6.5 vs 308

[dvolmer]

Both of these guns can kill elk. A 243 can kill elk. But I don’t go on an elk hunt without my 300 Win Mag. Get a 7mm or a 300 Win. Best elk guns.  You can feel good about energy at 400 yards to put an animal down at that size.  Feel confident and your not on the edge. Just my opinion. Lots of people talk about shot placement and bullet design/makeup and this does make a huge difference. But the same shot placement and bullet design out of a 300 Win mag at 300-400 yards will get the job done better than the calibers you are talking about with the same shot placement and bullet design. No need to mess around and you owe it to the animal for a quick kill. Just my opinion.

[duckmen1]

Either cartridge will work but I'd prefer the 308, and no ELD-X bullet no matter which one you use. That's not an elk bullet, in my experience.

Bobcat once again a speaks the truth.
My unpopular opinion, 6.5creed is not an elk gun. Me personally, wouldn’t even use it for mule deer.  Shooting targets and/or maybe a whitetail under 200 yards.

I know of a big desert buck shot a couple years ago through both shoulders with a 6.5 creedmoore and eldx bullet. 250 yard shot and it was a clean pass through and deer fell very quickly. No hesitation on a 6.5 creedmore on a mule deer or any deer. That shooter has been dropping bears and deer all very quickly with eldx bullets on the 6.5 creedmoore the last few years. That is not to say I think it is a great elk round. But deer that caliber is way more than adaquate. Especially for those that think a better constructed bullet could be used than eldx for hunting. But again those deer and bears are getting a hurtin put on them with that combo. Just my personal experience with what I have seen with the 6.5 creedmoore

But in general a 6.5 creedmoore can be an elk killer if the shooter does his job and puts shot placement.

But again a 308 win will be a perfectly fine elk caliber to 300 yards.

[Berin Denson]

Both of these guns can kill elk. A 243 can kill elk. But I don’t go on an elk hunt without my 300 Win Mag. Get a 7mm or a 300 Win. Best elk guns.  You can feel good about energy at 400 yards to put an animal down at that size.  Feel confident and your not on the edge. Just my opinion. Lots of people talk about shot placement and bullet design/makeup and this does make a huge difference. But the same shot placement and bullet design out of a 300 Win mag at 300-400 yards will get the job done better than the calibers you are talking about with the same shot placement and bullet design. No need to mess around and you owe it to the animal for a quick kill. Just my opinion.

I agree with this - it is spot on!

[AROTTY]

Guy went from talking about 6.5 vs 308 and now we have people suggesting magnums. You could recommend a 30-06, 280, 270 etc class cartridge first to gain another 100 yards of range. Anyway to the OP, if you handload you may want to consider a 7-08. 150gr partition will kill elk fine to at least 300 yards. You want to stay above 1500 ft/lbs of energy at impact with a premium bullet for an ek round.

[hunter399]

Poor man partitions that's what I call them.

https://www.speer.com/bullets/rifle_bullets/grand_slam_rifle_bullet/19-1444.html

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010538145?pid=349407

I agree both these calibers will perform well as long as you
Can punch a hole in the right spot.
Posted a couple links to what I call the.
Poor man's partitions.
They work at a fraction of the price ,made in America,
Kinda like the old remington cor lok ,not some foo foo high BC bullet but at 300 yards you just need expanding tough bullets.

[Berin Denson]

Guy went from talking about 6.5 vs 308 and now we have people suggesting magnums. You could recommend a 30-06, 280, 270 etc class cartridge first to gain another 100 yards of range. Anyway to the OP, if you handload you may want to consider a 7-08. 150gr partition will kill elk fine to at least 300 yards. You want to stay above 1500 ft/lbs of energy at impact with a premium bullet for an ek round.

The gentleman who initiated the thread inquired about a proficient "elk" caliber.  It is not out of line for anyone to suggest a magnum.  I think too many of us read these forums and guys gloat about killing elk with a 6.5 at 800 yards, blah blah.  Sure, you poked a hole in the elk and he bled out for two hours... that is not killing elk to me. I agree with you completely at 1500-1600ft./lbs. of energy at impact.  If I were an elk and you were hunting me, I would hope you shoot me with a large caliber rifle.

[Pathfinder101]

Make the choice on rifles, not caliber. Whichever one you more confidence in is what I would choose.

 :yeah:Sound advice.  Both will do the job.  Bring the rifle you shoot best.   

[mburrows]

Both are great, go with what you shoot best.

https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/caliber-battle-308-win-vs-6-5-creedmoor

[h20hunter]

6.5 dbl lung all day with that bullet. 308 depending on bullet, imo send it. Both are proven but as mentioned,  you gotta do your part and put it on the X.

