quote:

Originally posted by Lowrider 49:
Ok...now that we are all holding hands again, can we get a beer and deceide where to look for Bin Laden....it might be easier!! At least we can all agree that he needs to be dusted by something big enough to kill an Elk or do you think a slow bleed out would be more appropriate??

NOW that was funny!

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by Rogue6:
.... But if I met up in 'ol Seafires camp I wouldn't feel under gunned at all with my 260 and a 125 partition or a 129 hornady.

Mike,

You or any of your 6.5 mms are always welcome in my camp! I am afraid the 300 Mag will have to stay in the truck, tho.....

Don't tell too many guys in here this or it will ruin my "already soiled reputation".... but in my truck during the elk season, behind the drivers seat there is always a Browning 300 Winchester with a load of 220 grainers and a stiff charge of H 1000 ( 83 grains) with an MV of 2950s fps.....

Never know when you might get a case of magnumitis in the afternoon, or just feel like carrying the rifle for the afternoon since it sets so patiently in the gun safe most of the time.....

That is why they have to stay hidden in the truck tho.,......

I got a draw tag for Powers unit this year... you thinking of hunting over that way this year also???If so, give me a call or drop me an email....

cheers
seafire

seafire/B17G:

quote:

...but in my truck during the elk season, behind the drivers seat there is always a Browning 300 Winchester...

Me. too, up to two years ago. Opening morning for deer, 50 yards from camp, I tried to keep my feet dry crossing a suddenly-swollen stream. Failed miserably, as I rolled off a rock, chest-first into the water, and to keep the .300 WM out of the water, I had to roll over, getting the rest of me wet. Quite a soaking for a stream 8-inches deep. Since it clearly couldn't have been clumsiness on my part, it must have been the gods of the hunt telling me not to carry a heavy rifle anymore. I stopped doing so, and haven't fallen (in that particular stream) anymore. Coincidence? I think not...

Jaywalker

The 6.5's will certainly kill an elk but are on the minimal end of the scale. I would definitely avoid that scapula with that small a caliber as well as anything but an ideal broadside double lung shot. If it sounds like I am a skeptic I am not. I have killed a number of elk with the 270 150 gr partition which isnt a whole lot stronger. On the other hand there are so many more suitable calibers why fool around?

Come on guys....I can't split hairs anymore without my glasses and I can't find my glasses!!!

I had a similar fall 20 or so years back while chasing caribou. I had hip boots rolled down to the knee and fell off a round rock into a waist deep pool. I kept the gun dry until I realized my balls had disappeared looking for a warmer place to hang out. To this day, I don't know how my 700 Rem .280 Mtn Rifle got into the pool, but I was not able to pick it up with my boots. I bent over in the water and then I was completely wet but I retrieved the .280. My friends helped me out of the hole and I walked the two miles back to camp in 50 degree temps. You can probably imagine how dawn cold I was when I got there. Eventually, I warmed up and I found my two little buddies again. One of my "friends" still asks if I found em yet and brought that up at my retirement party.

Life, at this point, is too short to carry a heavy rifle!!!

Gidday Guys,

What is it with falling in rivers. Have done it so many times that the mates I hunt with hardly bothering mentioning Hamish's little dips unless it happens to be particularly spectacular like my last one which I am assured was one to beat my previous efforts.

Beware rocky rivers on a frosty morn. The normally safe rocks become a little slippery when the spray from the river lands on them then freezes. Your feet end up about three feet above your head very rapidly. Must admit I did have a laugh as I saw the funny side immediately through the fog of pain from my right knee which along with my pack took the brunt of the impact.

As always happens with an old soldier you are too busy keeping your weapon safe to worry about your person. The 260 was safe. Pity about my knee which has kept me laid up for six weeks now.

Let me tell you that things do take a little longer to heal when you get older. So take care and if the odd weapon has to be replaced because you have protected your body so be it. It is easier to replace a rifle than a knee or a hip.

When I get the photos of my fall I will post them here so all can get a laugh.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

How the hell did we get to rambling on about falls in rivers when the original thread was about how great 6.5s are at knocking Wapiti/Elk off their feet at 300 metres. Am I getting thatold that I'm rambling like a woman???

Good Lord, Hamish! Can't you see the obvious? It's heavy rifles that have caused all this ad hoc rock diving! "The magnum made me do it!"

Re avoiding scapula shots on elk, however, I don't hink I'd bother. The Swedes and the Norwegians did a study a few years ago (around 10,000 incidents, total) on the effects of different calibers on their "alg" (I think), small moose to us in North America, and found no difference at all in the various calibers, from, at least, 6.5X55 (the most common), though the .30-'06 (next most common (IIRC), and to the .375 H&H. That's no difference.

A later study, concerned over the relatively light caliber of the 6.5X55, tested its penetration. It beat the .375, so the Scandinavians left well enough alone. I suspect there's enough there for just about any shot on elk I'd care to take, since I don't do Texas Heart Shots.

I draw the line at Cape Buffalo, though the less powerful 6.5X54 did in a lot of them in the Earlies. If you absolutely must have a broken shoulder bone, however, there might - might - be a better round than the Swede. (I really hate to lose my "6.5 can do anything" card, though... Seafire sends them out to the faithful.)

Jaywalker

Jaywalker,

That "seafire" fellow sounds like a pretty decent guy!.........


cheers

I'm not a card carrier, but the 6.5x55 is MAGIC!!!....it's that simple!! It's so good that Hilary will probably make it the official caliber of her upcoming campaign to dominate the world or she'll have it banned!!?

Regarding unscheduled bathing or river dipping...best advise...avoid it...it seems to never happen in warm weather...I'm still shivering from a duck hunt last winter!!

