Is the 6.5 Creedmoor too "light" for 1,000+ yard hunting?

I just run both calibers threw the Brian Litz ballistic app.

6.5 Creedmoor with 140gr Berger over loaded by 170 ft-per second beyond max to 2900 ft-per second,,, pressure could produce 1800 ft-lbs energy at 400 yard.

The Berger 168gr bullet at 72 ft-per seconds over max to 2900 ft-per second shows results of 5 ft-lbs more energy at 400 yards is 1805 ft-lbs energy from the 308 winchester.

It's like splitting hairs.

As mentioned, it depends on the loading data and how it provides the information.

Many of us here brake down the cartrage category into 3,,, the class that surrounds the 243,,, the class in the 30/06,,, and the 338 family.

This will do that and that will do this and so on.

Sure the mighty 300 Rum pushes past the 338 winchester,,, the Lapua passes both of them.

The 270 winchester beets the 6.5 out of the gate,,, and the 30/06 is obsolete,,, that's why I own one and use it for everything till my useless 308 FTR is ready to go FTR this year in national Match.

I'm sure folks see where this is going.

The pills for medium size game is close to 1000 ft-lbs energy,,, this is a give or take. Sure 400 ft-lbs will work,,, same as 13 to 1500 would to. A bit of over harvest,,, but that's what allows for era in shot placement.

It's said that big game / thick skin / big bone don't do well with 1700 ft-lbs energy,,, again. Will 1000 work,,, what about 2200 ft-lbs.

Dangerous Game.
Folks like to allow for this. 2200 on up in ft-lbs.

One of the top largest Grizzly Bears was taken with a 22 rim fire. Can it be done, sure it can. What about 4200 ft lbs from a elephant gun. Why not.

The idea behind over harvest is just that. At least in my way of thinking.

Big bullet with some Hyper Shock is nice.
Don't have enough energy, add in a round nose and get up close.

The magic rule is close, nothing written in stone and the rules do and don't apply.

I think it's great that each person and caliber is different, but aloting a fraction of over harvest puts a smile on the face.

More wrong then right since I'm a meat eater,,, if I can't eat it, then I ain't going after it.

PS: I limit my shots with my 30/06 since it is not the long distance game getter.

The 180gr'ers work grate from 40 to 140 yards,,, of coures this is not saying that I could not get it to reach out there further so long as my hand is steady.

No steady hand means it lives another day.

Happy Harvesting all as this Don walks around and around following Elk tracks that never end.

Surely to God one would think that I'd catch up to the track maker wouldn't you. LOL

2900 fps not loading all that hot with RL26, Try 3000 fps with 143 ELD-M out of a 26" tube within industry standard for pressure with 6.5 Creed.
2900 fps with a 308 can be done with the right load out of a 26" barrel. With 24" not sure what powder you would use to keep it under 62K pressure.
My 30-06 24" barrel will push 165 Nosler ABs at 3100 fps with H205 and even at that speed the 165 falls short at 1000 yards it is 1277 fps and 598 ft lbs, 2245 fps and 1847 ft lbs at 400 yards.
The 6.6 Creed is 1655 fps and 870 ft lbs at 1000 yards, 2406 fps and 1838 ft lbs at 400 yards.

There is a big deference with what you want for a firearm when you a faced with a charge from dangerous game at 50 yards or less or one you might use to take unsuspecting game. There have been many large Grizzlies and Brown Bears shot over the years with the 30-06 and they died just as dead as if they were hit with a 50 BMG , even though this is fact the 30-06 would not be the firearm of choice for most to stop a charge. I would surly rather have it though than only a jackknife.
That being said the 30-06 is far from obsolete, maybe in the eyes of individuals not willing to load it to it's potential.
A couple guys MontanaMarine and USSR quite a few years ago in 2002 proved that with the 30-06 and heavy over 200 gr bullets (https://forum.snipershide.com/forum...-remember-the-great-30-06-debate-10-years-ago) and now with the potential RL26 shows with 200+ Bullets in the 06 it shows even more promise.
Also German Salazar proved that the 30-06 also lacked nothing as far as accuracy goes as well.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/11/match-results-for-308-vs-30-06-surprising-findings/

Bowfishn said:

There is a big deference with what you want for a firearm when you a faced with a charge from dangerous game at 50 yards or less or one you might use to take unsuspecting game.................

Click to expand...

So true! In close quarters the big bears and cats will see, smell, and hear you. Even with a good shot to the vitals, if he decides he wants some payback, it only takes a few seconds before they succumb to turn you into hamburger. Enough energy and bullet weight to break them down is the only insurance. Shot this guy a few decades ago in Botswana. Used a H&H 450 Express rifle with 480gr SP Woodleighs at 5000 ft/pds energy. At 21 yards, first shot broke both shoulders with major internal damage. He still turned to charge. Second shot entered the chest from the front and fully expanded with 90% weight retention and recovered under the hind quarter hide(shown below). This put him down but I still had to put another insurance shot in him. All this happened in seconds. Prepare for the worst....

