Any of you guys use a 6.5 on Elk, if so, what the max distance you would suggest the cartridge is effective? Looking at the off-the shelf Hornady ammo (I think they are 140 grns?).
Hunting & Fishing 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
- Thread starter Fred @ Bison Tactical
- Start date
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
There was an article on the 6.5 family of cartridges in either Guns Magazine or American Rifleman. The author had taken Elk with that round out to 400 yds if I remember correctly. I would not hesitate to use that round.
There was an article on the 6.5 family of cartridges in either Guns Magazine or American Rifleman. The author had taken Elk with that round out to 400 yds if I remember correctly. I would not hesitate to use that round.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
Read the back from Alaska thread by PGS. I believe he used a 260 rem on a grizzly in that thread.
Read the back from Alaska thread by PGS. I believe he used a 260 rem on a grizzly in that thread.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
Yes you can kill an elk with a 6.5 Creedmoor. Ive seen elk killed with a .243, but your question is VERY difficult to answer with any certainty. It's all about you and your skill level to deliver the projectile, most likely under stress, to the kill zone. The 1000ft/lbs of energy mark has been listed as the limit. Run your bullet and velocity in JBM and there's a column for energy. I think you'll find that you're at the benchmark around 800-1000 yards.
Yes you can kill an elk with a 6.5 Creedmoor. Ive seen elk killed with a .243, but your question is VERY difficult to answer with any certainty. It's all about you and your skill level to deliver the projectile, most likely under stress, to the kill zone. The 1000ft/lbs of energy mark has been listed as the limit. Run your bullet and velocity in JBM and there's a column for energy. I think you'll find that you're at the benchmark around 800-1000 yards.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
Thanks all, was thinking about switching out a Ruger M77 in .308 for a 6.5 Creedmore, but wanted to make sure it would do for Elk, since it will likely become my hunting rifle. I likely won't very soon be trying an 800 yard shot on Elk with either of the above - but will check JBM.
As a side note, any ideas on stock 6.5 CM rifles out of the box? How accurate are they, and any of you have any good experiences?
Thanks all, was thinking about switching out a Ruger M77 in .308 for a 6.5 Creedmore, but wanted to make sure it would do for Elk, since it will likely become my hunting rifle. I likely won't very soon be trying an 800 yard shot on Elk with either of the above - but will check JBM.
As a side note, any ideas on stock 6.5 CM rifles out of the box? How accurate are they, and any of you have any good experiences?
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowe Left</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...The 1000ft/lbs of energy mark has been listed as the limit...</div></div>
My friends and I have been using 1500 ft/lbs as the minimum limit to determine max effective range for Elk. I'm not sure where that number was sourced, but it's at least another data point of common usage.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowe Left</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...The 1000ft/lbs of energy mark has been listed as the limit...</div></div>
My friends and I have been using 1500 ft/lbs as the minimum limit to determine max effective range for Elk. I'm not sure where that number was sourced, but it's at least another data point of common usage.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
Ask PGS on here how well the 6.5 bullets work on elk, bear, mule deer, etc. he has killed them all easily out to 600+ yards with the 130vld leaving at 2950-3000 fps. The main number with the vld is impact velocity and it should be 1800+ for proper penetration and expansion. The heavy 6.5 bullets have a high sectional density and with the vld's retain lots of velocity and energy. At 700 yards with the 130 vld at 2950 you have an impact velocity of 1850+ fps and over 1000 ft-lbs of energy.
Ask PGS on here how well the 6.5 bullets work on elk, bear, mule deer, etc. he has killed them all easily out to 600+ yards with the 130vld leaving at 2950-3000 fps. The main number with the vld is impact velocity and it should be 1800+ for proper penetration and expansion. The heavy 6.5 bullets have a high sectional density and with the vld's retain lots of velocity and energy. At 700 yards with the 130 vld at 2950 you have an impact velocity of 1850+ fps and over 1000 ft-lbs of energy.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HeroFish</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks all, was thinking about switching out a Ruger M77 in .308 for a 6.5 Creedmore </div></div>
If you're going to use this rifle mainly for elk, I'd leave it as a 308. All of my elk kills have been within 300 yards, and the last 4 were within 50 yards. The 308 with heavy bullets would be my pick. Unless you're shooting elk in a hay field somewhere.
Lots of choices and opinions... Good luck.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HeroFish</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks all, was thinking about switching out a Ruger M77 in .308 for a 6.5 Creedmore </div></div>
If you're going to use this rifle mainly for elk, I'd leave it as a 308. All of my elk kills have been within 300 yards, and the last 4 were within 50 yards. The 308 with heavy bullets would be my pick. Unless you're shooting elk in a hay field somewhere.
Lots of choices and opinions... Good luck.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
Gonna tote a 6.5X47L in a GAP NT platform. If all goes well a MT Elk will hit the freezer.
I think I've got a 120gr. TTSX load worked out for it. We've limited it to 500 yards. But this should be an easy task for it.
The back up load is a 130gr NAB.
Gonna tote a 6.5X47L in a GAP NT platform. If all goes well a MT Elk will hit the freezer.
I think I've got a 120gr. TTSX load worked out for it. We've limited it to 500 yards. But this should be an easy task for it.
The back up load is a 130gr NAB.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
Just make sure they are GmX I had to shot an gemsbok 5 times in the sweet spot every time he would go down hard, I had to put one at the base of the skull to stop him. All done between 322-375 yards. Bullets were amax and a gap 10 suppressed.
Joe m
Just make sure they are GmX I had to shot an gemsbok 5 times in the sweet spot every time he would go down hard, I had to put one at the base of the skull to stop him. All done between 322-375 yards. Bullets were amax and a gap 10 suppressed.
Joe m
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
A good buddy of mine took 2 elk last year with the 22" 6.5CM he owns. Both were shot with the 140 Amax and dropped where they stood, a 6x6 bull and a medium cow in Montana. The bull was a shade under 600yd and the cow was around 430 IIRC, the 140 Amax did a wonderful job, he shot them both with Hornady factory ammo.
Shot placement is very important, in many ways more important than the caliber choice or bullet choice.
A good buddy of mine took 2 elk last year with the 22" 6.5CM he owns. Both were shot with the 140 Amax and dropped where they stood, a 6x6 bull and a medium cow in Montana. The bull was a shade under 600yd and the cow was around 430 IIRC, the 140 Amax did a wonderful job, he shot them both with Hornady factory ammo.
Shot placement is very important, in many ways more important than the caliber choice or bullet choice.
Re: 6.5 Creedmore for Elk?
I always suggest, if anyone wants to use an amax in a 6.5, the 140 is a good one if used w/consideration of how it works, better as distance grows.
As to the 120 and 123 amax, I am not a fan for hunting big game. Now if we are launching from a 6.5 Grendel at 2500-2600, it will probably do ok.
That said, there are better bullets, no reason to lose/wound anything.
Many fans of light for cal bullets, great for varmints in most cup core, and nothing wrong for large game...in mono form.
Cocodori, you chose well, best wishes, hope to hear a field report
I always suggest, if anyone wants to use an amax in a 6.5, the 140 is a good one if used w/consideration of how it works, better as distance grows.
As to the 120 and 123 amax, I am not a fan for hunting big game. Now if we are launching from a 6.5 Grendel at 2500-2600, it will probably do ok.
That said, there are better bullets, no reason to lose/wound anything.
Many fans of light for cal bullets, great for varmints in most cup core, and nothing wrong for large game...in mono form.
Cocodori, you chose well, best wishes, hope to hear a field report
