The BIG QUESTION is ?
A.) Should I haul and place the gravel out of my Camero two door coupe that is nimble and easy to maneuver into the side yard. I would have to make several dozen, if not a hundred trips, to the gravel sales yard to haul the gravel necessary in the Camero. {What about the wear and tear on the Camero interior?}
OR
B.) Should I use my Chevy 4X4 pickup truck to haul and place the gravel? I could haul the gravel in about 7 trips and not beat up my truck.
Easy answer -- USE THE PICKUP TRUCK.
So what does this have to do with hunting and shooting? The burr under my saddle is the current news and popular sentiment riding on the wind with all the shooting sports writers touting the 6.5 Creedmoor as the "perfect" rifle cartridge for all centerfire aspects of hunting and target shooting.
In a phrase -- I don't think so.
I grant the populace, who are wind-surfing, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a a light recoiling, accurate, and ballistically advantaged cartridge. It is chambered and sold in a variety of platforms and performs well at the long distance target shooting matches. I grant all the target shooters and small varmint hunters humble agreement about their rifle the 6.5 Creedmoor. However, I can't give up my "REAL" rifles for shooting distance and shooting at big game at distance. The Creedmoor fans always want to look at the numbers -- so let's look:
6.5 Creedmoor 129 gr. Barnes Triple shock bullet b.c. .468 at 5,000 elevation 69º and 15% humidity started at 2,700 fps at the muzzle results in the following ballistics performance:
100 yards 200 yards 300 yards 400 yards 500 yards 800 yards 1,000 yards
f.p.s 2643 2486 2335 2335 2189 1589 1377
ft. lbs 1969 1743 1537 1351 1183 723 543
M* 48 45 42 40 37 29 25
300 Rem Ultra Mag. 180 gr. Barnes Triple shock bullet b.c. .453 at 5,000 elevation 69º and 15% humidity started at 3,330 fps at the muzzle results in the following ballistics performance:
100 yards 200 yards 300 yards 400 yards 500 yards 877 yards 1,000 yards
f.p.s 3147 2966 2793 2625 2464 2015 1745
ft. lbs. 3958 3516 3117 2775 2428 1630 1217
M* 81 76 72 67 62 49.5 44.8
*M = a relative term for "momentum" calculated by Kevin Robertson, Doctari, in his life as a P.H. and veterinarian in Africa. His book "The Perfect Shot" is enlightening to say the least. He covers what makes an animal die and how the bullet accomplishes this task. He has personally witnessed 1,000's of animals taken by various firearms and calibers. He knows his business. Dr./P.H. Robertson calculated the momentum of a caliber to be a relative penetration and killing coefficient. He firmly believes a M factor of 125 is required for dangerous game especially elephant and buffalo. M = (velocity x bullet weight in grains)/7000 {Note: the .300 RUM has the same M value at 877 yards as the 6.5 Creedmoor does at muzzle.}
I have two dear friends that guide for black and brown bears in Alaska on the coast and on the islands near Juno -- they require clients to use a .375 H and H magnum or bigger caliber for their bear hunts. They, and their clients, have survived all theses years by sticking to their experience and the minimum caliber requirements. The old sage Elmer Keith said use enough gun. A wise man told me years ago "You can't kill 'em too dead."
I just want the world to know I respect a good shooting rifle as much as the next guy. As was recently stated by Wayne Van Zwoll in a national publication, "There are a lot more .25" accuracy capable rifles out there than there are .25" accuracy capable marksmen." I like to punch holes in targets. I like to take varmints out at obscene distances. {When telling the tale I usually add 10% to the yardage just to be on the safe side.} I also believe when it is time to be a real sportsman and shoot the elk or moose or other large critter at distance a sincere real rifle should be used. An 800 lbs. elk with a 129 gr. 6.5mm bullet putting along at 2048 f.p.s. shot through his lungs at 500 yards will eventually die. The shooter may or may not find his game and complete the harvest in an ethical manner. The same elk with a 180 gr. .308 " bullet traveling at 2428 f.p.s shot the same place will expire within 200-300 yards. The hunter will find and ethically take his trophy home. Quartering shots are a whole lot worse for the little 6.5 Creedmoor. The .300 RUM will traverse the elk body and take him down.
If your heart is set on a 6.5 Creedmoor -- get one. If you can punch tight groups on paper at 500 - 1,000 yards with it that is sooooo cool. Please don't try and take a big nice respect worthy game animal at the target distances you shoot with your low impact rifle round. Move in closer and take the big beast at 100 to 150 yards when you can make sure of power and shot placement. The game deserves the respect of an ethical kill not a blood letting wounding and slow death with lost game and wasted meat.
My favorite calibers? Sure: {let me know yours -- I am interested}
A. small game and targets .22LR .36gr HP
B. medium varmints and long range varmints .22-250 w/ 55 gr. Nosler ballistic tips
C. smaller big game (coyotes) .308 Win. 130 gr. Hornady spire point bullets
D. deer/ pronghorn/ springbok, warthog 300 yards and less .30-06 165 gr. mono-metal bullets
E. elk, zebra, hartebeest, kudu, oryx, bison etc. 300 yards and less .338 Win Mag. 225 gr.mono-metal bullets
F. elk and above list E. at distance 400 yards and more .300 RUM with 180 gr. mono-metal bullets
G. bears and mean things 150 yards or less .458 Win Mag (over 150 yards get closer or run away)
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