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

Here is my take on how to “solve the issue” of no blood trails with match bullets. Shoot the animal lower in the chest so that the entrance is low enough to leak before the animal dies.
Either that or shoot them higher to hit the CNS and anchor them right there.
In my honest opinion the choice should never be choose a bullet that does less damage, because chances are if you do that you will absolutely need a blood trail.
 
I have never used them, but I want to say the Scenar is also regarded as a good killing bullet with high likelihood of an exit? Can anyone with more experience confirm that?

Bit more info here:

 
I have never used them, but I want to say the Scenar is also regarded as a good killing bullet with high likelihood of an exit? Can anyone with more experience confirm that?

Bit more info here:


I was using the 139 gr Scenars in my 260 right up until I parted it out a couple of months ago.

My experience with it was multiple hogs, 8 whitetails (from 215 to 97 lbs), and two axis does. Shots were from 10 to 434 yards. I was about 50% on exits. I was 100% on recovery, but I also follow my own advice from my post above when it comes to shot placement. I can only remember one hog that had a spotty blood trail and that was mostly due to a hard quartering away shot with no exit. It still only went about 70 yards.
 
Bone Frog has the Federal Tactical 140g TMKs in stock
I finally shot these today - only at targets, so no gore. Sako S20 with 16.5" barrel wearing a TBAC Ultra 9 (Gen 1). Here are the results:
  • 2475 fps (average)
  • 54.6 spread
  • 18.9 SD
 
I'm new to the 6.5 game and have been using Accubonds in a .308 and .243 with really good results and was convinced that's what I should grab for my new 6.5. But after reading through this multi-page thread I decided to go w/ a 143 gr Hornady ELD-x instead.

It's a couple of months out from our hunting our hunting season so nothing to report on terminal performance, but was pleasantly surprised to see how well my Kimber liked the ELD-X's :)

JWZqGtQ.jpg
 
I'm new to the 6.5 game and have been using Accubonds in a .308 and .243 with really good results and was convinced that's what I should grab for my new 6.5. But after reading through this multi-page thread I decided to go w/ a 143 gr Hornady ELD-x instead.

It's a couple of months out from our hunting our hunting season so nothing to report on terminal performance, but was pleasantly surprised to see how well my Kimber liked the ELD-X's :)

JWZqGtQ.jpg
Those Best of the West guys have been knocking critters down with the 143 ELDx and 6.5-284 for a long time. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
If you don’t like the bullet, ok, but the highlighted parts is what I am addressing- no. If you shoot enough animals you will see that with every bullet made. People act like animals don’t have their own emotions and drive. This is not correct, just like people or dogs- elk have differing mental states. Going to a TTSX won’t guarantee an exit, and the Terminal Ascent is probably as likely or less than the ELD-X to exit due to maintaining weight with a large frontal diameter.


As far as bullets failing to penetrate shoulders (scapula), it makes me wonder if people have never deboned one. It’s thin, really, really thin. There is nothing there to stop any game bullet from going through.
Digging up an old post while going through this forum.

What is your opinion on the 147 ELDM/143 ELDX or 156 Berger with a quartering to shot possibly on the bone (not scapula)?

Is this bad shot placement for these bullets or will they blast through them?
 
Digging up an old post while going through this forum.

What is your opinion on the 147 ELDM/143 ELDX or 156 Berger with a quartering to shot possibly on the bone (not scapula)?

Is this bad shot placement for these bullets or will they blast through them?
Can only speak to my own experience but I've put the 140eldm through the knuckle of Roosevelt Elk and it does major damage. No issue breaking through big bones and the additional shrapnel from bone frags helps generate tremendous wounds.
 
Digging up an old post while going through this forum.

What is your opinion on the 147 ELDM/143 ELDX or 156 Berger with a quartering to shot possibly on the bone (not scapula)?

Is this bad shot placement for these bullets or will they blast through them?
Daughter shot a magnum cow with 162 ELDX at 182 yards last fall out of her 7-08. Muzzle velocity out of that rifle is a paltry 2625, and she put it in the crease slightly quartering away. The lungs and heart were destroyed, but most importantly, the far side humerus and knuckle were shattered. We found the bullet, core intact, just under the hide on the far side. After the shot, the cow staggered a couple step right and then left and tipped over dead in less than 5 seconds. My point is, if a "slow" ELDX can do that kind of damage to heavy bone after passing through muscle, tissue, etc.., it would pass through a scapula like butter. These aren't broadheads we're talking about.

