Hunting & Fishing 6 CM for Elk ( Daughters Rifle)

[HogsLife]

I know this topic has been beat to shit but I just had a good opportunity come up for my 12 year old daughter (about 85lbs soaking wet) to get a cow elk this coming November. This would be her first kill as she just got her hunting license last year.

The original plan for her build was 1 build that could do it all. A switch barrel set up with a Big Horn Origin SS Barrel .224 for training and a 6CM (Proof CF) for hunting. Eventually when she got bigger we could bump her up to a 6.5 CM if she wanted or even up to a 6.5PRC , but I don’t believe she’s there yet. Went with the Origin due to the floating bolt head, and availability of pre-fit barrels. She’s wrong handed so I’m not into spending the $$$ and building her multiple rifles.

Now that this hunt came up, I’m actually wondering if I should just bump her up to the 6.5 now. As of now we have her the following:

Manners MCS-CS Carbon Fill w/ Mini Chasis
Bighorn Arms Origin

Right now I’m leaning towards a 20” Proof CF Sendero w/ brake in either a 6 or 6.5CM. Nice, light, compact hunting rifle and when it’s time to train and shoot matches she can stick the SS barrel on to add the weight and be GTG.

I dont foresee any shot past 300yds for her and probably a lot closer. What do you guys think? I know plenty of elk have been taken with heavier 6mm bullets, and I’m not sure if she’s ready for a 6.5 recoil pushing 140 class rounds just yet. Looking for your thoughts. FYI, a big factor for my hunting rifles is the availability of high quality off the shelf factory ammunition, so I’m pretty well stuck on either of those 2 calibers for her.

FWIW, I know there’s better calibers for elk out there, but 95% of her hunting will be small to medium sized game (deer, antelope, varmints etc) a 6mm will work just fine. It’s this cow elk hunt that’s got me thinking though.

Appreciate it guys.

 

[beretta_man11]

How about a reduced charge in a 140? Run it around 2500fps instead of 2800. Energy wise, it would be just barely less than a 108 6cm running 2900+

 

[davsco]

no one feels the recoil in the field. i know prob every animal on earth has been killed with a measly .22LR, but i think we owe it to our game to kill them as quickly as possible, and 6mm is on the weak side. get a heavier (gun weight) 6.5cm (or even 308, esp if inside a few hundred yards) and put a good brake on it. and/or have her wear a heavy jacket/shoulder padding when practicing.

 

[HogsLife]

no one feels the recoil in the field. i know prob every animal on earth has been killed with a measly .22LR, but i think we owe it to our game to kill them as quickly as possible, and 6mm is on the weak side. get a heavier (gun weight) 6.5cm (or even 308, esp if inside a few hundred yards) and put a good brake on it. and/or have her wear a heavy jacket/shoulder padding when practicing.

I agree. She won’t feel it, and it’s better to have more gun than not enough. The upside to her having a 6.5 is she won’t put grow it and I have one too so it keeps the re-loading simple.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

I think both @psinclair and @Cinch have been in on elk killed with a 6 Creed. One of them might pipe in...