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

[Tx_300wsm]

My last contribution of the season. 143 eld -x again, 400 yards, ran about 40 yards after first shot, started to stumble, shot again, went down. Both exited and were an inch or so wide.

 

[prm]

Any meaningful difference in 130 TMK and 140 ELDM as a general purpose hunting bullet?
I have a single data point with the 140 and it worked well. When loaded down to factory speeds they shoot very, very well.

 

[Bluumoon]

What would you guys choose if you could find the following equally available?

130 TMK
140 ELDM
147 ELDM
142 LRAB

TMK are the cheapest on sale for $41 CAD per 100

TMKs are gtg and shoot very well for me

 

[77TMK]

Any meaningful difference in 130 TMK and 140 ELDM as a general purpose hunting bullet?
I have a single data point with the 140 and it worked well. When loaded down to factory speeds they shoot very, very well.

Comes down to what the barrel likes. Both are dipping below expansion threshold way beyond what nearly anyone would consider their hunting distance. Both are thinly jacketed designs known to produce excellent terminal performance. I generally find Sierra to have greater quality control than Hornady, but it doesn't always translate to a more precise load.

 

[dirtshooter]

Well I bought 500 tmk to try out, price was too good

 

[bowrunner81]

Any meaningful difference in 130 TMK and 140 ELDM as a general purpose hunting bullet?
I have a single data point with the 140 and it worked well. When loaded down to factory speeds they shoot very, very well.

I am also curious. In my loads, they impact with similar velocity at 600 yards…roughly 2000fps. The 130 starts off faster with a lower BC and the 140 eldm is the opposite. I’m curious if terminally there is a clear winner at 2000fps impact velocity.

 

[st1650]

What would you guys choose if you could find the following equally available?

130 TMK
140 ELDM
147 ELDM
142 LRAB

TMK are the cheapest on sale for $41 CAD per 100

Where did you find tmk at 41cad per 100?

 

[The Guide]

Shot a cow elk yesterday morning. Tried to take one of those "hard hard quartering shots" they talk about. She was quartering away going up a steep bank at an elevation a little above me with her head down feeding. Shot entered just behind the last full rib mid-body and exited just above the brisket then entered her throat and exited just behind her ears about 3". She dropped in her tracks since the bullet killed her twice!

Details...
Tikka action and stock
Preferred Barrel Blanks 22" Stainless steel 6.5 PRC barrel
Berger 156 grain bullet in Berger Factory ammo
2735 fps MV 2253 fps impact velocity
Shot distance 403 yards

No necropsy photos as I was solo and it was about 7⁰f and I did gutless so I didn't have to drag the whole carcass 2 miles back to the truck.

Taking the 223 or 6 ARC next time. I can buy one more tag for this area if the weather lines up right again.

Jay


Cow in comparison to my size 13 boot. I alway say I'm gonna shoot a calf but I never end up with a calf on the ground... Entrance is just in front of the curve of the hind quarter. Did not seem to have hit the gut bag as there was no leakage and was still fully inflated when I got the inner loins.


The quarters filled up the JetSled and made a good load in 10 to 12 inches of snow.

 

[General RE LEE]

Shot a cow elk yesterday morning. Tried to take one of those "hard hard quartering shots" they talk about. She was quartering away going up a steep bank at an elevation a little above me with her head down feeding. Shot entered just behind the last full rib mid-body and exited just above the brisket then entered her throat and exited just behind her ears about 3". She dropped in her tracks since the bullet killed her twice!

Details...
Tikka action and stock
Preferred Barrel Blanks 22" Stainless steel 6.5 PRC barrel
Berger 156 grain bullet in Berger Factory ammo
2735 fps MV 2253 fps impact velocity
Shot distance 403 yards

No necropsy photos as I was solo and it was about 7⁰f and I did gutless so I didn't have to drag the whole carcass 2 miles back to the truck.

Taking the 223 or 6 ARC next time. I can buy one more tag for this area if the weather lines up right again.

