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

[Rooggvc]

Finally get to contribute.
My friends wife borrowed our 6.5 Creedmoor for a late season bull elk hunt. She was shooting my hand loaded 140 ELDM’s.
She was able to get three shots into her bull at 156 yards. We told her to shoot until he was down. After the first shot he took one step and started rocking back and forth. Then she added two more. Approximate impact velocity was 2600 fps.

 

[NateTP38]

Maine whitetail. Shot was only 30ish yards, slightly quartering to and he died within view. Factory Precision Hunter 143 ELD-Xs out of 6.5CM. The exit is in the picture. I quartered for the first time and wasn't thinking about internal damage pics, but chest cavity was definitely a mess. Ribs broken on both sides, lungs were mush, etc.

 

[Osprey87]

For those wondering about close range shots I'll share my experiences. I have shot 4 bucks within 60 yards using a tikka t3x in 6.5cm with factory 143 eld-x bullets exiting the barrel at 2578fps avg.
-Blacktail at 40 yards slightly quartering away, double lung shot. Buck had front left leg slightly staggered back snapped like a twig on bullet exit. Dropped like a rock an no excessive damage to meat other then where the bullet hit the leg on exit
-Mule deer 20 yards broadside, again slightly quartering away double lung. Buck never took a step, bullet caught up on hide on exit
-Mule deer 60 yards broadside double lung, exited through left shoulder. Dead on impact however went 10 yards before tipping over.
-Mule deer 43 yards, this buck was shot in a nasty thick deadfall area. Shot opportunity was a small dessert sized plate at high shoulder, went through both shoulders and spine before exiting. Spine was completely destroyed with bone chunks in a lot of the area during processing, however exit on shoulder was minimal

 

[Osprey87]

High shoulder exit channel

 

[ElPollo]

I took three whitetail does with a 16.5” suppressed 6.5 cm this weekend. I was using Red Mountain match grade factory ammo with 136 gr Scenar-L bullets chronoed @ 2450 fps from my stubby barrel. Shots were 60-120 yards.

My impression was that the Scenars took a bit longer than I would like to upset. All three exited and left 1.5-2.5” exit wounds, but damage on the front half of the shot was pretty minimal. I had one quartering to shot pencil through the right lung and above the heart, only to open up in the liver and guts. Entrances were less than impressive and post-shot travel was 80-180 yards for all three.

I don’t have an issue with the 6.5 cm, but given my sample size of three, I probably wouldn’t use the Scenar in it again for hunting. My plan is to switch to loading the 130 TMK or 130 ELDM for subsequent grocery acquisition.

 

[Formidilosus]

My impression was that the Scenars took a bit longer than I would like to upset. All three exited and left 1.5-2.5” exit wounds, but damage on the front half of the shot was pretty minimal.

That is the expected performance of Scenars.

 

[Carl Ross]

Some additional data. I had mostly moved on from 6.5's to 6's (and just recently 22's) by the time I got more interested in terminal ballistics, so I don't have autopsy pics or wound specifics, but I do have pretty good notes on the shots and the results. Some of the following are from family and if it wasn't my tag I have to go off memory, but I tried to make a note of it in that case. There's more scattered around but these are what I have pics and notes of handy.

I had one bullet performance issue where I believe the impact velocity ended up too low, but for all the rest if a good shot was made there was no drama. At the end of the day, I'd have ZERO hesitation hunting the animals in MT and WY with a 6.5x47, out to the minimum impact velocity appropriate for the bullet of choice.


WY Mule Deer
260 AI
139 Scenar
220 yds
Impact Velocity ~ 2550 fps
Good shot, went a short distance

MT Mountain Goat
6.5x47
139 Scenar
537 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2050 fps
Shot behind the shoulder, slid 15 yds

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
139 Scenar
220 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2450 fps
Shot behind the shoulder, went 30 yds

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
139 Scenar
130 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2575 fps
Shot behind shoulder, went 15 yds

WY Mule Deer (4x)
6.5x47(3x) & 260 AI (1x)
139 Scenar’s
80 yds - 503 yds
Impact velocities ~ 2640 fps - 2100 fps
No drama or rodeo’s on the shooting/killing

MT Bear
6.5x47
139 Scenar
87 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2100 fps
Two shots in the front half, went 20 yds

WY Mule Deer
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
130 yds (this is from memory)
Impact velocity ~ 2530 fps
One shot, no drama, IIRC (this is also from memory)

WY Mule Deer
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
230 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2420 fps
Two good shots, dropped at the second

MT Antelope
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
474 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2125 fps
One shot, slightly low of perfect, went 70 yds

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
575 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2020 fps
First hit was well placed but didn't put him down, he walked 50 yards and stood there, I shot him 3x more and he rolled down the hill, THEN died! This was before I was fully thinking in terms of impact velocity, and now believe this is too slow for consistent performance from that bullet. Due to this experience it was the last year I used it on game.

