bigngreen
Well-Known Member
There was nothing left, all I found were small peices of copper in the soup at the bottom and when cutting around the entrance I found a couple small peices.
6.5 Creedmor- the Holy Grail?
- Thread starter fariswm
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FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
That is a very true statement. I know people in Utah that charge over $10k. For that price you get a farm raised trophy.
I have guided and hunted elk most of my life. I have seen many clean kills at long range with light bullets. I also have seen a lot of wounded elk get away when shot with large bullets at close range. There are always things you can not control. Nothing helps kill elk cleanly more than knowing your rifle and practice. Taking a bigger gun you don't know well is worse then using the lighter gun that you shoot ever day.
Just my 2 cents worth. I shoot all weights and diameters, love some more than others.
Just my 2 cents worth. I shoot all weights and diameters, love some more than others.
FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
I think a lot of this "you need a big magnum" talk is psychological. I've been there too - when i bought my first 30 cal mag (300 weatherby) it was for a colorado elk hunt 15 years ago. I didn't shoot it real great, but I felt cool telling everybody in camp what I shot. I went through the whole 300 ultra mag phase - bragging to everybody at camp about "hydrostatic shock" and then the deer I shot ran 150 yards lol. Its like the little guy who buys and owns the big jacked up truck trying to compensate for something.
When i bought those big 300 mags I was trying to compensate for a lack of experience - my dad didn't hunt and I would just tag along with whoever would let me. I thought if I had a big caliber there would be more respect at camp I guess.
Now they stay in the safe most of the time. Hunting with a lot of different people and groups has opened my eyes thats for sure. I've seen Lots of **** poor shots with big magnums that the night before were bragged about around the campfire. I have a lot more experience now and am totally comfortable rolling into camp with my 270 wsm, 25-06 or 260 Rem.
When i bought those big 300 mags I was trying to compensate for a lack of experience - my dad didn't hunt and I would just tag along with whoever would let me. I thought if I had a big caliber there would be more respect at camp I guess.
Now they stay in the safe most of the time. Hunting with a lot of different people and groups has opened my eyes thats for sure. I've seen Lots of **** poor shots with big magnums that the night before were bragged about around the campfire. I have a lot more experience now and am totally comfortable rolling into camp with my 270 wsm, 25-06 or 260 Rem.
Savage16Hunter
Active Member
I use a 6.5 CM in long range (up to 1200 yards) steel target matches. Handloaded with 140 gr HornadyELD-M bullets, my Savage 12 LRP will shoot 1/4 MOA if I do my part. It's a SUPERB cartridge for ringing steel. Also same rifle and cartridge combo has been deadly on Prairie dogs - max kill to date 750 yards. HOWEVER, I just shot my first whitetail with my Savage 16 using factory 6.5 CM 143 gr ELD-X two weeks ago at only 175 yards. Slight quartering away shot right behind the near-side shoulder, no visible entrance wound, took out lungs, and busted off side shoulder, BUT DID NOT EXIT. I could feel the shards of bullet just under skin on off-side. Although deer was DRT, I was very surprised/disappointed in terminal ballistics and results of the 6.5 CM with the ELD-X bullet. Although I love the 6.5 CM and had previously thought I would have "enough gun" for an elk hunt (so say many of the gun scribes), that thought has been shattered. Even for whitetail, I think I am going to switch to a Barnes TTSX bullet and limit shots to 400 yards. ELK Killer? Maybe - under the right circumstances. But as many here expressed, for higher confidence and with thousands of sunk costs, I think 7mm Mag would be my minimum caliber choice.
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
I think a lot of this ****ing contest has to do with defining what ranges you expect to roll elk at, I'm perfectly comfortable with a Creed to 600 ish with little questions and I'll take a shot in a variety of conditions, put another 200 yards on and the conditions narrow, another 200 yards and the window is so small it's really almost absurd and your getting into bullets tumbling and killing and your window for wind is small!! I don't have larger cals than my 6.5 or 270 WSM because I can't kill elk with them I just can't take every shot I want, there no way I'm going to be pleased to pass a shot on any elk with good conditions at 1200 yards because I'm packing something that lacks enough steam to open a bullet. For every elk we kill at long or elr ranges with a big 300 or 338 there's a half dozen between 600-800 with smaller cals. Each has it's place and conditions, just cause you don't have a need for both doesn't mean others don't!!
fariswm
Well-Known Member
For me, the purpose of the larger caliber is not to be able to shoot game at extended ranges. At my age, I think 400 yards is a long shot and if the game is 6 to 700 yards or longer downrange I am going to try to position myself for the closest shot I can take, hopefully not spooking the game animal. I think it is called hunting. The bigger calibers don't have to be magnums, but I am comfortable shooting my .338 or my 7mm Exact without flinching. I have practiced with both until I am shooting less than MOA. Bigger calibers make bigger holes and with some soup behind them don't let bone or ligaments stop them.
That's funny right there! I paid 13 times that for one of the two I bought this year, $1167 for a bull & cow.
fariswm
Well-Known Member
I just want to comment on your tag line. "Courage is just fear that has said it's prayers." It is profound. Thank you.
Here's a little food for thought:
Why has is taken so long for the .264/6.5mm to popularize in North America? With such a long, rich history of firearms development and ownership in the United States, why has it taken so long?
Why has is taken so long for the .264/6.5mm to popularize in North America? With such a long, rich history of firearms development and ownership in the United States, why has it taken so long?
6.5x300 WBY
Well-Known Member
Maybe not smart enough to realize the benefits of high BC and SD till recently compared to others
Right, because .224, .270, .30 and .338 don't have those characteristics. Try again. You'll get it eventually. The answer hits at the core of this thread.
