6.5 Caliber 140 gr. too lite for Elk ?

[John Polk]

Never forget that you guys are shooters. You can take a "light" rifle and turn it into a lethal weapon. In the hands of the your average "weekend warriors", who shoot less than a box a year, we will wind up with a lot of wounded animals if they try to mimic your efforts. Let them be happy with their .243's, .270's, .308's and 30-06's it will work out for the better for all of us.

 

[Stgraves260]

If I can get closer

I

Thought the idea was "hunting" not just shooting.
If you were 1200 yards, how much closer could you have gotten?
No flame intended just wondering.
The rules of Fair Chase says and animal must have an escape route.
How close could you have gotten if you were truly hunting using wood craft and all.
Just throwing that out for thought.
My record book bull was taken at 35 yards, my book pronghorn was taken at 50 yards.
I personally love trying to get close, sometimes I get busted, sometimes they get busted.
Everytime I get busted I learn a lot more than when I kill.
1200 with a .260 seems like a long poke, if it were me I would figure that is maybe 1150 yards I could maybe cover to get in real close.
I can shoot at long range but I for myself only choose not to as the rush of going in mano y mano is for me to great to tempt a low percentage shot at least for me, I am human after all.

If I can get closer I will. But what's the point of having the knowledge and the skill to take a shot at long distances and never use it. Some people spend $10,000 on a rifle build and don't shoot past 200 yards. To me that's a waist. I know my 260 Rem limits. As a hunter not only do You have to know your limits but you have to know your equipments limits also. I bow hunt also. I love to push my limits and my skills. Iv taken a doe at 80 yards with my Hoyt. I've also taken a doe with a knife at arms length. Why ? Because she got close enough for me too. She was to close for a bow shot. It was quick and clean. I hunt with a bow, knife, spear, and gun.

 

[BrentM]

I will never understand the need to come on a long range hunting forum and try to tell people that is not right to hunt beyond x distance etc. Why on earth would you even join the forum in the first place. If you don't agree with LR hunting then find another forum. I have only killed a few big animals with a rifle. I've guided hunters for 32 years and rifle hunting big game is just not that appealing to me. I use long range skills for comps and predator hunting. I do almost all big game hunting with a bow. However, I sure the heck don't come on this forum and pontificate a stance that is anti long range. That is counter intuitive and productive.

 

[KyCarl]

One game does not a season make! Just because it worked this time will it the next?
Personally I think it's too small. As does the state of Kentucky who mandates .270 or larger for Elk! At that range I would have taken my 300WM with about a 200Gr. bullet! To err on the big side is cool! On the small side sucks big time!

 

[BrentM]

One game does not a season make! Just because it worked this time will it the next?
Personally I think it's too small. As does the state of Kentucky who mandates .270 or larger for Elk! At that range I would have taken my 300WM with about a 200Gr. bullet! To err on the big side is cool! On the small side sucks big time!

Chip shot for a 140 and Saum. Caliber restrictions are ignorant. For example the 270 is .006 larger diameter but has less sectional density and bc. The 270 cannot compete with a 6.5 at equal velocities. Regardless, it's not a valid argument no matter how you look at it since science trumps opinion and all one has to do is look at terminal ballistics for the answer.

 

[KyCarl]

Tell it to the Warden!..You will lose! They can take your Rifle..Your money..Future Hunting Rights...They don't play!

 

[laker]

Chip shot for a 140 and Saum. Caliber restrictions are ignorant. For example the 270 is .006 larger diameter but has less sectional density and bc. The 270 cannot compete with a 6.5 at equal velocities. Regardless, it's not a valid argument no matter how you look at it since science trumps opinion and all one has to do is look at terminal ballistics for the answer.

I'm sure a 270 110 grain is better than a 6.5 140 grain for elk

 

[KyCarl]

Here it is in black and white..Not hard to understand at all!
A modern rifle of .270 caliber or larger with a magazine capable of holding no more than 10 rounds
https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Elk-Hunting-Regs.aspx

 

[laker]

Here it is in black and white..Not hard to understand at all!
A modern rifle of .270 caliber or larger with a magazine capable of holding no more than 10 rounds
https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Elk-Hunting-Regs.aspx

I believe you. It just shows the ignorance of people making the laws

 

[257Tony]

Look you think anyone here gives a **** what the state of Kentucky says when it comes to killing elk?

 

[WYO300RUM]

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.

Great shot. Dam nice bull. Congrats !

 

[flylo]

That does it! Last time I'm elk hunting in Kentucky.

 

[KyCarl]

It seems that unlike others I try my best to obey the laws of all the states I hunt in!
It's the smartest way to go!

 

[nicholasjohn]

I believe you. It just shows the ignorance of people making the laws

There's another thread going right now about using .224 centerfires for deer, which has also been prohibited in a lot of states. This stirs up plenty of controversy as well, and a lot of people feel pretty strongly about it. The one ingredient that can't be ignored in these discussions is the shooter's proficiency - which is only really a known entity to the shooter. Cartridge restrictions won't cure poor shooting- only training & practice will do that. Bullet placement and bullet construction trump bullet size.