Rifle selection for sheep

[Gobbler36]

My kid drew
He’s shot everything so far with a 6.5 cm to include deer, elk, and bear

Wondering if 6.5cm makes the list, we’ve honed his shooting and he made a one shot kill on mule deer at 535ydd this past fall but I’m still concerned about the recoil I put him beyond but would love some additional ballistic performance to make sure and really anchor a ram if needed. I don’t think I’d shoot at a ram much past 300yds.

So would also like something that could extend that to a 500yd max with plenty of knockdown.

Would the 6.5 prc be a better option?
Maybe a 7mm backcountry?
Looking for some suggestions.
Thanks rockslide community

 

[waspocrew]

First off - congrats on the tag!

Unless you’re itching for a new rifle, the 6.5 CM is just fine. Your son already shoots it well, so I would stick with what he’s already comfortable with.

 

[6mm Remington]

Stick with what he has now and shoots well. Keep practicing throughout the summer at the range with him and he will be fine. This is a special tag and let him know that. Take lots of pictures and have a great time. Congratulations to the young lad.

 

[tstowater]

Personally haven't used a 6.5 Creedmoor for a sheep but would have no reservations about using one that you would have enough trigger time and the right bullet. The other guns you mentioned are only going to give more recoil.

I would put enough time behind the gun you expect him to use in different positions and up and down slopes. Need to be ready to improvise and get settled in for a good shot.

Bullets matter. Sheep aren't that hard to kill and are relatively thin skinned. From personal experience, a Nosler partition out of a 300 WSM, which works great on an elk, is not a good sheep bullet. Used an ELDX on a bighorn last year and had better results out of a 7 PRC. If I get the opportunity to hunt sheep again, it's going to be with a smaller cartridge, in the 6-6.5 caliber range.

Practice. Work on good form. Sounds like he has had success in the past. Good luck with the hunt. Might be that hunt of a lifetime.

 

[Gobbler36]

Agreed we have been shooting the Berger 156g EOL bullet. It’s been pretty devastating on the elk but they’ve been within 300yds

How does a mature mule deer compare to a ram?

 

[tstowater]

Agreed we have been shooting the Berger 156g EOL bullet. It’s been pretty devastating on the elk but they’ve been within 300yds

How does a mature mule deer compare to a ram?

I would say similar. The Berger bullet should work fine or an ELDX or ELDM out of the 6.5 Creedmoor should do the job. Wouldn't have an issue with a TMK either.

 

[IdahoHntr]

Agreed we have been shooting the Berger 156g EOL bullet. It’s been pretty devastating on the elk but they’ve been within 300yds

How does a mature mule deer compare to a ram?

My dad shot his ram with a 6.5 creed last year and I will be shooting mine this year. Sheep aren’t super tough. My experience of one was that a ram is very similar body wise to a mature mule deer. A little less length, but a little more stout.

If your kid shoots the 6.5 creed well, I would not be subjecting him to more recoil, especially if you aren’t shooting 600+. No reason to.

 

[Exxonvaldeeznuts]

6.5 should be fine. I am rocking a 6 creed for my hunt this year

 

[Matt5266]

If the current rifle shoots well just shoot it. Everyone way over thinks these things or they are just looking for a excuse for a new rifle, if the second is the case just go buy whatever you want lol

 

[cuerro viejo]

My kid drew
He’s shot everything so far with a 6.5 cm to include deer, elk, and bear

Wondering if 6.5cm makes the list, we’ve honed his shooting and he made a one shot kill on mule deer at 535ydd this past fall but I’m still concerned about the recoil I put him beyond but would love some additional ballistic performance to make sure and really anchor a ram if needed. I don’t think I’d shoot at a ram much past 300yds.

So would also like something that could extend that to a 500yd max with plenty of knockdown.

Would the 6.5 prc be a better option?
Maybe a 7mm backcountry?
Looking for some suggestions.
Thanks rockslide community

Rock his 6.5 CM

Accuracy is the only thing that matters with sheep.

I wouldn’t hand him a 7mm, it’s pointless to make him have to work through the recoil to shoot under a limited range criteria anyway.

