6.5 vs 308

[buckfvr]

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.

   RTFOP

[jason stevens]

Awesome opinions everyone. Thank you very much for all the input.

[W_Ellison2011]

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.

The 6.5 cm has stacked quite a body count of deer, elk, bears, etc since it came put. Its almost on par with the 6.5-284 and people have one and done on elk out to 700-800 yards with that round. Im not saying the average shooter/hunter should try that… but the 6.5 cm with the right bullet and you doing your job right, will drop an elk. Personally i prefer my 300 win mag or 300 wby mag… but if i had to choose between a 6.5 cm and a .308 win, id probably choose the 6.5 cm as an overall round. You can kill game animals with it or load up some match/lr bullets and pop targets at 1,000 yards and a mile relatively easily.

[D-Rock425]

I'm certainly no expert on gun ballistics but I think you're be fine with either one you have. 

[Rick]

Elk are only armor plated on the internet. Either one of the cartridges asked about will kill any elk that walks the earth. My personal preference would be the .308 Winchester shooting 165gr bullets. The Creed just doesn’t excite me.

[Igor]

The 6.5 cm has stacked quite a body count of deer, elk, bears, etc since it came put. Its almost on par with the 6.5-284 and people have one and done on elk out to 700-800 yards with that round. Im not saying the average shooter/hunter should try that… but the 6.5 cm with the right bullet and you doing your job right, will drop an elk. Personally i prefer my 300 win mag or 300 wby mag… but if i had to choose between a 6.5 cm and a .308 win, id probably choose the 6.5 cm as an overall round. You can kill game animals with it or load up some match/lr bullets and pop targets at 1,000 yards and a mile relatively easily.

Not trying to be a PITA, but everybody, except a very few, are an "average shooter/hunter".

There is a world of difference, ballistically, between a 6.5 cm and a .300 WM, or a .300 Wby Mag.

[AROTTY]

The great grandpappy to the 6.5 CM, the 6.5x55 has killed close to a million moose over the last century. Food for thought.

[jason stevens]

This was a question of caliber not shooter. I can shoot very accurate. An can haven't elk with a bow. My question was caliber difference not accuracy otherwise I would have said that.

The 6.5 cm has stacked quite a body count of deer, elk, bears, etc since it came put. Its almost on par with the 6.5-284 and people have one and done on elk out to 700-800 yards with that round. Im not saying the average shooter/hunter should try that… but the 6.5 cm with the right bullet and you doing your job right, will drop an elk. Personally i prefer my 300 win mag or 300 wby mag… but if i had to choose between a 6.5 cm and a .308 win, id probably choose the 6.5 cm as an overall round. You can kill game animals with it or load up some match/lr bullets and pop targets at 1,000 yards and a mile relatively easily.

Not trying to be a PITA, but everybody, except a very few, are an "average shooter/hunter".

There is a world of difference, ballistically, between a 6.5 cm and a .300 WM, or a .300 Wby Mag.

[jason stevens]

I messed up the last quote. So my original theory was on caliber between the 2 not accuracy.  I can shoot better then most an I know a bow hunter can harvest an elk with a stick an blade. So let's keep it to that.  Big calibers can do the trick for people you can't shoot they need that knock down power. But I believe in 1 shot 1 harvest. 300 yards was pushing it for me for clean kill. Don't want the animal to suffer. Just wanted opinions

[johnbmyersii]

I messed up the last quote. So my original theory was on caliber between the 2 not accuracy.  I can shoot better then most an I know a bow hunter can harvest an elk with a stick an blade. So let's keep it to that.  Big calibers can do the trick for people you can't shoot they need that knock down power. But I believe in 1 shot 1 harvest. 300 yards was pushing it for me for clean kill. Don't want the animal to suffer. Just wanted opinions

I've killed multiple deer (mules and whitetail) and a very large black bear all with one shot with a 6.5 shooting the 143 ELDX and varied ranges from 100 put to 350 yards and none have gone more than 30 yards. A friend has also killed a Roosevelt cow at 250 and the round put a tennis ball sized hole in the ribs. I've recovered perfectly mushroomed bullets like the picture shows on the box. My limit is 400 yards and I won't hesitate to shoot any Washington animal with a 6.5. I also shoot a lot and am very proficient with my rifle.

[jason stevens]

I messed up the last quote. So my original theory was on caliber between the 2 not accuracy.  I can shoot better then most an I know a bow hunter can harvest an elk with a stick an blade. So let's keep it to that.  Big calibers can do the trick for people you can't shoot they need that knock down power. But I believe in 1 shot 1 harvest. 300 yards was pushing it for me for clean kill. Don't want the animal to suffer. Just wanted opinions

I've killed multiple deer (mules and whitetail) and a very large black bear all with one shot with a 6.5 shooting the 143 ELDX and varied ranges from 100 put to 350 yards and none have gone more than 30 yards. A friend has also killed a Roosevelt cow at 250 and the round put a tennis ball sized hole in the ribs. I've recovered perfectly mushroomed bullets like the picture shows on the box. My limit is 400 yards and I won't hesitate to shoot any Washington animal with a 6.5. I also shoot a lot and am very proficient with my rifle.

Thank you for that. This was not a pissing match just a general question for others opinions.. an there has been alot of real opinions that I appreciate.

[jason stevens]

I really appreciate everyone's opinion on this post it has helped me alot. So thank you good or bad it helps

[Caseknife]

You will be good with either rifle/round.  I personally have killed 5 elk and numerous whitetail with the 6.5 Creedmoor.  I am not a proponent of the blow up/shrapnel bullets just for the fact that I don't want to consume the lead and don't want the lead particles in the scraps that I feed the local eagles and other birds.  I have found that monometal bullets do not create the bloodshot that cup and core bullets do.  I load the 120TTSX or 127LRX in my Creedmoor.  My biggest bull fell with one shot at 140 yards with the Hornady 120GMX.

Congrats on the tag and go kill an elk with which ever rifle you like.

[Magnum_Willys]

Call me a prude, would prefer 6.5 prc for elk over the cm or .308.   Over 300 yd prefer .338 wm.  Over 600 prefer Lapua / 338-378.  But this is just from actual experience which may skew my judgement.

[hunter399]

Ya or just buy a 7mm rem mag
And harvest EVERYTHING in North America

Never pickup another rifle and never look back.
 
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