I use a 6.5 CM in long range (up to 1200 yards) steel target matches. Handloaded with 140 gr HornadyELD-M bullets, my Savage 12 LRP will shoot 1/4 MOA if I do my part. It's a SUPERB cartridge for ringing steel. Also same rifle and cartridge combo has been deadly on Prairie dogs - max kill to date 750 yards. HOWEVER, I just shot my first whitetail with my Savage 16 using factory 6.5 CM 143 gr ELD-X two weeks ago at only 175 yards. Slight quartering away shot right behind the near-side shoulder, no visible entrance wound, took out lungs, and busted off side shoulder, BUT DID NOT EXIT. I could feel the shards of bullet just under skin on off-side. Although deer was DRT, I was very surprised/disappointed in terminal ballistics and results of the 6.5 CM with the ELD-X bullet. Although I love the 6.5 CM and had previously thought I would have "enough gun" for an elk hunt (so say many of the gun scribes), that thought has been shattered. Even for whitetail, I think I am going to switch to a Barnes TTSX bullet and limit shots to 400 yards. ELK Killer? Maybe - under the right circumstances. But as many here expressed, for higher confidence and with thousands of sunk costs, I think 7mm Mag would be my minimum caliber choice.