MT Whitetail
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
260 yds (this one is from memory)
Impact velocity ~ 2400 fps
Shot behind the shoulder, went down quick.

MT Elk
6.5x47
139 Scenar
360 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2270 fps
One shot near shoulder, dropped at shot.

MT Antelope
6.5x47
130 Berger OTM
270 yds (this one’s from memory)
Impact velocity ~ 2450 fps
One good quartering to shot, went down quick.

MT Antelope
6.5x47
130 Berger OTM
~300 yds/159yds
Impact velocities ~ 2420 & 2600 fps
Took an iffy shot at about 300 that I knew was iffy. The whole herd was running away and I saw what I needed to see and put him down, but he got a follow up in the neck after I got close enough to see him again.

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
130 Berger OTM
337 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2360 fps
Had my comp rifle, a perfect rest, and all the time. Put one through his throat despite it not being my preferred placement, instant kill.

WY Elk
6.5x47
147 ELD
516 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2100 fps
Shot him twice behind the shoulder, he walked out of view and, based on the recovery, rolled down the hill shortly after.

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
147 ELD
375 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2250 fps
Put one behind the shoulder, he ran 10 yds, put one in the shoulder and he dropped.

 

[woods89]

Some additional data. I had mostly moved on from 6.5's to 6's (and just recently 22's) by the time I got more interested in terminal ballistics, so I don't have autopsy pics or wound specifics, but I do have pretty good notes on the shots and the results. Some of the following are from family and if it wasn't my tag I have to go off memory, but I tried to make a note of it in that case. There's more scattered around but these are what I have pics and notes of handy.

I had one bullet performance issue where I believe the impact velocity ended up too low, but for all the rest if a good shot was made there was no drama. At the end of the day, I'd have ZERO hesitation hunting the animals in MT and WY with a 6.5x47, out to the minimum impact velocity appropriate for the bullet of choice.


WY Mule Deer
260 AI
139 Scenar
220 yds
Impact Velocity ~ 2550 fps
Good shot, went a short distance

MT Mountain Goat
6.5x47
139 Scenar
537 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2050 fps
Shot behind the shoulder, slid 15 yds

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
139 Scenar
220 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2450 fps
Shot behind the shoulder, went 30 yds

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
139 Scenar
130 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2575 fps
Shot behind shoulder, went 15 yds

WY Mule Deer (4x)
6.5x47(3x) & 260 AI (1x)
139 Scenar’s
80 yds - 503 yds
Impact velocities ~ 2640 fps - 2100 fps
No drama or rodeo’s on the shooting/killing

MT Bear
6.5x47
139 Scenar
87 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2100 fps
Two shots in the front half, went 20 yds

WY Mule Deer
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
130 yds (this is from memory)
Impact velocity ~ 2530 fps
One shot, no drama, IIRC (this is also from memory)

WY Mule Deer
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
230 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2420 fps
Two good shots, dropped at the second

MT Antelope
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
474 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2125 fps
One shot, slightly low of perfect, went 70 yds

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
575 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2020 fps
First hit was well placed but didn't put him down, he walked 50 yards and stood there, I shot him 3x more and he rolled down the hill, THEN died! This was before I was fully thinking in terms of impact velocity, and now believe this is too slow for consistent performance from that bullet. Due to this experience it was the last year I used it on game.

MT Whitetail
6.5x47
140 Berger Hybrid
260 yds (this one is from memory)
Impact velocity ~ 2400 fps
Shot behind the shoulder, went down quick.

MT Elk
6.5x47
139 Scenar
360 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2270 fps
One shot near shoulder, dropped at shot.

MT Antelope
6.5x47
130 Berger OTM
270 yds (this one’s from memory)
Impact velocity ~ 2450 fps
One good quartering to shot, went down quick.

MT Antelope
6.5x47
130 Berger OTM
~300 yds/159yds
Impact velocities ~ 2420 & 2600 fps
Took an iffy shot at about 300 that I knew was iffy. The whole herd was running away and I saw what I needed to see and put him down, but he got a follow up in the neck after I got close enough to see him again.

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
130 Berger OTM
337 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2360 fps
Had my comp rifle, a perfect rest, and all the time. Put one through his throat despite it not being my preferred placement, instant kill.

WY Elk
6.5x47
147 ELD
516 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2100 fps
Shot him twice behind the shoulder, he walked out of view and, based on the recovery, rolled down the hill shortly after.

