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

[ztc92]

Shot a mule deer at 90 yards today while out hunting elk and due to caliber restrictions for elk in WY, I was carrying an 18” 6.5CM with 130 TMK handloads. To say this bullet is devastating would be an understatement. I think it would be a great choice for elk but is probably overkill for deer or anything smaller. I shot the crease, caught the posterior edge of the front shoulder on entrance and because he was slightly quartering away, I also caught the anterior edge of the other front shoulder with the exit. No entry or exit wound and no blood seen in the snow but he died within 30 yards. 3+ inch entrance wound through a rib, 6+ inch hole through the offside lung and absolute carnage on the offside shoulder with a ton of blood between the muscle and hide. Caught the bullet on the offside hide.

I’ll be using my 223 for deer and antelope going forward and hope to build a 6mm of some type in the future to carry when deer and elk are both possibilities.

 

[Nevwild]

Mule deer doe at 237 yds.
147 ELD-M
Tikka Lite
17.5 inch barrel with AB Raptor 8
MV 2535

Shot from above at -17degrees
Impact through the shoulder.
Through the heart.
Exit through the rib cage.
I could put my fist through the exit hole.

Honestly the carnage was unnecessary. I’m sure thinking about going down to a 6 CM with a 108 for better shooting and reduced destruction.

 

[sierracharlie338]

 

[mt100gr.]

Mule deer doe at 237 yds.
147 ELD-M
Tikka Lite
17.5 inch barrel with AB Raptor 8
MV 2535

Shot from above at -17degrees
Impact through the shoulder.
Through the heart.
Exit through the rib cage.
I could put my fist through the exit hole.

Honestly the carnage was unnecessary. I’m sure thinking about going down to a 6 CM with a 108 for better shooting and reduced destruction.

View attachment 784108

That ELD-M is a killing bullet!

If you do swap barrels, I'll buy that 17.5" 6.5 from you.

 

[Ajsomp]

white tail doe shot at 75 yards
147 eld-m
Tikka t3x lite stainless 6.5 prc chopped to 20”
Mv 2729 fps

That’s the exit. Going to try to get more photos when I cut her dressed out - front left shoulder is jelly.

 

[clperry]

white tail doe shot at 75 yards
147 eld-m
Tikka t3x lite stainless 6.5 prc chopped to 20”
Mv 2729 fps

That’s the exit. Going to try to get more photos when I cut her dressed out - front left shoulder is jelly.
View attachment 784165View attachment 784166

Load info?


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[Ajsomp]

Factory hornady

 

[mlevimadden]

Just got back from a cow elk hunt with two tags, no autopsy pics unfortunately as we killed the cows at 1 pm in 60 degree weather with full sun beating down and no shade.

First cow, shot was seated at 429 yds with 147 ELDM at impact velocity of 2280 fps. First cow hit in crease behind shoulder. Double lung with no exit but found bullet poking through offside hide. She ran 120 yds, bedded, and died. Lots of trauma to the lungs but very minimal blood trail with only the entry hole. Retained bullet weight was 90.7 gr.

Second cow was also same shooting position, distance, same bullet and impact velocity. Poor shot that hit her right in the middle of the femur bone. Bullet completely broke femur in half but did not penetrate past the onside leg muscle tissue. She traveled the same 120 yds and stayed standing next to the other dead cow, luckily she was not able to follow the rest of the herd out of the drainage due to the broken femur. Once the herd exited, we were able to sneak to 160 yds and put a follow up shot on the front shoulder at a fairly steep quartering to angle with bullet passing through vitals and resting against the offside hide behind the opposite shoulder. Impact velocity was 2610 fps, cow stumbled 20 yds downhill and collapsed. Retained bullet weight on the second shot was 78.5 gr and the lead core separated from the copper jacket when digging it out.

 

[clperry]

Factory hornady

That’s a fast barrel.


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[Ajsomp]

That’s a fast barrel.


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I’m happy with it. It’s still under 100 rounds so I know it’s going to speed up slightly but I shoot my 223 more and use this to hunt so it will be a little while before it starts getting faster.

 

[General RE LEE]

View attachment 784126

Get me the cleaning wipes, I just spit my coffee everywhere.

 

[bigbuckdj]

white tail doe shot at 75 yards
147 eld-m
Tikka t3x lite stainless 6.5 prc chopped to 20”
Mv 2729 fps

That’s the exit. Going to try to get more photos when I cut her dressed out - front left shoulder is jelly.
View attachment 784165View attachment 784166

What do you think of that can? Is that a CAT?

 

[Ajsomp]

What do you think of that can? Is that a CAT?

CAT JL - it’s ridiculously quiet. Guys I hunt with really appreciate it.

 

[Nine Banger]

I shot these deer with 147gr ELD M tonight.

I thought we were out of our rut here but I watched 2 button bucks following these deer and one more doe that I didn't have a good shot on either time I saw her. None of the does were interested but one of the bucks did try to mount the one I couldn't shoot. The 2 button bucks had their nose to the ground constantly when they were visible.

Deer 1...91lbs...222 yards...2386 fps...deer ran 75 yards in straight line from impact site with front half low to ground and nose near ground until it stopped.

entry

exit

exit close up




Deer 2...109lbs...209 yards...2401 fps...dead right there

in situ



entry


exit


Deer 3...46lbs (not so sure about this but that's what was provided by scale operator, deer was not 7 months old)...103 yards...2528 fps...deer ran about 40 yards in a j shape

in situ w/ exit up


exit close up


entry




I donated the meat so there are no internal photos.

 

[dirtshooter]

3 shots with Barnes VOR-TX 127gr Factory 6.5 creedmoor. Never found any bullets. They behaved like Barnes bullets. I don't have any autopsy photos because I was by myself and more concerned getting the animal out.

 

[HighUintas]

3 shots with Barnes VOR-TX 127gr Factory 6.5 creedmoor. Never found any bullets. They behaved like Barnes bullets. I don't have any autopsy photos because I was by myself and more concerned getting the animal out.

I really like that rack. Is it as narrow as the first picture looks?

 

[dirtshooter]

I really like that rack. Is it as narrow as the first picture looks?

Maybe? I'm 5'8ish for reference

 

[Idaho Brad]

.260, 130gr factory eldm, 606 yards.
Inaccurate wind call. Buck was slightly quartering away looking back over its right shoulder. Hit onside eye, exited back of head. Fragments traveled down neck. Bruising under onside shoulder
The buck collapsed and didn’t even twitch!


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[TeaGull]

140 ELDM
2380 FPS impact
Double lung, no exit, no blood trail. Ran 30 yards and died.

 

[NSI]

140 ELDM
2380 FPS impact
Double lung, no exit, no blood trail. Ran 30 yards and died. View attachment 786033

Does your GW bipod not immediately walk on the RS rail when you shoot? Is this just a me problem?

-J