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6mm Creedmoor first elk hunt

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I saw a cow elk get hit by a 3/4 ton truck last week… it did not immediately kill said cow, and she struggled off into the adjacent wood lot.

Pretty sure a 6000lb truck going 35mph has a lot more "energy" than any shoulder-fired rifle you'd hunt elk with.
If you would have used a different means of KE transfer you could have cut that elk in half and had it dead at the point of impact. To much frontal on that 3/4 ton truck. Wait I know, more velocity for that large frontal area would have cause more expansion and killed that elk quicker with the added velocity creating more KE. I like the way you think 🤣 🤣
 
A few guys need to get on the phone with the guys at Hornady or Berger and ask them how much "energy transfer" their bullets transfer and how that translates to wound channels and how much "energy transfer" it takes to kill various game. I'll stand by for their answers. Really interested in what they tell you. Make sure to take notes and share with the class.
 
A few guys need to get on the phone with the guys at Hornady or Berger and ask them how much "energy transfer" their bullets transfer and how that translates to wound channels and how much "energy transfer" it takes to kill various game. I'll stand by for their answers. Really interested in what they tell you. Make sure to take notes and share with the class.
Just ask them for the Energy Transfer Coefficient.
 
Here are a few examples!


80 grain .224 ELDM for deer - 24HOURCAMPFIRE

Dec 6, 2024Haven't tried the 80, but have killed several animals with the 75 gr ELDM at 22-250 speeds. I WAS NOT impressed and don't use them anymore, I found very erratic performance on the 15 or so animals I used them on, to include WT, hogs of various sizes, and pronghorn.


I've taken two bulls with 147 ELDM's, one just under 400 yards the other past 800.
The 400 yard shot was very explosive but it just made it to the lungs for a good kill, the entrance wound was the size of a huge grapefruit.
The longer shot was right behind the shoulder and it also didn't penetrate deeply.
One piece of the fragmented bullet clipped a lung, I had to hunt him down for a follow up shot.
They're super accurate but I don't recommend them for big game after my experiences


We found the 147 ELDM , from the PRC to work very well past 500 yards on antelope. But he 2 deer we shot under 400 did die quickly, but the bullet placed broadside in the crease was so explosive it ruptured the diaphragm on both, blew open the stomach, and soaked the tenderloins and hams in orange acid stomach fluids. So I am not a fan after having to clean my meat with a baking soda solution. This was from a 5 groove 8 twist tube.

I fear than with so many 4 groove 7 and 7.5 twist barrels out there now, there are going to be some wrecks from the fast twist, high velocity, deep jacket inscription (3 and 4 groove) and super thin jacket of the ELD M along with the tip to start expansion. This could be the perfect storm

about the two elk shot at the same time, both equally a little far back. The 30 cal heavy elk never went anywhere, the 6.5 elk was stalked for a long ways to get a finishing shot in.

To be clear, I am not saying the 147 ELD M didn't kill. They did and they did it quickly with totally destroyed vitals, both with perfectly placed shots. But when I do my part to place a shot perfect, and I get the mess on the meat of a gut shot, I choose to move on.

For longer pokes they were great, for closer shots, they didn't steal my heart


from what I experienced shooting a big buck with 123 eldm at 3k fps at 325 yards, I would say it was similar to what broz experienced with his two deer at close range and a fast shooting ELDM. it definitely kills them stone dead, but you are also likely to cause a mess, and that bothers some people more than others. It's just something to weight into your bullet decision


I have seen quick kills with them at 525 from a PRC and 700 from a CM. The thing that has made me leave the bullet for now has been blow ups from my PRC. It is only an 8 twist

Saw this on a fb page. 6.5 prc and 147 ELD M. 30 yards. Shooter thinks it is awesome. I disagree. This is the entrance showing it was fully expanded on the hide. Be careful friends. I am going to predict some train wrecks with ELD M's and high velocity impacts


This was just a brief search, most being larger calibers than the 6mm.

Many of these folks experienced "blow ups" at longer ranges when heavy muscle or bone was encountered…..a high velocity impact hitting bone/heavy muscle will only exacerbate the "blow-up" possibilities. Also, the majority of the stuff that I saw was from deer/antelope shots…..not elk. The size of the elk alone can require more from a bullet.

As I mentioned before……a bullet placed behind the shoulder, into the lungs will do the job. Anything beyond the aforementioned shot placement can have unwanted consequences.

