Recommend me a new hunting rifle.

[Potashminer]

Shoot your 6.5 Creed more. More horsepower that you don’t shoot enough is the wrong direction to be going.

I would go with this. I got my first elk with 308 Win. My son got his first elk with same rifle. My hand loads. I was with my Dad when he got a 5x5 with his 30-06 with factory loads - all guns used were using 165 grain bullets and the 308 Win hand loads chrony about the same as those factory 30-06 - for 165 grain bullets. I would think your 6.5 Creed would be "enough gun" for elk. I went to help a crew recover an elk - shooter was using a 30-30 rifle - elk are not deer - I have taken many dozen head of deer, but only three elk - you do not fire once and watch a elk run 100 yards down a cutline, then turn into the bush - I will never forget his words "What was I supposed to do, shoot it in the ass end?" Actually, yes - so read how to stop and how to kill big animals - those are NOT the same thing - "stopping" and "killing".

 

[remington jim]

I was wondering how close to advertised they were. I was into the 2950 mark with 7x57 in my rem700mtn with 150 noslers. Thought to myself why would I need a 7mm mag. I did back off a bit for brass life to 2850ish.

I’ve radared 7 RM 160 s in the 2800 s and 175 s under 2700 fps

 

[remington jim]

You're no fun. I even have my wife on board with me getting a new gun... LOL.

I keep hearing this debate, though. It seems like the consensus is that the 6.5 is too light to use ethically on elk and moose. I am pretty accurate with mine, and I am completely comfortable shooting game with it out past 300 meters, but, is there enough kinetic energy in it at that distance to do enough damage to an elk or moose?

I have loaded up some 130-grain tipped Sierra Game Kings that cook at about 2800 FPS for deer this year. I could easily make up some 143 ELD-X or whatnot. If it's capable, then I am willing to do it; I just want to make sure I am ethical about it.

I think you should have a 30-06

 

[Mulletard]

I’ve radared 7 RM 160 s in the 2800 s and 175 s under 2700 fps

Seems like sticking to euro ammo is the only way to go for stuff if you don't handload.

 

[leveractionjunkie]

The bullet kills, not the cartridge or head stamp.

Your 6.5 will kill very well within the ranges specified.

Select an appropriate bullet then load or buy lots of them, shoot most of them in thought out practice sessions from field positions until it becomes second nature.

Kill whatever you want with your 6.5 after becoming surgical with it. Burn the barrel out and then repeat.

 

[inthehizzy]

Tikka CTR, Weatherby/Howa.

 

[Joel]

I think you should have a 30-06

Load it light its a 308. Load it as hot as Jim does its a 300 mag lol

 

[RangerGreen]

Tikka T3X in stainless, 30-06.

Tikka actions are smooth and the quality is exceptional given the price.

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

Shoot your 6.5 Creed more. More horsepower that you don’t shoot enough is the wrong direction to be going.

This would be my vote. Especially given the OP appears to have budget as a high priority. IMO/E, putting even half the cost of a new rifle into ammunition and using it to practice field style shooting, especially timed, will pay much larger dividends.

We haven’t had any deer, sheep, elk, or moose walk away from our 6.5CMs.

 

[Rman]

What else can’t you kill elk with?

Is this a riddle?
You can't kill an elk with a cup of coffee?
A bottle of booze?
A tin of dip?
A cup of tea?

Perhaps a hat?

R.

 

[FLHTCUI]

What else can’t you kill elk with?

More importantly though, "Can you roller skate in a Buffalo Herd" ?

 

[Joel]

This would be my vote. Especially given the OP appears to have budget as a high priority. IMO/E, putting even half the cost of a new rifle into ammunition and using it to practice field style shooting, especially timed, will pay much larger dividends.

We haven’t had any deer, sheep, elk, or moose walk away from our 6.5CMs.

Happy to hear its doing so well for you. Never noticed/felt a desire for anything bigger on the moose and elk?

Is this a riddle?
You can't kill an elk with a cup of coffee?
A bottle of booze?
A tin of dip?
A cup of tea?

Perhaps a hat?

R.

Sounds like a Dr Seuss book

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

Happy to hear it’s doing so well for you. Never noticed/felt a desire for anything bigger on the moose and elk?

No Sir. We’ve taken a bunch of deer and elk, and a few moose with the 708s and 6.5CMs now. Everything has expired rapidly, just like it used to when we used the 3o/o6, 7RM & 338WM.

