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

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Has anyone had more consistent and/or lower opening velocity threshold with berger 130 otm by ensuring the tips are drilled open to the proper diameter? @Formidilosus

 

[RancherJohn]

2 elk in the last 5 days with a 143 ELDX, first was a 6 pt bull by my brother at 390 yds (2960 fps MV ~2550 fps impact). 2 hits to the heart and lungs (no exits), down in ~15 yds. Second was a cow elk by my future BIL, 500 yds (3000 fps MV, 2480 fps impact). Single shot through the lungs (no exit), elk was down in 3 steps.

 

[General RE LEE]

Youth hunt 6.5 Creedmoor 143 ELDX impact velocity 2600 FPS about 80 yard short.

Pass through blew heart out with plenty of expansion. Deer was dead in a few steps. The 143 ELDX has always performed well in every rifle I’ve loaded it for.

 

[Pistolpete28]

Young mule deer buck 6.5 creed impact velocity was around 2420 fps. 140 Eldm quartering away, bullet entered last rib, destroyed the lungs and stopped behind the front shoulder area. Buck was dead before he hit the ground, photo shows where the bullet stopped.

 

[Stickmark]

75 yards, elk, velocity estimated at 2675 (6.5cm sort of a RSS rifle, barrel not cut or suppressed, and for velocity number I just used the shootercalulator); animal went 35 yards, expired quickly.
143 grain eld-x.
Shot aiming point was bit high, due to obstructions, but behind shoulder. Exited low. Wish I would have taken a few minutes more to more to do a better autopsy. When I made a larger incision on the exit hole, stuff poured out. Next morning, I could see shredded lungs. Pictured is the exit hole. Knife blade slanted front is 1" exact. Found a bullet fragment tucked in a divot, next to another exit hole, as I am doing the hide.

 

[Wrongside]

Tikka SL 6.5CM
147ELD
420M

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

6.5CM tikka roughtech
130 TMK
100yards
Impact velocity 2670fps
Quartering to me through front shoulder shredded lungs died instantly

 

[AZ_Hunter]

16” 6.5CM with 130 TMK hit again today.

Basically 300 yards. My buddy got some wound pics I’ll post later, but I don’t have them on my phone yet.

The 130 TMK is brutal. Impact velocity was 2350 fps and organs were shredded. First hit lungs, second hit liver. Follow up shot was basically instantaneous. She went to front legs, then rolled over, kicked for a couple of seconds and that was it. No bullets were recovered, whatever was left passed through. Small exit holes in skin, barely visible, but massive damage in the torso and on entry wounds, making 3” wide holes in the ribs.

Shot from sitting position using tripod with pack as rear support. Stayed in the scope at 10x mag for the shots and watched impacts.

 

[Jmacx1]

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it could be a good reference.

2020

1-Small whitetail doe quartering away at 50 yds. Impact behind the shoulder and exit in front of opposite shoulder. Caliber size entry, golf ball size exit. Deer immediately dropped at the shot. Bullet was 130 TMK at 2830 fps or so, impact 2750 ish?

2-Whitetail doe quartering away at 40 yds. Impact behind the shoulder and exit through offside shoulder. Caliber size entry, golf ball size exit, vitals were mush. Deer ran 30 yds and piled up. Bullet was 130 TMK, same velocities as above.

Entry
View attachment 357819
Exit
View attachment 357821

3-Whitetail doe slightly quartering away at 80 yds. Impact behind the shoulder and exit point of offside shoulder. Caliber size entry, golf ball size exit, vitals destroyed, pieces of lung laying in the field beyond the animal. Deer dropped at the shot. Bullet was 156 Berger EOL at 2650 fps, impact 2550ish

Entry
View attachment 357822
Exit
View attachment 357826

2021-Bull elk broadside at 50 yds. Impact behind shoulder and exit same location. Caliber size entry, slightly less than golf ball size exit. 3-4'' hole through both lungs. Bull ran 50 yds, stopped, and tipped over. Bullet was 156 Berger EOL at 2650 fps, impact 2600ish.View attachment 357828
Wish I had some wound channel pics of the elk but my hands were bloody and we were in a hurry. I need to start carrying latex gloves so I can peel them off and use my phone.

Post them up!

Great article! I’ve shot one doe this year with a 6br Norma. 105 gr Berger going 2836fps at 192 yards did not take five steps.