6mm Creedmoor first elk hunt

[7mm man]

I think elk hunting cartridges could start at the 6.5 PRC, 6.5 SAUM, maybe 6.5/284, but I would consider their range limited still on a quartering shot. As huntinfool18 said maybe it should start at 270 cal. Longer ranges, say past 400 yards, I would start at a 6.8 Western, maybe 270 WSM if you are using a bonded or monometal. I like the 6.8 better as it brings larger grain bullets to the table (if you compare the two as they were designed, I am sure some people have fast twist 270 WSM's out there). The good ol' 7RM will stop him in his tracks though. Put a 160 Accubond or Partition moving at 3000fps from the muzzle through his shoulder he will crumble, even at extended ranges.

 

[grouse]

Some would argue 6mm is more than adequate

6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

With the success of .223 and 6.5 threads on big game, thought I’d throw this one into the mix. Show and detail your results harvesting big game (deer, bear, elk, moose, African game) using 6mm/.243 cartridges. Please detail bullet, MV, impact velocity, and whether hand load or factory ammo.

rokslide.com

 

[Ckleeves]

These threads are always good. It's funny how they normally revolve around caliber and headstamp rather than bullet construction. I can honestly say I would take a 6mm of some variety (velocity determining max range) with the correct bullet then a hard mono out of whatever magnum "elk rifle" that causes little trauma at lower impact velocity's.

In this day and age you can look find a lot of gel test that will tell you a lot more factual information then random people on the internet who have never actually shot elk with the cartridge and bullet your asking about. Lots of speculation, not a lot of facts.

 

[drabdrew]

Hornady has done such an amazing job convincing us that anything "Creedmoore" is an appropriate 800 yard Elk round.

Borrow the 7mag. The Elk deserves your respect.

Nah that was flat brim guys from Utah that started the 800 yard creedmoor for elk. The 6 will hit harder than the 6.5. It's a better round that runs circles around the 6.5 it's just tainted with the creedmoor name

 

[Ol' Red]

Do yourself a favor and borrow the 7mm. Practice with and get familiar before the hunt. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[257Tony]

Shot placement is key...... but to compare a 7 mag. to a 6mm on a 1000 # animal is foolish..... I would definitely stay with more horsepower...... accuracy wise being comparable......
OMHO....let the flames roll....

1000 lb Elk are about as rare as a smart Democrat.

OP, Take the 6mm, either of the bullets you talked about will work fine. Shoot em behind the shoulder, avoid the *** area.

 

[WahooYahoo]

Any critter, denied the ability to draw breath dies. A 6mm hole from a well constructed bullet through both lungs is far more deadly than a poorly placed hole of any kind. Know your (and your bullets) limits and put that bullet where it can deny the critter the ability to draw breath. Please post pics.

 

[A-Tip]

Use the 6mm with a 108 ELD-M. Form would be proud.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I hate recoil and love my smaller guns just as much as the next guy but have some respect for the animals your hunting. It really hits a nerve with me seeing all these people using creeds to hunt elk and moose. Yeah it can do it when hit in the right spot but it's still not a quick humane kill like a larger caliber. I hate to say it but I hope game and fish start putting a minimum caliber restriction of 270 for elk and larger game. I've shot close to 30 elk and a 6mm/6.5 don't belong on an elk hunt.

How many have you shot with a 6 or 6.5? I'm not recommending those, but how do you say they won't work and say that you have no experience with them in the same sentence?

 

[ridgewalker]

Having harvested 17 elk of which the majority were meat cows, I fail to understand why people want to use small calibers to hunt them.
One nice 5x5 I took, I lost all of one front quarter due to what appeared to be a small calibers hitting the bone causing the entire quarter to be ruined. It didn't really seem to cause the elk an issue, but when quartering it out, I found the entire quarter ruined.
Another time a bud killed an injured calf that was shot by a smaller caliber cartridge.
A perfect shot using the right construction bullet from almost any caliber "should" work, but why run the risk? It is tough enough just trying to find an elk and getting a good shot off. Why waste your time and money hunting with a cartridge that has a higher risk of potential failure?
Rant over!
Best of luck what ever you decide to use! Just please be ethical.

 

[d.downey24]

I hate recoil and love my smaller guns just as much as the next guy but have some respect for the animals your hunting. It really hits a nerve with me seeing all these people using creeds to hunt elk and moose. Yeah it can do it when hit in the right spot but it's still not a quick humane kill like a larger caliber. I hate to say it but I hope game and fish start putting a minimum caliber restriction of 270 for elk and larger game. I've shot close to 30 elk and a 6mm/6.5 don't belong on an elk hunt.

You are so correct, but you have all these YouTubers pushing this nonsense. hydrostatic shock they clam from a smaller bullet, somehow people believe it. Good example EXO Gear's Steve is pushing his 6mm creedmoor for moose of all things .
But watch there caribou hunt videos 3 parts and you will see the difference between 6 mm and 7 mm results, 7mm slammed the caribou DRT. End Of Story!!

 

[huntinfool18]

I've shot them with a 243 ackley clear up to a 338 rum. I have plenty of experience. I didn't say they won't work. I'm saying they aren't the best choice and have some respect for the critter.

 

[Stonyman88]

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

Shot placement is the key, just not in the shoulder, in the boiler room, if they can't breath they don't go far, or if the Hydraulic lines are broken they can't go either. Good luck

 

[2BrownDogs]

You are so correct, but you have all these YouTubers pushing this nonsense. hydrostatic shock they clam from a smaller bullet, somehow people believe it. Good example EXO Gear's Steve is pushing his 6mm creedmoor for moose of all things .
But watch there caribou hunt videos 3 parts and you will see the difference between 6 mm and 7 mm results, 7mm slammed the caribou DRT. End Of Story!!

But that's not the end of the story. A "DRT" comes from compromising the CNS, not from the caliber of the bullet. A spinal or head shot from a 22 will kill an animal DRT, where a heart and lung shot from a 50 cal can lead to it running some distance. Knockdown power from centerfire hunting rifles doesn't exist in any practical sense. The difference between a 7mm and a 6mm is .041" which is less than the thickness of a penny, do you really think it matters that much? The conversation should start and end with bullet construction, shot placement, and impact velocity.