It’s almost a cliche, but within limits, the chambering/cartridge really doesn’t matter IME. It’s mostly bullet and shooter.

 

[Rman]

More importantly though, "Can you roller skate in a Buffalo Herd" ?

Nothin a feller can't do with enough courage!

R.

 

[Rman]

Sounds like a Dr Seuss book

Makes about as much sense as the original reply...

R.

 

[Rman]

No Sir. We’ve taken a bunch of deer and elk, and a few moose with the 708s and 6.5CMs now. Everything has expired rapidly, just like it used to when we used the 3o/o6, 7RM & 338WM.

It’s almost a cliche, but within limits, the chambering/cartridge really doesn’t matter IME. It’s mostly bullet and shooter.

If folks actually understood how little of bullet is required to reliably and effectively put game animals on the ground, heads would implode.
Killing stuff tends to get way over complicated.
Just like certain parts of this thread...

R.

 

[EJG]

Ahhh, so you need a different bullet for the poor shots. You need a 7mm grenade to take the head clean off? Most people I know seem to aim for vitals, or don’t shoot. It’s called hunting ethics.

I’d hunt anything in North America with a 6.5 creed, except for maybe grizzly and bison. It has limitations as far as distance goes, but a totally capable cartridge.

That is exactly what hunting cartridges are about. One can just not guarantee perfect shot placement every time. In Germany they send you home if you rock up with a 6.5 to a driven shoot. Very few hit the perfect spot on a running boar, one is better off with a slightly over sized cartridge. I have shot deer with 22LR, no problem at short range and a very steady animal but that is it. Why do you think they invented expanding bullets? To simulate a larger bullet and yes it helps take deer down. There will always be the question of meat damage/ethics. Who decides what ethics actually is and who decides what meat damage is OK? I ask myself why should I use a 6.5 if I have a 308/30-06 next to it in the safe?
I have been to some of our hunter shooting tests that need to be passed to receive a deer hunting licence. Mostly more than 50% fail this test. 4" circle at 100yds prone..... So if one one gives advice on which cartridge to choose maybe keep in mind that shot placement is wherever the bullet hits... maybe not where it should have hit.
edi

 

[Bushmaster1111]

So I am in Alberta, and I hunt right along the CAN/US border. I was able to snag an undersubscribed antlerless elk tag this year. I have never hunted anything this large before, and I think I want to step up from my 6.5 Creedmoor to a 7mm Rem Mag or PRC for hunting elk and moose.

I am just looking for thoughts and rifle recommendations on an appropriate rifle for this endeavor. It's a hunting rifle, so I don't need anything extravagant or something I will be afraid to nick up. It will probably see 2 boxes of ammo the first year to sight it in and 5 rounds yearly after that.

Budget-friendly and accurate.

Thanks Hive Mind!

7mm Remington Mag, 165 grain nosler partition has worked very well for me!

 

[Bustercluck]

That is exactly what hunting cartridges are about. One can just not guarantee perfect shot placement every time. In Germany they send you home if you rock up with a 6.5 to a driven shoot. Very few hit the perfect spot on a running boar, one is better off with a slightly over sized cartridge. I have shot deer with 22LR, no problem at short range and a very steady animal but that is it. Why do you think they invented expanding bullets? To simulate a larger bullet and yes it helps take deer down. There will always be the question of meat damage/ethics. Who decides what ethics actually is and who decides what meat damage is OK? I ask myself why should I use a 6.5 if I have a 308/30-06 next to it in the safe?
I have been to some of our hunter shooting tests that need to be passed to receive a deer hunting licence. Mostly more than 50% fail this test. 4" circle at 100yds prone..... So if one one gives advice on which cartridge to choose maybe keep in mind that shot placement is wherever the bullet hits... maybe not where it should have hit.
edi

Now you’re making claims of taking deer with a 22lr, but the creedmoor isn’t enough.

Too funny.

 

[Joel]

Now you’re making claims of taking deer with a 22lr, but the creedmoor isn’t enough.

Too funny.

Not that hard to understand really. A shot between the headlights with a 22 kills a lot faster than a lung shot with lots of bigger guns. Or a shot placed too far back or...

He never said 6.5 wasn't enough. He said he wants shorter runs. I get it. Especially in a place where the property on which you are shooting the animal is small. Likewise in Europe where shots are commonly taken on running/driven game they want something with more leeway.

Different countries, different norms. Unless you can demonstrate they have a higher percentage of wounded and unrecovered game than we do, it cannot be called unethical.