6.5 Creedmoor for moose?

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Looking to get a rifle for my wife for moose hunting.

Preferably a bolt action. Lightweight so that she can carry it, but not so light that recoil is uncomfortable. I’m thinking a 6.5 Creedmoor for caliber, but open to alternatives (7mm 08, etc) She is recoil sensitive. I’m open to different brands, and have a budget up to about 1500$

What do you all think?
 
I would look at a Tikka T3X, maybe a Compact depending on her size. Specifically for moose and elk hunting, my minimum cartridge choices are .270 Win in a long action or a 7mm-08 in a short action. Good mix of bullet weight and frontal area combined with cartridge velocity. I have done it before with a 6.5x55mm but just prefer larger caliber, controlled expansion hunting bullets. Others will be just fine with a 6.5-cal for hunting big game.
 
My son got his last year with a 6.5 CM
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mikeyb said:
I would look at a Tikka T3X, maybe a Compact depending on her size. Specifically for moose and elk hunting, my minimum cartridge choices are .270 Win in a long action or a 7mm-08 in a short action. Good mix of bullet weight and frontal area combined with cartridge velocity. I have done it before with a 6.5x55mm but just prefer larger caliber, controlled expansion hunting bullets. Others will be just fine with a 6.5-cal for hunting big game.
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Thanks for the reply, Mikey. Makes sense. I’ve been thinking 7mm 08 as well. I know that ammo is not as readily available for it, though.
 
It’s fine for anything except the biggest bears and bison. Keep it to under 400 yards and make sure you can actually hit what you aim at. The bullet construction in many offerings is excellent. Pick something with decent sectional density and don’t get too hung up on ballistic coefficients and such. Have a look at ballistic studies.com and read up on recommendations.

I am a 7-08 fanboy. It’s never let me down on any animal. Elk, moose no trouble.
 
No doubt, any 6.5 mm center fire is capable -BUT- as bullet size goes down, importance of shot placement goes up. Good news is: less recoil = better chance of good shot placement. Take that girl to the range and practice, practice.
 
cuslog said:
No doubt, any 6.5 mm center fire is capable -BUT- as bullet size goes down, importance of shot placement goes up. Good news is: less recoil = better chance of good shot placement. Take that girl to the range and practice, practice.
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Exactly my way of thinking and plan. Thanks for the reply!
 
duncansuds said:
It’s fine for anything except the biggest bears and bison. Keep it to under 400 yards and make sure you can actually hit what you aim at. The bullet construction in many offerings is excellent. Pick something with decent sectional density and don’t get too hung up on ballistic coefficients and such. Have a look at ballistic studies.com and read up on recommendations.

I am a 7-08 fanboy. It’s never let me down on any animal. Elk, moose no trouble.
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Thanks for the reply!
 
I was in the same predicament a few years ago and my girlfriend ended up with a T3x compact in 308. 6.5 Creedmoor would have been a suitable choice as well but it came down to ammo availability. 308 is available at pretty much any store in the country that sells ammo. While 6.5 Creedmoor isn't available anywhere locally at all. The recoil is a little more stout with the 308 but she's learned to tolerate it and has become a pretty good shot with it.
 
I had about same experience as noted above - easily 200 rounds over summer at range by my wife before her first deer hunt - she fired once when hunting to get her first deer - rifle was a 243 Win. Some years later our son did about the same - was just one hunting shot - same rifle. Then our daughter - by then it had a 308 Win barrel. I truly believe that some trigger time makes a LOT of difference. Lots of moose taken across Canada over the decades with 303 British, and 30-30 Winchester - I do not think moose are too hard to kill - so pretty much most anything past about 100 grain 243 will be fine - and no doubt many were and are taken with 22-250 or 223 Remington.

Is likely "each to their own", but I found that I used the rifles that I said that I bought for wife or kids, a LOT more than they did - they tended want to go shooting only associated with hunting or getting ready to go hunting - I would be shooting most all months of the year.
 
I was in the same boat with my wife plus she has a bad shoulder. I didn’t go with the 6.5 creed rather it’s skinny brother the 260 rem in a T3X, now in a compact stock. I handload so availability of ammo is of no concern.

Moose are big animals that are pretty easy to kill, IMHO. Any of the calibers mentioned are suitable for Canadian game and she will do best with what she shoots the best. If she is recoil sensitive stay away from it and possibly consider a brake and/or aftermarket pad. I did both and my (then) 60lb, 9 yr old daughter shoots it all day long (another 260 rem). Getting into range and getting the right shot is part of the game.

Good luck and let us know which route you go and how she does.
 
I considered getting a 6.5 CM for my daughter for moose hunting. Was planning on loading it up with 127 g Barnes LRXs.

However, after a little research and after learning that some Elk Hunting outfitters are now prohibiting the use of 6.5 CM for ELK (source - Oct 21, 2021 episode of the "Backcountry Hunting" Podcast), I opted to get her a Tikka Lite Veil Wideland in 308 (comes with muzzle break). I also considered the 7-08, but since I have all the gadgets for loading accurate 308 rds, I selected the .308. In the Ontario woods I hunt, a 300 yard shot would be a very extremely long and rare opportunity (i.e., the long-range advantages of the 6.5 CM would be irrelevant).
 
Potashminer said:
I had about same experience as noted above - easily 200 rounds over summer at range by my wife before her first deer hunt - she fired once when hunting to get her first deer - rifle was a 243 Win. Some years later our son did about the same - was just one hunting shot - same rifle. Then our daughter - by then it had a 308 Win barrel. I truly believe that some trigger time makes a LOT of difference. Lots of moose taken across Canada over the decades with 303 British, and 30-30 Winchester - I do not think moose are too hard to kill - so pretty much most anything past about 100 grain 243 will be fine - and no doubt many were and are taken with 22-250 or 223 Remington.

Is likely "each to their own", but I found that I used the rifles that I said that I bought for wife or kids, a LOT more than they did - they tended want to go shooting only associated with hunting or getting ready to go hunting - I would be shooting most all months of the year.
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I agree with you and I don’t want to start a debate, but how many moose have been lost to smaller/weaker calibers? I know people use to shoot them all the time with 22lr in the ear they say lol but personally I think that for moose get at least a 270, but I prefer a 308 or 30-06 maybe because our moose tend to be bigger up here? If you are dedicated and only take shots that are “close” and that you are sure of your shot placement them maybe !
 
Short range. Low recoil helps most people with shot placement. Long range increases shot placement variance, and decreases both speed(necessary for expansion) and energy delivered.

Most premium hunting bullets are not high bc long range, which matters not at all. Since at ranges which high bc bullets overtake less streamlined shapes, the 6.5 Creedmoor is already at low speed/energy. Now a 6.5 bullet launched at higher speeds......
 
I think we agree pretty close, DGY - any shooting at game should be about the killing - get it done - so have to be reasonable about limits - the cartridge, the shooter, etc. I have skinned out a deer with .22 lead bullet just under the hide - near the rump - my brother skinned out an elk with a triple blade arrow head and about 1 1/2" of arrow shaft grown in on it's brisket meat. I suspect the shooters in both cases thought their shot "might" work - and proved that it didn't. Some years ago, we took a Sask whitetail with a festering bullet hole near it's front leg ankle - I do not know how it had evaded coyotes until then - I doubt very much it would have made it through the winter, though.
 
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