6.5 Caliber 140 gr. too lite for Elk ?

[Doug Herold]

In the recent past I have smiled at posts questioning the competence of the 6.5 having enough horsepower to anchor big tough animals such as elk. My son returned last week from a hunt on a public land wilderness area of Colorado which I am attaching photos. This bull was shot with his 6.5Gap4s shooting a Berger Hybrid 140 gr at 3150 fps. The Berger warmed up the elk at 578 yds., it took one step and was DRT. The shoulder was broken, chest cavity organs were turned into a jello smoothie, and the bullet was recovered lodged in the hide on the "off side". The 140 gr bullet retained 80 gr (57%), lost 60 gr. (43%)... typical of expected Berger performance. This big bull scores 364" B&C . Another bull which was bigger was being watched at 1770 yds, but this one walked out of the timber and daylight was going to be an issue as far as getting to the larger bull. No bullet "blowing up" on impact, no excessive destroying of meat, no long-suffering animal, no failure of the bullet to penetrate.

 

[Envious of the West]

Wow. That is a giant bull. Congratulations to your son!

 

[hunter67wa]

congrats

 

[laker]

We've killed a couple with the 140 grain Bergers without any issues. Hoping to let the air out of one with the new 156 grain Berger.

 

[hrnhntr]

Awesome bull! Feel free to PM me that location as I'm in Colorado and will put it to good use!

 

[Rick Richard]

Nice going. I killed a 5 X 6 last season with the same, but at 367 yards. So, yeah they do kill, but I wouldn't want to push it on elk past 600 yards...just my opinion.

 

[Thescandinavian]

I would not use a combination that would not make a decent exit hole.
Not that I doubt it's deadliness, but if gone wrong I want a proper blood trail that's possible to follow.

 

[257Tony]

I killed my biggest Bull at 658 with a .264 WM and a 140 HVLD. DRT. So yes, they work quite well.

Congrats to your Boy on the Bull of a lifetime!

 

[YZ-80]

I'd like to think my 6.5 X 284 would do the job with maybe a 140 Accobond? Doesn't this combination approximate what a .270 would do? I'd probably not go beyond 400 yards.

 

[257Tony]

I'd like to think my 6.5 X 284 would do the job with maybe a 140 Accobond? Doesn't this combination approximate what a .270 would do? I'd probably not go beyond 400 yards.

Fastest non-cns elk kill I've been seen was a 140 accubond on a bull at 400 yards. Hit through the ribs broadside, took 2 steps and tipped over dead. Out to around 500, that is a wicked load.

 

[Greyfox]

Nice bull!!! Congratulations.

 

[Country Bumpkin]

That's awesome!!

I'm not trying to "poke the bear"... but did they leave that bull sitting all night and not even gut it??

 

[Doug Herold]

Nice bull!!! Congratulations.

Thanx Art. You probably had a hand in developing that load!

 

[Doug Herold]

That's awesome!!

I'm not trying to "poke the bear"... but did they leave that bull sitting all night and not even gut it??

No,
they rode the horses down to it, took the guts out, rode back to spike camp, and brought the pack horses in the nxt morning.