[pickardjw]

Guy went from talking about 6.5 vs 308 and now we have people suggesting magnums. You could recommend a 30-06, 280, 270 etc class cartridge first to gain another 100 yards of range. Anyway to the OP, if you handload you may want to consider a 7-08. 150gr partition will kill elk fine to at least 300 yards. You want to stay above 1500 ft/lbs of energy at impact with a premium bullet for an ek round.

The gentleman who initiated the thread inquired about a proficient "elk" caliber.  It is not out of line for anyone to suggest a magnum.  I think too many of us read these forums and guys gloat about killing elk with a 6.5 at 800 yards, blah blah.  Sure, you poked a hole in the elk and he bled out for two hours... that is not killing elk to me. I agree with you completely at 1500-1600ft./lbs. of energy at impact.  If I were an elk and you were hunting me, I would hope you shoot me with a large caliber rifle.

Well technically, he asked about advice between two specific calibers....

[Igor]

In so many of these discussions about one caliber vs. another caliber I read "If you do your part", and "shot placement is key".
 
Both are important but in many, if not most, hunting situations you don't have the luxury of making the perfect shot, or lots of time.  So, using a marginal caliber for the situation is just not being responsible.  Just my 2¢.

[Berin Denson]

Guy went from talking about 6.5 vs 308 and now we have people suggesting magnums. You could recommend a 30-06, 280, 270 etc class cartridge first to gain another 100 yards of range. Anyway to the OP, if you handload you may want to consider a 7-08. 150gr partition will kill elk fine to at least 300 yards. You want to stay above 1500 ft/lbs of energy at impact with a premium bullet for an ek round.

The gentleman who initiated the thread inquired about a proficient "elk" caliber.  It is not out of line for anyone to suggest a magnum.  I think too many of us read these forums and guys gloat about killing elk with a 6.5 at 800 yards, blah blah.  Sure, you poked a hole in the elk and he bled out for two hours... that is not killing elk to me. I agree with you completely at 1500-1600ft./lbs. of energy at impact.  If I were an elk and you were hunting me, I would hope you shoot me with a large caliber rifle.

Well technically, he asked about advice between two specific calibers....

Please see original post " Do you guys feel that these calibers will put down an elk up to 300yrds."
feel free to contribute your thoughts pickardjw

[fishngamereaper]

In so many of these discussions about one caliber vs. another caliber I read "If you do your part", and "shot placement is key".
 
Both are important but in many, if not most, hunting situations you don't have the luxury of making the perfect shot, or lots of time.  So, using a marginal caliber for the situation is just not being responsible.  Just my 2¢.

Not to be to argumentative  ..but,
along those lines don't take the shot if you don't have it...
So many guys want a magnum caliber in case they have to "punch" through bone...or miss by a little, or can't shoot sub moa and don't want to practice...
The argument can be made for all flavors of hunting methods. Muzzy, archery etc...we owe it just as much to animals to take the good shot and not force it because we brought the big gun with us...

In the ops case we have two options and a distance range..
Both options will work just fine. That's real world experience. Not paper math or what someone says on a hunting show....

Anyway...in typical hunt wa fashion we've turned this into a best elk caliber thread 

[pickardjw]

Guy went from talking about 6.5 vs 308 and now we have people suggesting magnums. You could recommend a 30-06, 280, 270 etc class cartridge first to gain another 100 yards of range. Anyway to the OP, if you handload you may want to consider a 7-08. 150gr partition will kill elk fine to at least 300 yards. You want to stay above 1500 ft/lbs of energy at impact with a premium bullet for an ek round.

The gentleman who initiated the thread inquired about a proficient "elk" caliber.  It is not out of line for anyone to suggest a magnum.  I think too many of us read these forums and guys gloat about killing elk with a 6.5 at 800 yards, blah blah.  Sure, you poked a hole in the elk and he bled out for two hours... that is not killing elk to me. I agree with you completely at 1500-1600ft./lbs. of energy at impact.  If I were an elk and you were hunting me, I would hope you shoot me with a large caliber rifle.

Well technically, he asked about advice between two specific calibers....

Please see original post " Do you guys feel that these calibers will put down an elk up to 300yrds."
feel free to contribute your thoughts pickardjw

Still putting my 6.5 together, waiting on rings. But from my research a 143 ELD-X pushing should hit with 1600+ ft/# of energy at 300 yds. I plan on using it for elk at that range. If my gun shoots 147 ELD-M's well maybe even out to 400 with that bullet, it should hit with 1500+ ft/# at that range.

[Farmer72]

I will say I am not the biggest 30 cal. fan but at those distances and on elk I would probably opt for the 308 over the 6.5 Creed. I like the 165/168 gr bullets for the 30 cal. non magnums so I would probably go that route. If those were my guns and only 2 choices I would be loading 308 with 168 gr Barnes TTSX. Again only my opinion based off the 2 options given.