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My daughter goes elk hunting with me. Her husband got her a rifle in 6.5 Creedmore. Will it handle elk? I know it will work on deer. Thoughts and loads.
I find it interesting that many gun writers that 20-30 years ago would have turned their noses up at using anything like the 6.5 Creedmore on elk are now all Lady Gaga over it. I distinctly recall people’s serious doubts about the .260 Remington on elk and the ethics of using it 20 years ago.
I've never noticed any recoil when I've shot at game no matter what gun I'm using.
Interesting. 6.5x55 has been doing it for a long time.I have never hunted elk. I would tend to want to err on the side of overkill but your question interested me and I found this info online.
I googled “killing elk with a 140 grain bullet”
https://www.google.com/search?q=killing elk with a 140 grain bullet
I find it interesting that many gun writers that 20-30 years ago would have turned their noses up at using anything like the 6.5 Creedmore on elk are now all Lady Gaga over it. I distinctly recall people’s serious doubts about the .260 Remington on elk and the ethics of using it 20 years ago.
Interesting reading here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=.260 remington on elk
And here: https://www.chuckhawks.com/case_capacity_matters.html
I posted this as info only out of curiosity regarding your question. Me, personally, I would probably go with something with a bit more power on elk. But, that’s just me and having never shot an elk definitely doesn’t make me an expert.
Given a proper bullet, yes, with aplomb.
She needs a 338 Ultra Mag, at the very least!!!!!!!!1!1!1! At least that's what the internet says...
Seriously though, pick a good bullet, learn the rifle and she should be fine.
Exactly! Real hunters enjoy recoil induced nose bleeds.
Well, I didn't want to sound like a complete sissy. lolNot to mention detached retinas and rotator cuff damage.
I do like the 6.5 CM, it is great cartridge but a great Elk cartridge it is not IMHO. Others will say it's enough with the right bullet placed in the right spot, but then; so is a 223 with the same criteria.. It doesn't make it a good choice. My little brother shot a cow elk with a 243 a number of years ago. Placement was good center mass chest cavity shot, we weren't able to find it till the next morning, already eaten partially by either wolves or coyotes. It was a total loss meat wise, and we found it quite a distance away. Did it kill it? Yeah. Would I recomend it? Heck no. The Point is I error on the side of caution. I would rather go on the large side than pushing the limit of how small I can go. I dropped this guy at 509 yards with my 338 win mag 4 weeks ago.
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I recovered from the recoil quick enough to see his legs go in the air through my rifle scope. He dropped right there. Would that have happened if I was using my 6.5 CM? I dont know. I suspect not.