Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 6.5 Creed - moose bullets

Although I have several larger cartridges in associated calibers, I'm strongly considering taking my 6.5 Creed for a Sept Canadian moose hunt. Having never shot a moose, I'd like to hear from those that have.

Lets clear some hurdles:
1. I won't be shooting past 400 yards
2. I know a larger cartridge may be 'better'
3. I'd like to hear first hand accounts - either the poster or an eyewitness

My 6.5 Creed really likes the 150 LRAB at 2700. It kills elk well and will be my default pending hearing from people that have seen or done a 6.5 moose hunt.

Other bullets I'm considering: 127 LRX, 140 Partition

I've been a big fan of Partitions through the years. I'll likely shoot the LRX and NPT to see what groups.

For those with experience, what are your thoughts on 6.5 creed bullets on moose?

Thanks.

a moose hunt cost plenty money , moose meat is delicious to eat , you may only get one shot take a bigger caliber cartridge . my choice for a moose hunt with my rifle would be a 338 Win. 225 gr Nosler Partition or at least a 30-06 with 180 gr. Nosler Partitions.

A good friend recently shot a moose with his 6.5 PRC, a little more velocity but otherwise not much different than the Creed.

bwinters;
Morning sir, if you all are getting this latest cold snap then I hope you're either able to stay indoors or not get stuck out in it for too long a stretch.

Regarding direct experience with the Creedmoor on moose I have no offerings, however I have a couple questions for you, should you be inclined to respond.

Where up here is the moose hunt taking place?

Typically what is the size of the bulls the outfitter is taking out of that area, better said what body size.

The reason I ask is that here in our part of BC where we're on the border of what some call Shiras moose territory and some say "no they're Canada moose", we'll seldom see one that exceeds 450lb hanging carcass weight.

In northern BC and the Yukon, a buddy who now resides in Whitehorse has killed a couple bulls which doubled that number or came within a whisker of doing so, so animals in the 800lb hanging carcass weight.

A neighbor went up into northern BC during the Beer Flu caused cancellations and killed a bull that looked to me to be about at the 500lb carcass mark.

Lastly and very personally, I grew up eating Saskatchewan moose that my late father killed with a .303 British, .250 Savage and a .308.

The area he and my uncle and family hunted had Canada subspecies moose.

All that to say, there's moose and then there's moose, you know?

If you've had good success with your Creedmoor on elk however, going off of what friends who kill bull elk and bull moose have found, you'll be golden if the size is similar.

All the best.

Dwayne

If you feel that you “must” use a smallish cartridge/caliber…..you should, at the very least, use a good controlled expansion or better yet, a good mono bullet! The Barnes 127 LRX immediately comes to mind! memtb

My son and I did a moose hunt in central BC last fall and we killed 2 bulls. My son used a .30-06 with 168 grain TTSX and I used a .338 WM with 225 grain TTSX. I used the M70 .338 mostly because I've had it for a while, don't hunt with it often, and this was a chance to use it on some appropriate game. My son's bull dropped at the shot. Mine ran a ways because the shot was slightly low. As always, shot placement is the most important thing.

No doubt your 6.5 CM will do the job. I shot a big boar hog around 300 pounds with a 6.5 CM and the 127 grain LRX, and the bullet penetrated well through the shield and was found under the off side hide. I would think it should work for most moose with good shot placement. The 140 grain Nosler partition should also work fine and if the 150 LRAB works for bull elk it should be good for most moose too. But BC30cal makes a good point about size differences in moose subspecies. If you're planning to hunt the big Alaska-Yukon moose you might want to consider a cartridge/bullet combo that penetrates a bit more.

I live in moose country, and although I don't one a 6.5 CM, I have shot a few with the 6.5X55 160 Sierras, and have quite a few friends who use the 6.5CM and they have no issues killing big moose and elk cleanly with 140 grain and larger cup and core bullets. I don't think any are using monos for them.
Put the danged bullet where it is supposed to go and the critter will die.
Cat

6.5x55 and Moose are a match made in Scandinavia!

There isn't a moose that walks that I wouldn't hunt with a 6.5 creed and a 139 scenar at 2800 FPS....

