6.5CM deer bullet choice

[Ridge_Runner]

well guys, the creed is a inherently accurate cartridge, however you must remember, It is a 22-250 capacity case running a 140 gr bullet,, if you break 2700 fps you are fortunate, it is however more than adequate for deer sized game to around 700 yards. I have rifles that burn 80-100+ grains of powder that yes they are more impressive on game but just how dead do they hafta be? I'm keeping mine!

 

[bdbrown66]

well guys, the creed is a inherently accurate cartridge, however you must remember, It is a 22-250 capacity case running a 140 gr bullet,, if you break 2700 fps you are fortunate, it is however more than adequate for deer sized game to around 700 yards. I have rifles that burn 80-100+ grains of powder that yes they are more impressive on game but just how dead do they hafta be? I'm keeping mine!

The main reason I stepped down to a 130gr bullet is to get a little more velocity in the mix. I don't need the extra stability of the 140 at the distances I'm shooting, I'd rather have a little more terminal shock and less drop instead.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

It is for that reason I shoot the 120nbt in my 260rem and have never once thought I need a 140 grain sized bullet. When I think I need a 140 grain sized bullet, I grab a bigger rifle. That bullet has been an outstanding game producer in that cartridge.

 

[TackDriver284]

I used bullet weights from 120 to 143 grains in my 6.5 CM. Whether its 120 or a 143, don't matter to me as long as you put them where you want the bullet to be. I easily did a headshot on a spike two months ago at 175 yards with a 143 ELD X at 2800 fps, even a neck shot on a red stag cow at 250 yards with a 120 Ballistic Tip trucking at 3,025 fps. when she was peering out at me over the backs of the herd. Nosler Ballistic Tips, AccuBond, ELD X or the ELD M, they all work for me. When I see a good deal on bullets from 120 to 143 grains, I grab them and use them as what they are intended to do. They all kill animals, and yes, the higher BC bullets like the 140's - 147's would shoot flatter at distance. Some days I have some 120's loaded up, then i'lll use it, other days I have 143's , or 147's and I just go hunting and kill something. All those bullets shoots so damn good that it puts a grin on my face each time.

 

[misser]

It is for that reason I shoot the 120nbt in my 260rem and have never once thought I need a 140 grain sized bullet. When I think I need a 140 grain sized bullet, I grab a bigger rifle. That bullet has been an outstanding game producer in that cartridge.

I dare say we are on the same page . to me the 264 in either the 6.5 grendel or the 6.5 creedmore is just a step above the 22 size caliber making it a large varmint gun. I put the 120 gr in and its a OMG thing .

 

[Guy Miner]

Whenever folks say that the 6.5 Creedmoor isn't adequate for deer... I think about all the deer my son and I have taken with a 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip from the 6mm Remington or a 100-115 gr bullet from a 25-06 rifle... the Creedmoor uses a considerably bigger bullet than either of those.

FWIW, Guy

 

[Blkram]

Just as an update from my original post, I have used the 130 gr Terminal Ascent bullet (Federal Ammunition) that produces 2855 fps and 0.291" groups at 100 yards, from my LH Browning X Bolt rebarreled to 6,5 Creedmoor with a 24" Benchmark barrel. I have now taken red deer, Fallow buck, and a caribou bull at ranges from 43 yards to 296 yards (red deer). My wife used my rifle with this same ammo on 2 arapawa rams at 121 and 122 yards. No animal travelled more than 15 yards from the place where they were shot, with 3 of them being DRT.

My wife enjoyed using my rifle so much, she bought her own LH Browning X Bolt Hunter in 6.5 CM. It produces 0.420" groups at 100 yards at 2755 fps with the same Federal 130 gr Terminal Ascent ammunition.
The bullet is accurate, robust, and provides great on-game performance at 43 to 296 yards, with animals both smaller, and larger than deer. I would not hesitate to use on larger game, such as moose, out to 300 yards.
(Our African PH says that many of clients, and his son, has used it successfully on plains game up to and including kudu and reasonable distances.)

I have also acquired a Winchester Model 1885 High Wall in 6.5 CM with the 28" barrel, and this same ammo produces 2911 fps from that longer barrel, and is providing 0.599" groups. This is closer to 6.5 PRC performance than typical Creedmoor performance.

 

[bdbrown66]

I just finished doing a bullet test today with the 129gr Hornady SST, 130gr Sierra TGK, and 130gr Sierra GKHP. Going to write it up in a series of posts, lots of pictures to include. Stay tuned.