broadhead

That's really cool. I'll probably add one at some point to play around with and hand down to my son someday. And I agree, the 6.5, whatever variant you go with, seems to be an excellent round for deer out here.

If I could afford to have a collection of whatever rifles I wanted I would get one. Growing up where the standard deer rifle was a 30-06, 7mm, 30/30 etc I didn't know much about them until I started hearing more about the Creedmoor and as a result the different 6.5 cartridges. Too bad I didn't know about them back when I was a kid or I might have grown up on a different rifle than my 243.

I see this is an old post but I started shooting it. I haven't had it long and as of now I have less than 50 rounds through the barrel as I follow the manufacturer's break in instructions but can tell you I'm very happy with it so far. I am on the fence about whether or not to get into the reloading game but the way the ELD X is shooting out of this rifle so far I'm less inclined to do so. Maybe just to cut costs and get around availability if it doesn't improve in the next few months because the current availability of ammo is the only issue I'm running into right now. As for results, again, with only 40 something rounds down the barrel I've seen the groups shrink from around 1" to approximately .62" (100 yards). I'm shooting a Christensen Arms Ridgeline with the radial muzzle brake and the recoil is no issue, feels like a 243 to me. I'm not an extreme long range shooter and went with the PRC mostly because after doing quite a bit of research I wanted a little extra energy from the round out to 500 yards (my limit for a shot on a mule deer). I also suspect a better shooter would be getting better than my .62' groups right now. This is where someone will inevitably jump in and whine about the PRC and CM because meh 284 and 6.5 Swede blah blah blah - apparently it's important for everyone to know they don't like what someone else shoots - but whatever. You can do your own research and learn about the BC and performance of the different rounds. I hope a few more manufacturers begin to produce a PRC hunting round but even if not I'm so far very happy with the groups I'm getting with the ELD X and will carry that rifle on any deer hunt with absolutely no question about its performance on any shot I'm comfortable taking. Hope this helps.

How did it go? I drew a November rifle mule deer tag and would love to know how your experience went.

Hey guys Not trying to have all the answers handed to me, just trying to get a general heads up. I drew a NM Unit 23 November mule deer tag and with work and the baby I likely won't be able to get out and scout more than once or twice. If anyone has hunted the unit would you be willing to provide any general information like areas to avoid so I don't waste the time I will have (i.e. few mule deer compared to Coues, access issues etc) I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks and good luck to everyone who drew a tag! b

That's what I drew too, one of the November hunts. I live near Tucson and plan to make at least a scouting trip or two over there since it's only a few hours.

Congratulations on the great tag! I got selected for Unit 23 mule deer excluding Burro Mountain on my fourth option. Was not expecting to draw anything so I'm happy just to have one in my pocket this fall.

Assuming you want to start with deer I would second what the guys above have said. Read read read but also take every chance you can to get out and start trying to find deer. Definitely recommend a good pair of optics like a decent pair of 10x42 binoculars and a tripod - the tripod is really a non-negotiable out here. You don't have to spend a fortune on the high end gear all at once but if you can afford it don't go the cheapest options. Lots of great reading to be found on here about that also. Good luck.

Trail Boss Outfitters off Colossal cave Road in Vail if that's not too far. $25.

That's a very cool looking rack.

Hello everyone. I might cave in and apply for an earlier season rifle tag down here in southern AZ (33, 34A and 34B specifically) but was wondering if the hunting pressure is as bad as people tend to make it seem. Since I started hunting out here a few years ago I have only applied for the late December hunt and bow hunted when I didn't get drawn but I'm getting the itch to get out with my rifle. If I get off the roads and ATV trails and backpack into a little more remote areas will that make a difference? Thanks!

Not a bad idea and I might end up doing that. I like to put stuff on here to give the forum guys first shot at it and there's a chance someone watching the forums will pick them up quickly. Probably gonna list them a few more places in a week or so. Not in a pinch to move them, in fact the longer they're still here the more I reconsider selling them at all haha.

Still available. Somebody take them before I conveniently forget about selling them...

Sold

Comes with one jag. Sorry, forgot to mention that. *(edit) Correction, jag and brush adapter 30 3/4" from the base of the handle to the tip of the male threaded end.

It's funny, I've mostly found that to be true while hunting archery but I chalked it up to being far less hunters in the field during bow season. I have all the gear I need to put my camp in my pack for a few days so I guess that will be the plan for rifle season too. To me walking a little farther with a little extra weight over those miles and staying put instead of hiking in and out each day is well worth the effort, especially if it means less pressure and the shot at a nice buck. Thanks again.

