6mm Creedmoor first elk hunt

Elk hunts are as variable as the calibers discussed. Have been on a few, taken some. If it is a long lonely walk or the elk are close and you are very composed the 6mm stuff is fine. Keep ramping that number up as conditions and composure change. Hunt on!!!

WahooYahoo said:

Funny how some folks label the 6.5 Creedmoor as a woefully inadequate chambering even with the best bullet, yet know that the .270 has piled up a mountain of elk too high to climb - same bullet, same velocity, 0.013" larger diameter... mountains of dead elk.
For the record, the .243 has piled up a mountain of dead elk too, although a fella in good shape could probably climb that one.
If you mention Creedmoor, there is a reserve squad of posters that leap into action, typing the same tired quips, proving that they know little and talk a lot.

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The 270 has more velocity and energy than a 6.5 creedmoor. A 6.5 PRC is more in the 270 category.

Of course that's true, solid bullets don't create much damage regardless of caliber, unless you're talking about Hammers or something similar that will shed their nose petals. The opposite is also true. The "small calibers for big game" crowd are using frangible bullets that will upset and create secondary wound channels that yield more tissue damage and blood loss. A 6mm or 6.5mm frangible style cup and core bullet will create more tissue damage than a mono from a 30 cal at the same shot placement and impact velocity, yet no one will argue that a 30 cal isn't sufficient. It's a much more nuanced conversation than "bigger is better." And no, energy doesn't kill.

Bullmark said:

This may be off topic a little but it's relevant to the original post…..,
At age 54, I'm a lifelong hunter of whitetails….mostly with a bow, but I rifle and muzzleloader hunt too. My knowledge of long range shooting/hunting is getting better but is marginal. I am an addict of nice rifles and optics and have managed to own a few.
Am I wrong in thinking that a projectile, just name one, traveling at the same velocity, will produce the same result regardless of caliber???
Obviously U can't shoot 200gr pills from a 6mm…..but something like a 130-140 gr Hammer Hunter can be loaded for a wide range of calibers. Does it really matter the specific caliber, if the ballistics are very similar??
As for the original issue of hunting Elk with a 6CM, the Hunter has to know that his range will shrink considerably. If he/she is disciplined enough to stay within the bullet's effective range and more importantly, their own effective range, I see no problem.
If it were me, I would not want to risk it. Choose something a bit more suitable, but make sure u practice with it and don't take a shot that u haven't practiced.
Good luck though.

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Like stated above - energy also is not enough. You need energy plus momentum. I read an article in a magazine a long time ago about the 45-70. This author was on a few trips and his guides were carrying the then new Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. When asked why they weren't carrying a 300 mag or similar the response was that a Grizzly ain't dangerous at 300 yds.
It wasn't long after that I was watching a hunting show where a hunter shot a nice brown bear. Right after he shot it a sow with cubs appeared and when the sow saw the hunters she came at an all out charge. The camera man was filming the whole thing and the guise did all he could to stop the sow and had to shoot her at very close range (feet not yards). One Shot with the 45-70 put her nose in the dirt DRT.

17remhunter said:

Ive hunted all my life with a 243 my Dad bought me when i was 16. Shot a lot of Black Tail, Black bears and Antelope but never an Elk. My Rem 700 is gone but now i have a 6mm Creedmoor. TS Customs. 1x7.5. I've mostly loaded 90 gr Scirocco ll and dont see a reason to change. I will be going on my first Elk hunt this year. I guess i could borrow my brother in laws 7mm Rem Mag but im so use to and confident in the 6 mm. Your thoughts

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I have friends, mostly women but some men, who have for decades killed elk every year with a 243W. Choose the right bullet, which it seems you have, and at reasonable distances, place your shots in the boiler room. I would avoid shoulders though.

Doghunter23 said:

I have never hunted elk. I agree with what everyone here has said about bring enough gun! I certainly would. But if you hold any stock in energy being an indicator of killing power please explain how my current load in my 6 mmCM holds 2200FPS and 1500ft pounds to 550 yards at my elevation while my 338 win mag drops below 1500ft pounds at 450 yards?
I would limit my range to the distance I drop below 1500FTLBS. According to this method I have an extra 100 yards of range with the 6mm then the 338!

