Western Hunting Journal, Premiere Issue whj001_premiere | Page 44

SHOOTING

Cross selection of small , medium and big game cartridges . L-R : . 243 Win ( 100gr ), 6.5 Creedmoor ( 120gr ), 6.5 Creedmoor ( 143gr ), 7mm- 08 ( 139gr ), . 270 Win . ( 130gr ), . 30-06 ( 180gr ), 7mm Rem Mag ( 162gr ), 300 Win Mag ( 180gr ). high accuracy , it will very likely help you make that perfect shot .

Ballistic Comparisons for Larger Big Game ( Elk , Bear )

In the accompanying chart we compare two popular cartridges for mule deer . It ’ s clear the 6.5 Creedmoor does a great job of stacking up to the bigger 7mm-08 . The high bullet co-efficiency again lends itself to being a more wind resistant bullet .

Ballistic Comparisons for Medium Big Game ( Mule Deer , Bighorn Sheep )

Because a mature bull elk can weigh upwards of 500 to 600 pounds it stands to reason that many elk hunters opt for a bigger magnum . But is that really necessary ? It ’ s often assumed that to kill an elk , a cartridge like a 7mm Magnum is a necessity to put an elk down , but remember that 6.5x55 Swedish round that I mentioned earlier ? Sharing very similar ballistic characteristics to the 6.5 Creedmoor , Swedish and Norwegian hunters have been using this round for over a century to hunt and effectively kill moose of very similar size to our North America elk , proving quite convincingly that the magnums some of us Americans are so proud of aren ’ t really necessary for the larger big game species .

Looking at the ballistic comparisons , the little 6.5 Creedmoor looks pretty attractive even when stacked up against some heavy hitters like the 7mm Rem Mag and the . 300 Win Mag , a couple of definite traditional elk killers . While the energy retained at 300 yards suffers compared to these larger rounds , the impressive sectional density of the 6.5 more than helps keep it an effective elk round at reasonable distances . And again , the high bullet co-efficiency of these bullets helps give them wind bucking ability comparable to the bigger magnums , giving the shooter as much margin of error when reading the wind is possible . It ’ s not until you get out well past 800 yards does this round drop below the 1600fps that Hornady is recommending as a minimum speed for proper expansion .

This chart of popular cartridges for larger big game species shows just how well the smaller caliber 6.5 Creedmoor can stack up against some of the more traditional cartridges . It certainly doesn ’ t deliver the same punch down range that the larger rounds will , but shot placement is always key and given its propensity for low recoil and

kevin madison photo

A quick glance at some of the other western big game species , the 6.5 Creedmoor would be an outstanding choice for bighorn sheep or mountain goats . Both being similar in size to mule deer , weighing between 150 to 200 pounds , the previous attributes would apply to hunting these noble animals as well . And if chasing predators is your thing , the 6.5 Creedmoor can be tailored to those hunts as well . With male mountain lions coming in around 150 pounds , and wolves weighing between 100 to 120 pounds , bullets you ’ d use for antelope or deer in the 130g to 140g class would be perfectly capable here . For smaller coyotes , one could easily size down to the 120g type bullets and still have plenty of killing power and even reduced recoil .

The 6.5 Creedmoor is clearly a 6.5mm done right . The shooting competition world didn ’ t take long to take notice of this round once it was introduced and took an instant liking to all its key attributes — inherent accuracy , high bullet co-efficiency , low recoil , and magazine fed abilities . With today ’ s incredible selection of different weighted hunting bullets now available , the hunting world has embraced it and is taking advantage of these same characteristics in the field . There will always be new hot rod wildcats entering the scene and drawing attention , but when it comes time to shop for a new hunting rifle or simply grab one out of the safe , today ’ s Western big game hunter can ’ t go wrong with by choosing a 6.5 Creedmoor .

As a competitive shooter and avid big game hunter I ’ ve had numerous opportunities to shoot rifles chambered in this round . Each one has been a joy to shoot , solidifying my opinion that the 6.5 Creedmoor is a legitimate big game caliber . As a reloader , there are virtually no issues in determining load development . In fact , this past summer I was able to help friends set up their rifles for their hunts . Each time it was a stress-free experience in finding the most accurate load for their hunt .

Factor everything together and the hunting community has one more option to choose from . Rest assured , it ’ s a good one that more than lives up to its hype . WHJ

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WESTERN HUNTING JOURNAL