6.5 PRC Ballistics Chart: Drop, Wind Drift, and Energy to 1,200 Yards

6.5 PRC is built to stretch the reach of 6.5mm bullets. This 6.5 PRC ballistics chart shows velocity, energy, bullet drop, and wind drift out to 1,200 yards for four popular factory loads, plus scope adjustments in MOA and mils, a 200-yard zero table, and maximum point-blank range for hunters.

Every number on this page was calculated from the manufacturers’ own published muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient. Use it to compare loads and plan your dope, then confirm it with your own rifle.

6.5 PRC Ballistics at a Glance

• Muzzle velocity: about 2,900 to 3,000 fps with 130 to 147 grain factory loads.
• Drop at 500 yards (100-yard zero): about 44 inches with high-BC bullets.
• Drop at 1,000 yards: about 261 to 284 inches (roughly 22 to 24 feet) for the Terminal Ascent, ELD-X, and ELD Match loads.
• Energy at 1,000 yards: about 840 to 960 ft-lbs with the 143gr ELD-X and 147gr ELD Match.
• Point-blank range: about 295 yards on a 6-inch target with a 250-yard zero for most loads.

Loads in This 6.5 PRC Ballistics Chart

• 130gr TA: Federal Terminal Ascent 130gr, 3,000 fps, G1 BC 0.532
• 140gr Fusion: Federal Fusion 140gr soft point, 2,925 fps, G1 BC 0.439
• 143gr ELD-X: Hornady Precision Hunter 143gr ELD-X, 2,960 fps, G1 BC 0.623
• 147gr ELD-M: Hornady Match 147gr ELD Match, 2,910 fps, G1 BC 0.697

Browse current 6.5 PRC ammo to see which of these loads and others are in stock.

6.5 PRC Ballistics Chart to 1,200 Yards

Velocity (fps)

Energy (ft-lbs)

Bullet Drop (inches, 100-yard zero)

Wind Drift (inches, 10 mph crosswind)

How we calculated these numbers: each manufacturer’s published muzzle velocity and G1 ballistic coefficient, standard atmosphere (59°F, sea level), 1.5-inch sight height, and a 10 mph full-value crosswind for wind drift. Spin drift is not included. Velocities come from manufacturer test barrels, so a shorter barrel, higher altitude, or different temperature will change your results. Always confirm your own data at the range before shooting at distance.

The high-BC hunting and match bullets separate from the others past 600 yards. At 1,000 yards the 147gr ELD Match is still moving about 1,712 fps, while the 140gr Fusion has slowed to about 1,225 fps and drifts nearly twice as far in the same wind.

6.5 PRC Scope Adjustments (MOA and Mils)

These tables convert the drop numbers above into elevation corrections for a rifle zeroed at 100 yards. Dial up the number shown, or hold over that amount on your reticle.

Elevation in MOA (100-yard zero)

Elevation in Mils (100-yard zero)

6.5 PRC Drop With a 200-Yard Zero

Many hunters zero at 200 yards so they can hold dead on to about 300 yards. With a 200-yard zero, these loads hit about 1.5 inches high at 100 yards and about 6 to 7 inches low at 300 yards.

Bullet Drop (inches, 200-yard zero)

Maximum Point-Blank Range

Maximum point-blank range is the farthest distance you can hold dead on a target of a given size without the bullet rising above or falling below it. For deer, a 6-inch vital zone is a common standard; for elk, many hunters use 8 inches.

In practice, a 6.5 PRC zeroed at about 250 yards lets you hold center on a deer’s vitals out to roughly 295 yards.

Energy and Supersonic Range

Many hunters use about 1,000 ft-lbs of retained energy as a rough minimum for deer and about 1,500 ft-lbs for elk. These are rules of thumb, not hard limits: bullet construction and shot placement matter more than any energy number. The table also shows how far each load stays supersonic, which matters for long-range accuracy.

The 143gr ELD-X keeps elk-level energy (1,500 ft-lbs) to about 525 yards and deer-level energy (1,000 ft-lbs) to about 850 yards. Your ethical range should be set by your shooting skill, wind, and conditions, not by an energy chart.

6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics

Here is the same Hornady 143gr ELD-X bullet in both cartridges: 2,960 fps in 6.5 PRC and 2,700 fps in 6.5 Creedmoor.

With the same bullet, 6.5 PRC drops about 63 inches less at 1,000 yards and carries about 170 more ft-lbs of energy. For the full comparison, including recoil, barrel life, and rifles, see 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor.

What Changes Your 6.5 PRC Ballistics

• Barrel length. Factory velocities come from 24-inch test barrels for Hornady loads. A 20 or 22-inch hunting barrel will usually be slower.
• Altitude and temperature. Thinner air at elevation means less drag and less drop. Western hunters at 6,000 feet or more will see flatter trajectories than this sea-level chart.
• Sight height. A taller scope mount changes near-range trajectory and your zero.
• Your rifle. Two rifles with the same barrel length can differ by 50 fps or more with the same ammo. Chronograph your load before trusting long-range dope.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far does 6.5 PRC drop at 500 yards?

With a 100-yard zero, popular 6.5 PRC loads drop about 44 to 51 inches at 500 yards. High-BC bullets like the 143gr ELD-X and 147gr ELD Match drop about 44 inches.

How far does 6.5 PRC drop at 1,000 yards?

With a 100-yard zero, the 147gr ELD Match drops about 261 inches and the 143gr ELD-X about 266 inches at 1,000 yards. That is roughly 25 MOA or 7.3 mils of elevation.

What is the best zero for a 6.5 PRC hunting rifle?

A 200-yard zero is a practical choice for most hunters. It puts the bullet about 1.5 inches high at 100 yards and about 6 to 7 inches low at 300 yards, so you can hold dead on for most shots inside 300 yards.

How much energy does 6.5 PRC have at 1,000 yards?

The 147gr ELD Match keeps about 956 ft-lbs and the 143gr ELD-X about 843 ft-lbs at 1,000 yards, calculated from Hornady published data.

The Bottom Line

6.5 PRC drives high-BC 6.5mm bullets fast enough to stay supersonic past 1,500 yards with the best loads, while keeping elk-level energy past 500 yards. Pick a high-BC bullet for long shots, confirm your dope with your own rifle, and shop in-stock 6.5 PRC ammo with next-business-day shipping from our Knoxville, TN warehouse.