Jay


Cow in comparison to my size 13 boot. I alway say I'm gonna shoot a calf but I never end up with a calf on the ground... Entrance is just in front of the curve of the hind quarter. Did not seem to have hit the gut bag as there was no leakage and was still fully inflated when I got the inner loins.
View attachment 818374

The quarters filled up the JetSled and made a good load in 10 to 12 inches of snow.
View attachment 818376
View attachment 818378

Hard to beat a Jet Sled. Pro tip: you can put 3 kids in those things when sledding. Always the best sled on the slopes.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

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

Where did you find load data for those? I’ve got an 18” 6.5 creedmoor that I’m considering taking on my aoudad hunt in a few months.

I’d like to milk the most out of the rifle.

 

[The Guide]

Where did you find load data for those? I’ve got an 18” 6.5 creedmoor that I’m considering taking on my aoudad hunt in a few months.

I’d like to milk the most out of the rifle.

These should help. From 2 different published sources.

Jay

Sierra Bullets 6.5 Creedmoor Load Data

Test Specifications/ Components Firearm Used: Universal Receiver Barrel Length: 24” Twist: 1-8’’ Case: Hornady Trim-to Length: 1.910’’ Primer: Winchester WLR Remarks: Developed in 2007 by Dennis De…

sierrabullets.wordpress.com

 

[thinhorn_AK]

These should help. From 2 different published sources.

Jay

Sierra Bullets 6.5 Creedmoor Load Data

Test Specifications/ Components Firearm Used: Universal Receiver Barrel Length: 24” Twist: 1-8’’ Case: Hornady Trim-to Length: 1.910’’ Primer: Winchester WLR Remarks: Developed in 2007 by Dennis De…

sierrabullets.wordpress.com

View attachment 819813

Thanks I appreciate that, I’ll get some of those bullets on order if they are available. I’m still a bit sketched out about using a 6.5 on an aoudad.

 

[General RE LEE]

These should help. From 2 different published sources.

Jay

Sierra Bullets 6.5 Creedmoor Load Data

Test Specifications/ Components Firearm Used: Universal Receiver Barrel Length: 24” Twist: 1-8’’ Case: Hornady Trim-to Length: 1.910’’ Primer: Winchester WLR Remarks: Developed in 2007 by Dennis De…

sierrabullets.wordpress.com

View attachment 819813

Hard to beat H4350, even though other powders get more velocity in the 130 class.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Where did you find load data for those? I’ve got an 18” 6.5 creedmoor that I’m considering taking on my aoudad hunt in a few months.

I’d like to milk the most out of the rifle.

Hogdon manual has data.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Hogdon manual has data.

Sorry if I missed it, can somebody explain why the TMK is preferred over the TGK?. Apologies in advance if it’s been discussed.

 

[Castle Rock]

That data is pretty anemic, I use 42.5 of 4350 in my CM with 147s, and at 44 with 130s and didn’t feel like I needed to stop

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Sorry if I missed it, can somebody explain why the TMK is preferred over the TGK?. Apologies in advance if it’s been discussed.

Thinner jacket, more fragmentation/lower expansion velocity

 

[Castle Rock]

Sorry if I missed it, can somebody explain why the TMK is preferred over the TGK?. Apologies in advance if it’s been discussed.

TGK is a much harder bullet

 

[The Guide]

That data is pretty anemic, I use 42.5 of 4350 in my CM with 147s, and at 44 with 130s and didn’t feel like I needed to stop

I don't doubt it is. That's why I prefaced it with "published" data. Some data I found was showing higher charges and MV's pushing 3000 fps. I figured I could get 2650 fps easily with a 16" barrel and have a suppressed 600 yard ultra light rifle with the same OAL and weight as a 22" factory Tikka rifle.

Jay

 

[HGL]

I don't doubt it is. That's why I prefaced it with "published" data. Some data I found was showing higher charges and MV's pushing 3000 fps. I figured I could get 2650 fps easily with a 16" barrel and have a suppressed 600 yard ultra light rifle with the same OAL and weight as a 22" factory Tikka rifle.

Jay

For my 18" 6.5 CM, I worked up to 44.2 grains of H4350 with the 130 TMK in a recent pressure ladder. No obvious pressure signs at sea level and 50 degrees. MV was 2817 fps. I could probably eek out a bit more, if I wanted.

44.5 grains of RL-17 netted me 2898 fps in the same barrel, but its pretty rare these days.

I'd think 2650 fps would be very doable in a 16" barrel.

Editted to add: Lapua SRP brass with Fed 205.