Many options here but most of the time it boils down to shot placement and your ability to make it under given field conditions. Wounded animals ruin your trip.Get as close to game as possible. 338 Win Mag for me for a one gun do everything and good to have in Griz country. You are not so no worries there. The one gun do everything idea is not a bad one. You REALLY get good with one gun and practice and if you can load your own. I have a few, but concentrate one the one gun plan for big game hunting. Works well for me with no brake
Need some guidance..
- Thread starter Swatman05
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I definitely want to get into reloading when I can. I definitely want to find the best load possible for whichever gun I end up with.
James Bailey
Well-Known Member
Then I'd get another 340 Weatherby. The 6.5 Creedmoor won't do anything as well as the 340. Just because someone has done something and gotten my with it doesn't mean that it was the best thing do. You could kill one with a 22lr...but I wouldn't try it. Good luck!
mogfan
Member
I've killed a cow elk with a 6.5 x 284 with a 129gr Interbond. One shot did the job at 328 yards. Have also killed numerous deer with the 6.5 Creedmore. I love the 6.5 for antelope, deer and am not afraid to use it on elk. That said, if long range elk hunting was my primary use, I would use my 7mm STW or build a 280AI.
If you're not reloading, I might consider the 270 or 300 Wby Magnum.
T.Ranger
Member
I have had the good luck to shoot many bull elk as well as a few cows. some were very close while others were up to 400 yards. When hit well they all fell and stayed down. For the longer range shots I used a 7mm rem, mag with 162 gr Nosler bullets. The rest were shot with 270 win. 338 win mag, 300 H&H, 280 rem. the total was 28 bulls and 6 cows. I never lost an elk. Get a gun that fits you well, avoid a gun that needs a muzzle brake if possible. learn to shoot it like you would a 22cal. When under a 100 yards I try to place a shot about 10 inches down from the elks ear. One big bull so hit ran forty yards hit with a 270 and a bullet that didn't open as fast as it should have. Its not really the gun its getting to be a sharp shooter with whatever gun you have. Hope this helps. Good luck from Canada.
Actually, if a person is going to buy a new rifle and ammo, the Creedmoor can be found in more offerings, better twist rate, and cheaper and more available factory ammo. Hard to beat that combo!
Harvey Durham
Well-Known Member
Simply put, a 6.5 creedmoor is to small for elk!! No exceptions, reading on down where someone was told their friend told them they killed an elk with one at 1,550 yards!! A creedmoor bearly has enough energy at 1,550 to kill a rabbit if they could hit it!! Anyone that would even shoot at anything at that range with a Creedmoor doesn't need to even be allowed to be hunting!!! I don't believe it at all. My advice is find someone local and find an ethical hunter and mentor!! I own and love my 6.5 creedmoor and WILL NOT even take a shot at a deer with it passed 500 yards. I have a 1,038 yard and a 1,508 yard target that I should when I'm preparing for a hunt and have made sub world record groups with witnesses and pictures to back it up. Whoever that person is that's making that claim is an idiot!!
There's other threads on this. You can certainly take elk with a creed but I think you need to keep in mind it doesn't hold magical killing powers over all ranges, conditions and game. I've shot an elk with a 260 w/ a 130TSX @ 125 paces and Scandinavians have taken moose with a 6.5 Swede for decades. But I believe the guidance is reasonable ranges, good shot presentation (double lung), and a worthy bullet (for me, it's 130 gr + controlled expansion). One must always consider one's shooting capabilities with the bullets limitations and use discretion on when to pull the trigger.
Harvey Durham
Well-Known Member
Absolutely!!! I did some calculations and it looks like that shot would have around 1,195" of drop and the energy was at about 95 pounds!! That shot wasn't made!!
i can't stop on this one, the scope would have to have 293 minutes of movement!!! It didn't happen!!
IndianaMatt
Well-Known Member
Regarding the 6.5 Creedmore... I believe it is an excellent cartridge. I believe it has its purpose. I do not believe it is a big game cartridge. Just my opinion.
whitetail regulator
Well-Known Member
From one Oklahoman to another....I would so choose 300 wm for elk over 6.5 anything...there are some fine accurate 6.5 rifles out there, and shure it can harvest elk with the right shot Placement...but I can't rember feeling the recoil from any rifle I shot when harvesting an animal...200 gr Hornady eldx in 300 wm is flat out hammering 200 lbs plus deer in northwestern Oklahoma at extended ranges in most cases drt performance. Granted this is not an elk...but the performance has been so good on deer that it is my go to load.