Greyfox said:

So true! In close quarters the big bears and cats will see, smell, and hear you. Even with a good shot to the vitals, if he decides he wants some payback, it only takes a few seconds before they succumb to turn you into hamburger. Enough energy and bullet weight to break them down is the only insurance. Shot this guy a few decades ago in Botswana. Used a H&H 450 Express rifle with 480gr SP Woodleighs at 5000 ft/pds energy. At 21 yards, first shot broke both shoulders with major internal damage. He still turned to charge. Second shot entered the chest from the front and fully expanded with 90% weight retention and recovered under the hind quarter hide(shown below). This put him down but I still had to put another insurance shot in him. All this happened in seconds. Prepare for the worst....

Click to expand...

****, tough animals those cats are. Good thing you broke both shoulders on the first one, at 21 yards it wound have been just a second or 2 and he could have been on you.
Congrats.

Greyfox said:

So true! In close quarters the big bears and cats will see, smell, and hear you. Even with a good shot to the vitals, if he decides he wants some payback, it only takes a few seconds before they succumb to turn you into hamburger. Enough energy and bullet weight to break them down is the only insurance. Shot this guy a few decades ago in Botswana. Used a H&H 450 Express rifle with 480gr SP Woodleighs at 5000 ft/pds energy. At 21 yards, first shot broke both shoulders with major internal damage. He still turned to charge. Second shot entered the chest from the front and fully expanded with 90% weight retention and recovered under the hind quarter hide(shown below). This put him down but I still had to put another insurance shot in him. All this happened in seconds. Prepare for the worst....

Click to expand...

That's pretty awesome! 21 yds...would've been **** intense. A few years ago I clubbed a badger to death with a rock. I thought that was exhilarating...doesn't even compare to a charging lion

lacajun said:

"My 6.5 Creed spits 143 ELD-X have a muzzle vel of 2999 FPS"
What is your barrel length Bowfishn

Click to expand...

I'm getting 3000fps using a 26" bartlein, Nosler brass, 140gr uncoated Berger hybrids and 43gr of rl-17

2900 isn't all that hot. I'm getting 2885 with 42 grains of rl-17 with the 140 eld and that's actually below bergers listed max load. My best rl-26 load was 2945

For me yes. Add some FPS and you can extend your range.

Ive seen deer die (drt) at 1145 with a 6.5x47 shooting 130 berger vldh's.

Everyone speaks of ethically killing an animal but what about archery. The average arrow is 388 grains at 298 fps which equates to 77 lbs of KE. 400 grains at 294 FPS= 77 lbs of KE. 415 Grains at 290 FPS=78 KE. Why is this acceptable? Im asking im not being a smart ***! It doesnt make sense to me. I dont know if those numbers are accurate I took them from an archery web site and one guy said that is how he would set up his equipment for elk. So whats the difference the 6.5 140 gn bullet at 2990 fps has more energy at 1880 yards than arrow. Now would I try to kill an elk with less than 1200 lbs for elk and 900 for deer antelope! No I would not.

nickr5000 said:

Ive seen deer die (drt) at 1145 with a 6.5x47 shooting 130 berger vldh's.

Click to expand...

Yep, and I saw the picture of it!
Nice to see you on the site Nick.

johnhhernan said:

Everyone speaks of ethically killing an animal but what about archery. The average arrow is 388 grains at 298 fps which equates to 77 lbs of KE. 400 grains at 294 FPS= 77 lbs of KE. 415 Grains at 290 FPS=78 KE. Why is this acceptable? Im asking im not being a smart ***! It doesnt make sense to me. I dont know if those numbers are accurate I took them from an archery web site and one guy said that is how he would set up his equipment for elk. So whats the difference the 6.5 140 gn bullet at 2990 fps has more energy at 1880 yards than arrow. Now would I try to kill an elk with less than 1200 lbs for elk and 900 for deer antelope! No I would not.

Click to expand...

An arrow does not require Energy to kill only for penetration, it kills by cutting with a razor sharp tip slicing through arteries, heart and lungs. Energy listed as required to hunt various animals is to try and get a pass through so you will have 2 holes to follow blood trail. The energy listed will not penetrate heavy bone, and still make it though the vitals in most cases.
Energy in a bullet is energy required to expand the bullet and create a greater would channel, it does kill by cutting and destroying vitals as well. Bullet energy may be great enough to break heavy bone but may not be great enough to continue into the vitals to do the damage that kills. If there is enough energy and is still super sonic it may also have a shock effect on the nervous system of some animals causing a temporary paralysis allow the animal to drop right there and bleed out before it can get back up.

Up in Yellowstone I had a guide tell me he would rather have 2 cans of good pepper spray for a charging Grizzs then any gun. He's had about 4 accounts he has had to use the pepper spray. He swears by it. But there is one brand he like better than any other just don't remember which one. I know it has a lot of bright orange on the labeling and he explained it came out of the holster easier. I think you can also shoot it from the hip as well. He is a fishing guide. Me personally I would have both.