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Post by nvcaller on Nov 18, 2019 8:42:00 GMT -5
Hi all just thought I would post my results and my opinion , about 6.5 Grendel elk hunting.weapon 6.5 Grendel , 24 inch at stoner barrel,powder CFE 223 bullet Barn's ttsx 120 , velocity 2610fps. First shot was square in the shoulder ,I was trying for a heart shot. bullet passed through the shoulder but didn't make it into the chest cavity.since I didn't have confidence I planned on double tapping and glad I did. Second shot was more archery oriented striking behind the shoulder breaking a rib and through the lungs. The bull dropped in his tracks.bullet lost all of it's pettles an was like a fmj found on the skin on the opposite side. Size of elk he scored field 308 was a 6/8 . thoughts range was 108yrds. 6.5 is to small to reliably take down animals of this size, yes it works , yes he only moved 5 yrds from the first hit. Negative unreliable penatration ,no pass through , no blood trail options. Positive almost no meat damage even the shoulder that was center punched.2nd bullet other than the lungs turned to jelly only 1 inch around the ribs was damaged. I would recommend this for deer under 200yrds and shot placement behind shoulders and broad side just opinion of mine . Hope this helps anyone sitting on the fence.
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Post by potatojudge on Nov 18, 2019 9:00:04 GMT -5
I would agree with that just based on ballistics numbers. I think many of us probably underestimate what a small or short round can do, and that's probably a good thing since we're mostly imperfect hunters and imperfect shots.
I think you picked your load well and the range was appropriate, you just didn't have any wiggle room for placement.
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Post by bula on Nov 18, 2019 9:08:25 GMT -5
Always appreciate from the field terminal ballistic info. Thanks you. Congrats.
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Post by bushog on Nov 18, 2019 9:15:32 GMT -5
I don't know why in God's name people think under gunning is a good idea.
Game is a special gift given to us....as my Native American friends say.
I agree and it should be treated as such.
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Post by gator89 on Nov 18, 2019 11:32:36 GMT -5
Where are the pictures of he elk.
This thread is useless without pictures!
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Post by bula on Nov 18, 2019 13:06:36 GMT -5
What P's me off, and it is NOT NVCaller, is the guys that get a line on a game animal they want to shoot, then turn and go farther... away. Living breathing game treated like a video,,P's me off. If and when they fail and lose a wounded animal, SHAME on them for playing. That's for paper or steel, not flesh. Please.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Nov 18, 2019 17:27:59 GMT -5
IMO, the 6.5 Grendel is a fine MEDIUM GAME, gun. However, heavy muscle and bone require more energy and bullet mass. The Grendel is often compared to the 308win. It compares quite favorably to it with External ballistics, but external ballistics do not kill animals and they certainly do not translate to Terminal ballistics. The 308win. is quite capable of handling a bull elk or moose at 200 yards with proper bullets, the Grendel is not!!!
The medium 6.5’s,...... 260, 6.5x55, or 6.5CM are all capable of equaling and/or surpassing the 308win. in both External and Terminal ballistic areas, please choose your cartridges and bullets to match your quarry..........each and every animal DESERVES a quick and humane death.
I am not trying to bad mouth, nvcaller, it sounds like he did his best to mediate the rounds shortcomings and followed up with more rounds on target since the animal was still on its feet, which is never a bad idea.
congrats on your elk. Trapr
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Fowler
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Post by Fowler on Nov 18, 2019 17:53:19 GMT -5
Well each elk is a rule unto themselves and I am a big proponent of going heavy, my elk rifles are 300 win mags, 338 win mags, and 45/70 but only if one can manage to shoot them well. Power without precision will create the worst possible outcomes.
That said elk are not bullet proof, punch one broadside with a 223 through the lungs and they will die, how far they will travel before toppling over is the question. And the best elk hunter I have ever known killed his first 8 elk with 8 shots as a teenager in the Colorado high country with a 243 before someone told him it wasn't an elk rifle!
