6mm 95/105vld on elk?
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dogdinger
Well-Known Member
those would be perfect if you take head shots only......why even think it?
My 7mm rem mag produces 6" groups, (yes half a foot) @ 100 yards within 5 shots. Then my 243 is one moa accurate for a long dang ways for 5 shots.
The 7mm rem mag was my first rifle and didn't know anything about em except for taking animals. Well, several times at on the range the barrel was glowing red and rarely ever cleaned. Ya think its ruined?
The 243 has been broken in properly, never shot more than 5 times at once, barrel cools down before more shots are taken, and the barrel is cleaned about every 30-40 rounds.
Well that is what I am thinking, I have a better chance of killing any animals with the 243 doing head shots only than trying to hit anything with my 7mm.
The 7mm rem mag was my first rifle and didn't know anything about em except for taking animals. Well, several times at on the range the barrel was glowing red and rarely ever cleaned. Ya think its ruined?
The 243 has been broken in properly, never shot more than 5 times at once, barrel cools down before more shots are taken, and the barrel is cleaned about every 30-40 rounds.
Well that is what I am thinking, I have a better chance of killing any animals with the 243 doing head shots only than trying to hit anything with my 7mm.
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't do it for many obvious reasons.
I think you need to get your 7mm checked out and go from there. I doubt the barrel has been shot out unless you've put a couple thousand through her, but the throat could be shot since you say it wasn't allowed to cool properly. Is everything tight, scope rings, bases, action screws, etc? Are you shooting from a bench?? Are you using handloads or factory??
It would be far better to take care of your problem now at home with the 7mm, then in the field with an elk on the line and a very marginal caliber/bullet selection at that.
If you plan to use a 6mm cal for elk, stick an X bullet, Aframe, or any other premium bullet that holds 90%+ weight retention so that it penetrates to the vitals. A VLD is not exactly a bullet that holds together very well in my experience.
I think you need to get your 7mm checked out and go from there. I doubt the barrel has been shot out unless you've put a couple thousand through her, but the throat could be shot since you say it wasn't allowed to cool properly. Is everything tight, scope rings, bases, action screws, etc? Are you shooting from a bench?? Are you using handloads or factory??
It would be far better to take care of your problem now at home with the 7mm, then in the field with an elk on the line and a very marginal caliber/bullet selection at that.
If you plan to use a 6mm cal for elk, stick an X bullet, Aframe, or any other premium bullet that holds 90%+ weight retention so that it penetrates to the vitals. A VLD is not exactly a bullet that holds together very well in my experience.
Thats all been done, what else can I do to the 7mm? Last year alone had over 800 rounds.
Penetration vs pass through
I don't want retained weight, it gives less hydraulic shock. Vld delays expansion upon impact for a few inches before opening up.
I know the 7mm 168vld @ 3050fps penetrates 1/2" steel at 300 yards and 3/8" at 500 yards. Then the bullet doesn't always pass through, I think that gives the maximum amount of energy released.
Penetration vs pass through
I don't want retained weight, it gives less hydraulic shock. Vld delays expansion upon impact for a few inches before opening up.
I know the 7mm 168vld @ 3050fps penetrates 1/2" steel at 300 yards and 3/8" at 500 yards. Then the bullet doesn't always pass through, I think that gives the maximum amount of energy released.
buffybr
Active Member
When I lived in NW Colorado, I had a friend whose wife regularly killed her elk with her .243 Win. I know of another (cow) elk that was killed with a .22 LR. The shots were close and precise.
My personal opinion is that the .243/6mm is on the light side for elk. If everything is perfect, they will work. A marginal or less than perfect shot will probably result in a wounded and lost elk.
Elk are too magnificant an animal to be lost to a marginal caliber.
My personal opinion is that the .243/6mm is on the light side for elk. If everything is perfect, they will work. A marginal or less than perfect shot will probably result in a wounded and lost elk.
Elk are too magnificant an animal to be lost to a marginal caliber.
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
I hunt with several guys that use the 243 for everything including elk and they do great with it. None of them shoot the Bergers, most shoot something with a soft point like a cor-lock. None of these guys shoot elk over 300yds and they all shoot them behind the shoulder, they are careful.
