Am I messing up?

[myhuntingjournal]

I live in Montana and have been a 30-06 and 280 hunter for a while. I'm building a new rifle based off what I've learned, and I'm planning it to be an 18 inch 25 creed. At my density altitude it seems that a 134 eldm should stay above 2k fps close to 650 yards. Based on what I've heard and read from rokslide and s2h this seems adequate.

I still can't help but feel like I'll be hesitant when I see a bull elk at 350 with such a noticeably smaller cartridge than what I'm used to. I'm sure after a few dead critters I'll build up the confidence, but I'm looking for more input to settle my mind on it.

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[Jake Larsen]

The only thing I’d do is go smaller . I’m in the same state. 6 Creed is killing elk, bears, deer, and any other 4 legged critter that around here. All about bullet selection. A 16.5” with the right bullets are at 1800 fps well over 600 yards. Go read the 6mm Heavy Sierra TMK thread. Those 116s are absolutely lethal. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to use those for a bison or moose even. For that matter, read up on the .223 thread. 77 TMKs have been used to effectively kill just about anything that moves.


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[myhuntingjournal]

The only thing I’d do is go smaller . I’m in the same state. 6 Creed is killing elk, bears, deer, and any other 4 legged critter that around here. All about bullet selection. A 16.5” with the right bullets are at 1800 fps well over 600 yards. Go read the 6mm Heavy Sierra TMK thread. Those 116s are absolutely lethal. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to use those for a bison or moose even. For that matter, read up on the .223 thread. 77 TMKs have been used to effectively kill just about anything that moves.


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I've read the 223 thread a lot. That was the genesis for my 25 creed build, and decision to move away from the 30-06 family

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[Jake Larsen]

I've read the 223 thread a lot. That was the genesis for my 25 creed build, and decision to move away from the 30-06 family

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.25 creed is a good choice too, but has some disadvantages IMO. Way fewer good bullets and off the shelf ammo selection. The heavy for caliber 6mms are getting close to the same weight as the .25, and with significantly better ballistics. Also, you can go to a 16.5” barrel and still easily have a 600 yard gun with a bunch of different bullets/loads.

Sierra Heavy TMK 6MM Testing
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...-Testing.431797/&share_type=t&link_source=app


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[longrangelead]

You'll be more than ok. i want to try the 25/134 in the near future just to do it.

seeing the 116 TMK performance, I'm probably going to be shooting 243/116's and 6x45/107's this year.

I'm planning on killing a spring bear with the 6x45 this year.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

@Jake Larsen nailed it here. You should be worried about feeling hesitant either we all feel that way anytime we venture toward anything new and abandoned something we’ve been familiar with.

As long as you’re a hand loader the 25 creed will serve you well. If you’re factory loads only I’d consider the 6 or 6.5. While there are not as many .25 bullet options there are some really good ones. I like Berger EH 133s and find it to be the most consistent but am really looking forward to the new TMK as well. I fully understand and acknowledge the Bergers may have more narrow wound channels but am okay with that if I do drift out of that pocket and touch a shoulder. I don’t see the same devastation I see with TMKs. The TMKs are kinda mind blowing what they are capable of.

 

[myhuntingjournal]

I think I'm sticking with the 25 because the 134 eldm is a solid looking chimney and I'm itching to try them. Also the new sierra coming out have piqued my interest.

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[wmr89]

There is nothing wrong about being hesitant with the smaller cartridges. All it means is that you care about being an ethical hunter. Even if what you are reading makes logical sense, there is nothing wrong with verifying it on your own before committing fully.

I took my first big game animal with a .223 this year. A pronghorn doe at 200 yards. I plan on working my way up and seeing how it does on mule deer and then a cow elk before I jump to bull elk. I understand and believe it intellectually, but I have a ways to go before I start flinging .223 at a bull elk.

Living in Montana, you could work your way through a number of smaller species fairly quickly and that will give you confidence in your set up and what it does.