That TTSX bullet has an excellent reputation and for a solid copper bullet to disintegrate before reaching the lungs really baffles me. If I was trying to kill an elk with a 6.5mm gun (and a lot of guys are doing it with them these days) it would be one of the first bullets I would look at (I personally always look first to the Nosler Partition and seldom beyond it but 30+ years of success for me are hard to go away from for a jacketed bullet).
But with elk you always keep shooting as long as they are on their feet, I lost a bull years ago when I knew my first shot was money and I was giving the bull time to die. Thought he was more broadside than he was and I smashed the shoulder and had the bullet go out the from of the chest not getting the lungs, lost him after 5 miles of trailing him on 3 legs.
All sorts of interesting life lessons earned on this hunt it sounds like but congratulations on the taking of a fine bull. I just got back and didnt see a hair after 40 miles of hiking big rough country where I have killed many elk through the years.
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cmillard
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Post by cmillard on Nov 18, 2019 18:10:44 GMT -5
Well, all I can say is great job! Also, Elmer did it with a .44 magnum (edit) revolver on a mule deer at what 500 or 600 yards.....razor dobbs has now done it several times on Cape buffalo with a 10mm 1911. Practice to get that perfect shot and choose a good bullet.
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Post by whitworth on Nov 18, 2019 19:08:36 GMT -5
Well, all I can say is great job! Also, Elmer did it with a .44 special revolver on a mule deer at what 500 or 600 yards.....razor dobbs has now done it several times on Cape buffalo with a 10mm 1911. Practice to get that perfect shot and choose a good bullet. It was a .44 Magnum and the deer was already wounded...just for clarification. :-) Placement and a good bullet is what kills, and while I personally prefer bigger hammers, it appears the 6.5 worked...
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cmillard
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Post by cmillard on Nov 18, 2019 19:24:24 GMT -5
Sorry about that Whit, wasn’t he already shot at least once with a .300 wby? I can’t remember for sure, been a minute since I read article.
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Post by sixshot on Nov 18, 2019 20:42:40 GMT -5
When you go messing with elk, or any big boned animal you better be armed with tough bullets, the tender one's just won't cut it. Caliber isn't as important as placement & bullet integrity.
Dick
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nicholst55
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Post by nicholst55 on Nov 18, 2019 23:58:17 GMT -5
The 6.5X55 Swede has been used for around a century to kill moose in that part of the world, so it's certainly capable. I don't know off the top of my head how velocity between the Grendel and Swede compare, but I'd take a Swede with a 160 grain RN cup-and-core bullet over a Grendel for moose - or elk - any day. Wonder how the Grendel would perform with a controlled expansion (premium) bullet?
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Post by nvcaller on Nov 19, 2019 1:40:24 GMT -5
I was on the fence I brought my 300 win with 210gr accubond bullets for open country. The area I hunt never has more than a 130 yrd shot. CO recommends 1500 fp of energy so I wanted to see.I have used a 223 on deer killed quick but no blood same with antelope , since then I have never used less than a 243. The 6.5 looked to be a heavy 243 and 100yrds and under looked like a fare test. The lack of blood trail possibilities was the disappointment and lack of raw penatration. It killed but not like my 338,30-06, or my 300 win . I was disappointed at the 200gr eldx in 300 win on a deer,at 200yrds it exploded the shoulder made a 2 fist diamater whole between the arm and chest and never exited killed yes. Meat damage yes quick kill no it ran 30yrds stood for 20sec then died. Was looking for a bang flop not a deer with 20% meat loss. Nosler gets the thumbs up never had a ballistic tip fail the way the other 2 have . Next is whitetail with speer. I have some guns that just don't like certain bullets that's the experiment. Velocity in the 30 Cal's makes a difference as well.
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Post by gator89 on Nov 19, 2019 7:36:53 GMT -5
Pic of the elk is a must.
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