Congratulations on a great hunt. I would be happy to tag any one of those bucks, not to mention the mountain lion!

Cool that's what I was hoping to hear. I don't mind running into a hunter or two here and there. I've found most guys are pretty cool and it usually makes for a nice conversation for a minute or two about what we've seen and this and that before we go our separate ways. Since I haven't been out there in October and November yet it's hard to tell how much of the talk about hordes of hunters on four wheelers in every canyon is real and how much is exaggerated. Sounds like packing a few miles in is enough to allow for an enjoyable hunt. Thanks again for the insight!

One bump

Browning is offering a variety of their X Bolts in 6.5 PRC (Speed included), as is Savage, Sauer, Howa and a few others from what I've read. The ammo availability issue will hopefully be resolved soon. Today I called around and was shocked to find out that a local shop has cases of it on hand and ON SALE. My initial reaction was that if you already have a 6.5 CM set up for hunting you probably won't be gaining much by getting a PRC but on the other hand get whatever rifle you want and have fun. If I could afford it I'd probably have more too. Point is, do your research and determine what will work best for you (yes, there are similar rounds to the PRC on the market but no, they're not the same). Whenever I've tried to make a decision on something like this, be it a rifle, binoculars, boots, whatever, there is plenty of speculation and opinions flying around based on personal biases, and most of which don't apply to me. In this case the readily available information helped me make a lot of comparisons and get me to where I was comfortable making a decision and then I just pulled the trigger on one (pun intended obviously). Good luck and send me a PM with what you decide to go with. I'll be starting the learning curve soon too and I'd be interested to know what you end up doing.

I have two basically identical bird guns so I figured I’d put one up for sale. Remington 870 Express Magnum 28” 12 gauge, synthetic black. Pristine condition, used almost exclusively for pheasant hunts back home in a cold state. Asking $300. PM if interested, thanks.

Honestly I'm still trying to bring myself to let go of them lol

Pics added

Not the slightest bit surprised by any of this anymore.

I've been looking into the PRC for the rifle I'm about to buy. Several manufacturers are offering it right now, with Christensen Arms and Savage being two off the top of my head. As mentioned above the main con seems to be the fact that currently only Hornady makes a round for it, and only one hunting round even though the ELD-X is a definitely a good round. I've been researching everything I can so allow me to brain dump what I've learned. One article I read brought summed it up really well. WIth several very good 6.5 rounds currently on the market it wouldn't make a lot of sense to get the PRC if you already have a CM or a Norma, Swede, etc but if you're like me and looking to get your first rifle in that category it's probably worth taking a serious look at, depending on what you're hunting and how far you're shooting. I took advantage of Hornady's ballistic calculator and compared the PRC to both the CM and the 200 grain 300 WINMAG and I was pretty surprised with what it showed (admittedly I haven't shot it yet so it's all computer data at this point). The PRC fires the same bullet as the CM but carries significantly more energy and speed. It even beats the 300 in speed and trajectory (but not energy of course). This is very helpful to me because I hunt a lot of coues but mulies are always an option as well and I want a round that will carry enough speed and energy out to 500 yards so in the event I get a shot on an animal up to that distance I don't have to think twice about making an ethical shot. I do not hunt elk with a rifle, at least yet. I know... plenty of guys have dropped a mulie or elk with a CM at that range but that's not the point. My point is a round that carries 1600 ft/lbs of energy at 500 yards vs a round that carries 1300 at the same distance, and almost 2250 ft/sec versus 2030, that drops less and expands on impact as well is going to be an attractive option. Nobody can decide what rifle suits you best so just do the reading and decide if it's an option or if you're better off going with a CM or even a 300. Those are the pros and cons that I've learned so far. I think if it wasn't for the fact that the availability of ammo options is so limited right now it wouldn't even be a question, It would be the PRC hands down. Personally I like having a little extra energy and velocity at the longer range of the distance I want to be able to shoot deer. I also like the flatter trajectory on distances out to 800 yards for when I eventually can practice out to that distance with less recoil for longer range days. But on the other hand the proven track record of the CM and the wide availability of ammo makes the Creedmoor and other rounds like the 300 pretty tempting. Good luck and let us know what you end up going with. I'm interested to hear how guys like the new round.