Alright, let’s cut through the crap here. Some of you are acting like it’s totally reasonable to lob a 6 ARC or 223 at an elk at 600 yards and call it “ethical.” That’s ridiculous. That’s not “confidence,” that’s ego and ignorance.
1. Let’s talk impact energy.
At 600 yards you’re running on fumes. You’re way under what’s widely considered the minimum for elk-sized game. And don’t start with the “energy doesn’t kill” garbage — if your bullet doesn’t have the horsepower to actually penetrate and wreck vitals, it’s a wounding shot waiting to happen. Period.
2. “Perfect shot placement” at 600 yards? Give me a break.
You’re not shooting a calm, broadside silhouette target on a bench. You’ve got wind, angle, light, heartbeat, breathing, animal movement, and a cartridge that’s already struggling. That margin of error is microscopic. But hey, I guess as long as you’ve got your internet warrior confidence, it’ll all work out, right?
3. This is about ethics — not your pride.
If you’re okay with the very real possibility of punching a hole in an elk that doesn’t kill it clean and you can’t recover it, then just say that. At least be honest about what you’re willing to risk to make your “look what I did with my lightweight rifle” shot.
A wounded elk wandering off to die slow or get eaten alive by coyotes isn’t a “success.” It’s failure. Full stop.
4. Don’t act like this is new information.
There are piles of threads, stories, and real hunts showing exactly what happens when guys push these little cartridges past their limits: wounded elk, lost elk, and long tracking jobs. People can pretend that doesn’t exist, but the evidence is there all over the place.
5. If you’re serious about being ethical — pick a tool that gives you margin, not a prayer.
There are plenty of light recoiling rifles that carry real killing power at distance. If you want to shoot elk past 400, run something with actual authority. If you insist on stretching a 6 ARC or 223 to 600 on elk, just call it what it is: selfish, sloppy, and irresponsible.
Bottom line:
If you can’t show consistent, real-world elk kills at 500–600 yards with this cartridge — not theory, not charts — then stop pretending this is a reasonable, ethical move. It’s not.
on!
