Sorry, re-reading my first post it sounds like I'm telling YOU about choices and ethics...What I should be clearer on is that I think you should guide this relatively new elk slayer down the correct path.Ohh, and I would build reloads for him. I have plenty of experience there.
The thing to keep in mind here is that this is a rifle being specifically built for an elk hunt. First sentence in the original post. You build something to meet the intended purpose as efficiently as possible. If I'm building a rifle for the specific purpose of hitting a milk jug at a mile, I'm not starting with a muzzleloader. If I'm building an elk rifle, I'm not starting with a 6.5 or 270 for that matter. It's not a matter of "can" a light caliber rifle do it...How many elk you guys think have been killed with a 270 130 grain bullet. Not much difference energy wise in a 270 with a 130 and a creedmoor with a 140. Both will get you around 1500ftlb's at 300 yards with the 6.5 having better sectional density there for penetrating better. Nobody says anything if somebody is elk hunting with a 270 but god forbid they bust out a creedmoor.
Guess I'll chime in. I hunt tons with my 6.5x284 and I can tell you from experience that shots have to be perfect; very little margin for error. However my 338 edge has a substantially larger margin of error simply due to terminal energy; might have something to do with that 300gr slug!How many elk you guys think have been killed with a 270 130 grain bullet. Not much difference energy wise in a 270 with a 130 and a creedmoor with a 140. Both will get you around 1500ftlb's at 300 yards with the 6.5 having better sectional density there for penetrating better. Nobody says anything if somebody is elk hunting with a 270 but god forbid they bust out a creedmoor.
I am a huge fan of the 6.5. Own several in different flavors from the Creed to the 6.5-300. That said, friends don't let friends shoot elk with a 6.5. The exception may be if that's the only rifle someone owns and you make due with what you have. Been said several times already but to ensure the horse is dead - 6.5 as a dedicated elk cartridge is the wrong tool for the job.
Money in my pocket and had to pick a rifle for this setup (leaving funds for decent glass) the Browning X-Bolt, Model 70 Win or Tika T3X would be decided by a 3 sided coin toss. Plenty of good options out there depending on what the priorities are (brand loyalty, design, looks, feel, modability down the road, etc.).
If recoil sensitive, I would push my friend to look at the 308. Short action, light recoil (especially with a brake), every bit as accurate as the 6.5 at hunting ranges and the 30 cal smack is a lot better on elk than the 6.5. The results of a 180 trophy bonded tip from a 308 on a mature bull was exceptional. Another beauty of the 308 is there are no lack of options in quality hunting ammo to meet every need. *end sales pitch*
My wife agrees with you!lolYa but you own a corvette so your judgement is terrible to begin with so disregard this guy. Lol