Your outfitter may have some comments and recommendations. Years back I was set up with a guy for a Canadian sub species hunt with a family southwest out of Fort St John. He expressed doubts about my favorite rifle at the time, an 8mm-06 with 196 gr RWS H Mantle bullets.
My employer canceled my hunt and paid the retainer fee, so it didn't happen. Point being...he thought my choice was a little light, LOL...I think he was of the school that was convinced that the .338 Mag could hit a chin whisker and kill a moose stone dead. But...he was the guy who had to get a dead moose out of a bog or willow thicket....sooo...

I would start here.

I guide Alaskan moose. And have a creedmoor. ITs not my moose rifle as I have to take iffy shots at times as a backup, that goes to my 338-06 and barnes.

If using my 6.5 it would be 127 LRX and go in soft for sure. The heavier bullets will loose weight as they hit due to design and the barnes will retain as much if not more than the others IMHO.

I"ve never had a 6.5 client. But had one ask if he could and I said the same. He came with something else though.

I've had a few clients with 308. 165/168TTSX all of them. Every bull fell quickly. There is simply not really a need for a big round unless you want it. If you can shoot it well. And just because.

Hi Dwayne,

You hit on why I'm considering the 6.5 creed - the hunt is in Ontario. A 40" moose is pretty good for the area, lots of smaller bulls, plus we have 2 cow tags. I'm an invited guest and not opposed to a cow. In fact, I'll be the youngest guy there and expect to spend alot of time being a sherpa. I've seen more than a few and they look Shiras moose size. I'd guess 700 lbs on the hoof with cows a bit smaller.

My GF shot a mature cow moose with my Swede, with me at her side. 130 grain accubond, running moose, slightly quartering way. Moose ran maybe 100 yards and stopped in a cattail slough, stood for 30 seconds and laid down. Finisher to the neck. Bullet was found underneath hide on the oppsite side. I shot one the same trip with a 30.06 165 grain Interbond, reaction and time to death was roughly the same. I was happy .

I've shot quite a few Alaska/Yukon moose in my time, at least half with my .270 win.. My best killing .270 round by far was the 140 gr, Failsafe. About 20 or so years ago I got my .338 wm. Mostly got it for Bison regs., but I like it. What I've found is that i get almost no meat damage with the .338, compared to any .270 bullet that I ever used. I also picked up a .375 R in an Alaskan a while back and get similar results. I hunt moose for a lot of reasons, but meat is really important to me, so my choice is clear.

I have never shot moose but I have consumed alot of first-hand reports over the years as I am somewhat of a ballistics fanatic (internal/external/terminal). The general consensus seems to be that while moose are very large, they are no tougher than elk (most seem to believe they die more easily). While not quite the same, I shot a mature bull elk this fall with a 7mm-08 and a 140 fusion factory load around 350 yards. He died quickly and without any drama. I also shot a mature cow with a 143 ELDx from a 6.5x55 a couple years back and it also worked fine. All this to say, I don't think I would necessarily start there for a moose hunt but if that's what I opted for, I really don't think it would be a big deal. I would personally choose something along the lines of 140 accubond or partition or a 120-130 mono (barnes, hornady CX, etc).

Why? Unless you have some disability limiting what recoil you can handle, show respect for the moose by using an appropriate caliber. If you are dead set on it, I'd use a 129 LRX or a 140 grain Partition. I have killed deer with the 140 Partitions but prefer a bigger cartridge even for them.

A 6.5 PRC is closer to a 7mm magnum than a 6.5 Creedmoor. It also has significantly more energy than a 270 Win. It still wouldn't be my choice. And before people start lecturing me that a 223 Rem would kill a moose, this is an issue why. I know it would kill a moose but why cause more suffering than necessary if you have better options. Now, if you are handicapped or have a shoulder issue preventing you from using something bigger, then do what you have to do. I would use at least a 3006 with a 180 grain bonded bullet.

as a guide for moose.. I've seen the smaller rounds put them in the dirt faster than the bigger rounds. The only fairly quick dirt from a big round was from a 375 HH. Sample of one. but various 300 win and 338 win mags and a few 7 mags and one 30 PRC and the quickest has still been the guys with the 308s... FWIW. Its not what I would have thought. But its sure what Iv'e seen.

Moose are NOT hard to kill at all. The do take a long time to realize they are dead though.

30-30 sufficed for years for us.

You mean other than torn labrum surgery, the 5 pins and 2 pieces of cord holding my shoulder and biceps tendon together?