6.5 Creedmoor for moose

[Rich Coyle]

We flew two hours north of Fairbanks at 212 mph and landed on Colene River to hunt moose. All you need to move a dead one is for your hunting partner to be Mr. Oregon. I don't know if it was easy, but he moved it around to where he wanted it. I guess it was a big one. The antlers are over five feet across.

 

[Jluck]

How are the big .338's "best" when numerous smaller case magnums and even non magnums kill them just as dead?
All you're gaining with bigger is a greater margin of error for bad shots.

So better odds in a less than perfect situation? Sounds smart. Sayin the same thing over and over doesn't make it right or correct. Are you saying the 6.5 CM is a BETTER choice than say a 338 Lapua for moose? You might make only perfect shots all the time but the rest of us might not...

 

[WildRose]

Its not just dead, but how fast to dead. Want to skin a moose in knee deep water? How about in a thicket so thick you can barely get to him? Guys promoting h little guns really dont consider this. Anyone here think they can break both front shoulders on a moose or move it to a place where they can butcher it? There is a reason folks are telling you to use a big gun.

A double lung or heart shot from either does the job. Nobody runs far with blown lungs full of blood or a hole through their heart.

 

[WildRose]

So better odds in a less than perfect situation? Sounds smart. Sayin the same thing over and over doesn't make it right or correct. Are you saying the 6.5 CM is a BETTER choice than say a 338 Lapua for moose? You might make only perfect shots all the time but the rest of us might not...

No, if I were saying it was a "better choice" I'd have stated so plainly.

For some folks it might be particularly those who have an issue with recoil and muzzle blast.

It wouldn't be "better" for me because I don't suffer those issues and have a large assortment of bigger and more powerful rounds to choose from.

No one answer fits everyone or every situation.

 

[Hoss50]

Is the 6.5 Creedmoor an adequate round for moose hunting in Alaska ?

If you are going to do it look into a heavily constructed bullet.

Lapua makes the Nautalus and mega that are heavy bullets. Swift A-frame, nosler Partition, Barnes, etc.

 

[LongBomber]

How are the big .338's "best" when numerous smaller case magnums and even non magnums kill them just as dead?

All you're gaining with bigger is a greater margin of error for bad shots.

I didnt say best, I said better than a 6.5cm for a yukon moose.

There are many ways besides the "margin of error". A 6.5 doesn't provide a very wide wound channel for very deep, which is fine for an animal that is only a foot wide (whitetail deer) but when you need to get that wound channel width deeper into the body the 6.5's just are not going to do it as well.
Most would be surprised how far a moose with a hole in two lungs can go, especially if you only damage a small portion of them. Double lunging a 200 pound deer is different than a 1400 pound moose. They may not have the will to live that a bugled in elk has, but I have seen a couple absorb a bunch of lead without giving up.

 

[WildRose]

I didnt say best, I said better than a 6.5cm for a yukon moose.

There are many ways besides the "margin of error". A 6.5 doesn't provide a very wide wound channel for very deep, which is fine for an animal that is only a foot wide (whitetail deer) but when you need to get that wound channel width deeper into the body the 6.5's just are not going to do it as well.
Most would be surprised how far a moose with a hole in two lungs can go, especially if you only damage a small portion of them. Double lunging a 200 pound deer is different than a 1400 pound moose. They may not have the will to live that a bugled in elk has, but I have seen a couple absorb a bunch of lead without giving up.

And people have been feeding moose to their families since the 1894 with the 6.5 Swede.

The whole question here is "is it adequate for moose". It is, particularly if you have physical limitations or it's your only gun.

 

[Matt Moser]

CM will work for anything, just ask Hornady. Moose, griz, cape buff......

Don't forget Samsquanchs , it takes them too.

 

[LRMonkey]

If you are going to do it look into a heavily constructed bullet.

Lapua makes the Nautalus and mega that are heavy bullets. Swift A-frame, nosler Partition, Barnes, etc.

Some hunters say the Lapua Naturalis is the only right bullet. Supposedly it is a very good bullet, but the bc sucks, it is a flying object.
Norma Oryx and heavy Woodleighs are also good for 6.5 at shorter distances.

 

[nvschütze]

I suppose a 6.5mm bullet will drop a big one if you should hit the animal in the ear canal and stir-fry his brains...

 

[Swamplord]

I suppose a 6.5mm bullet will drop a big one if you should hit the animal in the ear canal and stir-fry his brains...

take a look here

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3055174867933702&id=249861298465087

 

[Jerry M]

Let's go one step further. The 6.5 is more than capable of killing a Cape Buffalo at 1,000 yards as long as you wait for it to turn broadside and then put that little bullet through both lungs.

So sure the 6.5 CAN do the job but why would you choose the 6.5 to hunt Moose?

I would use a bigger caliber so that if that once in a lifetime shot presents itself before it disappears into the bush and it's quartering away shot, wouldn't you want a big 338 A-Frame, TSX, or Nosler Partition in your gun? I would.

But hey, if you have your heart set on the 6.5 I would say GO FOR IT, but just accept the fact that you might have to pass on a less than ideal shot.

My 2 cents anyway

I can't tell if you are being serious, inflection on the internet and all that. But:
Per Gunworks at 1,000 yards a 140 gr A-Max 6.5 creedmoore bullet is moving at 1,554 fps, (one of the better BC available). Most others are going slower. https://www.gunwerks.com/blog/long-range-pursuit-2/post/the-6-5-creedmoor-9

Per Balistics 101 website a 140 grain Federal Vital-shock .357 Magnum bullet is going 1,400 fps. http://www.ballistics101.com/357_magnum.php

So you're advocating shooting a cape buffalo with a cartridge just over a .357 Magnum?

Beside the fact that cape buffalo have 2 inch wide 3/4 inch thick ribs and thick bodied. I doubt that with those ballistics you could completely penetrate one lung let alone both of them.

I just do not understand your statement.

 

[Ingwe]

I can't tell if you are being serious, inflection on the internet and all that. But:
Per Gunworks at 1,000 yards a 140 gr A-Max 6.5 creedmoore bullet is moving at 1,554 fps, (one of the better BC available). Most others are going slower. https://www.gunwerks.com/blog/long-range-pursuit-2/post/the-6-5-creedmoor-9

Per Balistics 101 website a 140 grain Federal Vital-shock .357 Magnum bullet is going 1,400 fps. http://www.ballistics101.com/357_magnum.php

So you're advocating shooting a cape buffalo with a cartridge just over a .357 Magnum?

Beside the fact that cape buffalo have 2 inch wide 3/4 inch thick ribs and thick bodied. I doubt that with those ballistics you could completely penetrate one lung let alone both of them.

I just do not understand your statement.

Jerry, NO my fiend I am definitely not advocating using a 6.5 for Cape Buffalo!

My point was that while a 6.5 can kill a CB with a perfect broadside shot thought the ribs, you would have to be crazy to choose one to hunt CB with. A 22lr in the ear will kill one too but you wouldn't choose it either as a CB caliber

Make sense?

 

[FEENIX]

A 20-pager for sure!