7MM Rem Mag vs 6.5 CM at 600 yards on cow elk

[Joefrazell]

I don't know man. We took two cow elk last year with a cm. 147 eldm at 2780 mv. Mine was 550 yards and she took the shot took two steps and dead. My dad's was 480 yards and she ran about 75 yards before bleeding out. The damage was adequate but the penetration wasn't what I'd like to see. Got through most of the elk and jellied the vitals.

Now this year I actually built a custom 7 rem mag and we shot 4 mule deer with it this year. Two with the 180 hybrid and two with the 195 eol. Shots were 30 yards and 480 with the hybrid and both the 195's were 400, 415. Both of these bullets out of the 7mag really hammered the game. The one that ran the furthest fas the one at 30 yards and also the smallest deer. He ran 20 yards. Others were bang flop or 1-2 steps.

Personally I think the cm is plenty of gun for elk with the right loading out to 500 or so. Elk are tough as nails sometimes. I've seen them soak up multiple win mag rounds and keep going. Other times they fold where you need them to. I personally will be using the rem mag or 300 prc for elk from here on out because more is better and never hurts.

 

[Chase723]

@RebelGuard the other thing that I posit here that people will scoff at is the notion of one and done. Yes, from a compassion standpoint we would all love everything to hit the deck immediately on the first round sent (presumably that's our intent for every animal we shoot). Sometimes that's not the case and I assume you know that from a lifetime of hunting. Don't hesitate to send a follow up shot or multiple if need be, and don't feel bad about it. The sum effect of close proximity rounds is not additive. It's exponential.

 

[Ucsdryder]

So it sounds like the 6.5 will work…it just has to be perfect conditions, perfect broadside, and a perfect shot. Ok got it!

 

[dogz]

Yeah generally the smaller the rounds the more precise things need to be. Not that one can't have rodeo's with the bigger rounds. For sure one can.

IMO I think that one of the most under rated and most not talked about things when it comes to shooting at range is that it takes a lot of practice and a lot of cool when it's crunch time.

Equipment is made as such that it's easy for many to think that just because they can sit at a bench and hit steel at range that that somehow relates to them being good to go to hit (pick your critter) at whatever range they want because their gun/scope/load is up to it. But, a lot of these lack the cool and the calm and the experience to know when to drop the hammer and when not to.

Add to that someone who's either been in that position a lot or no much if at all and crap can happen.

Some people are wired to go into predator kill mode and some are too excitable to take care of business well. Takes all kinds I guess.

 

[WahooYahoo]

Like any other chambering, within its abilities. Bullet placement is number one. Bullet construction has to be considered and if they allow you another shot, hit em again

 

[dogz]

absolutely hit them hard! Rabbit punch them if need be...grins

One of the drills that I catch some heat, ok thinly disguised doubt...is that I feel that one should strive to be able to hit the turf, hit a pie plate 3x in under 10 seconds to whatever range one feels they have the ability to take game to.

 

[snox801]

Only thing I could add is I've also tried the eld yet better not what I would use again. Berger I would say ok but not on elk. Main reason is because they are so explosive.
Picture the same shot with a Berger at 600 and he hits the shoulder good chance it doesn't get to vitals.
Hence why I like hammer or cutting edge front portion does the explosive part but always a shank left to drive deeper like a Barnes.

 

[snox801]

So it sounds like the 6.5 will work…it just has to be perfect conditions, perfect broadside, and a perfect shot. Ok got it!

Well even a bad shot with a 300 win mag is a bad shot so yes it will work.

 

[dogz]

Kind of like Partitions have been doing for 60 plus years eh..........grins (sorry I just couldn't help myself).

In this day of fancy alphabet bullets and Partition and Barnes knock offs it's still awfully hard to do better than the Partition, TTSX or Accubond.

People get a bit too preoccupied with gear and BC's.

Gear and gadgets just don't buy ability

 

[snox801]

I don't know man. We took two cow elk last year with a cm. 147 eldm at 2780 mv. Mine was 550 yards and she took the shot took two steps and dead. My dad's was 480 yards and she ran about 75 yards before bleeding out. The damage was adequate but the penetration wasn't what I'd like to see. Got through most of the elk and jellied the vitals.

Now this year I actually built a custom 7 rem mag and we shot 4 mule deer with it this year. Two with the 180 hybrid and two with the 195 eol. Shots were 30 yards and 480 with the hybrid and both the 195's were 400, 415. Both of these bullets out of the 7mag really hammered the game. The one that ran the furthest fas the one at 30 yards and also the smallest deer. He ran 20 yards. Others were bang flop or 1-2 steps.

Personally I think the cm is plenty of gun for elk with the right loading out to 500 or so. Elk are tough as nails sometimes. I've seen them soak up multiple win mag rounds and keep going. Other times they fold where you need them to. I personally will be using the rem mag or 300 prc for elk from here on out because more is better and never hurts.

That's had also been my experience problem was I was having inconsistent results to the point I didn't want to risk that one time trophy to a hope it was the times the bullet worked.
Last thing I ever want is doubt.
Thanks
Also I prefer when I can to take a larger 30 cal like win mag or 30 Sherman to do the job.
Always go a bit overboard especially knowing that the pack out could get much worse if it runs

 

[snox801]

Kind of like Partitions have been doing for 60 plus years eh..........grins (sorry I just couldn't help myself).

In this day of fancy alphabet bullets and Partition and Barnes knock offs it's still awfully hard to do better than the Partition, TTSX or Accubond.

People get a bit too preoccupied with gear and BC's.

Gear and gadgets just don't buy ability

Preach I've always said tough to beat partition. I wish they would make a higher bc version. Barnes I've done a good amount with but found that they mushroom and sometimes pencil through so on short shot tough game I would use them but very rarely chose them over cup core. Cutting edge and hammer have changed things a bit.

 

[Hard rock]

Preach I've always said tough to beat partition. I wish they would make a higher bc version. Barnes I've done a good amount with but found that they mushroom and sometimes pencil through so on short shot tough game I would use them but very rarely chose them over cup core. Cutting edge and hammer have changed things a bit.

Velocity is your friend and that is a plus with Hammer bullets over any other that added velocity make up for bc at longer distances personally I would choose a cartridge with more vel than the 6.5 Creed at those distances the 6.5 cal will definitely kill Elk but a 7mm or 30 cal mag would what I would be packing on a Elk Hunt

 

[Rich Coyle]

My opinion is people need to have a little respect for they animals they hunt.

Stay home and watch Bambi.

 

[Wetwrk]

Figured I'd add this...as I mentioned earlier this was 143ELDX out of my 6.5 Creed at 550 yards. I practiced out to 700 all summer and into fall. I walked a card board box out from 100 to 700, stopping every fifty yards and put three rounds into the target at each stop. I wanted a no bs, real dope sheet. I made this shot a first light, no wind, and it was around 30F at 4000ft off my deck, on bags. And yes I'm pretty proud of this.-WW