Loads › 6.5 PRC › for whitetail deer

Best 6.5 PRC loads for whitetail deer

25 of 36 6.5 PRC factory loads carry 1,000 ft·lb and expansion velocity for whitetail deer; the best reach 850 yd (Berger 140 gr Elite Hunter). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.

Load	gr	Max ethical yd	MV fps	500 yd ft·lb	Shoulder shot
Berger 140 gr Elite Hunter	140	850	3,000	1,599	behind the shoulder only
Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X	143	850	2,960	1,589	yes
Norma 143 gr Bondstrike	143	850	2,953	1,579	yes
Winchester Expedition Big Game 142 gr AccuBond LR	142	850	3,020	1,657	yes
Berger 156 gr Elite Hunter	156	800	2,900	1,689	behind the shoulder only
Federal 143 gr ELD-X	143	800	2,900	1,507	yes
Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range 142 gr AccuBond Long Range	142	800	2,900	1,510	yes
Barnes Harvest Collection 145 gr Sierra Tipped GameKing	145	750	2,910	1,486	behind the shoulder only
Browning Long Range Pro Hunter 140 gr Sierra Tipped GameKing	140	750	2,980	1,481	behind the shoulder only
Federal 140 gr Fusion Tipped	140	700	2,975	1,413	yes
Remington 140 gr Core-Lokt Tipped	140	700	2,960	1,380	behind the shoulder only
Winchester 140 gr Ballistic Silvertip	140	700	3,020	1,422	behind the shoulder only
Federal 130 gr Terminal Ascent	130	650	3,000	1,323	yes
Hornady American Whitetail TIPPED 129 gr SST	129	650	3,120	1,362	behind the shoulder only
Nosler Expansion Tip 120 gr E-Tip	120	650	3,100	1,272	yes
Nosler 140 gr Ballistic Tip Hunting	140	650	2,900	1,295	behind the shoulder only
Nosler Trophy Grade 140 gr AccuBond	140	650	2,900	1,295	yes
Barnes VOR-TX LR 127 gr LRX BT	127	600	3,010	1,199	yes
Federal 120 gr Trophy Copper	120	600	3,050	1,202	yes
Remington Premier CuT 130 gr Copper Tipped	130	600	2,970	1,233	yes
Federal 140 gr Fusion	140	550	2,925	1,170	yes
Winchester Copper Impact 125 gr Copper Extreme Point	125	550	3,100	1,171	yes
Barnes VOR-TX 130 gr TSX BT	130	500	3,010	1,094	yes
Hornady Outfitter 130 gr CX	130	500	2,975	1,237	yes
Norma 140 gr Whitetail SP	140	450	2,887	965	behind the shoulder only
Barnes Precision Match 145 gr Match Burner OTM BT	145	wrong bullet	2,910	1,637	behind the shoulder only
Berger 153.5 gr Long Range Hybrid Target	153.5	wrong bullet	2,900	1,688	behind the shoulder only
Hornady 147 gr ELD Match	147	wrong bullet	2,910	1,649	behind the shoulder only
Norma 143 gr Golden Target HPBT	143	wrong bullet	2,986	1,629	behind the shoulder only
Remington Premier Match 140 gr Berger Open Tip Match	140	wrong bullet	2,925	1,490	behind the shoulder only
Winchester 140 gr Sierra MatchKing BTHP	140	wrong bullet	3,030	1,568	behind the shoulder only
Winchester Super Match 140 gr BC MAX	140	wrong bullet	2,900	1,477	behind the shoulder only
Winchester Supreme Long Range 140 gr BC MAX	140	wrong bullet	2,900	1,477	behind the shoulder only
Remington Premier Long Range 140 gr Speer Impact	140	wrong bullet	2,975	1,446	behind the shoulder only
Hornady V-Match 100 gr ELD-VT	100	wrong bullet	3,450	1,247	behind the shoulder only
Winchester USA Ready 140 gr Jacketed Hollow Point	140	wrong bullet	3,010	1,130	behind the shoulder only

The 1,000 ft·lb deer figure traces to Townsend Whelen and is the one everyone repeats; Hawks puts the floor nearer 800. An 8–10″ heart/lung zone. Legal: CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd · SD: 1,000 ft·lb at muzzle. Floor used: 1,000 ft·lb at impact plus the bullet's published expansion velocity. Orange = a target or varmint bullet (construction, not energy); red = never carries the energy. Sources: www.outdoorlife.com, www.petersenshunting.com, chuckhawks.com.

All 6.5 PRC loads