PRC (for me). Or, the sleeper .280AI. :)



Yes, for all practical purposes, you have Elk covered to 400 yards no sweat. IMHO, you really should be looking at either a larger diameter, or longer range to separate from the .270 and 6.5s.

280AI is about 7mm Mag ballistics, based on the .30-06 case. Better case life, more efficient and easy to reload as opposed to the belteds. Now, what is better, a .280AI or a 7PRC. Well, on paper, the 7PRC wins. In practicality, the .280AI will be cheaper to load for. .280Rems actually shoot well out of them, to form the brass.

For Elk, again, IMHO, I want 7mm or better in caliber, 30 better, so maybe 300PRC, or bump up to another personal favorite, the .338-06. I love mine, and while I will take a 6.5 for my Cow Elk shortly, it is only since I recently had two discs replaced in my neck. Match rifle, comp and tripod...minimizing the recoil is paramount based on surgeon's orders.
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My range of cartridges are 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 270 WIN, 308 WIN and 30-30. Everyone has really sold me on the 270 meeting my needs. I do here many say that the 280 AI is an awesome round and I reload.
 
Yes. While there are two chamber dimensions for the 280AI, both can use the other two, which have the same case dimensions. I've found decent accuracy from the .280 Rem, fireforming to 280AI. Like around 1 to 1.2 MOA. Plenty for Deer inside 300 yards. My 280AI is around 0.35 MOA. :)
 
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