Whats the feedback on the 6.5 for elk?
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Whats the feedback on the 6.5 for elk?
Shoots slightly flatter than .308 but with less impact energy at longer distances than .308.
If you are shooting within 500yds you won’t see much difference between the two. Shooting out further than that and you need to start paying attention to your ballistics charts on your chosen 6.5 round to make sure it is going to be carrying the energy needed to take down an elk.
I've read on several forums where guys have used the 6.5 CM successfully on elk and I'm sure it would work, after all, I shot quite a few with my .270 many years ago and it worked just fine as well. BUT these days I prefer a little more power so I carry my .300 WM. The darn things can soak up some lead and make tracks and cover some distance after being hit. Unlike a moose that'll just stand there and take it.
Thanks for the replies, I shoot a 300 magnum as well but had a friend that is new to rifle hunting and I thought it might be a good caliber for new/younger hunters now that you can get a good selection of factory ammo and lower recoil.
I think it would be great for this use. New hunters shouldn't be taking longer shots IMO. They should focus on learning how to get to closer to the animals and take the right shot. Given the correct shot placement and distance, the 6.5 would be fine. The other plus is that the magnum cartridges tend to have a lot more noise, especially when you have a brake, so using a non magnum can help with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowtie
6.8 is fine for elk, just look at the ballistics info and stay within it's limits. Any shot under 500yds will be perfectly fine. The round can probably out perform the guy behind the trigger.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowtie
A heavier caliber isn't any better if the shooter develops a heavy flinch and can't make a clean shot.
Backcountry Hunting Podcast from June 29 has an interview with Outdoor Life writer Tyler Freel who took an Alaskan grizzly with a 6.5 creedmore.
He did it over bait, so it was more shooting than hunting but if it can take a big bear, it should work for an elk, although I'm not sure about long shots.
Everyone here already knows I'm a big 7mm-08 fan... soooo, forget the 6.5cm and get a 7-08. It's marginally better in every way that matters ;)
honestly, the 6.5cm will be fine, just don't let the new guy fall for the 1000m hype. If you want to shoot that far, get a long action cartridge.
There is a lot of information in here that really isn't accurate. I run a lab radar + atmosphere readings and put everything into applied ballistics.
As far as 6.5 vs 308: (eldx hunting bullets 178/143 loads for 308 and 6.5CM - obviously data changes with bullet and load; the BC for this bullet is about as good as it gets for 308) ....but this gives you accurate info as to what the trend is between both cartridges.
At the muzzle: 6.5 2314 lbs of energy / 308 2470 lbs of energy
At 500 yards 6.5 1538 lbs of energy drop 2.6mil / 308 1531 lbs of energy drop 3.3 mil
at 1000 yards 6.5 942 lbs of energy drop 7.7 mil / 308 908.1 lbs of energy drop 9.6 mil
308 goes subsonic at 1640 yards with 491 lbs of energy drop 22.2 mil (at 1640 yards 6.5CM has 494 lbs of energy and 17.3mil drop)
6.5CM goes subsonic at 1870 yards with 394 lbs of energy drop 23.2mil
Wind drift is another animal all together. The high BC bullet wins this every time. I've shot 308 at 1000; it sucks if there is any kind of wind. However, at 600 and less, 308 works fine.
I've shot thousands of 308, and I definitely prefer 6.5CM for the following reasons. It has a far less recoil energy, and it is easier to follow my shot on target; It is much easier to load with multiple strings on a ladder load producing desired results along with multiple factory loads producing desired results, It has less drop, and less wind drift making long shots much easier to call and dial my firing solution. I'm in the process of phasing out the 308 cartridge as I run through all my stock of ammunition and components for it.
7mm-08 was mentioned too; no doubt it is a great hunting cartridge. The issue with this cartridge is that it wasn't really designed for the heavier bullets especially in a gas gun with SR25 magazines which is a requirement for me....high 160s-170s are needed to match the BC of the bullets that 6.5CM uses. It's a great cartridge, much better than the 308, but it is still an old design before bullet aerodynamics and case design changed things, which may or may not matter for your goals.
So to answer the original poster's question; Ethical Elk is 1400-1600lbs depending on who you talk to; keep your distance under your ethical kill goal for lbs of energy on target. If 6.5CM meets your distance ceiling for your desired energy on target, then it it is a good fit for you; there are several good bullets available from Berger, Nosler, and Hornady. If it doesn't, then you will need to look at other options. The best way to determine this is to actually look at a ballistics chart with your desired projectile to determine actual numbers not what other people think. Edit: forgot to note that the Elk ceiling for 6.5CM is in the 400-550 yard range depending on bullet and load used.
MED, it sounds like you have shot a lot of 6.5.
I heard an old guy at the range say he burned out a 6.5 barrel in 800 rounds. This seems like a very low number and what little research I have done tends to agree.
I just heard it in passing and didn't ask any questions.
How many rounds through a 6.5 before the barrel starts to wear out?
Unfortunately, I can't give you any first hand knowledge regarding 6.5CM barrel life. I did all the load development with my chassis rifle and Aero M5 and was just starting to have fun with them before the pandemic, but didn't have a chance to build up my ammunition supply before the pandemic wiped everything out; I only have about 600 through each. I spent most of that time shooting 308 and 223 because I have piles of that. The stated round count is out of bounds of anything I've read; 6.5 Sherman Shorts and 264 Win Magnums don't burn out a barrel that fast and they are the most abusive 6.5 cartridges on barrels. If it is in fact a true statement, then I would want to know the barrel type, ammunition used, and the strings being put through it. 6.5CM is hardly a speed demon of a cartridge with typical speeds in the 2700-2800 range with 140gr bullets; higher velocities can be achieved into the 3000s with the lighter low BC 6.5 bullets, but I don't understand the point of doing that. A lot of guys are using the land jump for short seated 140-150gr bullets and packing the case with RL26 to make creed mags with near magnum velocities; that will abuse the barrel. 6.5CM barrels are not going to last as long as a 308 but they aren't going to destroy them like 22-250s either. Any barrel can be burnt out quickly if abused; I burnt out a 308 target contour barrel prematurely because I was really hard on it. From everything I've read, I'm expecting 2500 rounds before changing barrels on my 6.5CM give or take a few hundred rounds. I'll know more in a couple years as I take them to the range more hopefully coupled with a move to the western slope in the spring and many days spent at Cameo.Quote:
Originally Posted by eddiememphis
Thank you for this thread. Great Information.
I have been hunting Elk with a 300WM (Savage 111) but have limited my shot distance to 200yrds. I have developed bad habits anticipating the recoil on the 300 at the range and my shot grouping is horrible and I am constantly sending off flyers. With my 6.5cm (Savage 110), I am constant with 3" grouping at 300yrds. I have taken several deer with the 6.5 (using ELDX 147gr ammo), but was always reluctant to use it for Elk. I didn't feel I could ethically take and Elk with the 6.5. I was going to buy a 308 at end of season and MED's breakdown of the BCs of 308 v 6.5cm has me rethinking.