In comparison, I killed the elk in my profile with a 175 terminal ascent out of a .308 (factory ammo). At around 80 yards and a steep downward angle, the bullet entered above the midline on the left side behind the shoulder (broadside). It exited just above the armpit on the far side and wasn't recovered. On impact, the bull dropped to his knees in the front, staggered back up, turned around, and dead-walked 50 yards before going down for good. Ribs were shattered on entry and exit and the lungs were destroyed. To Form's point, every animal can react differently, no matter how mortal the wound may be.
 
I’m not worried about the scapula. That’s pretty thin and there are videos of cup and core blowing right through that and expanding after.

I’m more interested in quartering to shots that have to go through this bone.

1752759535482.jpeg
 
I’m not worried about the scapula. That’s pretty thin and there are videos of cup and core blowing right through that and expanding after.

I’m more interested in quartering to shots that have to go through this bone.

View attachment 907672
That short, thick, bone and upper joint are the humerus and shoulder knuckle (using human anatomy). In my example from last fall, the 162 ELDX out of a comparatively slower cartridge completely destroyed this bone and the joint after already passing through (and slowing down) the far side. I would have no concerns about the ELDX blowing through this bone/joint upon entry with any 6.5 given appropriate impact velocity.

First pic is of what is left of the humerus just under the knuckle. It is shattered and split all the way down to the elbow. The bullet is in the second picture, and core fell out only after cleaning all the tissue out for the picture.
 

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I have never used them, but I want to say the Scenar is also regarded as a good killing bullet with high likelihood of an exit? Can anyone with more experience confirm that?

Bit more info here:

I used the 136 gr Scenar-L bullets for a season, shot several deer with them, and did a full examination of the wound channels. They perform much like a Berger, with a longer neck and a trumpet shaped wound cavity. Like most of this style of bullet, they tend to tumble and then fragment. All my shots on whitetails were under 120 yards with a 16” suppressed 6.5 CM. From my experience, the fragmentation didn’t start until about halfway through the vital cavity, wrecking the offside lung but leaving only a hole or keyhole through the onside organs. All bullets exited, but I think they were a little slower to incapacitate due to limited damage to the onside portion of the organs. The Scenars are also more generally expensive than similar options. If I wanted that sort of bullet performance, I would probably use a Berger. But for most game, I prefer a tipped fragmenting bullet as opposed to the tumble and fragment sort.
 
I’m not worried about the scapula. That’s pretty thin and there are videos of cup and core blowing right through that and expanding after.

I’m more interested in quartering to shots that have to go through this bone.

View attachment 907672
I wish I had necropsy pictures, but I shot my bull last year with a 140 eldm out of a 6.5cm and shattered that bone. Impact velocity was roughly 2250fps. Looked the same as @jjohnsonElknewbie photo above
 
I’m not worried about the scapula. That’s pretty thin and there are videos of cup and core blowing right through that and expanding after.

I’m more interested in quartering to shots that have to go through this bone.

View attachment 907672
That bone grenades when hit at it's thickest/most proximal area. In my limited experience, in a hard quartering position, you better be shooting again and quick, you can hit that and not enter the chest cavity. Not a bullet problem, its an angle problem.
 
Thinking about running the 100 grain Partition started at 3200 fps from my 260 Remington. Because I have them mostly and the doubtful possibility of getting a shot pats 300 yards. Also thinking abut using the 120 gr. Ballistic tip.
 
Thinking about running the 100 grain Partition started at 3200 fps from my 260 Remington. Because I have them mostly and the doubtful possibility of getting a shot pats 300 yards. Also thinking abut using the 120 gr. Ballistic tip.
I've used both in my 260 and they work well. That 100 gr PT is a tough little bullet
 
That short, thick, bone and upper joint are the humerus and shoulder knuckle (using human anatomy). In my example from last fall, the 162 ELDX out of a comparatively slower cartridge completely destroyed this bone and the joint after already passing through (and slowing down) the far side. I would have no concerns about the ELDX blowing through this bone/joint upon entry with any 6.5 given appropriate impact velocity.

First pic is of what is left of the humerus just under the knuckle. It is shattered and split all the way down to the elbow. The bullet is in the second picture, and core fell out only after cleaning all the tissue out for the picture.
Comparatively slow? I have some of those bullets and a 7-08. I figure near 2600 fps out of a 22" barrel.
 
Digging up an old post while going through this forum.

What is your opinion on the 147 ELDM/143 ELDX or 156 Berger with a quartering to shot possibly on the bone (not scapula)?

Is this bad shot placement for these bullets or will they blast through them?

There is nothing in the front half of an elk that is stopping any those bullets from getting to the vitals. Hit in front of the diaphragm angling towards the lungs, and you have a dead animal.
 
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