New to hunting
- Thread starter Hockeyman
- Start date
First off welcome.
You have asked a HUGE question that will be answered for all of eternity with different calibers.
I'd do a shat ton of reading on the net and narrow it down to what, where and what distances. It'll give you a better idea of the calibers that will suit your needs/wants.
You have asked a HUGE question that will be answered for all of eternity with different calibers.
I'd do a shat ton of reading on the net and narrow it down to what, where and what distances. It'll give you a better idea of the calibers that will suit your needs/wants.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
6.5 Creedmoor will do just fine for anything legal to hunt with it in Canada. I live in BC, so Bison is something to think about. 6.5 Creedmoor won't be legal for that. But for all ungulates, it'll do the job just fine. Just shoot your rifle often. Practice, a lot. Know it through and through. Pick a good, accurate round for it, know its ballistics and what kind of damage it'll do at the ranges you'd like to hunt at. Be humble. Know your limits and don't exceed them.
Big game rule of thumb for energy on impact is 1500 ft. lbs. and most expanding lead core jacketed bullets require a min. velocity of 1800 ft/sec to open up enough on impact.
270WSMXBolt
Regular
- Location
- Delta B.C.
I notice all the gun shops are pushing the 6.5 creedmore like it's the best killing caliber known to man. From mice to elephants and everything in between LOL
Would not be my first choice to set a new hunter up with but the guys at the gun stores sure seem to think so.
Would not be my first choice that's for sure but it would depend on the hunting being planned I guess.
Would not be my first choice to set a new hunter up with but the guys at the gun stores sure seem to think so.
Would not be my first choice that's for sure but it would depend on the hunting being planned I guess.
270WSMXBolt
Regular
- Location
- Delta B.C.
Shooting out to 500 with any caliber takes experience/skill. Ethically a 6.5 cm or any caliber in the hands of a new shooter should not shoot game at that distance. IMHO
300 yards is a long shot for most shooters.
Vast majority of the animals I have harvested have been well under that.
Have to admit though, when I was a brand spankin new hunter, I thought i needed to be able to kill stuff out to 500 as well. I spent a lot of time doing long range practice out to 500. My first deer was maybe 50 feet LOL
Yup, I still practice lots...but my first was about 75 yards.
I started with 30-06, powerful enough for everything, doesn't kick too hard, tons of affordable ammo everywhere, even gas stations. In the last several years of learning about hunting and guns in general, I find it hard to upgrade to a better cartridge still ..
I recently bought a 6.5 creedmoor as well for smaller game but really only so my 13 year old has something more mild to shoot.
I recently bought a 6.5 creedmoor as well for smaller game but really only so my 13 year old has something more mild to shoot.
I’m sure the 6.5cm would do, some people say that the 223 is good for everything. That said and that is a topic that has been going for years, why choose something marginal when you can get something that you will do better in marginal conditions!
I would choose a 308 over the 6.5cm!
I would choose a 308 over the 6.5cm!
If you are new to hunting get the 6.5 and practice, use it in the field then decide if you want to step up , down etc. It’s a great cartridge for many hunting tasks. People get irrationally biased towards certain headstamps, hence the forum brouhaha around this or that cartridge; we all suffer from it and it’s mostly nonsense.
BTW 500 under actual field conditions is typically a very challenging shot. Put a 10” target at 500 and shoot it under time pressure from field positions and note your hit rate….
BTW 500 under actual field conditions is typically a very challenging shot. Put a 10” target at 500 and shoot it under time pressure from field positions and note your hit rate….