MT Mule Deer
6.5x47
147 ELD
375 yds
Impact velocity ~ 2250 fps
Put one behind the shoulder, he ran 10 yds, put one in the shoulder and he dropped.

Lots of good info there. Thanks!

 

[ElPollo]

I recognize there are a lot of people out there who like the Lapua Scenars and have good luck with them. I was only reporting my limited experience with them with relatively low muzzle velocities at short to moderate distances. Your mileage may vary. Most of the positive results I’ve seen on this bullet in 6.5 are the 139 gr version with a bit more muzzle velocity or the 155 gr in 308/30-06. For my circumstances, I used the 136 Scenar-L out of a short barrel and I thought other bullets (and cheaper ones) might kill a little faster and result in shorter tracking jobs.

 

[chamois]

I took three whitetail does with a 16.5” suppressed 6.5 cm this weekend. I was using Red Mountain match grade factory ammo with 136 gr Scenar-L bullets chronoed @ 2450 fps from my stubby barrel. Shots were 60-120 yards.

My impression was that the Scenars took a bit longer than I would like to upset. All three exited and left 1.5-2.5” exit wounds, but damage on the front half of the shot was pretty minimal. I had one quartering to shot pencil through the right lung and above the heart, only to open up in the liver and guts. Entrances were less than impressive and post-shot travel was 80-180 yards for all three.

I don’t have an issue with the 6.5 cm, but given my sample size of three, I probably wouldn’t use the Scenar in it again for hunting. My plan is to switch to loading the 130 TMK or 130 ELDM for subsequent grocery acquisition.

I am surprised at the cult that has developed in favour of the Scenars as my experience has mirrored or been worse than yours. My BGS loves them as they give him the opportunity to earn his feed, though! Like this old roebuck that shot at the edge of the forest run into it, like unscathed, for 250-300 yds.

 

[ElPollo]

Good looking dog.

 

[ridgeline]

Fallow doe
6.5 Creed'
140 ELD-M
600yds, Impact velocity 1926fps... DRT

Entry wound



Exit wound

 

[grappling_hook]

That performance at 600 yards; outstanding.

 

[ridgeline]

Had a pard in tow, He's now a believer !! grin. Fat fingered the doubled up pic above should of been the furry exit...

 

[Brendan]

Anyone have any opinions on the 143 ELD-X out of a 6.5 PRC? Looks like MV could end up around 3000 fps with handloads? Good choice for point blank out to 500-700 yards for everything from Antelope, Deer, up through Elk?

Just picked one up, never hunted with a 6.5 before although I do have a much heavier creed and a bunch of 140 Berger Hybrids for Target shooting. Been looking for 156 Bergers but nowhere to be found right now, but at this point I do have until next season.

 

[mmw194287]

Shot 2 deer and 2 antelope with the 130 ELD-Ms this year, no complaints. All pass throughs and one shot kills from 90 to 385 yards.

Killed a bull yesterday with one--476 yards, 20* uphill, quartering away as he walked into a tangle of juniper. Impacted a 2020 or so.

Bullet hit a rib or two behind his diaphragm heading for the opposite shoulder and shredded his lungs. I saw the hit and he wobbled around for 10 seconds or so before sliding down the hill. Big hole on the entrance side, no exit.

Really enjoyed shooting a Tikka 6.5CM this season.

 

[RonSwanson]

Will be testing out the factory 6.5 creed Berger 156gr load on mule dear this season. Chronos at 2689 out of my rifle. 140 ELDs are coming out at 2760.

2 hogs were drt at 450 with 140 American gunner. Both pass through, no autopsy photos unfortunately. Only issue I’ve ever had was with 2 small bodied white tails shot at 50 yards with a 147 eld that did not pass through. Bullet came apart inside and turned the chest into a cave of destruction.

 

[georgiaboy]

260 running a 100gr NBT around 3300. First kill with the new 260 barrel, big GA mountain boar. Not many of these in my part of the state. 275-ish love weight

 

[Wrongside]

6.5CM
147ELD
470 M uphill shot.

4x5 bull. Bullet performed well. It’s been great for us at CM/260 velocities. Hit bone, but exited. Didn’t get many pictures, as the light was fading fast and we had some work ahead of us.

 

[awildswanger]

Happy to have something to bring to the table
6.5 Creedmoor
130gr Sierra Gamechanger
285yds & 40yds
Bullet in hand is where 285yd shot ended on offside shoulder under the hide, secondary is entry of a follow up shot to ease his passing. Devastating internals, but he dropped like nothing I’d seen before.
235lbs, and likely the biggest bodied deer I’ll hunt for a while