Between the guys I know using the 243 there are over 50 elk between them all taken clean from what I've seen. Alot of kids around here start hunting elk with a 243. Ideal, maybe not but it will work if you know your limits with your gun.
I would worry about the vld having enough exsplosive capasity to get it done, vs. a good mushrooming bullet making it to the other side.
Between the guys I know using the 243 there are over 50 elk between them all taken clean from what I've seen. Alot of kids around here start hunting elk with a 243. Ideal, maybe not but it will work if you know your limits with your gun.
I would worry about the vld having enough exsplosive capasity to get it done, vs. a good mushrooming bullet making it to the other side.
I have a friend whom is one hell of a shot only uses 6mm-284 100 grain bullet which one i dont know and has taken 21 bull elk since 1978. His longest is 700 yars and the average is 400. I think that is impressive like i said he is tops at off hand shooting ranked in top 10 in country on muzzleloader shooting off hand. Im going with him this fall and his point is bullet placement but does not shoot them in the head. yes he has shot more than once to kill them but i think he has done well with a 6mm.
Mike
Mike
The farthest shot with a 6x284 that I had ever heard of was 1115 yards..."the bull was just grazing out in the open, so he wasn't on the move. He shot it twice. First shot was a double lung and it coughed blood on the hillside around it, took three steps and turned 180 degrees then he shot it in the shoulder and dropped it."
This info was from best of the west. I believe the load was 105vld @ 3340fps.
A 243 winchester with 22" barrel can send the 105vld @ 3050fps. So the 243 produces 1998fps/931ft-lb @ 900 yards. The 6x284 produces 2018fps/949ft-lb @ 1100 yards. (The actual numbers are probably higher due to higher velocity creating higher bc than stated from bergers)
Trust me folks, I recommend my family member to NOT USE a 243 for elk hunting. They all should use 300 win mags.
So they can buy cheap bullets from walmart and still do fine for elk hunting. I'm addicted to long range shooting and shoot hand loads only so its different for my situation.
This info was from best of the west. I believe the load was 105vld @ 3340fps.
A 243 winchester with 22" barrel can send the 105vld @ 3050fps. So the 243 produces 1998fps/931ft-lb @ 900 yards. The 6x284 produces 2018fps/949ft-lb @ 1100 yards. (The actual numbers are probably higher due to higher velocity creating higher bc than stated from bergers)
Trust me folks, I recommend my family member to NOT USE a 243 for elk hunting. They all should use 300 win mags.
So they can buy cheap bullets from walmart and still do fine for elk hunting. I'm addicted to long range shooting and shoot hand loads only so its different for my situation.buffybr
Active Member
Good news! I found a much bigger and accurate rifle that I will be able to use on elk this year instead of the little 6mm!!!
Good choice, and good luck!
beretzs
Well-Known Member
What did you get instead? Scotty
7mm rem mag with 168vld going around 2950fps.
Got back from an elk hunt, had over 30 bulls walk past the cross hair cause none were legal. CO requires 4 point or better or 6" brow tines or longer. Nearly all of these bulls didn't even have brow tines. Quite an unusual year.
Got back from an elk hunt, had over 30 bulls walk past the cross hair cause none were legal. CO requires 4 point or better or 6" brow tines or longer. Nearly all of these bulls didn't even have brow tines. Quite an unusual year.
Bud Martin
Well-Known Member
Well it sounds like the elk hunt is over but my advise would have been no. I have killed several elk with a 6mm remington myself but always with a good bonded hunting type bullet, I prefer 100 grn interlocks in mine but 100 grn partitions work well also. they just don't shoot as well. even with these heavier jacketed bonded bullets I have seen bullets not penetrate into the body cavity with a shoulder hit and yes I know that's not the perfect hit but in the real world it happens as much as the perfect hit. in my opinion there's not much chance a light jacketed un bonded bullet like the vld or many of the others on the market would penetrate the heavy bone and muscle on the front shoulder of a big bull to reach the body cavity. it would be best to leave the 6mm at home and take a bigger rifle, elk don't always offer the perfect shot and a 300 or 338 will be much more forgiving. just my opinion but it was formulated after over 20 years in the outfitting business watching clients shoot deer and elk.
