Lighter recoiling elk rifle

BCD

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mtnbound

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N. Idaho
Thanks for the help guys. One question: why the 6cm over the 6.5 cm? They seem similar, u just have the possibility of using heavier bullets with the 6.5. Thanks again guys

With the increased velocity of the 6CM it has better terminal performance than the 6.5CM and with its lighter recoil it easier to shoot.
 
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slamdmini

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May 28, 2018
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Thank you for the help guys. I'm getting my wife a 6.5 creedmore. Maybe I'll let my dad shoot it and see what he thinks.
 

A-Brakke

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May 21, 2022
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My dad is looking to get a new rifle for elk. He's in his seventies now and would like a rifle/cartridge that is lighter recoiling but still good on elk. To give a bit of context he can shoot a .270 fine but a 30-06 is too much. He's looking for a couple things:
-Lighter on recoil
-Not too heavy so he can still carry it in the mountains
-threaded so he can use a suppressor.
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks guys

My father is mid 60’s, and my
Nephew is 11. They are both in the same boat. We punch our tags on Elk, Deer, and Antelope out here in Montana every year on public land.

That said, the last two years all animals have been taken with a 6.5cm and hand loaded 143g ELDX.

Those included 3 Elk, 4 bucks, 2 does, and 2 antelope bucks. All were single shot kills with next to no tracking jobs.

Most important factor is going to be knowing your capabilities and a good bullet. Personally we don’t shoot game over 400yds so the 6.5cm is a perfect do i
143g ELDX, 127g LRX, or 140g Partition….all will kill everything except your fathers shoulder.
 

CMF

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May 8, 2019
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Mississippi
My father just did the same thing, after having both shoulders rebuilt his 300 mag wast too much to take,
If he still likes the 300wm, Barnes makes a 130grn reduced recoil round. My 11yo just shot a cow elk with it and she was down in 50yds. It doesn't kick at all with a muzzle break on a hells canyon xbolt.
 

kcm2

WKR
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Feb 26, 2012
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Decelerator or Limbsaver pad on the rifle. 243 or 6mm Creedmoor, 257 Roberts, 25-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7-08 would all work. A fiberglass stock will also flex a bit.

I'll also recommend you stick with partitions, accubonds or a copper bullet if you can find them in factory ammo for the rifle.

Have fun.
 
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Jul 24, 2019
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My buddy just got the Ruger American Gen 2 in 308. Comes treaded with a brake and is on the lighter side for weight. He shot cheap ammo to sight it in and is getting .75" groups already. Plus, with the right bullet it would drop and elk.
 

HNTR918

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Dec 7, 2018
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Colorado
My dad is looking to get a new rifle for elk. He's in his seventies now and would like a rifle/cartridge that is lighter recoiling but still good on elk. To give a bit of context he can shoot a .270 fine but a 30-06 is too much. He's looking for a couple things:
-Lighter on recoil
-Not too heavy so he can still carry it in the mountains
-threaded so he can use a suppressor.
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks guys
6.5CM with a suppressor is the answer.
 
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as per my screen name, I gave my .30-06 to my son years ago. I shoot 6.5CM, .243 .308 & 7-08.
I never lost an animal with any of them, but If I had to choose 1, it'd be the 6.5CM, or 7-08. The 6.5 is more accurate, the 7-08 kills Elk no problem. They all work on any game.
 

Watrdawg

Lil-Rokslider
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I hunted with a 7mm08 for at least 20 years and loved it. However, a lightweight 7mm08 is not a light recoiling rifle. I had a Kimber Montana and a Remington Mountain rifle. Both of them had fairly stout recoil. Nowhere near a 300WM but still. I currently shoot a 6.5 PRC with a muzzle break and the recoil is in the area of a .243. Even my 7mmPRC with a muzzle break recoils less than my 7mm08's did. Needless to say I no longer have a 7mm08. Although I do have to say that I still love the 7mm08 and very easily could go with a standard weight rifle. That round fits into a very nice sweat spot and can do most anything a person needs it to. As far as this question is concerned I'd say go with a 6.5PRC.
 

zr600

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Bismarck ND
I would think a 7mm-08, 308 surpressed with a shorter barrel, 22” or less would be manageable and lighter with a lite can. Maybe consider a 7mm prc as long as he’s shooting with a can or break.
 
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Boise
I shoot a T3X 7mm-08, barrel chopped/threaded at 19". With a suppressor and a limbsaver recoil pad, felt recoil is about the same as my bare muzzle 223. With a scope it's around 8lbs and there's nothing that I wouldn't shoot with it.
 

Marble

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May 29, 2019
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My dad is looking to get a new rifle for elk. He's in his seventies now and would like a rifle/cartridge that is lighter recoiling but still good on elk. To give a bit of context he can shoot a .270 fine but a 30-06 is too much. He's looking for a couple things:
-Lighter on recoil
-Not too heavy so he can still carry it in the mountains
-threaded so he can use a suppressor.
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks guys
I just put together a Savage Ultralight 6.5 PRC. It's for my wife. It's fairly light with scope.

She shot a 5 shot group at 200 yards with factory Hornaday ammo, less than 1 moa. She also declined having a brake put on it and said it didn't kick much at all. And I agree. It doesn't. Average velocity with a 143 ELDx was 2920.


Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk
 

GSPHUNTER

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I just turned 75. I still shoot my 300 WM. When I go to the range I will shoot my friends 6mm for practice. I will only shoot my 300 three times to be certain it is still zeroed. I will do a lot of dry firing from both a rest and freehand. I find this is very important. I am not sensitive to recoil, never have been. When I'm out hunting, I expect to be only taking one, maybe two shots. I will not take a shot over 500 yards.There have been some good optioned offered here for you to choose from. I think of all the options, I would, Would go with 270.
 

S-3 ranch

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I shoot both 270win and .308win with 150gr Norma oryx, both have same ballistic range, and are deadly on elk , mule deer, caribou out to 300 meters
I also shoot a .375 ruger with 250gr CX ( probably not for the recoil sensitive, but I never feel it when the chips are on the table)
 
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