These unwanted consequences may not be important for someone living in elk country, having the opportunity to hunt them every year. But, is this caliber/bullet good advice for someone that may only have one chance to hunt an elk?

So, not only do I recommend a bullet better designed for a less than perfect shot……but, also a larger diameter bullet! memtb
I appreciate you posting this, though I must admit I struggled a bit to piece together the grouping of the comments... what goes together, what is copy/paste from other discussions, and which were your comments on the pasted discussions.

Most of the ELDM, ELDX, TMK "failure" stories I read (including a portion of the ones you included) amount to "killed the crap out of him, but I didn't like the way the bullet looked after I dug it out of the chunky soup." or something similar.

My experience has been that those bullets offer more "forgiveness" on less than ideal shot placement or presentation, adequate penetration with very wide path of tissue damage beats a mile of penetration an inch and a half wide every time for me.
 
I appreciate you posting this, though I must admit I struggled a bit to piece together the grouping of the comments... what goes together, what is copy/paste from other discussions, and which were your comments on the pasted discussions.

Most of the ELDM, ELDX, TMK "failure" stories I read (including a portion of the ones you included) amount to "killed the crap out of him, but I didn't like the way the bullet looked after I dug it out of the chunky soup." or something similar.

My experience has been that those bullets offer more "forgiveness" on less than ideal shot placement or presentation, adequate penetration with very wide path of tissue damage beats a mile of penetration an inch and a half wide every time for me.

It was from several/numerous independent conversations. And yes, the majority were from a dead animal. Those were posted in an attempt to show that some folks had issues with their performance on game……not that they wouldn't or couldn't kill.

Adequate penetration with a large wound channel yes. However, a large wound channel is ineffective…….if that large wound channel does not reach/include/ destroy the vitals. Much the same as a long, narrow wound channel that does not penetrate through the vitals! memtb
 
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The 270 has more velocity and energy than a 6.5 creedmoor. A 6.5 PRC is more in the 270 category.
The 6.5 PRC is IN, the .270 WSM, Power and Killing Range, "Category",. IMO ( 140's going, 3,100+ FPS and, .270 WSM drives 140's, 3,175+ FPS ) with, the 6.5 Bullet being, a Higher, BC that, Add's about, another, 100 Yds to it's, "Killing Range" ( We Have Both, in My Family ) Both ARE, Great "Killers" of, Big Game like, Elk / Moose at, Reasonable Ranges with Bullet CHOICE and Shot Placement,.. being Huge, Factors !
I'd want to Be SURE to, stay OFF the Shoulders with,.. a 6 Creed / .243 Win.,.. yup,.. NO, thanks !!!
 
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I am curious what point are you trying to make regarding the comparison video? Both shots were broadside, both were good shots, both killed the Elk in one shot. Completely different bullet construction, same outcome, dead Elk, in this shot opportunity. I didn't see a fudd with an ultra-magnum that couldn't shoot in these videos, maybe I missed something?

@257Tony did a great job finding those vids. It would be really interesting to see if he could use his search skills to find a similar comparison where the shot is steeply quartering to and steeply quartering away in order to get a full picture in this terminal bullet comparison.
Not only did I find those videos, I recorded them. Pretty much all the video clips I post are my own.
 
Here's a good example of 2 different types of bullet construction, fired from the same cartridge, at similar distances, both double lung hits. You be the Judge.


7 Rem Mag, 150 TSX, 520 yards.




7 Rem Mag, 162 ELD-X, 600 yards.


Obviously a very small sample but the point is made, day in and day out critters hit with the hard bullet will have a longer "TOF" (time on feet---techy redneck term) than the critters hit with a lighter constructed bullet.

One of the reasons I used the 150 NBT so much in my 7 Mashburn Super was that it had a good BC (plenty for me), it held together well and yet it put the critters on the turf in a quick manner!

Side note, the shooter in the first video sure had a tough time getting back on target to hit it again.
 
OK, I have no dog in the fight, I've hunted a lot of my game over the years with the .257 Wby Mag and the .375 H&H and never really had any problems with either... with that said; I thought this was interesting... not the end all just interesting. I have my own feelings and ideas on the subject matter here, but, I'll keep them to myself for now. The only thing not mentioned as the "Specter" of killing power is "Dark Energy" but I'm sure someone would think of it down the road. 🤔 😂

Enjoy. Cheers.

 
Interesting test on RS with 108 ELDM.

Posts 1497 and 1498

 
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