Lighter or Heavier bullet

[L.Sherm]

fast moving heavy 30 or 338 cal bullet and 6.5

I've shot my share of elk with 6.5s, 7mm's and 338 with different bullets in all 3.
I've seen my fair share shot with all 3 in different bullets and the faster heavier wins everytime. I'm talking witnessing how the animal reacts, I call it the " shock and awe".
That being said will all kill elk sure they will

 

[the blur]

I've shot my share of elk with 6.5s, 7mm's and 338 with different bullets in all 3.
I've seen my fair share shot with all 3 in different bullets and the faster heavier wins everytime. I'm talking witnessing how the animal reacts, I call it the " shock and awe".
That being said will all kill elk sure they will

Let's hear your shock & awe results with you 6.5. I'm very very temped to hunt Elk with my 6.5CM, 140 accubonds. My guide was against it, but I'm still considering it. I have killed a Moose with my 6.5, perfect broadside shot.

 

[Hard rock]

Let's hear your shock & awe results with you 6.5. I'm very very temped to hunt Elk with my 6.5CM, 140 accubonds. My guide was against it, but I'm still considering it.

Going on a elk hunt with a guide and a 6.5 creed is definitely limiting your terminal performance on elk maybe a faster 6.5 with a Hammer or Barnes in case of a close shot

 

[Wedgy]

I would definitely agree with heavy and fast.

If you can throw a baseball (5oz or 2187gr) at 500fps (340mph), that is 1214ft/lbs energy on impact. Whatever major body part it hits is going to be destroyed. Head, chest cavity, whatever, is going to die.
Can you imagine a 340mph fastball to the head or chest? Ugh.

Hows about a 1,000 MPH baseball ?

 

[Panhandle Pete]

What's your preference on Elk ? 120 up to 168's ?

My personal preference on Whitetails is 90 gr. .243 Light fast traveling bullet is just deadly on deer.
On Elk, I always went heavier. 140 on up.

What say you ???

My favorite load for elk in my 280 AI is a Nosler 160 grain AccuBond over 61 grains of H1000, it has performed flawlessly on elk and deer from 35 yards to 300 plus yards. In my 338 WM and 340 Wtby I prefer 250 Nosler Partions and Nosler 225 grain AccuBond, the 250 is good whether they are going north or south!!

 

[Hard rock]

My favorite load for elk in my 280 AI is a Nosler 160 grain AccuBond over 61 grains of H1000, it has performed flawlessly on elk and deer from 35 yards to 300 plus yards. In my 338 WM and 340 Wtby I prefer 250 Nosler Partions and Nosler 225 grain AccuBond, the 250 is good whether they are going north or south!!

I use too load 160 partitions for a 7 REM mag 16 in barrel for Polar Bear

 

[Panhandle Pete]

I use too load 160 partitions for a 7 REM mag 16 in barrel for Polar Bear

I did'nt think Polar bears were as far south as Tomball!!! HA!!

 

[gbett308]

Let's hear your shock & awe results with you 6.5. I'm very very temped to hunt Elk with my 6.5CM, 140 accubonds. My guide was against it, but I'm still considering it. I have killed a Moose with my 6.5, perfect broadside shot.

Listen to your guide...

 

[Hard rock]

I did'nt think Polar bears were as far south as Tomball!!! HA!!

You never know last years freeze I thought I was at the North Pole before I was a fire fighter I worked for Glenn Slade he was a big game hunter hunted Africa and all over he knew I was a hand loader and he would have me load for his Sako Finnbear cut down too 16 in so it wouldn't get hung up in the cockpit when locating a Polar bear I doubt the shots were very far Glenn Slades was a big Whole sale gun store in Houston Texas

 

[nksmfamjp]

The one that launches 3000-3200 fps, fits in mag, good performance on meat, has high bc.

I'm using 180 EH from Berger at 3050fps now.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Let's hear your shock & awe results with you 6.5. I'm very very temped to hunt Elk with my 6.5CM, 140 accubonds. My guide was against it, but I'm still considering it. I have killed a Moose with my 6.5, perfect broadside shot.

IMO the 6.5 Creed would be, BETTER "served" with, a Berger, HVLD / Classic Hunter, Nosler Ballistic Tip's or, Horn SST's / ELD-X's as I'd want, a "softer", more EXPLOSIVE Bullet for, the lower Velocity of, the 6.5 Creed.
IMO, the AccuBond doesn't always, "Mushroom",.. "well" !
The 140 grain Regular, AccuBond didn't "open up" for me, in a .270 WSM @ 3,150 FPS at, 70 Yards on, an Elk.
Resulting in, a SLOW,.. Elk Kill,.. I've since, switched to,.. Bergers.
Maybe, I just got, some BAD,.. GLUED SHUT,.. AccuBonds ???

 

[Idaho Lefty]

The longer that, I Hunt Big Game, the more I believe that, Roy Weatherby was,.. RIGHT,..
Send a smaller Diameter, lighter Bullet at, Warp Speed for,.. massive, Internal "Boiler Room", damage.
They LOVED those, .257 and .270 Weatherbys and Killed, a Ton of Game with, them !
Using mostly, the OLD Hornady, Factory loaded, PRE- Interlock, Bullets !

 

[Allen Kitts]

Heavy for caliber bullets have worked well for me. I like the 180's in my 7mm and 215's and 245's in my 300. I have recenlty started loading Hammer bullets in some of my smaller calibers and have had great results on Deer and Antelope. Haven't had the pleasure of sending one downrange at an elk yet but hopefully this year. Loading the 169 Grain HH for my 7MM LRM for elk season. Should be bad medicine, just need to find the elk.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I have shot Elk in NZ with 25-06 115g Partition, 6.5x47 140g Accubond, 264WM 142g ABLR, 270 Bee 150g ABLR, 300WM 180g Accubond/200g Accubond/210g ABLR, 338WM 225g Accubond/250g Accubond, 338-416 Rigby Improved 285g ABLR and 375 Bee 260g Accubond.
The worst performing cartridge was the 6.5x47….3 shots to get the animal down. The 264WM was a night and day experience, animal folded and fell down as if hit by lightning.
The same with the 25-06, pole-axed and no follow up required.
High velocity makes all the difference, no matter what calibre we are talking.
I got rid of my Edge because it just didn't do it for me with a 285g ABLR only doing 2800fps. Was very accurate, but not fast enough.
This is why I love Swamplord, he understands better than most what high velocity does in heavy for calibre bullets, the faster you can push them, the better the results.
My Edge lacked at range, at half a dozen failures to expand beyond 900 metres, poor bullet choice may have been a major factor, but all the YouTube videos using the same components said otherwise. I am not going to bash the bullet here either. It is what it is.

Using a cartridge that propels heavy for calibre bullets FAST is where the performance of any bullet is tested. Some do not perform well, but when you find the right one, it makes a huge difference to terminal performance and hits are much more emphatic.

Cheers.