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

[thinhorn_AK]

What bullet would you all go with for west Texas aoudad?

 

[sierracharlie338]

What bullet would you all go with for west Texas aoudad?

Got a buddy that kills them with 5.56 fusions. Any bullet you pick, put in the right spot, should be fine.

 

[HandgunHTR]

What bullet would you all go with for west Texas aoudad?

143 grain ELDX or 139 grain Scenar, because that is what I use in my 6.5 Creed and 260 rem, respectively.

 

[curtiswayne101]

It seems the general consensus is that the ELDM and TMK are the best bullets. In the 6.5, the 147 ELDM has the best BC. Just curious why most people are using anything else? Thanks in part to this forum, I’m selling my 7 PRC and building a 6.5 creed. Planning to load the 147 ELDM. This is also my first post here. Thanks guys.

 

[MHWASH]

There is a point where velocity overcomes BC. This is why I'm shooting the 130s vs the 147.

 

[General RE LEE]

It seems the general consensus is that the ELDM and TMK are the best bullets. In the 6.5, the 147 ELDM has the best BC. Just curious why most people are using anything else? Thanks in part to this forum, I’m selling my 7 PRC and building a 6.5 creed. Planning to load the 147 ELDM. This is also my first post here. Thanks guys.

The 147 is a great bullet but ranging becomes more critical, especially if one is running a shorter barrel suppressed. A 130 is about 100-150 FPS faster and is more forgiving if ranging is off a little.

The 147 absolutely cuts through the wind at longer distance. Best bullet I’ve shot when it’s gusty and I’m shooting beyond 500.

 

[ztc92]

It seems the general consensus is that the ELDM and TMK are the best bullets. In the 6.5, the 147 ELDM has the best BC. Just curious why most people are using anything else? Thanks in part to this forum, I’m selling my 7 PRC and building a 6.5 creed. Planning to load the 147 ELDM. This is also my first post here. Thanks guys.

In addition to added velocity, there is a noticeable reduction in recoil making it easier to shoot well in lightweight rifles and field positions. My next gun will be a 6CM with 108ELDM or a 6ARC with 95TMK to further reduce recoil but for now the 6.5 with 130TMK is a good compromise using the gear I already have.

 

[Athens]

I shoot a 260ai but 140s because the 153.5 or 156 won’t fit in the mag loaded out to where they need to be.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I shoot a 260ai but 140s because the 153.5 or 156 won’t fit in the mag loaded out to where they need to be.

What rifle (action) and what magazine?

 

[General RE LEE]

In addition to added velocity, there is a noticeable reduction in recoil making it easier to shoot well in lightweight rifles and field positions. My next gun will be a 6CM with 108ELDM or a 6ARC with 95TMK to further reduce recoil but for now the 6.5 with 130TMK is a good compromise using the gear I already have.

6ARC is sweet and has 3x the barrel life of 6mm CM.

.223 recoil and with a 20-22" barrel with a can, is slightly louder than a .22.

 

[fwafwow]

Bone Frog has the Federal Tactical 140g TMKs in stock

6.5 Creedmoor 140GR Federal Tactical Matchking Tipped (T65CRDTTMK1)

6.5 Creedmoor 140GR Federal Tactical Matchking Tipped (T65CRDTTMK1) is custom made for your Urban Rifle, Tactical® TRU® was specifically designed for use in semi-automatic rifles or "Urban Rifles," such as variants of the M-16 or AR-15. TRU bullets are specifically engineered, ranging from...

www.bonefroggunclub.com

 

[BjornF16]

Bone Frog has the Federal Tactical 140g TMKs in stock

6.5 Creedmoor 140GR Federal Tactical Matchking Tipped (T65CRDTTMK1)

6.5 Creedmoor 140GR Federal Tactical Matchking Tipped (T65CRDTTMK1) is custom made for your Urban Rifle, Tactical® TRU® was specifically designed for use in semi-automatic rifles or "Urban Rifles," such as variants of the M-16 or AR-15. TRU bullets are specifically engineered, ranging from...

www.bonefroggunclub.com

these 140 TMKs have a G1=.563 (email from Sierra ballistician)

 

[Bluumoon]

these 140 TMKs have a G1=.563 (email from Sierra ballistician)

G1 .518 for the 130s

Someone want to run the math and find the crossover pt for velocity

Only option for loaded 6.5 TMKs that I know of, so that's a win

Now we need the obligatory necropsy photos

 

[BKM]

Still waiting for the day you can buy the 140TMK as a reloading component. It should give the TMK a bit more penetration and I would buy a lot of them.

