I may have a chance for my first elk hunt in the fall. What are the thoughts of some experienced elk hunters with regards to the 6.5X55 for elk?

I use the same diameter bullet, albeit at more velocity. Keep your shooting straight and your bullets heavy- 140gr. and you'll have dead elk for sure.

There was a thread recently on the topic, try the search and see what you can find. I've killed one elk with the 6.5x55 so I am by no means and experienced elk hunter. MV of about 2350 with a 160gr. Sierra Semi-point. Hit the elk, later measured at 273 yards, just behind the near shoulder, angled through the top of the heart and out through the off shoulder. Bullet was recovered under the skin on the far side. Bull went about 20 yards after the shot. Bullet retained 73% of it's weight.

With that being said I would use more gun if you have it, or plan to make elk hunting a habit. If it's a one time trip, load up a good bullet and go for it with the 6.5mm.

cra,

"Biaman" makes sense. You can do it with a premium 6.5mm bullet.
Shot placement and a good bullet will allow you to tag out. If, however elk hunting becomes more consistent, I'd move up to something like a 30-06 or a 270Win..
Good luck.

I oughta say, I've got plenty of rifles, .25-06AI, .300 WSM and a .308, come to mind for this trip, I'm very confident with all of them, but I really, really like my 6.5X55.

Be hard not to use the 300 WSM, but we've killed them with a lot smaller. My 6.5-06 will be slinging 140 accubonds and I will not hesitate to hunt elk with it.

Yes there was a long thread on this topic a couple months back. I have killed one elk and it was with a 6.5x55. 200 yard shot with 140 grain premium hornady bullet. Shot just behind shoulder and destroyed both lungs. The raghorn's knees buckled at the shot. He managed to stay up and take 4-5 steps before he fell. I plan to continue using this rifle and bullet combo in the future for elk.

Back in the 1960's I killed five bulls with my old Swede and that was long before "premium" bullets were available. All were one shot kills from just as close as I could get to them. Works good when done right.

A great round with the heavier slugs. I'm working up a stock for one right now.

Just be very careful of shot placement, distance to the animal, etc...the usual stuff. You get those aspects covered and you should be OK. I love my 300 RUM for elk as I can't rely on a 100 yard standing broadside shot every time....use a well constructed bullet and things should go your way though. Not trying to sound like a "magnum snob" if you know what I mean.

It already is THE most popular moose (elg) round in Sweden. Their moose aren't huge - but their bigger than our elk. I wouldn't hesitate to use it - with a premium 140 grain (or heavier) bullet.

It used to be the most popular but I believe the .30-06 has overtaken it in recent years.

The 6.5 will do,but when I read that you may have a chance for your first elk hunt. It sounds like you are not going to be able to do this frequently. You would be better served with the 300 WSM that you have mentioned. It would be bad to go home without only because you did not have enough confidence in your gun. And the fact that you asked about it tells me you have some doubt. USE ENOUGH GUN


8mmwapiti

Any of those four chamberings are just fine for elk. Take the one you shoot the best from real hunting possitions. That 6.5 with 140 gr bullets would probibly drive deeper than a 180 gr 30 cal any way.

I should have also mentioned to make sure your rifle is one you like to carry. To light weight a rifle loses shootability for a lot of shooters. Heavy rifles suck after 5 ten mile days in a row.

So make sure you balance out the weight\shootability factor.

Yes the 6.4 X 55 will kill an elk but you are going to be limiting your shots with this caliber, just like I had to do using my 25-06 when I used it to kill a bull elk.

My brother in law years ago used a model 70 Winchester in the .243 caliber and he killed a bunch of elk in his younger days. If the hunter using the caliber can shoot and place the proper weight bullet, all will spell success.

The key to successfully taking a game animal once in range is shooting skill.

Burn about 5,000 rounds of .22LR ammo practicing on paper and steel this spring and summer. Shoot from field positions. Use a scope like the one on your 6.5.

Mix that with varmint hunting with the 6.5. Y'all still got groundhogs up there (coyotes have gotten most of ours)? Shoot at least 100 rounds of 6.5 at vermin.

You'll know your rifle and your own skills and the outcome will be sure when you get in position to take an elk. I love the idea of that big 160, BTW.

Though if you shot one with a 125 Partition or a 140 TSX, the elk would die swearing it was a .270 WSM that kilt him.

In Scandinavia what we call Moose, they call Elk and have been killing them since the 6.5x55 came out with it. Works just fine.

I would want something with a higher SD........oh, wait a minute, the 6.5 is ultra high SD.

shoot your 6.5 often and know it well, you will do fine. a well placed bullet going a moderate speed is far better then a errant one going warp from a shiney new rifle.

They call them"elg" I believe. Not the same thing.

Sorry, as one of the token Scandinavians here, I just have to do a little correction!

We call them älg -- and that "a with two dots over it" is a different letter of the alphabet, unpronounceable to most of you without practice unless you are born here!

They are the same thing as the moose found in North America Alces alces (although a different subspecies).

John

Try http://translate.google.com/#sv|en|älg

it comes out Elk in English.

Google can translate it as zebra if they want, but that does not make it so.

John

All but the .300 wsm are somewhat iffy... Elk are tougher to drop than moose much of the time. Would recommend something larger, but what your asking has been done before more than once. I say go for it!