Originally Posted by UncleHuck

Hornady's Precision Hunter 143 ELDX in 6.5 creed has dropped to 1308 ft-lbs at 500 and has dropped 44 inches from the 200 yard zero. That doesn't translate into plenty of energy for a clean kill at 700. The 26 Nosler is hotter at 700 than the creed at 500, and it is becoming marginal at that point.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with some of the smaller cartridges listed for long range target shooting. They are not long range hunting cartridges.

A 700 yard shot with a .280 Ackley or a 7mm Rem Mag is marginal, and they are both much better hunting cartridges than the 6.5 creed

I'm not saying it's never been done, but it's not enough energy for a reliable one shot kill, and that's not an ethical way to take an animal. If you want to ethically hunt past 700, then 28 Nosler energy and velocity should be your starting point, and you need to practice a ton.

If it's just target, then I don't care if you are lobbing a .30-30 out there with 200 inches of drop. Hunting is a different responsibility.


Punching paper is not killing critters. You are exactly right. A bullet loses a LOT of energy past 500 yards.