This all started with the question 6.5 CM for moose, so it has everything to do with cartridge choice. It has everything to do with hurt feelings.
Since the time of firearms there has been two very real things , number one always looking for something better. Better ignition , better accuracy ( rifling ) better and bigger stopping power. The mountain men needed it, the plains rifle was developed for stopping power for bigger dangerous game.
Number 2 we all make do with what we have ! This is also true from the beginning of time, I have this rifle ..... can I make do? Do I need all that power , does my rifle have enough power ?
Look shoot whatever you want , no one really cares ! If someone on here ask a question we give him or her our opinion! I know as most of us do you can kill big animals with small guns. Slaughter houses used a 22 , Bell killed elephants with the 7x57 and 6.5 he liked the 7mm better for penetration . We all know and have heard all the arguments!
Fact is bigger faster bullets deliver more hydrostatic producing energy. Yes it comes at a price , more money more powder more recoil! I keep reading that for ever we didn't have the 338's and there were a lot of moose killed but the same can be said that ten years ago we didn't have the 6.5 Creedmoor !
Truth is yes you can kill a moose with the 6.5 CM , yes accuracy is the most important thing ( good shot placement is a must) and yes moose are killed around the world with the 6.5 . Many are killed quickly many are not. Bigger truth is there are many much better choices out there than the 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting moose so why would you limit yourself unless you have no other alternative ? Also let's get rid of this poor shooting with big rounds nonsense, practice with reduced loads or a rifle that is similar in a lesser caliber! Recoil is never felt in the field and there are so many things that help with recoil these days ( recoil reducers , breaks etc ) that I can't believe it's still a topic of discussion. Yes dead is dead but what happens in the time between trigger pull and dead is very relevant ! I'm sure big bear hunters and and big 5 hunters would disagree.