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338 ballistic

17remhunter said:

Ive hunted all my life with a 243 my Dad bought me when i was 16. Shot a lot of Black Tail, Black bears and Antelope but never an Elk. My Rem 700 is gone but now i have a 6mm Creedmoor. TS Customs. 1x7.5. I've mostly loaded 90 gr Scirocco ll and dont see a reason to change. I will be going on my first Elk hunt this year. I guess i could borrow my brother in laws 7mm Rem Mag but im so use to and confident in the 6 mm. Your thoughts

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While I am one of those people who teaches to use enough gun, the question is, "What is enough?" Common thinking these days is use a mag on Elk, but what was used when there was no such thing as a magnum rifle. How many Elk fell to a black powder .30 or .50 not to mention the trusty 30-30 and a bow and arrow? You should do fine with the 6mm although I would limit my shots to probably 150 yards or less and get a bit more powerful scope since you are going to have to be precise where you place your bullet. Remember the adage of some very wise people. "Only hits count!" and "One shot, one kill!"

2BrownDogs said:

Of course that's true, solid bullets don't create much damage regardless of caliber, unless you're talking about Hammers or something similar that will shed their nose petals. The opposite is also true. The "small calibers for big game" crowd are using frangible bullets that will upset and create secondary wound channels that yield more tissue damage and blood loss. A 6mm or 6.5mm frangible style cup and core bullet will create more tissue damage than a mono from a 30 cal at the same shot placement and impact velocity, yet no one will argue that a 30 cal isn't sufficient. It's a much more nuanced conversation than "bigger is better." And no, energy doesn't kill.

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You make no sense, you don't think I can shoot frangible bullets in my 300 win mag ?
They don't make them ?
Sure they do, but know why most smart big game hunters don't use them?
Because you don't always hit were your intending to hit like that big *** shoulder bone. I shot Bergers with success in a 270 WSM until I hit that big *** shoulder bone and 1 1/2 miles 2 hours later I finally got another shot. That's why now it's a Barnes LRX or Nosler Accubond hunting big animals. I shot them right through that big *** shoulder bone, I want to hit that shoulder bone. You know why he can't run with not running gear.

d.downey24 said:

338 ballistic

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.338 inches	Zero Range	100 yards
Bullet Weight	210 grains	Sight Height	1.50 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.482	Muzzle Velocity	3000 fps
Temperature	59 F	Wind Speed	0.00 mph
Altitude	0 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (inches)	Windage (inches)	TOF (s)
100​	2799​	3654​	-0.00​	0.00​	0.10​
200​	2607​	3170​	-2.95​	0.00​	0.21​
300​	2423​	2739​	-11.02​	0.00​	0.33​
400​	2247​	2356​	-25.03​	0.00​	0.46​
500​	2079​	2016​	-45.93​	0.00​	0.60​
600​	1918​	1716​	-74.91​	0.00​	0.75​
700​	1765​	1453​	-113.36​	0.00​	0.91​
800​	1622​	1227​	-162.98​	0.00​	1.09​
900​	1489​	1034​	-225.85​	0.00​	1.28​
1000​	1368​	873​	-304.42​	0.00​	1.49​

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Recheck your chart above. The 338 with the 210 gr bullet (I shoot a 210 gr Nosler Partition) holds 1500 ft lbs beyond 600 yards. Just sayin????

I don't get it. You're spending Monet and time on a great animal. Why use a marginal caliber. I've shot 9 elk and have used 30 caliber rifles. If you wound animal and cant recover it, you will not be happy. I hear and lot of DRT but it doesn't always happen . I would use a 7mm or 30 cal. But each to is own. Good luck

There's a near limitless supply of examples of elk effectively killed with Creedmoors and below. They aren't made out of bulletproof plates. Just hide, meat, and bone.

If you're not worried about a piece of cow hide leather stopping your bullet, you'll have no problem making it through the hide on the on-side.

The ribs that you have to punch a bullet through are as wide as your finger and a fraction of the thickness. Even the shoulder blade, which would be a high, flubbed shot on your part, is as thick as a few credit cards stacked together and FAR more porous and brittle.

Once you make it through that, you're in the chest cavity, which is the only thing that matters and where absolutely nothing is going to stop your bullet until it reaches the hide on the opposite side of the animal.

I bet every 6mm bullet you can find will meet/exceed the FBI ballistics standard of 18" of penetration, which is wider than the biggest bull elk in the mountains.

I would wager that borrowing a heavy-recoiling magnum that you aren't familiar with and practiced shooting is the worst choice you could make when deciding on a rifle for an upcoming hunt.

Hope that helps!

Teri Anne said:

Recheck your chart above. The 338 with the 210 gr bullet (I shoot a 210 gr Nosler Partition) holds 1500 ft lbs beyond 600 yards. Just sayin????

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I just did a quickie, just to prove he doesn't know what he's talking about. Anyone with a brain should know a 6 mm doesn't have the energy of a 338 win mag. Hunters like him is the reason you see animals wounded and laying around rotted up.

I'm betting this will go on for 15 pages at least. Time for the ignore button.

Some need to take it down a notch! This has brought out the keyboard ninjas for sure!