6.5 creed for Sika? (🪖💣)
- Thread starter PaddyMac
- Start date
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
That depends on where you’re going to shoot the deer.
For neck shots something soft and rapidly expanding, for body shots I like something that holds together and exits.
My compromise solution would be a copper bullet of about 130Gr in .308, that should do it all.
I loved the Federal 150gr with nosler ballistic tip. Just about perfect compromise between longer range ballistics, penetration and not excessive damage at short range.
Wasn't by chance MS ?Fair enough, if that’s your experience.
I used to shoot sika near Tarbert with a few lads that had a lot of stalking there. When they asked what I’d brought (308, 150gn) they rolled their eyes. Said it was the worst for runners. Their opinion was velocity was key. I’m not here to tell you that is gospel but they shot more than most so I wasn’t in the position to argue.
I can say that rutting sika stags have been the bane of my life for runners, hours of searching, seen several heart shot do 300m plus into Sitka, which elicited the shot placement I mentioned. The worst I had was with 120g 25-06, a stag I had called, bumped then re-called and chest shot. Looked for 3 hours, found it but was very close to quitting.
He and his stalkers detest it for sika , as for the reasons you cited
It was yes.
243 and 270 men through and through as I recall (it was ages ago).
On my first day with him I took 5 hinds from a group, all bar one ran deep into the Sitka and it took us hours to find them all.
Went with him and his old stalker who I'm best pals with, last year .
An absolute wealth on sika and he's still as strong as an ox , dragging deer at 74 year old.
As you say,243 and 270, willy had a 300wm and used 110gr through it as well.
Mike's 243 lay down on him last year and it broke his heart to get rid
Good blokes and cracking ground.
Man that was a close call!
Brighty3006
Well-Known Member
It's ok if you dress differently.... and get a creedmoor
stevenedwards
Well-Known Member
Please for give me for not having read the whole post, my comment may be redundant. I have both and they shoot 130 / 140 gr lead very well. You may wish to future proof your purchase and think about lead free projectiles. Don't buy any of the Blaser group brands, mauser etc. as the have slow twist rates in either caliber 1:8.666 which Beverly limits the weight of copper bullet that can be stabilised in my experience. Both are R8's and do not shoot copper 120 gr and up near as well as they do lead, smaller is good.
The 6.5x55 has the advantage of flexibility if you load your own. A little better case capacity and more flexibility when it comes to seating depth and magazine load length if you do not load maybe the CM as the choice can be better and some brands of 6.5x55 are loaded very weakly. A 1:8 twist 6.5x55 would be my first choice given the intention to shoot copper bullets but their won't be much in it. good luck and enjoy
The 6.5x55 has the advantage of flexibility if you load your own. A little better case capacity and more flexibility when it comes to seating depth and magazine load length if you do not load maybe the CM as the choice can be better and some brands of 6.5x55 are loaded very weakly. A 1:8 twist 6.5x55 would be my first choice given the intention to shoot copper bullets but their won't be much in it. good luck and enjoy
Utectok
Well-Known Member
Ehh???
Utectok
Well-Known Member
I’m mystified by this sika are tough animals and need magnums ect… I sort of believed the myth until I shot some. They are rather small animals and seem to die just like any other deer. Perhaps the smaller target fools people but I never had any bother with a 6.5x55 and the guy I was with had a rem mag and kept missing them……
Well designed bullet, good shot placement and driven with a bit of speed does the trick. Like you say, if shot placement is bad, then that is the main fault. I can't understand why people say missing it altogether is better. Yes, from the deer's point of view and in the interest of animal welfare but the margin of error is greater if you miss the animal altogether rather than just missing the kill zone by a bit.
I am always amazed by how much a sika stag skin thickens for the rut. This in addition to fatty layers may help with the building up of the reputation of toughness
I swing back and forth on this.
Sometimes I convince myself that they run more often and further for the same shot placement and bullet. Other times, I think it’s actually all to do with the fact that you’re usually shooting alert animals in nasty ground (re stock, clear fell) at last light, in a hurry.
The one thing I’m certain about is that they don’t leave much of a blood trail, and that means that even short runs turn into ordeals to find.
As has been said
A team in argyll that shot exclusively sika ,hated the 308 and used to grumble when guests rolled up with them, their mantra was velocity is king.
They stated they didn't think the 308 was quick enough to leave a good exit to follow, more specific in the rut.
Anyhoooo
I was there last September October with my creedmoor , using 120gr going 3000fps ,I got on just fine, taking some big angry stags coming to the call.
A team in argyll that shot exclusively sika ,hated the 308 and used to grumble when guests rolled up with them, their mantra was velocity is king.
They stated they didn't think the 308 was quick enough to leave a good exit to follow, more specific in the rut.
Anyhoooo
I was there last September October with my creedmoor , using 120gr going 3000fps ,I got on just fine, taking some big angry stags coming to the call.
Alces Alces
Well-Known Member
Your comment makes sense to me and is an obvious comment based on experience. I can only say my comment was based on 'experience' and what other deer managers have said, some of whom I hold in high regard.Fair enough, if that’s your experience.
I used to shoot sika near Tarbert with a few lads that had a lot of stalking there. When they asked what I’d brought (308, 150gn) they rolled their eyes. Said it was the worst for runners. Their opinion was velocity was key. I’m not here to tell you that is gospel but they shot more than most so I wasn’t in the position to argue.
I can say that rutting sika stags have been the bane of my life for runners, hours of searching, seen several heart shot do 300m plus into Sitka, which elicited the shot placement I mentioned
Who do I go to for a sika Stag? I need to cross it off my U.K. list and is the last one.
Dorset Deer
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