Who has killed lots of elk with a 6.5 mm bullet?

[Len Backus]

Many of my rifle customers ask about the 6.5x284 or the 6.5mm SAUM cartridge for elk.

I have no such experience so I would appreciate some knowledgeable advice on them or similar cartridges that I can pass on to them. Hoping to hear from guys who have actually shot elk with them more than the opinions of those who have not done it.

 

[gillettehunter]

I have only killed one elk with a 6.5-06. 140 gr Berger. Neck shot and didn't go anywhere. I have killed a lot (20 plus) with a .270 and .270wsm using mostly 140 gr bullets. A good friend of mine has harvested at least 60 through the yrs with a .270 and 130 gr partitions. Not much difference between a .270 and a 6.5 with a good bullet. In fact the sectional density is better for the 6.5 with the same weight of bullet so it should penetrate better. Not ideal in heavy cover, but it will do the job if you hit them properly. Bullet Placement is king. Bruce

 

[rooster740]

Here is one a friend killed at 400 yards berger 140 in 264 mag

 

[rooster740]

Here is my elk this year 160 matrix 6.5-06imp 350 yards

 

[rooster740]

Bull that a friend killed this year with my 6.5-06imp 160 matrix at 75 yards

 

[RT2506]

I have never had the opportunity to hunt elk but I can tell you about the bullet that I would use in my 264 win mag if I was to have the opportunity based on my experience with it on 15+ deer shot from 30 to right at 500 yards. I shoot the 130 Nosler Accubond at 3350 fps from my 27 3/4" barrel 264 Win mag. I have only recovered one bullet all others have been through and through most through both shoulders with about a quarter size exit hole. All deer have been DRT. The only bullet I have recovered was from a buck that live weight went 200 lbs. It was shot at 111 yards as it almost faced me. Bullet was placed on the front edge of it's left shoulder as it was slightly angling toward me. Bullet smashed the scapula made soup of the lungs and messed up the liver and guts and was found against the smashed ball socket of the right ham. Recovered bullet was a text book mushroom and weight was 87 grs. That bullet still had to be going over 3100 fps on impact. In my book that makes for a GOOD BULLET. If it will smash bone travel through about 5 ft of deer and smash bone again I think it would put an elk out of commission.

 

[lazylabs]

I have a friend that has shot many elk with the 6.5x284 in a bolt pistol. I guess it all depends on range limits with the smaller bullets.

 

[Greyfox]

Tagging on.

 

[Wyofax]

My kids have shot 3 bulls in the last two years with my 264 WM. It looks as though your question is more centered on the 6.5X284 but my experience is very good as far as bullet performance is concerned. I'm am not sending these very fast for a 264 at just 3145 fps. All three bulls never left the spot of receiving their 140 VLD. We also have a variety of distance as the biggest bull was at 290 yards a mid-range bull at 442 and a nice long range at 850. I tend to get concerned at closer range with this bullet as it does not penetrate as deep at higher velocities. This is including my experience with deer as well. The close range hits with this caliber combination appear to me to be explosive.

The last bull my daughter took was at 290 yards bedded, he just flopped over in his bed and didn't move for about 30 seconds. Enough for us to think he was done. Then he stood up and tried to walk but collapsed onto his brisket. Back legs still standing, then he fell over and rolled into his back. Next he rolled back onto his belly and was just laying there like he was bedded again. We finally put one in his neck to end the drama. This all took about 3 minutes to transpire. The shoulder was completely destroyed and there was frothy blood under that shoulder but I didn't open up the cavity as we gutless quartered him to get out before dark.

The 442 bull was also bedded but my son put it through the neck and the bull was DRT.

The 850 bull was last fall and hit the bull broadside directly on a rib about 8 inches below the spine and passed through the top of his lungs. That bull hit the dirt hard and cartwheeled off the hill dead when he quit falling. Pretty dramatic hit.

All in all I must like them because I keep shooting them and the elk keep falling.

 

[bigngreen]

I've done a few 6.5x284's specifically for elk and really the 6.5 is a precision tool, you can't treat it, regardless of bullet, like your packing Thors hammer, your shot placement is behind the shoulder in the crease mid way up, the 6.5 can carry enough SD to break the neck and spine of a bull but hit high or low you have less collateral damage to cover your butt just because there's less bullet.
The 6.5's are ideal in more open type elk terrain where you can pick your shots easier, I would not sell a customer on it who was into shooting in the timber or needs to put an elk down on the spot, your not going to power an elk down with it!
Shot 5 rounds last year at big game, killed five big game animals with my little 6.5 SS, one mule deer was at 325 yards all the rest were 800+ and there were a couple coyotes that sat their barking at us just a little to long also, one at 700 an change and on at 865 yards gun)

 

[cowboy]

I think bigngreen's comments are very valid.

I have seen 3 elk killed in the last 2 seasons with the 6.5X284 using the Berger 140 gr bullets so I don't have "lot's" of experience.

If I was to build a dedicated rifle for using on elk - the 6.5X284 would not be my first choice but it will more than do the job if the nut behind the bolt does his. Hell - I know an old timer that shot more elk with a .243 than most people on this forum have seen.

The 6.5X284 is one heck of a deer/antelope type cartridge and is very adequate on elk in the right hands. Use the right bullet for the application - place it in the correct location and you have a very dead elk (But then that's true with any caliber I guess).

 

[Len Backus]

Guys, thanks so much. This is very helpful.

 

[jonthomps]

I would think the 6.5x55 Swede users in Europe would agree with the shot placement comments and agree that elk are not a problem for the 6.5 caliber in a general sense. Dispatching elk shouldn't be any more of an issue than the thousands of European moose that have met their end at the hands of the 6.5 Swede.

 

[Shooter264]

I've killed and seen several elk killed with the 6.5 130 and 140 VLD's from 55 yards to 900 yards. Cartidges used have been 6.5x47 lapua (372" bull shot at 55 yards w 130 JLK as well as several cows out to 600) 6.5-06AI (several Bulls from 150 yards to a 380" bull at 809 yards with 140 JLK's) 6.5x284 (several Bulls from 250 yards to 700 with 140 Berger VLD's) and one cow at 900 with a 6.5 SAUM and a 140 JLK. IMHO a 6.5 is hard to beat for anything in the lower 48 but I am biased because I am a complete 6.5 nut!!! As for performance I can only think of two that required a follow up shot.