 

[FLS]

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

I’ve shot the TGKs since they came out. They are harder than the TMK, but they’ve been very lethal from 70 to 725 yds for me and they were available when the TMKs were not. I think they would work well for Aoudad or anything else you would want to shoot with a 6.5. This years elk was with the .257 TGK out of my 25-06. Died where he stood.

 

[bowrunner81]

G1 .518 for the 130s

Someone want to run the math and find the crossover pt for velocity

Only option for loaded 6.5 TMKs that I know of, so that's a win

Now we need the obligatory necropsy photos

I have with 140gr eldm, but they have higher BC. The 130tmk and the 140eldm match velocity at about 600 yards with my loads

 

[Bluumoon]

Still waiting for the day you can buy the 140TMK as a reloading component. It should give the TMK a bit more penetration and I would buy a lot of them.

Very limited 1st hand experience, but I have no concerns with the 130s and penetration. As I understand it you actually get more penetration with lower velocity so my example this year might be skewed (impact 1700fps). Broke onside Humerus, through the chest, shattered off side humerus.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I’ve shot the TGKs since they came out. They are harder than the TMK, but they’ve been very lethal from 70 to 725 yds for me and they were available when the TMKs were not. I think they would work well for Aoudad or anything else you would want to shoot with a 6.5. This years elk was with the .257 TGK out of my 25-06. Died where he stood.

Impact velocity of the elk with the 257?

 

[FLS]

Impact velocity of the elk with the 257?

3047 at muzzle, so 2481 at my DA. A little faster at elevation I shot him. I wanted impact velocity at 2000 FPS or above. IIRC I was good to 600.

 

[WI-Carcosa]

3 cow elk with the 135 DRT TS from a 6.5 x55 Swede tikka t3, 19” barrel with sico sythe TI can. Muzzle velocity 2725fps. This was our dad and grandpas 6.5 Swede T3 from the early 2000s that killed a bunch of MN whitetail. After some customizing it is back to a killing machine.

Cow 1: this was a bit more of a rodeo as I dialed 1/2 mil more (I replayed it a million times and it was a complete boneheaded mistake dialing) than yardage called for so I was shooting 7ish inches higher than I should have been. Wind was whipping and I did not do a wind hold on shots 1-4. 270 yards, impact velocity 2276fps. Prone off pack with mollinator. Shots 1-4 all rack shoot, rack shoot spotting impacts and sending another immediately. Shots 1-3 high back lung, shot 4 was more rushed and hit spine mid body. Cow slid and tumbled down rocky face 60 yards to left. New range 250 and I checked dial and held better for wind and bullseye head shot. Total yards traveled 60, time to incapacitation 30 seconds. This was a gutless quarter so pics and details are not as helpful. When I pulled out the heart after moving a rib the inside lungs, etc were soup. Shots 1-3 all exited. Spine shot was no exit. Head shot was I think technically an exit it was a mess.

Cow 2: prone off pack at 120 yards. Impact velocity 2519fps. Cow walking into strong wind slightly quartering to. Hold was front of shoulder and impacted point of shoulder at scapula/humerous junction. Cow took two bounds and tipped over. Time to incapacitation 10 seconds. There was almost nothing left of the heart. No exit for this bullet.

Cow 3: 160 yards slightly quartering away. Impact velocity 2453fps. My brother shooting with Shots kneeling unsupported. Shot one through lungs and the cow hunched and bolted, shot 2 while cow running further back lungs/liver. Lungs with large damage and spray of bullet fragments throughout lungs. Both bullets exited. Cow went 80 yards and piled up. Time to incapacitation 20 seconds.

Cow 1 exit

Cow 1 exit shoulder removed

Cow 1 entry scapula

Cow 1 exit scapula

Cow 2 entry hide removed

Cow 2 entrance to chest cavity

Cow 2 inside of entry shoulder

Cow 3 entry hide removed

Cow 3 shot 2 exit hide removed

Cow 3 exit side internal view shot 2 (shot 1 to the right of image)

Hopefully this is clear enough for the bullet performance. I am thrilled with DRT as a non lead option in the 6.5 bullet so far.