6mm Creedmoor first elk hunt

[Plinker147]

Outfitter friend of mine always tell his clients when asked what caliber/ cartridge they should bring on their elk hunt? He responds " the one you can shoot accurately".

I wouldn't hesitate to use a 6mm with a good bullet. I know a guy who has killed 100ish elk with a 243. Dont over think it. If you can shoot the 6 creed way better than the 7mm mag then bring it. But by the same reasoning If you shoot them the same why not use the 7mm mag!

 

[med358-boise]

A 180 gr Barnes "elk medicine" bullet is going to produce a 1.5" diameter wound channel maybe 3'ish deep. A 108 ELDM at CM velocity is going to produce a 3-4" wide wound channel approx 20" deep depending on impact velocity. At MV it's probably 5" wide and 14" deep, at 1800FPS it's probably 2" and 24" deep (from what I've seen personally, which lines up with everything I've seen from other guys that actually shoot animals with them). Lowest impact velocity I've personally killed something at was 1900ish. I got approx 22" of penetration on a mule deer hard quartering to, through the humerus and caught under hide behind the last rib.

I don't know how anyone considers that marginal for elk in any way. What wound channel dimensions do you think are needed?

I wouldn't shoot a Barnes for elk in 6mm, but I also wouldn't shoot a Barnes for elk in .300WM. guys use these "tough, controlled expansion" bonded or mono bullets out of their 7mm/.30 cal, getting narrow wound channels and slow kills, and deciding these elk are super tough. Shoot them with a bullet that comes apart like an ELDM, TMK, or ELDX, maximize your wound channel, and watch them die quickly.

How many of you who say the 6CM is too little have actually killed an elk with one using 108 ELDM or similar? Because pretty much everyone I know who has actually tried it has been incredibly impressed by what those bullets do.

I am curious as to how your defining "would channel". I don't think you are saying that a .244 inch bullet expanded and excised a 3 to 4 inch column of tissue 20 inches deep in the animal.

 

[d.downey24]

Side note, I've been in and around the taking (without a guide) of well over triple digits of elk. We've used most everything from the 22's to the 416's they all have one thing in common. If you take out the lungs things die, pure plain simple. Killing just isn't rocket science no matter how hard people try to make it.

The last 4 elk that I know taken with the 6 CM were taken by 4 fellas all using 6 CM's and I believe the 105 VLD. On the count of three 4 shots rang out and inside 3 second 4 elk were on the turf! Ranges were 510-540 yds.......

Y'all should make a TV show. Nope don't use a guide only in Alaska, Yukon , NWT and Mexico where it's a requirement for certain animals Mexico you can hunt on your own but you could get shot so I don't do it. Been hunting out West for 25 years, just because I live in Va doesn't mean I haven't spent a substantial amount of time out West and taking several Elk. Funny thing, most men make up for a small set of usually with large items like big jacked up truck straight duals coming out the back really load. These days it's how big of an animal you can kill with the smallest caliber. Billy Bob I just shot a bull Elk 600 yards with my 220 swift thats really awesome Jim Bob let's go pick him up in my big old jacked up truck. Personally I think you're full of .

 

[eric1115]

I am curious as to how big your sample size is and how your defining "would channel". I don't think you are saying that .244 inch bullet expanded and excised a 3 to 4 inch column of tissue 20 inches deep in the animals tissue.

I think I'm at 8 animals personally.

I'm not saying there's a 4" hole in the animal you can look through to the other side, but more than once we've pulled a lung out that laid on the ground you could set a soda can in the hole and it would sit on the ground, and destroyed tissue still hanging on past that to the 4" mark. Fragments coming off the bullet and cutting tissue that is stretched/under tension creates an impressive wound!

 

[d.downey24]

I think I'm at 8 animals personally.

I'm not saying there's a 4" hole in the animal you can look through to the other side, but more than once we've pulled a lung out that laid on the ground you could set a soda can in the hole and it would sit on the ground, and destroyed tissue still hanging on past that to the 4" mark. Fragments coming off the bullet and cutting tissue that is stretched/under tension creates an impressive wound!

Anyone ever watch "Best of the West" they were doing this with 7mmRM and Bergers 15 years ago. It's the same thing other than now everyone is doing it with a new bullets and new cartridge. Everything is hunky dory until you make a bad shot. I don't try to shoot mono bullets through the rib cage hold right on the shoulder DRT and it's an impressive wound. I'll post pictures in couple weeks. Another thing I watch a lot of video and I'm yet to see an animal bigger than deer size hit the dirt that was shot with a 6CM, but I watched a guy with a 7mm PRC in the same video drop the animal dead. They all shot behind the shoulder.

 

[Doghunter23]

I think I'm at 8 animals personally.

I'm not saying there's a 4" hole in the animal you can look through to the other side, but more than once we've pulled a lung out that laid on the ground you could set a soda can in the hole and it would sit on the ground, and destroyed tissue still hanging on past that to the 4" mark. Fragments coming off the bullet and cutting tissue that is stretched/under tension creates an impressive wound!

