Need some guidance..

[johnlittletree]

I will be moving to Utah from Oklahoma in March. I definitely will be getting into Elk hunting and I was told to go with a 6.5 Creedmore. My main goal is primarily to hunt Elk and do some long range shooting at a range with yardage up to 2,000yds. I was also contemplating building a 300WM and putting a good muzzle brake on it to help with recoil. With me being new to Elk hunting I told the gentleman I don't plan on shooting past 400-500yds. I'm just concerned with penetration with the 6.5 Creedmore on a large animal. Also, what would you guy's recommend for a good muzzle brake? Thanks for any input gentlemen.

I would love to know why that person would recommend 6.5 Creedmore. Obviously that person is very trendy and likes to be short on ammo and brass! LOL I bet he said to get a short action as well because they are stiffer if so runaway from that guy he is likely the sort that golfs during a thunder storm! LOL

Elk are not hard to bring down with one shot. The trick is to get a good lung shot. In a perfect world you would want to penetrate both lungs with the same shot. So if you happen to be soloing Mt. Everest and see an Elk at the base The angle is such that you would be hard pressed to hit both lungs with one shot. I like a round that will produce a through and through shot so I get a good blood trail just in case.

If anyone recommends the "anything made only by Hornady cartridge" just look at them start point and laugh your but off. The Remington 260 beats the Creedmore almost every time because you can actually find plenty of high quality brass for it now. Proprietary cartridge equals almost always sold out and lack of choice! Now if you have 20 rifles in your gun safe and it does not matter if you can not get loaded ammo of components to reload it yourself for 3-6 months at a time than go for it! In fact if that is true you should skip the Creedmore and go right to unobtanium gold with the 6.5 PRC!

Maybe you did not read my rant on the 300 PRC vs 300WM on another thread? Basicly the 300 WM represents huge choice and everyone has it and the 300 PRC equals almost no choice and everyone is out of stock.

At the ranges you are looking at 500-600 meters I would take a historical look at what has killed the most Elk in the last 40 years+. You will end up with a cartridge that is stocked almost every where and if you reload components are common as well! Traditionally 270, 30-06, 25-06, 300WM, 7mm RM, 280 Remington, 6.5x55 Swede, 7mm Mauser and 338 Win Magnum have prob. taken 95% of the Elk killed in North America in the last 40+ years.

 

[Pbethell]

I'll be living in Saratoga Springs and working in Provo for Duncan Aviation. I won't be reloading anytime soon. Plan to find some good off the shelf ammo and pick up components on here for when I can reload.

Since you wont be reloading, that really reinforces my advice, get a 7 Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag, lots of good hunting ammo available everywhere.

 

[Swatman05]

I would love to know why that person would recommend 6.5 Creedmore. Obviously that person is very trendy and likes to be short on ammo and brass! LOL I bet he said to get a short action as well because they are stiffer if so runaway from that guy he is likely the sort that golfs during a thunder storm! LOL

Elk are not hard to bring down with one shot. The trick is to get a good lung shot. In a perfect world you would want to penetrate both lungs with the same shot. So if you happen to be soloing Mt. Everest and see an Elk at the base The angle is such that you would be hard pressed to hit both lungs with one shot. I like a round that will produce a through and through shot so I get a good blood trail just in case.

If anyone recommends the "anything made only by Hornady cartridge" just look at them start point and laugh your but off. The Remington 260 beats the Creedmore almost every time because you can actually find plenty of high quality brass for it now. Proprietary cartridge equals almost always sold out and lack of choice! Now if you have 20 rifles in your gun safe and it does not matter if you can not get loaded ammo of components to reload it yourself for 3-6 months at a time than go for it! In fact if that is true you should skip the Creedmore and go right to unobtanium gold with the 6.5 PRC!

Maybe you did not read my rant on the 300 PRC vs 300WM on another thread? Basicly the 300 WM represents huge choice and everyone has it and the 300 PRC equals almost no choice and everyone is out of stock.

At the ranges you are looking at 500-600 meters I would take a historical look at what has killed the most Elk in the last 40 years+. You will end up with a cartridge that is stocked almost every where and if you reload components are common as well! Traditionally 270, 30-06, 25-06, 300WM, 7mm RM, 280 Remington, 6.5x55 Swede, 7mm Mauser and 338 Win Magnum have prob. taken 95% of the Elk killed in North America in the last 40+ years.

