6.5 CM - 130 TMK or 147 Eldm

[Chode223]

I’m looking to move away from the mono bullets I’ve been shooting the last few years and shoot a fragmenting bullet based on all the testimonials and photos on the board here. Primarily looking to increase my odds of recovering an animal, but to be honest haven’t had any issues with the 127 LRX and 124 Hammer bullets I’ve been shooting the last couple of years.

So much of this is spread out across threads it’s hard to keep it straight… I’m looking to develop a round as my primary hunting round for deer and for elk in the 50-500 yard range.

Here is what I think I’ve read: The TMK, if you can find it, is a devastating bullet on par with the Eld-‘murder’ but will typically shoot faster/flatter and have a little less recoil than the heavier bullet.

As for the Eldm: if you want to shoot a heavy for caliber fragmenting bullet, this is the one. It’s heavier, has amazing bc, and hits hard. But at creedmoor velocities may be a bit slower and require more dialing/hold over.

All in all, I suspect I’m splitting hairs at the range I can effectively shoot. But if I’m going to work up a load and practice a bunch want to get it right…

 

[bowrunner81]

Im very interested in this as well. Thanks for the post.

 

[06 SB]

I’d be shooting a 130 TGK. Easier to find too.

 

[180ls1]

Why not the 130 ELDM?

 

[bojangles808]

I choose the 147 bc it's easier to find for me and of the 6 or 7 deer I've shot between the 140/147s the 147 seemed to cause more damage. Small sample size I know. I think it has the highest bc too if I'm not mistaken

 

[NSI]

Run them in a calculator out to 1800 fps each. Ignore drop, note the distance and wind deflection in mils for 10mph at your likely engagement distances.

BC is a hell of a drug, but you’ll find speed matters. Use 2550 for the 147s and 2750 foe the 130s unless you have data.

-J

 

[Cactus kid]

Run them in a calculator out to 1800 fps each. Ignore drop, note the distance and wind deflection in mils for 10mph at your likely engagement distances.

BC is a hell of a drug, but you’ll find speed matters. Use 2550 for the 147s and 2750 foe the 130s unless you have data.

-J

This.

I use 2000fps for a little room for error. Sure the 147s might have less drop, but if the bullet isn't going fast enough to expand its a moo point.

 

[mtnbound]

Anymore, I swear I can find the ELDM's at the grocery store, so that's why I go with them.

 

[NSI]

Y'all, zeros are expensive. 10 to 30 rounds plus a range trip expensive. Why are we risking lot to lot inconsistencies (factory ammo) by buying random ammo when we need it? Why not buy a barrel life's or at least a brick at a time? I simply don't get the argument for corner store availability (figuratively speaking).

-J

 

[Natebonebusta]

I’m running a 22” barreled xbolt with 130tmk’s. Velocity with h4350 near max is 2,840fps. This year is the year to find out what they’ll do. My vote is TMK, they were cheaper for me. Based on the 77tmk it made my decision easier.

 

[Castle Rock]

130 ELDM for me, 147 shoots like a rainbow at typical speeds

 

[wind gypsy]

I'd probably start with 130 TMK.

 

[ATL]

I have been shooting the 147’s since approximately 2019. In my rifle, 24” Bartlein, with RL16, I am at 2745 fps average MV. At a 8000’ DA (elk country) the bullet drops below 2000 fps at 760 yards, 1800 fps at 970 yards. Elevation/drift at 500 yards is 2.42 mil/.52 mil (10 mph wind)

With a shorter barrel or a cooler load (2600 fps) the bullet drops below 2000 fps at 610 yards, 1800 fps at 830 yards. Elevation/drift at 500 is 2.8 mil/.58mil (10 mph wind).

You would need to be below 2500 fps MV for less than 2000 fps at 510 yards.

Game I have shot show devastating wounds for a relatively small diameter bullet. Small sample but I have been happy with performance. Farthest shot has been an antelope at 460 yards.

I have no experience with the 130 grain bullets.

 

[NSI]

I have been shooting the 147’s since approximately 2019. In my rifle, 24” Bartlein, with RL16, I am at 2745 fps average MV. At a 8000’ DA (elk country) the bullet drops below 2000 fps at 760 yards, 1800 fps at 970 yards. Elevation/drift at 500 yards is 2.42 mil/.52 mil (10 mph wind)

With a shorter barrel or a cooler load (2600 fps) the bullet drops below 2000 fps at 610 yards, 1800 fps at 830 yards. Elevation/drift at 500 is 2.8 mil/.58mil (10 mph wind).

You would need to be below 2500 fps MV for less than 2000 fps at 510 yards.

Game I have shot show devastating wounds for a relatively small diameter bullet. Small sample but I have been happy with performance. Farthest shot has been an antelope at 460 yards.

I have no experience with the 130 grain bullets.

Hold my beer
1800 at 600 FYI.
-J

 

[Chode223]

Yeah. I’m very intrigued by the TMK based on the great feedback here. Not sure I’ve seen a negative review from those who have used them.

Same thing applies to the eldm, especially when I run the ballistics and see how much better it keeps its speed. Few more negative reviews out there about them grenading or bouncing off bone. Take that with a grain of salt, but it’s out there.

 

[180ls1]

No love for the 120 ELDM? The BC almost matches the TMK but its considerably faster at 2910 fps.

 

[wind gypsy]

No love for the 120 ELDM? The BC almost matches the TMK but its considerably faster at 2910 fps.

0.238 vs 0.273 G7 according to AB's bullet library. Higher sectional density and I assume a thicker jacket on the TMK is also attractive. The 130 and 140 ELDm would be more attractive to me than the 120s unless using a grendel sized case.

 

[NSI]

No love for the 120 ELDM? The BC almost matches the TMK but its considerably faster at 2910 fps.

I haven't seen anyone talk about them here, and have not been able to get any feedback on kills with them. However, I have the slowest possible 6.5cm setup so am considering them. Tikka barrel (slow already) cut to 16" means the only way I'm approaching 2700fps mv is with the 120. The factory loading is inexpensive and shoots phenomenally well for me. Recoil is noticeably lower than the 140-class projectiles. Because of the speed delta, effective range is the same as 140-147, with less elevation correction (who cares) and around .2 mil windage delta at 10mph full value at 600 yards max effective range. That certainly matters, but I don't think it'll matter enough to deter me from hunting with the 120s this year.

-J

 

[2five7]

Why change if what you are using is working for you? If you want to fit in here on RS, just tell them you shoot everything with a 223/77 tmk.

 

[ztc92]

I briefly tried the factory 140 ELDM loads but didn’t have a suppressor at that time and found recoil to be more than I liked with a factory tikka. At that point I started reloading 130’s, both ELDM and TMK’s and I haven’t changed since then. I now have a suppressor and have modified my stocks a bit to handle recoil better and I’m revisiting if the recoil increase of heavy bullets is worth the trade off of better BC. I just picked up some 140 ELDM and 147 ELDM to play with but haven’t loaded them yet.

I now have two Tikka 6.5 creedmores, one is a CTR 20” barrel in a bravo that weighs about 13 pounds with suppressor and the other is a 18” lite in a modified factory stock that weighs just under 9 pounds with a suppressor. I hope to eventually put the 18” in a Rokstock and get the weight down to 8.5 pounds. Needless to say, recoil is much more noticeable in the lite compared to the CTR.

As it stands, my working plan is to hopefully shoot 147’s in the CTR, which will be my choice for hunts where weight doesnt matter much or long shots are anticipated. I suspect I’ll stick with the 130’s in the lighter rifle but I want to see how it feels with the 147’s before I decide for sure.