That's very impressive! I have not shot anything with the 6cm that I haven't been impressed by though. One thing is if I had to take a 500 yard shot I would have 100% confidents I would hit where I was aiming with the 6CM, depending on wind reading. I would not have enough confidence to try it myself and would go for the bigger caliber if only for the exit wound. I just about never get an exit with the 115 gn bergers or 110 ATIP. Having never shot an elk I would go with 7RM or 338 and keep within 400 yards.

 

[d.downey24]

That's very impressive! I have not shot anything with the 6cm that I haven't been impressed by though. One thing is if I had to take a 500 yard shot I would have 100% confidents I would hit where I was aiming with the 6CM, depending on wind reading. I would not have enough confidence to try it myself and would go for the bigger caliber if only for the exit wound. I just about never get an exit with the 115 gn bergers or 110 ATIP. Having never shot an elk I would go with 7RM or 338 and keep within 400 yards.

I shoot the 115 Bergers in my 243 poison on deer sized game never get an exit hole ether.

 

[Doghunter23]

Anyone ever watch "Best of the West" they were doing this with 7mmRM and Bergers 15 years ago. It's the same thing other than now everyone is doing it with a new bullets and new cartridge. Everything is hunky dory until you make a bad shot. I don't try to shoot mono bullets through the rib cage hold right on the shoulder DRT and it's an impressive wound. I'll post pictures in couple weeks. Another thing I watch a lot of video and I'm yet to see an animal hit the dirt that was shot with a 6CM, but I watched a guy with a 7mm PRC in the same video drop the animal dead. They all shot behind the shoulder.

You mean elk right? Almost every deer I have shot with the 6CM through the lungs had been DRT.

 

[eric1115]

Anyone ever watch "Best of the West" they were doing this with 7mmRM and Bergers 15 years ago. It's the same thing other than now everyone is doing it with a new bullets and new cartridge. Everything is hunky dory until you make a bad shot. I don't try to shoot mono bullets through the rib cage hold right on the shoulder DRT and it's an impressive wound. I'll post pictures in couple weeks. Another thing I watch a lot of video and I'm yet to see an animal hit the dirt that was shot with a 6CM, but I watched a guy with a 7mm PRC in the same video drop the animal dead. They all shot behind the shoulder.

I've heard it said, "if you can shoot well, it doesn't matter what cartridge you use. And if you can't shoot well, it doesn't matter what cartridge you use."

Can you describe the"bad shot" you think a 7mm mono gives an advantage over a heavy 6mm bullet, and how the mono's wound channel is more effective?

 

[d.downey24]

You mean elk right? Almost every deer I have shot with the 6CM through the lungs had been DRT.

Yes my bad I edited it.

 

[birddog 68]

I always shoot elk in the shoulder. They go down right there and their lungs are damaged. I use a 300 WM or 300 Rum. 7 Rem mag has worked for me also. Shoulder blades aren't thick. I hunt with mono's. I wouldn't do it with a Berger, etc. but wouldn't be afraid to do it with my 300 RUM/215 Berger combo at 3240 fps. I think it would penatrate before exploding . I get very little meat loss on a shoulder with a mono. Works for me.

I prefer the shoulder shot also.
I definitely wouldn't try that with a 6 cm but I'm sure someone on this thread will say it's no problem.

 

[Ron 6mm]

It sounds to me like you have a perfect excuse to buy a new gun!

 

[d.downey24]

I've heard it said, "if you can shoot well, it doesn't matter what cartridge you use. And if you can't shoot well, it doesn't matter what cartridge you use."

Can you describe the"bad shot" you think a 7mm mono gives an advantage over a heavy 6mm bullet, and how the mono's wound channel is more effective?

A bad shot is when you hit bone with that tiny bullet and not rib cage. I was a big Berger fan until my wife made a bad shot @ 300ish with 270 WSM 140 Berger VLD she hit the Elk right in the knuckle it passed through the knuckle and stop without penetrating the rib cage. Had to chance the Elk for 2 hours finally killing it. It was awful she ended up shooting a rear leg off while it was running and it didn't end there, he kept going on two legs front back on opposite sides. I don't use anything but LRX and Accubonds anymore both open up quickly. I mean if you shot him in the guts or *** more than likely the chase is on. Still rather be using a bullet that's going to drive on through. Maybe you're that good of a marksman and you never have to experience a bad shot I hope not. But maybe it might just happen with that bull of a lifetime that would be .

 

[eric1115]

I prefer the shoulder shot also.
I definitely wouldn't try that with a 6 cm but I'm sure someone on this thread will say it's no problem.

Genuinely curious, what evidence leads you to say you would not? Is it based on seeing it not work?

There's guys reliably punching through moose shoulders (blades and knuckles) with 77, 80, and 88 grain .223 and .22CM's.

What evidence would it take to convince you that a good 6mm bullet is an effective elk killer?