6.5CM or 300WM for Once In A Lifetime Hunt?

[Tim8654]

I have been invited to hunt whitetail deer and hogs on a Central Texas ranch, the kind of place that you can shoot as far as you are comfortable and the kind of place I really can't afford but given the chance I'm taking it.

I have two rifles that I've shot paper and steel out to 1000 yards with match ammo and am planning on using the new Hornady ELD-X - which I have not shot yet - in whichever I rifle I decide to take. Problem is that I realistically only have time to take one of these rifles to the range to confirm data out to 1000 yards between now and the hunt this fall.

The rifles are:
6.5 Creedmoor with a Surgeon action built by Short Action Customs with a 3.5-15X50 Nightforce F1. This is very accurate and I have more time behind it. I currently shoot factory Hornady 140 grain AMAX, would hunt with the 143 grain ELD-X.

300WM with a Remington 700 action built by GA Precision with a 5.5-22x50 Nightforce. I currently shoot 190 grain SMK, would hunt with the 200 grain ELD-X. This is accurate but not as much as the 6.5 but would provide more energy on the animals.

Which would you take and why?

 

[Barrelnut]

Depends on the ranges you would expect to shoot. Inside 500? Possibly the Creedmoor. 1000 yards? Then the 300WM for sure. Also depends on terrain and if you need the extra power from the 300WM to give a better chance of dropping them where they stand or running off into formidable territory. Hogzilla? Take to 300WM.

 

[MudRunner2005]

300 WinMag...Better for hogs, and also works just fine on whitetail deer.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I would say take whichever one you feel the most comfortable shooting. The Creed is very capable of dispatching hogs and whitetail out to 600-800 yards with the 300 quite capable well past 1000 yards.

 

[T.Rep]

The 6.5 will do just fine in central TX. Body size of the deer is pretty much a non issue. That being said I hunt almost exclusively with a 300wm. I say whatever you're most comfortable shooting and what you have the most confidence in. Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Hard to beat .30 cal holes in game

 

[Rick Richard]

Bring both and have fun with both.

 

[BWB]

Which can you shoot the best groups with?? Your answer to that is my answer

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

I'm sure in the back of your mind, you know for a fact that your more comfortable with one rifle over the other. Plan on using that one. But you might want to take both in case you have a problem. I always plan on things going wrong. And that's simply because with me, they usually do. Some of my better hunting trips have included, break downs, lost and forgotten gear, equipment failures, illness, injuries, ER visits, having to consult with medical specialist, and even a few grumpy people. Because of those experiences, I put a lot of preparation into hunts. On a hunt like that, it's nice to be plenty prepared. Taking both rifles and only using one, is much better than asking your buddy to use his.

 

[Tim8654]

Thanks for all the responses. Taking both rifles isn't really an option as I don't have time to spend at the range with both rifles and new ammo and I want to have solid data before leaving. I'm also flying so taking two rifle cases is a bit much, no brainer if I was driving as I'd throw them both in the truck and get new data for the 300WM and use the 6.5 with the current AMAXs as a backup.

I am most comfortable with the 6.5CM but that isn't to say I'm uncomfortable with the 300WM, just that I have many more rounds through the 6.5. I feel comfortable taking a longer cold bore shot with the 6.5 at a target the size of vitals but am just concerned about running out of gas if a longer shot presented itself. Again, I'll take an ethical shot and will put in the range time beforehand.

That is the decision, work on a new load with a smaller caliber that I'm good with now and would expect to maintain the same level of accuracy or work on a new load with a larger caliber that has been a little less accurate and that I have less time with in order to have better terminal performance.

I guess it comes down to, at what range does the 6.5CM shooting 143 grain ELD-X stop being a good choice? And do I see myself shooting beyond that distance?

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Thanks for all the responses. Taking both rifles isn't really an option as I don't have time to spend at the range with both rifles and new ammo and I want to have solid data before leaving. I'm also flying so taking two rifle cases is a bit much, no brainer if I was driving as I'd throw them both in the truck and get new data for the 300WM and use the 6.5 with the current AMAXs as a backup.

I am most comfortable with the 6.5CM but that isn't to say I'm uncomfortable with the 300WM, just that I have many more rounds through the 6.5. I feel comfortable taking a longer cold bore shot with the 6.5 at a target the size of vitals but am just concerned about running out of gas if a longer shot presented itself. Again, I'll take an ethical shot and will put in the range time beforehand.

That is the decision, work on a new load with a smaller caliber that I'm good with now and would expect to maintain the same level of accuracy or work on a new load with a larger caliber that has been a little less accurate and that I have less time with in order to have better terminal performance.

I guess it comes down to, at what range does the 6.5CM shooting 143 grain ELD-X stop being a good choice? And do I see myself shooting beyond that distance?

Assuming your using factory ammo, based off hornadys numbers your still holding over 800ftlbs at 800 yards which is still in the recommended bracket for whitetail. With that being said, if your more comfortable putting that bullet where it needs to go with the 6.5 than the 300 then id take the 6.5. They wont tell the difference between a well placed shot from either round. Dead is dead no matter how you look at it.

 

[Barrelnut]

That's a good choice. Just don't shoot try to shoot further than the rifle's capability on the game in the scope and all should be fun.

I shoot a Creedmoor and a couple big 30 cals too. So know where you are coming from.

You owe us some kill pics when you get back!

Good luck.

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

Neither one is a bad choice but both have trade offs. I think I'd want the 300WM just for the larger diameter and greater KE on the back end. For a once in a life time hunt, I wouldn't want to feel under gunned or take a shot and Wish I had used a larger gun.

 

[matt_3479]

As most hunts would go, you practice and practice for that 600-800-1000 yard shot all season and shots are normally within 300 yards. Texas deer are body wise, on the smaller side and the 6.5 creed wouldn't have any issues out to 600-700 yards! You seem to have more confidence in the 6.5 and that's the route I'd go if I was in your shoes. This is also coming from a 30 cal fan!