My ideal sheep cartridge now is an 18” 6 CM, and that’s based off myself, kids and friends consisting of 5 sheep and countless aoudad with 22cm, 6cm 257wby, 6.5 CM, 6.5 Saum and 7prc. With many of these taken past 500 yards….

Good luck.

 

[Meanderthal]

6.5 CM is great for sheep but cartridge wouldn't be a top concern anyway. If the rifle is otherwise well suited for the job it's almost irrelevant. A projectile that will kill a deer will kill a sheep.

 

[mtnbound]

My kid drew
He’s shot everything so far with a 6.5 cm to include deer, elk, and bear

Wondering if 6.5cm makes the list, we’ve honed his shooting and he made a one shot kill on mule deer at 535ydd this past fall but I’m still concerned about the recoil I put him beyond but would love some additional ballistic performance to make sure and really anchor a ram if needed. I don’t think I’d shoot at a ram much past 300yds.

So would also like something that could extend that to a 500yd max with plenty of knockdown.

Would the 6.5 prc be a better option?
Maybe a 7mm backcountry?
Looking for some suggestions.
Thanks rockslide community

Use the 6.5CM, if you are worried about recoil going up to a 6.5PRC or the 7BC is a bad idea. Personally I would go down to a 6CM or 22CM if you just want a new rifle.

 

[Cactus kid]

6.5 cm is plenty for just about any animal inside of 300 yards. Congratulations on the tag!

 

[Grassymike]

My favorite rifle is a 7mm-08. Thats what I shot my Bighorn with 3 years ago. Essentialy it is very close to a 6.5 Creed balistically. I would not change what you have especially as your Son shoots it well.

 

[HanktheTankSB]

Congrats to your son! I've been asking the same question as I drew a tag also. I know another guy who drew and is going with 6.5. He's got a lot of experience hunting sheep. Seems like my 270 will do the job just fine which is great since it's the one I shoot best and the lightest!

 

[Gobbler36]

6.5 cm is plenty for just about any animal inside of 300 yards. Congratulations on the tag!

Ideally I would like enough knockdown power headed in to sheep country to say we can do it at 500 if conditions are right, but you don’t get more power for free and that comes with more recoil which I’m not sure how he’d handle it because he’s only shot the 6.5 cm

 

[ReddingArcher]

I wouldn’t change anything up. Sounds like he’s comfortable with what he has and that’s most important.
Congratulations on the tag and don’t forget to post up the story!

 

[Seeknelk]

Ideally I would like enough knockdown power headed in to sheep country to say we can do it at 500 if conditions are right, but you don’t get more power for free and that comes with more recoil which I’m not sure how he’d handle it because he’s only shot the 6.5 cm

The 22,6, 6.5 cm, 243 etc are all more than enough well beyond 500 yards with the right bullet and most importantly the right placement. They won't hold anyone back to 500. Quite the opposite.
More recoil and less practice due to cost , flinch, less enjoyment from recoil or lack of suppressor WILL make a huge difference tho.

 

[ianpadron]

Ideally I would like enough knockdown power headed in to sheep country to say we can do it at 500 if conditions are right, but you don’t get more power for free and that comes with more recoil which I’m not sure how he’d handle it because he’s only shot the 6.5 cm

The CM is nowhere near running out of any metric relevant to killing at 500, especially altitude. Rock on and have fun!

 

[Gobbler36]

The 22,6, 6.5 cm, 243 etc are all more than enough well beyond 500 yards with the right bullet and most importantly the right placement. They won't hold anyone back to 500. Quite the opposite.
More recoil and less practice due to cost , flinch, less enjoyment from recoil or lack of suppressor WILL make a huge difference tho.

We definitely only shoot suppressed
I learned long ago with my boys they associate the sound with recoil. Their shooting changed a lot with the suppressor

Sounds like I’m just gonna upgrade the stock and maybe consider some different ammo and stick with what he knows.

What is y’all’s favorite bullet
Currently shooting 156g EOL bergers but like the terminal ascent