What caliber for Cow Elk?

[motorhead]

Hi All,

A few friends and I put in for cow elk tags this year. Provided we draw, I was planning to use my 6.5 CM Tikka T3x with 140 Nosler Partitions. I know for bull elk, the recommendation is 300 WM or 7 RM, but would 6.5 CM be acceptable for cow elk? I don't want to be undergunned. I can borrow a 308 if that would be better. I'm not a huge fan of the magnum calibers due to the recoil.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

That would do the trick, just focus on shot placement. Go hunt, have fun, don’t over think it.

 

[Dunndm]

Hi All,

A few friends and I put in for cow elk tags this year. Provided we draw, I was planning to use my 6.5 CM Tikka T3x with 140 Nosler Partitions. I know for bull elk, the recommendation is 300 WM or 7 RM, but would 6.5 CM be acceptable for cow elk? I don't want to be undergunned. I can borrow a 308 if that would be better. I'm not a huge fan of the magnum calibers due to the recoil.

Thank you for the advice.

I know people that have taken elk with a .243, so as long as your best with a 6.5 you’ll be good.


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[CorbLand]

Sample size of one but 143 eldx at 410 yards killed one for me.

 

[Customweld]

There’s no replacement for shot placement. Make a good shot with a good bullet and you’ll be fine.

 

[Rich M]

Ditto, youll be fine. Make a good shot & dead elk.

 

[Brooks]

It will work but I’d rather have the 308 with a 165 Nosler Accubond.

 

[MTWop]

140 Partition will do the trick for sure. You’ll read the same advice elsewhere that I agree with: placement > bullet type > cartridge. Have fun!

 

[roadrunner]

Caliber or cartridge?

Have killed a lot with .277 and .284

 

[5MichaelBoys]

Good shot placement and the partition will work its magic! You should be fine within a respectable range.

 

[motorhead]

Thank you. What would be a respectable range?

 

[MeatMissile]

400 and under should be fine if there is no worry about the animal taking a big fall. If so, I prefer being able to anchor it through both shoulders. Maybe I’m following old dogma, but I even follow it on deer.

 

[bsnedeker]

Thank you. What would be a respectable range?

How far do you practice on a regular basis?

 

[fmyth]

Thank you. What would be a respectable range?

That would depend on your ammunition. You need to know the minimum velocity for reliable expansion of the bullet your ammo is loaded with. Then look at the ballistics published by the manufacture for that ammo and determine the distance that the bullet drops below that velocity. Take the Hornady 143 ELDX for example. According to the manufacture the minimum velocity for reliable expansion is 1,600 fps. Then a quick look at their ballistic chart shows that at 500 yards the bullet is still traveling at just over 2,000 fps. This would indicate that the bullet should still be effective at 500 yards. The manufactures tests are done under perfect conditions so your results may vary. Unless you are a skilled marksman with a lot of experience shooting big game you may want to limit your shots to a shorter distance. When I first started hunting elk I limited my shots to 300 yards. I've shot 3 elk with my rifle now and all were under 300 yards.

 

[Simon1523]

Hi All,

A few friends and I put in for cow elk tags this year. Provided we draw, I was planning to use my 6.5 CM Tikka T3x with 140 Nosler Partitions. I know for bull elk, the recommendation is 300 WM or 7 RM, but would 6.5 CM be acceptable for cow elk? I don't want to be undergunned. I can borrow a 308 if that would be better. I'm not a huge fan of the magnum calibers due to the recoil.

Thank you for the advice.

300 win mag is overkill for any North American game in my opinion, .270 - 30-06 and anywhere in between is perfect, your 6.5 will do just fine

 

[Wyobohunter]

I’d go with any caliber between .277 and .338.

 

[Eyeman]

I agree with all of the shot placement opinions. I can practice for days and months BUT
With that said after years of Hunting I still get some Buck fever from time to time.
So for that reason mainly and sometimes other conditions I usually stick with a heavier caliber.
But thats for me.
Good Luck on your Hunt!

 

[motorhead]

That would depend on your ammunition. You need to know the minimum velocity for reliable expansion of the bullet your ammo is loaded with. Then look at the ballistics published by the manufacture for that ammo and determine the distance that the bullet drops below that velocity. Take the Hornady 143 ELDX for example. According to the manufacture the minimum velocity for reliable expansion is 1,600 fps. Then a quick look at their ballistic chart shows that at 500 yards the bullet is still traveling at just over 2,000 fps. This would indicate that the bullet should still be effective at 500 yards. The manufactures tests are done under perfect conditions so your results may vary. Unless you are a skilled marksman with a lot of experience shooting big game you may want to limit your shots to a shorter distance. When I first started hunting elk I limited my shots to 300 yards. I've shot 3 elk with my rifle now and all were under 300 yards.

This is excellent information. Thank you very much!

 

[motorhead]

How far do you practice on a regular basis?

I am very comfortable to 600 yards. Thats how far my local range goes.

 

[dieselchessy]

I’d go with any caliber between .277 and .338.

So you wouldn’t use a 6mm or 6.5mm on cow elk?


Op,
I’d take the 6.5 over the 308 just due to bullet drop on the 308. Makes range estimation more critical.
I’ve watched both kill cow elk. They died about the same as far as I could tell.