6mm Creedmoor first elk hunt

[Doghunter23]

Whatever 338 is going faster than 2421@ 100 yards with 225 gr bullet
And the 6CM you can't load it hot enough to run 2868@ 100 yards with 108 gr bullet.
Under any atmospheric conditions. More like muzzle velocity.
I'm sure glad your not loading my ammo.

My 338 MV is 2679 with a 200 gn speer flat base. Book minimum load from factory 24 inch barrel. Sorry if numbers hurt your feelings.

 

[d.downey24]

If you read my original post I said if I was going I would bring enough gun. Either my 7rm or my 338wm. I would also limit my range to 400 yards or less.

I just don't think you're giving the 6mm much credit.
My 338 is a poor performer because that's the only bullet and velocity charge that will produce acceptable accuracy.

If I couldn't get anymore velocity than that out of my 338 I'd sell it. Kind defeats the purpose of having a 338. Just as well have a 30-06 with them numbers. I have a 338 RPM I'm shooting 210 gr TTSX over 3000 depending on the weather sometimes closer to 3100. It's pretty much same as 338 WM.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Yea, those M/L shots were in the 40-90 yard ranges and before all the sabots, scopes, etc were allowed and before I went to heavier bullet designs. I was a true originalist when I was BP hunting in those days, and except for Pyrodex, I still do not use modern M/L equipment today.

The handguns ranged a little farther out and have been in 357 Herrett and 44 Mag (Contender and revolver)

Killed my whitetail buck this year with a 300 WM at 30 yards ! Lol. I left pistol in truck. The trip a couple days before I had my 460 S&W with me and rifle but no buck. I was going to use pistol with doe tag but shot was 200 yards. Used my 6.5 PRC. Maybe next year I'll bring 50 cal M/L with me also. Have had it for 40 plus years. Never killed anything with it. I had a TC White mountain cabine 50 cal many years ago that I got 3 shots off at a buck in Utah. Had 4th loaded and said screw it. Was using speed loaders. Buck was about 200 yards downhill. Open sights. Hitting low.

 

[d.downey24]

They are both velocity readings from my garmen. Its a 110gn A-tip running around 3030 from a 29 inch barrel in my PRS rig. I'm not even pushing it to max. About 2% below max charge.

Maybe so with a 29" barrel I don't consider that to be a hunting rig for Elk hunting. The purpose of short action cartridges is shorter and lighter. A-tip isn't a hunting bullet ether it's for Long range target bullet.

 

[7mm man]

They are both velocity readings from my garmen. Its a 110gn A-tip running around 3030 from a 29 inch barrel in my PRS rig. I'm not even pushing it to max. About 2% below max charge.

I can run 3060 fps with 115 Bergers out of a 26" MPA production series PRS rig. Maybe a hair hot, but fun none the less.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Ole Double Knuckle

 

[Jim’s Hunt]

Which rifle are you more comfortable with? If the recoil of the 7 RM is uncomfortable to you you would be better off with the creed as far as a better shot placement. With the creed I would keep my shots under 400 yards. And use a premium bullet in the 100 plus grain. My wife has shot and killed quite a few elk with a Remington 600 18" barrel 243 with 100 gr Nosler partitions out to 400 yds. My two Pennie's worth

 

[340 in Va]

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.

I would go with your first sentence. 340 is my preferred rifle, but I have used 30-06, 300 WM and 300 Wby. I have started in the 6.5 ca. in the last two years with 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 Wby RPM. I would use the RPM for elk (143 eldx at 3125) and it matches up well against 270 with 130 or140 pills. Eskimos used 22 for polar bears, but that gun got passed down a lot.

 

[WYO300RUM]

Maybe so with a 29" barrel I don't consider that to be a hunting rig for Elk hunting. The purpose of short action cartridges is shorter and lighter. A-tip isn't a hunting bullet ether it's for Long range target bullet.

I don't use ATips or ELDM's on game but I noticed a lot of people do. I can see the accuracy and BC point but I always thought target bullets had thinner jackets. Bergers do and why they are made to blow apart. I'm still confused. I member somebody saying or showing the ELDM had a thicker jacket than the ELDX. I don't know.

 

[VinceMule]

I shot cows with a 243 Win with a hot load of IMR 4350 with 100g Partitions, close range of 125 yds and less. We rode mules and elk were not scared of a man on a mule as long as there was no talking or clanking of tac. We rode right in on them at the first of season, and during the Summer months, rode among them.

First bulls I killed were with a 7x57 with hot loaded 140g Sierra flat base, they died real quick, again close range, and back then, I was a pretty good shot on running jack rabbits.

A good friend has access to ranches with depredation permits on elk. One of his many elk rifles is an A bolt with bbl cut to 19" in 300 Win mag which has killed a LOT of elk with 180g Sierra btsp with 71g of IMR 4350. The 300 Win Mag is their go-to meat elk caliber on these depredation permits with a 338/375 Weatherby being his long-range elk caliber.

My advise, place your shot or don't pull the trigger. Think ahead of how you are going to retrieve the animal in rough country.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I would go with your first sentence. 340 is my preferred rifle, but I have used 30-06, 300 WM and 300 Wby. I have started in the 6.5 ca. in the last two years with 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 Wby RPM. I would use the RPM for elk (143 eldx at 3125) and it matches up well against 270 with 130 or140 pills. Eskimos used 22 for polar bears, but that gun got passed down a lot.

I read they mostly hunt with .223's

 

[Greatgrandad]

Killed my whitetail buck this year with a 300 WM at 30 yards ! Lol. I left pistol in truck. The trip a couple days before I had my 460 S&W with me and rifle but no buck. I was going to use pistol with doe tag but shot was 200 yards. Used my 6.5 PRC. Maybe next year I'll bring 50 cal M/L with me also. Have had it for 40 plus years. Never killed anything with it. I had a TC White mountain cabine 50 cal many years ago that I got 3 shots off at a buck in Utah. Had 4th loaded and said screw it. Was using speed loaders. Buck was about 200 yards downhill. Open sights. Hitting low.

When I switched from balls to heavier Buffalo and T/C Maxi bullets, I practiced on milk jugs out to 200 yards and learned what hold overs I needed, but I never had a shot on elk nor deer at that range. About 150 has been my farthest shot.

A friend of mine used an adjustable T/C tang sight, and he could make some very long BP shots with that sight.

 

[A A Ron]

Little fast guns require patience and discipline to pass on less than perfect shots and conditions. If you have both you can be successful with little guns.

For most people elk hunting is a big time and financial commitment. I would go bigger. I have seen elk shoulders soak up bullets and have elk go for miles when hit wrong because of poor angles and conditions. My uncle believed the .338 win mag was the perfect Elk rifle for that reason. He killed hundreds of elk during his hunting life. He used raw power to overcome those bad angles and reach the vitals.

I believe a magnum 6.5 with a good bullet is bare minimum. I prefer 30 cal and as the sweet spot.

 

[Allen Kitts]

I'm betting this will go on for 15 pages at least. Time for the ignore button.

Where is the ignore button?