6.5 grendel for elk?

[bwaites]

This question has been debated many times, and in a particularly long thread on Grendel forums.

The Grendel is capable of taking elk, and it has done so, but shooting a big bull elk, especially a trophy type bull, at 400 yards is more than questionable. Can you kill the elk with the Grendel, yes! Is it a great caliber to do so, not in my opinion, and I just returned from a clinic where I was regularly dinging an 8" gong in 25 mph winds and snow with mine.

Great shot placement, it will do the job, but then, so will a .22!

Bill

[elkaholic]

If you limit your shots to 300 yds. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk providing you are using the right bullet. I have killed in excess of 25 bulls with a 6.5-06 A.I. most of which were 300-600 yds. and had none get away. Shot placement should be the same whether you are using your 6.5 or a 300 ultra. (in the heart/lung zone).....Rich

[travisch]

Here is a 5x5 bull my son shot last year with a 6.5 BRM which is almost identical to the Grendel. 256 yards with 140 grain Berger at 2550 fps.

[winmag]

Well IMO youd bennifit from a larger caliber, but if thats what you have and you already stated that you have a self imposed range limmit of 300yds, I see absolutely no reason why it wouldnt work with a tough bullet. Heck Ive whitnessed a bunch of elk killed with a 264win mag. Ive seen em killed with a lot smaller than that too. Not my first choice of caliber, but ya it'll work. Just choose your shot wisley and dont be affraid of follow up shots if needed.
An elk will run off with a well placed shot from a 338 just as fast as with a .264, if he decides he wants to. Elk are funny critters. They have a knack for deciding when and where to die. (and usually its a long way away from anywhere in a deep dark nasty hole). As long as its a legal caliber, and you know your rifle and its capabilities, and limmits, and you find a happy medium between the two. Take care in shot placement, and youll be fine. Best of luck to you.

Hey Travisch, If you edit your pic to about 1/4 that size we could see all of it w/o having to scroll way to the right.
Id realy like to see the whole thing. Just a thought. Thanks for the pic tho.

[Don Ward]

We hosted an elk hunt with a writer using the 6.5 Creedmoor with our stock and scope, & 129gr SST. The hunting was slow and the only opportunity was at just over 600 yards. A calm broadside bull, good light, almost no wind, and a good shooting position resulted in a perfect hit. The 129gr passed through and the bull ran about 30 yards and piled up.

With that placement, about any legal cartridge would probably have the same results. The medium size 6.5s aren't an ideal elk round for capitalizing on every opportunity, but used within their limits are certainly capable. We've taken a lot of elk with a 264 w/140gr at ranges where the speed is similar to the medium size 6.5s at closer range and it has proven very effective. That said, the 7mm with a 180 is our go-to elk set-up.

[Tyler Kemp]

Now that is a huge picture! Very nice work by your son!

At the reduced velocities, using a tough bullet may actually work against you, if it is meant for higher velocity cartridges.

[River Runner]

I'd sure hate to see a trophy bull standing broadside at 500 yards when I've got a 300 yard rifle in my hands. I've usually found that the guns and ammo are the cheapest part of hunting.

Sounds like an excellent excuse for a new rifle???