What caliber would you buy for an elk hunt if you already owned a 6.5x55? Thanks.?

Question

What caliber would you buy for an elk hunt if you already owned a 6.5x55? Thanks.?

Answer 1

If you check around the 30-06 is the best all around gun just for nothing else but how versatile it is. any where from gophers and varmints to moose.check it out no other gun has this capability 30-06 has a bullet for everything and can flat shoot long range or short range stop an elephant Period.  But i shoot a 270 because i only hunt deer size game. and like the recoil.

Answer 2

As the others have said you could hunt elk with the 6.5x55, but you could also use this as a good excuse to buy a new gun! If I wanted a gun dedicated to elk I'd probably get a .338 win mag. It can shoot bullets weighing from 200 to 250grs at speeds from around 2600fps to 3000fps. That gives you plenty of power, and the lighter bullets will give you good ballistics for the longer range shots.

Answer 3

140 grain bullets. You don't need a bigger or faster rifle to hunt Elk.

True, you won't have the range of a guy with a 300 Win mag. You are not handicapped, just get a little closer for a humane clean kill.

Answer 4

There are a couple of votes for 338 WinMag already, I see. It's also true that 6.5 will penetrate well with 140 or 160 grain bullets, but it's a bit small, nonetheless. My favorite for the size is 8x68, but it's a hard chambering to find, and factory cartridges are almost impossible to get in the US. If not one of the 300 magnums, a great compromise would be 338-06, now that A-square has made it a legitimate SAAMI cartridge.  Not only would you have a good frontal area and suitable ballistics, but it would be a good "not everybody has one" talking point.

Answer 5

I use a 308 or a 303 British but I also don't take shots outside of 150 yards

Answer 6

Well, if you just want an Elk rifle consider the .30-06 Springfield or one of the new short magnums.

H

Answer 7

I'd buy some premium ammo, or handload, for my Swede and expect to bring home several hundred pounds of elk meat.  That is if you don't WANT to purchase a new rifle.

If you are using this as an excuse to buy a new rifle, and I think it is a helluva fine excuse, I'd look for a Browning BLR in .358 Win, or a bolt-action in .35 Whelen.  I believe both Remington and Ruger offer rifles in .35 Whelen, buy the one that suits your fancy and wallet best, add a Leupold Vari-X III in 3-9X50mm or 4-12X59mm, and you are ready to make meat.

Doc

Answer 8

idk i put the minimum of elk cartridges at the 7mm rem mag and the max at 375 h&h or 375 ruger so if you already own a short range gun i wouldnt go to the store and buy a 375 immeadieatly but i would suggest a 338 win mag because it is a great elk cartridge out to 700 yards and if you dont believe me go on youtube and look up 700 yard elk kill with a 300 not 338 win mag and later if you need an insanely long range cartridge (which i or nobody should really have or need) go with a 338 lapua magnum for 375 power and the flat shooting of a 7.21 lazzeroni mag and if you have 7700 dollars on hand get a lazzeroni 308 warbird which shoots like a 308 penetrates like a 338 and hits close to a 416

Answer 9

The vast majority of big game is harvested within 100 yards or less. I prefer the 30-06 because you have a greater variety of bullet weights to choose from.* I use the 180 or 220 grain.* The 30-06 will harvest any game in North America cleanly and efficiently.* It has been tried, true, tested and proven since 1906.* It has harvested more big game than any other caliber except for the 30-30 Winchester.*

Answer 10

The 6.5X55 swedish mauser should be ok for elk if shots are kept under 200yds. It is a very hard hitting claiber for its size due to the design of the bullet. Stay with the heavier bullets.

The 6.5X55 has even been used to take elephant with head shots.

30-06 would be be my choice if i was buying for any large north american big game.

Answer 11

Your 6.5X55 is fine for elk.  Remember, it is the rifleman, not the rifle that matters.  I have used a 6.5X55 to take game as large as eland with no problem.  I've also taken red deer, oryx, feral hogs, and several deer with my 6.5X55.  I shoot slightly modified Swedish Mauser with a 2.5X scope