Originally Posted by
MudRunner2005 
I'm talking about the people who say you can't kill elk efficiently at long range with anything less than a RUM or Lapua....
.300 WSM is not a howitzer, I was simply commenting...I wasn't talking any of the calibers mentioned in here.
I agree that most folks tend to think they need to be overgunned for elk and I would rather guide a shooter with a mid size cartridge capable of 1.5 MOA in the field than one with a t-Rex killer hoping to hit the barn door cause they are flinching so much from the muzzle blast of the M8B6 super fat boy 11* ported muzzle diffuser.......... no offense meant by reference to the WSM and a howitzer...........
What exactly is "overgunned"? And what exactly is overgunned on a 900 lb bull elk @ 1000 yds or more? Can you define that for me please?
Ya know fellas, this is Long Range Hunting. The members here who take up that sport shoot rifles that are capable of shooting 1/2 MOA or better and sub MOA at extended ranges and they are capable of accurately shooting at those ranges and the vast majority of them use muzzle brakes for a number of reasons. It is their individual responsibility to know the limitations of their rifle and their own self. Speculating on the ability to hit a barn door really isn't appropriate here.
I have a good friend who is 4 for 4 on bull elk with a 243 which is the only rifle he owns. He knows how to use it and it works for him and I don't tell him what to use or not use and how far he can use it. That said, if someone ASKS me what to use for elk, I would never tell them to go buy a 243, or a 6.5 Creemoor. If they ask me, "can I kill an elk with a 243 or a 6.5 Creedmoor?", I would say yes, it's possible, but not the best choice, especially depending on the range since we talk Long Range here. The fact that they're asking me tells me they have little to no experience elk hunting.
This fall, my long range arsenal will include a 6x284, 6.5 WSM and 300 RUM. I will use the RUM for elk and the other 2 for deer and antelope. If my RUM were to become unusable for some reason, I would use my 6.5 WSM for elk and I would probably use the new 160 Matrix bullet. My range limit would probably be about where it reaches 2000 fps in velocity and I would pass on front quartering shots and only take a shot that I could take out both lungs. A one lunged elk can run a loooong way.
Also, there's been a lot of talk about shooting cows. There is a big difference between a 400-500 lb cow and a 6 yr old large bodied 900 lb bull. I've shot both.
To the OP, no offense intended, but IMO this thread is better suited for a site like 24 hr Campfire as i don't associate the 6.5 Creedmoor with Long Range Elk Hunting. That said, my recommendation would be to use your WSM or Lapua for elk hunting at any range and use the Creedmoor for deer. If you do use your Creedmoor for elk, use a heavy good performing bullet (like the 160 Matrix) within it's effective range. Good luck with your hunt.
Lastly, I have never hunted large coastal brown bears and I would never presume to go to an Alaskan Hunting forum and recommend what to use for hunting coastal brown bears. I'll let the experienced bear hunters do that. I would recommend the same to those who have not hunted and killed elk.
