6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[cornstalker]

@Taudisio, that's a Great bear! Congrats! If he was that fat in early spring, could you imagine what he looked like last September/October?

 

[MHWASH]

I'm reading a lot of posts where animals are shot several times, part of this is because the shooter is able to stay on target, I understand this. When it comes to shooting bears, all I really care about hunting these days, They don't seem to stand around after being shot. Leading me to wonder, is the 6mm still a viable option? For reference I think my 6.5 CM and I've used the 260 Rem a bunch before I had the CM, is about perfect for my hunting needs.

 

[atmat]

I'm reading a lot of posts where animals are shot several times, part of this is because the shooter is able to stay on target, I understand this. When it comes to shooting bears, all I really care about hunting these days, They don't seem to stand around after being shot. Leading me to wonder, is the 6mm still a viable option? For reference I think my 6.5 CM and I've used the 260 Rem a bunch before I had the CM, is about perfect for my hunting needs.

People are in here killing grizz with a 223 FMJ. You’ll be fine.

 

[Ajsomp]

I'm reading a lot of posts where animals are shot several times, part of this is because the shooter is able to stay on target, I understand this. When it comes to shooting bears, all I really care about hunting these days, They don't seem to stand around after being shot. Leading me to wonder, is the 6mm still a viable option? For reference I think my 6.5 CM and I've used the 260 Rem a bunch before I had the CM, is about perfect for my hunting needs.

If you have a 6.5 and it works, unless you really want a 6mm - just shoot the 6.5. Both work, 223 works. While there is saving of recoil - it’s not as significant as coming from a magnum.

But they are a blast to shoot. And if you’re considering stepping down, 22 creedmoor is another option, especially if you only want to hunt bear.

 

[MHWASH]

If you have a 6.5 and it works, unless you really want a 6mm - just shoot the 6.5. Both work, 223 works. While there is saving of recoil - it’s not as significant as coming from a magnum.

But they are a blast to shoot. And if you’re considering stepping down, 22 creedmoor is another option, especially if you only want to hunt bear.

I have a 22-250AI that I packed last week in Idaho, but my stupid home state of Washington requires a minimum of 6mm. Plus my 22-250AI weights nearly 10#.

 

[Thegman]

I'm reading a lot of posts where animals are shot several times, part of this is because the shooter is able to stay on target, I understand this. When it comes to shooting bears, all I really care about hunting these days, They don't seem to stand around after being shot. Leading me to wonder, is the 6mm still a viable option? For reference I think my 6.5 CM and I've used the 260 Rem a bunch before I had the CM, is about perfect for my hunting needs.

You're 100% correct in that bears absolutely do not stand around after being shot, but as long as the bullet is placed through their lungs/heart, they're no more difficult to kill than a deer. Miss the heart/lungs though, all bets are off.


A 6mm will work great, just like @Taudisio s just did, but unless you want to change rifles for some reason, your 6.5s are probably as close to perfect as anything else.

 

[ianpadron]

I'm reading a lot of posts where animals are shot several times, part of this is because the shooter is able to stay on target, I understand this. When it comes to shooting bears, all I really care about hunting these days, They don't seem to stand around after being shot. Leading me to wonder, is the 6mm still a viable option? For reference I think my 6.5 CM and I've used the 260 Rem a bunch before I had the CM, is about perfect for my hunting needs.

The most damage I've ever seen on a bear was courtesy of a 143 ELDX at 300 yards. The bear still ran almost 200 yards full speed into the timber with a softball sized hole coming out his chest.

If you want a DRT bear you need to aim high shoulder and get some spine

 

[Norcal18]

The most damage I've ever seen on a bear was courtesy of a 143 ELDX at 300 yards. The bear still ran almost 200 yards full speed into the timber with a softball sized hole coming out his chest.

If you want a DRT bear you need to aim high shoulder and get some spine

Just curious was that with a CM or PRC?

 

[ianpadron]

Just curious was that with a CM or PRC?

CM

 

[Thegman]

The most damage I've ever seen on a bear was courtesy of a 143 ELDX at 300 yards. The bear still ran almost 200 yards full speed into the timber with a softball sized hole coming out his chest.

If you want a DRT bear you need to aim high shoulder and get some spine

Bears are gonna be bears...

I'd still take the lung/heart shot and some tracking as opposed to a CNS shot (have done both). Mostly because if you happen to miss the spine, and don't take out heart/lungs, you may not ever see that bear again (done that too...).

 

[ianpadron]

Bears are gonna be bears...

I'd still take the lung/heart shot and some tracking as opposed to a CNS shot (have done both). Mostly because if you happen to miss the spine, and don't take out heart/lungs, you may not ever see that bear again (done that too...).

Totally. In my experience they've certainly been the most unpredictable when hit, some will act like coyotes and spin around in one place like they got stung by a bee, some of em run like a race horse, some fold like a lawn chair...

I just hate losing sight of them into the timber, so I like them dead on the spot when possible.

 

[MHWASH]

We’ve had several bang flops with the ELDx & M with the 270, 7-08 and CM. None were CNS.