6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....

[HairyScandinavian]

I've had great terminal results with both the 147 ELDM and the 129 SST out of an 18" sig cross.

The 129 SSTs velocity is impressive out of the 18" barrel, I get 2825 fps from the superformance 129s and only 2475 fps out of the 147 ELDMs. All factory ammo.

Same experience with my 18" Bergara, Superformance 129's was 2821 average and 2544 average for the factory 147's.

 

[curtiswayne101]

153 TMK now available

Sierra Tipped MatchKing 6.5mm, 264 Cal (264 Diameter) Bullets 153

MatchKing rifle bullets are super-accurate bullets with very thin jackets and are held to exacting tolerances in diameter and weight. Their accuracy has...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Robobiss]

153 TMK now available

Sierra Tipped MatchKing 6.5mm, 264 Cal (264 Diameter) Bullets 153

MatchKing rifle bullets are super-accurate bullets with very thin jackets and are held to exacting tolerances in diameter and weight. Their accuracy has...

www.midwayusa.com

I already have a box. Limited experience entering projectiles into GRT but I think i did okay with it. My calculations thus far say I should be able to get 2600fps out of my 18” 6.5x55 and stay under 62k PSI with norma MRP (which is essentially RL22).

I’ll hopefully have some load/velocity data at the end of the month when my new powder dropper gets in off of back order (old one broke and was warranteed).

 

[JayF]

Majority of these were 260 Rem with a few from 6.5 CM.

 

[mad_angler]

...

I’m not sure a blowup without sufficient penetration from either of those bullets has been documented in this thread.

I think the OP was talking about bullets that fragment completely inside the chest. In those cases, the animal is quite dead but can run 50-100 yards without leaving a blood trail. Since he was hunting near a swamp, he sounded concerned about the lack of a blood trail...

 

[Rich M]

I think the OP was talking about bullets that fragment completely inside the chest. In those cases, the animal is quite dead but can run 50-100 yards without leaving a blood trail. Since he was hunting near a swamp, he sounded concerned about the lack of a blood trail...

That is a real/valid concern with most cartridges. Folks sometimes need to drop critter due to property boundaries, or to have the potential for a good blood trail if it runs off into thick cover. The idea of dumping all the energy is good if you hunt open areas.

 

[sierracharlie338]

That is a real/valid concern with most cartridges. Folks sometimes need to drop critter due to property boundaries, or to have the potential for a good blood trail if it runs off into thick cover. The idea of dumping all the energy is good if you hunt open areas.

Sounds like a CNS shot would be more efficient than hoping a bullet dumps all its energy into a chest cavity.

 

[Rich M]

Sounds like a CNS shot would be more efficient than hoping a bullet dumps all its energy into a chest cavity.

Sounds reasonable. Some of those dump it all, fragment, type bullets get the same results. DRT…

edit: I think it depends on shot opportunity & angle and distance as to where the animal gets shot. Typically we shoot for the lungs/heart but sometimes we take a neck shot cause it is a "gimme" at short range and lungs are behind a tree, etc. I'm a big high shoulder shot proponent on deer. Like a big target as opposed to shooting for a head shot.

 

[diverc18]

Was able to sneak a quick hunt this morning. Two bucks down first one was 260 yards slight quartering away bang flop. Outside shoulder was mush and front 3-4 inches of backstrap was shredded. Smaller buck was 280 slightly quartering to tucked into the inside shoulder and exited liver/guts. Ran 40 yards and tipped over. Was still bobbing his head when I got to him. Found some bone shards in the backstraps as well. Both were shot with 147 eldms and both exited