I will admit that I do like bigger calibers. I used to have a 340 Weatherby Mag, but my wallet cried when I would buy ammo for it. I want one I can have a good selection of ammo for and get components for when I start to reload. I'm kind of an oddball and I like the not so common calibers that a lot of people don't have.. But with that, ammo selection and prices come into play as well..

 

[1cougar]

I use an area 419 Muzzle brake easy to install self indexing 6.5 saum has the Recoil of a 223 for easy follow-up shots

 

[L.Sherm]

How much is ammo for the 338WM?

I doudt theres much difference in 338WM and 300WM ammo in comparable brands.
The 338WM does put the smack down on elk. I have a Sako L61 that shoots great with 210NP my only complaint it starts dropping like a rock past 500 yards.
I've had 3 bulls not take more than 1 step before they fell over dead with it.

 

[Tom Wright]

I will be moving to Utah from Oklahoma in March. I definitely will be getting into Elk hunting and I was told to go with a 6.5 Creedmore. My main goal is primarily to hunt Elk and do some long range shooting at a range with yardage up to 2,000yds. I was also contemplating building a 300WM and putting a good muzzle brake on it to help with recoil. With me being new to Elk hunting I told the gentleman I don't plan on shooting past 400-500yds. I'm just concerned with penetration with the 6.5 Creedmore on a large animal. Also, what would you guy's recommend for a good muzzle brake? Thanks for any input gentlemen.

 

[KyCarl]

OK since you brought up your wallet. I just bought 300 WM Federal GM Match with 190 Gr. SMK bullets for $26.00 a box! I bought 10 of them. I know they aren't for hunting but they work fine for an afternoon at the range.

 

[Swatman05]

I doudt theres much difference in 338WM and 300WM ammo in comparable brands.
The 338WM does put the smack down on elk. I have a Sako L61 that shoots great with 210NP my only complaint it starts dropping like a rock past 500 yards.
I've had 3 bulls not take more than 1 step before they fell over dead with it.

Nice!! Haha. That would be ideal. Is there a lot of damage to the meat?

 

[Swatman05]

OK since you brought up your wallet. I just bought 300 WM Federal GM Match with 190 Gr. SMK bullets for $26.00 a box! I bought 10 of them. I know they aren't for hunting but they work fine for an afternoon at the range.

That's not bad at all!! When I had the 340 Weatherby Mag, I think the average I paid for a box of ammo was around $85.00 or so..

 

[L.Sherm]

No, I shot the NP for years there just dont have the B.C of other bullets but there a killing machine.

 

[KyCarl]

It would be hard to keep $4.00 a shot out of my mind?
I know I would shoot it less because of the cost!

 

[Tidus56]

That's almost 50 BMG cost ^

 

[Tom Wright]

If recoil is a concern you could split the difference and get a 7mm Rem mag or a 280 AI or a 270 wsm. All of those are awesome elk cartridges. If you want to get a 6.5, I would get a 264 win mag or 6.5 prc. They have more velocity at the muzzle which will create more energy down range. The creed will kill them out to 500 and 600 and beyond, but there are better choices for a dedicated elk gun.

I will be moving to Utah from Oklahoma in March. I definitely will be getting into Elk hunting and I was told to go with a 6.5 Creedmore. My main goal is primarily to hunt Elk and do some long range shooting at a range with yardage up to 2,000yds. I was also contemplating building a 300WM and putting a good muzzle brake on it to help with recoil. With me being new to Elk hunting I told the gentleman I don't plan on shooting past 400-500yds. I'm just concerned with penetration with the 6.5 Creedmore on a large animal. Also, what would you guy's recommend for a good muzzle brake? Thanks for any input gentlemen.

I think your issue with the 6.5 Creedmore is not performance, but actually size/weight of the bullet. I've got two and one last year I shot about a 300# whitetail/muley cross—it went straight up, flipped onto it's back and dropped dead. Great performance at 200 yards. But—I'd go for 300 win mag—larger case, more availability of off the shelf ammo/bullet weights. I've taken mine all over, from Canada to Spain and three times to South Africa. Nothing like knowing your rifle and how it shoots and being able to select bullet weights from 150 gr to 200 grains and NOT move the scope. Have taken everything from
steenbuck to red stag, ibex, axis to kudu at ranges to 450+ yards.

 

[Swatman05]

That's almost 50 BMG cost ^

I'd like to have one and lay prone near a mountain top and just wait... Haha