When it comes to elk hunting I am a big fan of the bigger bullets. I will make my shots with what I am using or I won't shoot. I usually carrry my .338 when I'm specifically hunting elk, and my 7mmRM when carrying both deer and elk tages.

Last year I happened to be carrying a .25-06 while looking for a nice Mulie.( 7mm suffered a broken scope week before leaving) Just so happens I wound up looking at elk. I didn't take the shot presented because it was to far for the rifle I was carrying. My .338 was in the truck and I wouldn't have shot it either as the 250gr. bullets drop a lot and I wouldn't have been comfortable with the distance.

When all is said and done placement has everything to do with a clean kill. Those who understand what they are using and how placement really affects the end result will be the 15% you don't have to worry about. There are idiots that are out hunting in every state. I've been the "local" when in Oregon, and the "outsider with California plates" the last few years. Funny thing is I've always been me, always have the same attitude, and have never been overly concerned with what gun someone was using.

When people start quoting ballistic tables, carry lazer rangefinders, and such, that's when I'm most concerned.

I like having different rifles for different situations and sometimes the small-bores are just the ticket for what needs doing! When it comes to hunting deer I think most hunters are way overgunned. Nate

This thread sure has taken some wild twists!

I agree that the 140g Partition from a 6.5x55 will be fine to 300 yds. I don't think you will loose anything to the 160g and have a flatter trajectory.

I agree that sectional density comes into play......when comparing bullets of the same construction. I also believe that the premium bullets have changed the game. A 120g X bullet may penetrate as well as a 160g cup and core bullet......and shoot much flatter and extend your range. Not sure the 120g X and 160g are exactly equal penetrators.......but I'll bet they are close and I would rather have the 120g X on a 300 yd shot or if planning on breaking bone.

If it were me, I would use the 120g X or the 130g X and I would intentionally shoot right at the shoulder and try to break bone.......it will shoot right through.

Wow! I turn my head for a minute and you 6.5 guys start running ripshod again!

Well the WIZBANG BRIGADE is back!

Check this out....http://=https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/for.../3411043/m/260108213


Wouldn't have done it with no 6.5....


Ok, before you come after me with both barrels---remember to secure your beverage trays, put you seats in an upright position, turn all portable electrical devices off and fasten your seatbelts.....this all for fun

IV

Looks like a 338 RUM didn't "do it" either as it took a shot to the head to finish the elk.

Yeah, your right. What was I thinking? It didn't "do it." Thanks for clarifying.

I complete retract what I said, definetly would rather have had a 6.5x55.

IV

Maybe you should also learn to judge distance better......or buy a range finder......or get a better rest.....or stop shooting animals at 500 yds. Appears you misjudged your distance or your rest wasn't good enough......since you shot high and hit the spine. Which was it?

Misjudged the distance.

Range finder? Thats good advice.

Better rest? uh.......I think the rest was probably ok.

Your right though--horrible shot placement. It hit the ground in the same spot it was standing. I would much rather it had time to run a 1/4 mile down the hill.

Stop shooting at animals at 500 yards? But the guy at the Wal-Mart said that with the .338 RUM I could shoot them at 700 yards. Is he lying to me? 'cause I was going to trade it in on a .375 RUM and shoot at 1000.....


IV

Gidday IV,

You're right I couldn,t have done it with a 6.5.
I couldn't have done it with a .338 either.

That is alot further than I feel comfortable shooting big game yet. I have just started the long range stuff so maybe in a year or two will be confident enough to do it with a 6.5.

Would never be confident enough to do it with anything bigger than a 30-06.

Use whatever gets the job done for you in an efficient humane way.

Thats the great thing about living in the free world. We can do whatever spins our wheels as long as it doesn't interfere with anothers rights.

I can shoot a truck load of Wapiti with a .243 and its not going to hurt you one iota.

You can shoot as many as you like with your .338 and it is no skin off my nose. I am just glad that you are out there enjoying your hunting just like me.

Aint life grand when you are hunting.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

So are you saying you were aiming for the spine from 500 yds?

I'm guessing you missed your target by a foot. Where will you hit next time? I've no idea......do you?......hopefully it's where you intended next time.

Don't think your story has anything to do with caliber. I'm sure an elkcould be wounded at 500 yds with a 140g X bullet in 6.5 out of a RUM case......then finish the elk off when you get close. I guess I'm missing your point.....how does that make small bores ineffective? BTW, I'm not trying to say the 338 and the 6.5 are equal.......just pointing out your story proves nothing and really isn't a display of fine marksmanship.

One thing is for certain......your eating steaks and I aint!

Out of a RUM case a 6.5 would probably do nicely, the original point of this thread was a 6.5x55, not a RUM.

Where will I hit next time? I hope pretty close to the same spot! I have killed elk with the heart/lung and I have killed them with the spine/neck shot (one was with a .50 cal blackpowder)--- I'll take the spine/neck over the heart/lung anyday!

Also, I never said smallbores were "ineffective", one of my favorite rounds is a .257 Wraith (RUM cases shortend a tad and necked down to .257)

IV

Vandal,

You're on your own here!

Jaywalker

Yeah, I knew that going in....onward and upward!

IV

As I understand it the 160 grain Lapua Mega is the only legal pill for the 6.5 Swede for Elk in Sweden. Can't remember where I read that.



http://www.lapua.com/bullets.html

Fenring:

quote:

As I understand it the 160 grain Lapua Mega is the only legal pill for the 6.5 Swede for Elk in Sweden. Can't remember where I read that.

Nah. The 6.5mm 139g (in its gram equivalent) is the minimum. The second most used cartridge is the .30-'06.

Jaywalker