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

[id_jon]

I love my 6.5 CM, but I’ve got a few questions after going thru this thread.

I see people posting impact velocities for the 143 ELD-X and 147 ELD-M that are ~ 300fps faster than what my applied ballistics is showing based on my rifles MV for the 143 X. Are guys just handloading them that hot?

For the 143 X and 147 M, what is everyone aiming for to keep their impact velocity at/above for optimal performance?

What elevation are you at and what velocity are you starting at?

 

[BrentH]

What elevation are you at and what velocity are you starting at?

Pretty close to sea level (<500’), and 2715 MV on the 143.

 

[id_jon]

2715 mv drops to 1800fps at 650 yards at 500' DA and 800 yards at 7500' DA. Bump it to 2815 mv and it changes to 710yds and 880yds respectively. According to Applied Ballistics. So my guess is that guys are either starting faster or at higher DA's, or a combo of both.

 

[ThatDUDE]

For the 143 X and 147 M, what is everyone aiming for to keep their impact velocity at/above for optimal performance?

Above 1800 FPS is what I have read in several different threads on here.

 

[Mountainrancher]

Above 1800 FPS is what I have read in several different threads on here.

I believe 1800 is also the published minimum for the eldx from hornady

 

[packgoatguy]

I love my 6.5 CM, but I’ve got a few questions after going thru this thread.

I see people posting impact velocities for the 143 ELD-X and 147 ELD-M that are ~ 300fps faster than what my applied ballistics is showing based on my rifles MV for the 143 X. Are guys just handloading them that hot?

For the 143 X and 147 M, what is everyone aiming for to keep their impact velocity at/above for optimal performance?

Hornady website says 1600fps...

What's the maximum range for acceptable terminal performance with ELD‑X bullets? - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

It depends on retained velocity and is therefore cartridge dependent. In general, the ELD-X bullets will provide reliable and effective terminal performance up to velocities of approximately 1,600 feet per second. Click here for more information on Hor...

www.hornady.com

Not exactly the same, but I've been loading the 140eld. Very similar terminal performance I believe. At my elevation and with around a 2660fps MV, it doesn't drop below 2000fps until 600 yards, which is plenty far for anything I'm hunting.

 

[Mike Islander]

Pretty close to sea level (<500’), and 2715 MV on the 143.

Elevation matters.

 

[General RE LEE]

I’ve shot the 140 and 147 ELD-Ms, the 143 ELD-X, 130 Berger OTM, 129 grain SST and 140 grain GameChanger (TGK) in my 6.5 Creedmoors.

I loaded 50 143 grain ELD-X for hunting season. I’ve killed most of my deer with the 143 ELD-X and I get the same level of precision and accuracy as the 140/147 ELD-Ms.

 

[BrentH]

2715 mv drops to 1800fps at 650 yards at 500' DA and 800 yards at 7500' DA. Bump it to 2815 mv and it changes to 710yds and 880yds respectively. According to Applied Ballistics. So my guess is that guys are either starting faster or at higher DA's, or a combo of both.

Thanks, was finally able to figure out how to manipulate the elevation in the Sig BDX app.

 

[beerbucksducks]

For anyone who’s interested. I posted earlier, but this is from my buddies follow up shot on an antelope with my rifle. 139 Scenar from a 6.5 cm, mv 2790. 475 yards, impact was in the guts just behind the diaphragm. The bullet was recovered under the off side hide. Recovered weight is 86.4 grains

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Tikka chambered in .260
129 Grain SST
540 Yards

Dime sized entrance, quarter sized exit. I found chunks of lung 30 yards behind him. The deer didn’t take a single step. 232 lbs on the scale, with the guts and vitals removed in the field. Big northern minnesota deer up here.

Here’s what’s left of his heart.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Lmao jeeze man. I've got a pile of Superformance SST's in 6.5 CM and sure love the added velocity for that caliber but they sure make a mess.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Lmao jeeze man. I've got a pile of Superformance SST's in 6.5 CM and sure love the added velocity for that caliber but they sure make a mess.

They are very effective at killing that’s for sure. Heart and broadside lung were destroyed. Everything else comes out in a nice tidy pile though.

 

[tpicou]

They are very effective at killing that’s for sure. Heart and broadside lung were destroyed. Everything else comes out in a nice tidy pile though.

I’ve never used them before. Do they just expand super fast?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ve never used them before. Do they just expand super fast?

I’m the last person to ask about the technical details of bullets to be honest with you. What I’m interested in is seeing vitals turned into liquid and animals dying quickly.

I’ve been lucky enough to be apart of hundreds of big game animal kills/processing/butchering. In my experience, SST, ELDM, and ELDX, in both factory and hand loads, are some of the best killing bullets I’ve ever seen.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I’ve never used them before. Do they just expand super fast?

Yeah hornady markets them as a rapid expansion bullet for quick kills. SST - Super Shock Tip. I have seen some guys complain that they expand "too fast" but they are generally shooting them at pretty high FPS as well as close range.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Yeah hornady markets them as a rapid expansion bullet for quick kills. SST - Super Shock Tip. I have seen some guys complain that they expand "too fast" but they are generally shooting them at pretty high FPS as well as close range.

I’ve killed multiple deer and elk using them as close as 30 yards. Zero issues.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Yeah hornady markets them as a rapid expansion bullet for quick kills. SST - Super Shock Tip. I have seen some guys complain that they expand "too fast" but they are generally shooting them at pretty high FPS as well as close range.

I’ve killed multiple deer and elk using them as close as 30 yards. Zero issues.

I've used them and been happy with their performance.
I once shot a buck at 80 yards with a 7mm SST going 3000 fps and hit spine. It exploded on impact leaving about an 8" hole, and I was picking pieces of lead out of what remained of the back straps.

They work, just don't shoot the spine point blank at extreme velocities lol.

 

[JGRaider]

Amen to keeping SST's off of bone, at higher velocities. I'm one that avoids the SST like the plague. 100 yd impact, 140 SST from 7mag

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Amen to keeping SST's off of bone, at higher velocities. I'm one that avoids the SST like the plague. 100 yd impact, 140 SST from 7magView attachment 622713

I bet he didn’t go very far!