What caliber for Cow Elk?

[Formidilosus]

what is the maximum effective range of a 6.5 creedmoor for a cow elk?

A long way. And it’s same range as for a bull elk.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I have only had a couple "quartering to" both of them had the bullet going through shoulder bones and ribs before hitting heart and lungs. Even a 175 gr bullet exhibited a fair amount of attrition. I don't think the smaller calibers or small bullets would stand up to the destruction.

Quartering away shots are a variable by the angle. Up to a certain angle the vitals are still exposed but at some angle the risk increases that the bullet will have to go through the paunch or some part of it since it will be up inside the ribs. If you pick up a deflection from a limb,twig etc. the choices of your angle isn't yours.

Out of 74 elk I have only experienced a couple of those delightful experiences early on. I got quite good at upper neck shots rather than taking the risk.

 

[justin davis]

We used a 300 WM for all big game especially elk

 

[Newtosavage]

Hi All,

A few friends and I put in for cow elk tags this year. Provided we draw, I was planning to use my 6.5 CM Tikka T3x with 140 Nosler Partitions. I know for bull elk, the recommendation is 300 WM or 7 RM, but would 6.5 CM be acceptable for cow elk? I don't want to be undergunned. I can borrow a 308 if that would be better. I'm not a huge fan of the magnum calibers due to the recoil.

Thank you for the advice.

Shoot what you have. .308 won't do much more than that anyway and accuracy trumps energy.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Why are you using anything different on a cow that you would a bull ?

 

[skip189]

308 with a good bonded bullet and is an l around good caliber for cow and bulls. Buddy took a moose with his 308 and 150 gr Nosler Accubonds and dumped it with 2 rounds. 30 cals for all around use for me.

 

[Formidilosus]

I have only had a couple "quartering to" both of them had the bullet going through shoulder bones and ribs before hitting heart and lungs. Even a 175 gr bullet exhibited a fair amount of attrition. I don't think the smaller calibers or small bullets would stand up to the destruction.

Have done quartering too shots through scapula and ribs with .224’s, 6mm’s, 6.5mm’s, and 30cals. Still waiting for the mythical elk that stops bullets.

 

[Tonopah]

My grand daughter (14 yrs old) drew a cow elk tag (Arizona) this year. She is proficient and comfortable shooting 6.5 CM and 7mm-08. She prefers my rifles in those calibers to my .308s. She can hit steel torso targets at 300 yards consistently off shooting sticks.



As between 6.5 CM and 7mm-08, is there any real difference in effectiveness? Which (available) commercial loads would you favor in each caliber for shots to 300 yards?

 

[Rocky723]

Personally I’d be comfortable with anything 6.5Cm and bigger. Shot placement obviously is key and you’ll go fine.

 

[yfarm]

Shot a 325lb cow Nilgai at 308 yds with a 308, Barnes 150gr TTSX, broke both shoulders, put both lungs down and lacerated the liver with bone fragments. One shot. Shot placement trumps caliber.

 

[manthb3]

All of the options you have will get the job done. Being confident and comfortable with the gun you bring with is more important than the size of bullet you are sending. If there are multiple you are comfortable with, consider other factors like if one is lighter than the other.

 

[P dog]

All of the options you have will get the job done. Being confident and comfortable with the gun you bring with is more important than the size of bullet you are sending. If there are multiple you are comfortable with, consider other factors like if one is lighter than the other.

.243 100 grn Remington Core Lok get the job done with no wasted meat. Shot placement is key.

 

[aggiegolfer09]

I plan on taking a 7mm-08 with an 18 inch barrel

 

[MountainMan83]

I shoot 308 due to good compromise between size of caliber and manageable recoil. Also, one of the easiest rounds to get even during ammo shortages. That being said, shoot the gun you can shoot the best and get some quality ammo to go with it. If you shoot accurately, the caliber is not that important.

 

[11boo]

I shoot 308 due to good compromise between size of caliber and manageable recoil. Also, one of the easiest rounds to get even during ammo shortages. That being said, shoot the gun you can shoot the best and get some quality ammo to go with it. If you shoot accurately, the caliber is not that important.

The newbie gets it. Elk are not that hard to put down.

.308 at 2600 fps. 60 yard shot. One shot.

 

[roosiebull]

Have done quartering too shots through scapula and ribs with .224’s, 6mm’s, 6.5mm’s, and 30cals. Still waiting for the mythical elk that stops bullets.

You just need a poor bullet choice for what you are doing, and make a poor shot

 

[Costelloand]

204 ruger

 

[Neeks]

6.5 is plenty good

 

[marcbateman]

It will work but I’d rather have the 308 with a 165 Nosler Accubond.

+1 for this same set-up!

 

[txjustin]

As someone who bought a 280 ai a little over a year ago, I’d stick to very common calibers such as 7 mag, 300 win mag, 30.06, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk