Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Taking my 6.5 Creedmoor for elk...am I crazy??

We all gain a little wisdom with age.

I'd worry more about getting a suitable elk in front of me than rifle chambering.
I wouldn't hesitate in using the 6.5 Creedmoor. Best of luck with your hunt!

I haven't killed anything with the 143 ELDX yet, but I messaged alaska-lanche here, and he has whacked numerous head of game up in Alaska with that exact bullet. Not sure I'd worry too much about some water jug test, as I like real world, game killing experience. Just my thoughts.

I wouldn't hesitate to take that 6.5 if it were me. I'd probably use a 140 Accubond though, 'cause I'm an AB slut.

I'd hate to see the water jug of a lifetime get away wounded....;)

It is not the gun I would choose. Having said that, my GF shot a mature cow moose last year with my swede and 130 gr accubonds. Hit the moose on the run quartering away at 80 yards. Bullet travelled diagonally and was found under the hide on the other side.

Worked fine..


I am a big Hornady fan - but , the ELD-X would not be my choice of bullet on an animal that size.

It will do just fine... 12 year old daughter killed this water jug at 450 yards with a 260 and 140gr Amax a few years ago...

I fired 4 rounds with my 300MAG into this Elk below & the bullets bounced off, I'd suggest building a custom 475 H&H Magnum before the hunt.


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I certainly wish you the best! Please get back to us about your hunt. When you get your elk, all the “gory” details would be welcome! memtb

I didn’t shoot jugs, but I did shoot damp magazines. Surprised me, but the 139 Scenar penetrated the most followed by 127 LRX, 140 Partition, then a ways back in no order were 147 ELD, 143 ELD-X and 140 VLD.

"I have shot all 3 rifles from various field postions not just off the bench...at this time I tend to shoot the Creedmoor more accurately...feel
more comfortable shooting it too!!"

I'd say that's your answer then.

In hunting big game, accuracy is 95% the function of the shooter and 5% the function of the rifle and the ammo.

Use the one you use the best. As long as you have a bullet that will expand and still go through, it doesn't matter as much what rifle you use, as it does how well you use it.

I seem to remember that test and found it very interesting. Got a link?

I know an 85 pound 13 year old that got a cow elk in UT on Saturday with 6.5CM Kimber 84M.

Lots of examples of young kids and women shooting elk with a cartridge at the top or near their recoil maximum. The creedmoor will certainly kill elk but is marginal for angled shots, thick bones, longer distances. I only get 1 week of elk hunting a year and am not interested in passing a makeable shot because I selected something less than I’m capable of shooting. I went the other way and traded my super accurate 7mm for a very accurate 300 Weatherby to extend my effective range and get a little more oomph. Most everything under 200 is still a neck shot with either rifle.

Use the 6.5CM and stick to your personal limits and you will be fine. Sounds like you’re very confident with the rifle/accuracy and that is IMO more important than using a magnum caliber.

And most of all, have fun on your trip.

I hesitate to post but..... No experience with the 143 eldx on elk, only 2 deer....but I'm not sure I'd want to use that bullet for elk. Both bucks died but I'm a little skeptical on the bullet's performance. Again, only a sample of two and neither were perfect broadside shots. Others seem to have had great performance so it's only my experience.....I'll probably try it again on deer just because I'm so curious and want it to work.

Here it is:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...creed-moose-and-bear-bullet#Post13004529

The Scenar seems to be constructed of a more robust core material. It was impressive. It did pencil through the first layer of ~1.5" particle board, but then left a comparable channel the rest of the way. I wish I had soaked the magazines a little more. Too dry and it really tears bullets up, especially the softer bullets.

On rifle hunts, I haven’t seen but one elk killed in the last 10-12 years with anything but a 260. 140 SGK is among the most frangible of “game” bullets, and a few elk shot with 140s died just as dead. The last two cows were lowly 120 accutip blems (Hornady SST is same/same, but Hornady never made 120s with a red tip) started out at 2800 fps... both were dead in less than 5 yards. Got both recovered slugs, look just like an ad picture from a manufacturer, and came from the hide under the off side. Haven’t recovered many 140s, they just exit, reliably... SGK is the one that doesn’t exit, but theres nothing to recover bullet wise.

Haven’t had a Creedmoor long enough to shoot an elk with one... but put an elk in front of it and a tag in my pocket, and it’s gonna be dead as disco pronto.

do it, it will work!!

My concern, the bullet. My hunting partner shot and elk last year with a 7mm rem mag. about 50 yards away broadside. But the only spot he could see was the front shoulder, so he shot it there. Bull rolled down the hill and got up and ran away limping, no follow up shot. lucky for us there was snow on the ground. We tracked it for about 1/2 mile and spotted it bedded, we were close, real close, as in 20 yards. He shot it thru the lungs this time, twice. Took a long time to die.
1st shot, hit the scapula and the bullet blew up, hardly any penetration. Did not break any bone, how do I know?? I deboned it for the pack out and checked, I wanted to know what happened, I loaded the round. Shots 2 and 3-- one hit a rib bone the other did not. NEITHER of these two bullets did a pass thru, I found both of the while skinning...at 20 yards?? Granted the speed of partners 7mm was only 2880 they both should have zipped thru. Animal I have seen shot with this bullet. It was the ONLY bullet his gun would shoot so we used it. Never again!!!

Tom, what type of bullet were these?