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

[General RE LEE]

Continuing to search for the best 6.5 bullet for close range (<150 yards) TX whitetail that my kids can also use. I’ve tried 143 Horndady ELDX, 130 gr Sierra TMK, 140 gr Nosler BT, and now the 140 gr NAB. So far the accubond was my favorite result (not a fan of head shots, young shooters mentioned above). Granted, shot placement here was ideal. Looking forward to trying again at different angles.

16.5” Tikka 6.5 creedmoor
MV = 2,489 fps
140 gr Nosler AB handload

View attachment 810982View attachment 810983View attachment 810985

Try Hornady 129 Interlocks.

 

[MHWASH]

@djsam

Whenmy boys were younger, I loaded up the Hornady 100gr sp in my 260.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Continuing to search for the best 6.5 bullet for close range (<150 yards) TX whitetail that my kids can also use. I’ve tried 143 Horndady ELDX, 130 gr Sierra TMK, 140 gr Nosler BT, and now the 140 gr NAB. So far the accubond was my favorite result (not a fan of head shots, young shooters mentioned above). Granted, shot placement here was ideal. Looking forward to trying again at different angles.

16.5” Tikka 6.5 creedmoor
MV = 2,489 fps
140 gr Nosler AB handload

Might look at an ELDm or the Berger Elite Hunters. I posted some pics from an elite hunter kill a little bit back that was a Texas sub 100yd shot. Pretty devastating, was only about 15 yards of movement (non CNS shot) after the shot.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Building a 6.5x300WSM and hope to contribute to this thread in coming years. I have the barrel and local smith has the reamer lined up. Bought dies, brass, and bullets today to get smith a few dummy rounds to make sure proper throat/freebore. Gonna try to find a LH magnum bolt for my Tikka, and if/when I get impatient enough, I may have to just get a donor 6.5 PRC and have it rechambered as well so I have a backup barrel. A guy can get the rifle for $629 right now, and much easier than a LH magnum bolt. So we'll see.

After researching on Gordons, I hope to work up to 67 grains of N560 under the 147 ELDM. This load should theoretically achieve around 3,190 MV in a 24" barrel and 3,031 in a 20". The barrel I'm starting with is a zero round count 24" Tikka, and if the numbers prove to be close, I may chop it to improve handling with suppressor.

 

[dirtshooter]

I got a line on a bunch of 130gr TMK, are people using these in 65cm? How do they compare to 142 LRAB?

 

[ztc92]

I got a line on a bunch of 130gr TMK, are people using these in 65cm? How do they compare to 142 LRAB?

Lots of examples of people using the 130 TMK in this thread if you look back or search. I used them on a mule deer this year and found them to be devastating. My tikka shoots them well and they have pretty good BC in exchange for less recoil compared to 140+ grain bullets. I can’t compare them to the 142 LRAB as I have no personal use, but from what I’ve read, the TMK will create a larger wound and do so better at lower velocities in comparison to the LRAB.

 

[The Guide]

Lots of examples of people using the 130 TMK in this thread if you look back or search. I used them on a mule deer this year and found them to be devastating. My tikka shoots them well and they have pretty good BC in exchange for less recoil compared to 140+ grain bullets. I can’t compare them to the 142 LRAB as I have no personal use, but from what I’ve read, the TMK will create a larger wound and do so better at lower velocities in comparison to the LRAB.

I think the 130 TMK is the best short barrel 6.5CM bullet with the lower terminal velocity requirement, good BC, and ability to drive it faster than the 140+ grain projectiles. I'm looking at building a shorty 6.5CM or 308 and the 130 TMK has the best numbers based on the modeling I've done.

Jay

 

[Bluumoon]

I got a line on a bunch of 130gr TMK, are people using these in 65cm? How do they compare to 142 LRAB?

I can vouch for a couple at 1700fps and .80”’ 10 shot groups. Check “wholesale hunter”, they had by far the best prices on them

 

[sierracharlie338]

I got a line on a bunch of 130gr TMK, are people using these in 65cm? How do they compare to 142 LRAB?

I’d take the tmk over lrab any day. Much more consistent performance IME

 

[Tanner]

140 ELDM 330 yards

140 VLD 100 yards

I have a bunch of other pics but those are the most recent and best animals. Love the 6.5s for all around big game.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I got a line on a bunch of 130gr TMK, are people using these in 65cm? How do they compare to 142 LRAB?

I killed a cow elk at 302 yards with the 130 TMK out of my 16” Tikka this year. No fuss no muss. Great performance.

 

[mt100gr.]

I think the 130 TMK is the best short barrel 6.5CM bullet with the lower terminal velocity requirement, good BC, and ability to drive it faster than the 140+ grain projectiles. I'm looking at building a shorty 6.5CM or 308 and the 130 TMK has the best numbers based on the modeling I've done.

Jay

Based on your modeling, what would you expect for muzzle velocity and terminal range from a 16"-18" 6.5CM with the 130 TMK? Did you compare them to the 130 ELDM?

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Based on your modeling, what would you expect for muzzle velocity and terminal range from a 16"-18" 6.5CM with the 130 TMK? Did you compare them to the 130 ELDM?

This is my dope for my 16” suppressed 130 TMK with the atmospherics in the pic. 45.5 of Staball 6.5 gets me to 2750 at the muzzle.

 

[Tanner]

Ah heck a few more.

Deer between 100-400, elk at 265ish, antelope at 520. Mostly 6.5x47 Lapua with 140 VLD going about 2730 at the muzzle.

 

[Tanner]

 

[The Guide]

Based on your modeling, what would you expect for muzzle velocity and terminal range from a 16"-18" 6.5CM with the 130 TMK? Did you compare them to the 130 ELDM?

The 130 TMK should be 2650 to 2800 fps depending on powder and barrel speed as reported numbers are all over the place. I did not look at the 130 ELDM.

Jay

 

[Ajsomp]

The 130 TMK should be 2650 to 2800 fps depending on powder and barrel speed as reported numbers are all over the place. I did not look at the 130 ELDM.

Jay

The 130 TMK is on my list if/when I move away from factory PRC ammo. With a 20” barrel I’d love to get some more velocity

 

[The Guide]

The 130 TMK is on my list if/when I move away from factory PRC ammo. With a 20” barrel I’d love to get some more velocity

I imagine that with a 20" PRC you would be at least 250 to 300 fps faster.

Jay

 

[General RE LEE]

I must have missed it. What’s minimum terminal velocity for the 130 TMK?

 

[The Guide]

I must have missed it. What’s minimum terminal velocity for the 130 TMK?

1800 for maximum and 1600 for acceptable from what I've seen. Using 1700 as a fair medium and 2650 as my launch speed in a 16" barrel it gives me 700 to 750 yards with good expansion to even further. This means a 16" 6.5CM would give me everything I need when I hike into these steep areas for cross canyon shots and close shots too. I might look at the 136 TA bullet also for close work.

Jay