Clem Bronkoski
Well-Known Member
Holy cow I can't believe I've had my 6.5CM for 6 years already but I was doing a search of my old posts and that's what it showed. Anyway, my local range only has a max range of 300 yards. Not really enough to stretch the CM's legs but enough to play around with. I wanted to hunt with it but had no where to shoot any distance around me close. That all changed this year. Last summer the coal company came in and clear cut several hundred acres for the timber and I found a perfect vantage point where I could glass and shoot out to 400 yards. From above you could look down into the thick new growth so I decided that the 6.5 is going to get the nod so this past Saturday was the opening of deer season. I had already taken a buck and a doe in archery season but I had 3 more doe tags left. The temp was a brisk 19* with about a 10mph wind. About 7:45 two deer crested the ridge and were slowing working their way toward me. Wind was blowing right to left. the lead doe turned broadside at 250 yds so I cranked up the elevation 3.25 MOA settled the crosshairs about 4" into the wind and touched off the shot. I watched her do a mule kick and run about 40 yds doing a flip and a couple kicks and she was done. I grabbed the binos and started looking for the 2nd one and found her right on the crest of the hill where they came up. Ranged her at 305 and the wind was right in line with us blowing in my face. Set the turret at 4.75 and set the crosshairs dead on to hit the opposite leg as she was quartering away slightly. At the shot I saw her flip sideways then disappear over the side.
After marking the spots I drove my ATV around the mountain and up the trail close to them. It took about 15 mins to find #1 so I hung a piece of flagging on a branch and went to look for #2. It took me about an hour to find her as she made it all the way to the bottom of the hill because I had hit her just a bit too far back but no matter. I dressed them both out and loaded them onto the ATV cart (I had confidence I'd get one but never 2).
I know there are much better chamberings out there but my little 6.5 is all I need and it was all I could find in LH. If I could I'd love to get a LH 7mm PRC.
After marking the spots I drove my ATV around the mountain and up the trail close to them. It took about 15 mins to find #1 so I hung a piece of flagging on a branch and went to look for #2. It took me about an hour to find her as she made it all the way to the bottom of the hill because I had hit her just a bit too far back but no matter. I dressed them both out and loaded them onto the ATV cart (I had confidence I'd get one but never 2).
I know there are much better chamberings out there but my little 6.5 is all I need and it was all I could find in LH. If I could I'd love to get a LH 7mm PRC.
