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

[Meshnasty]

All of these were with tipped fusions.

1 - Pronghorn - 300 yards - DTS, I was about 40' or so below him and shot center of the body so I clipped the bottom of the spine.


2 - Mule Deer - 200 yards, went about 20 yards. Quartering away. It hit right behind the shoulder on the near side and exited through the opposite shoulder. We couldn't find any blood on the ground. Thankfully he died before dropping into a wash that was over 10' deep and full of brush. From what I could see is after the shot he had jumped the ditch and died. The ateries above the heart were destroyed which I attribute to the lack of a blood trail. Sorry for the not great pictures as my almost 6 year old was with and she was taking the pictures.


3 - Pronghorn - 300 yards - My wife shot this one - basically broadside behind the near side shoulder, offside shoulder wasn't hit. She said it went 50 yards before going down. She didn't comment on the blood trail.

 

[Meshnasty]

Exit on the deer.

 

[West2East]

No pictures so you'll have to believe me. 2 yr old raghorn elk distance 100yds
6.5CM 147ELDM Impact Velocity 2475fps
Entrance broke 1 rib Approx. 1" hole
1.5-2" permanent wound channel through lungs
exit out breaking 2 ribs about 2" hole.

I'm going to tell on myself now:
I've read all 90+ pages and personally killed 4 animals over the last year with the 6.5CM/147ELDM combo from 475yds on antelope to 100yds now on elk.
First thing on the second morning of my elk hunt I had a quick opportunity on a really nice 6point. I spotted a bull at 1400yds and made a mad dash to get down where I thought I could get a shot on him. I made it into 368yds, in a "restricted vehicle use" area. Bull fed up to an old road and by the time I relocated him after hiking about 30mins to get into position he was at the corner of the road making his last peek around at the semi-clear ridge. I figured I had about 10-15sec to get a shot off, I ranged, threw my pack off and dialed as I was laying down for a shot. I got steady and was pressing the trigger as the voice in my head goes "You've never shot this combo at an elk before, let alone 360yds". Immediately, I get worried and decide not to shoot as I watched the bull walk off down the road. I kicked myself but I felt comfortable that I could either get back on that bull closer or see another one.
I ended up shooting a raghorn at 100 yds 30 minutes later so the hunt worked out.
And, for what it's worth, after seeing the devastation in the cavity and how the 147ELDM punched through bone, I would take that 400yd shot if it presented itself again.

 

[sierracharlie338]

No pictures so you'll have to believe me. 2 yr old raghorn elk distance 100yds
6.5CM 147ELDM Impact Velocity 2475fps
Entrance broke 1 rib Approx. 1" hole
1.5-2" permanent wound channel through lungs
exit out breaking 2 ribs about 2" hole.

I'm going to tell on myself now:
I've read all 90+ pages and personally killed 4 animals over the last year with the 6.5CM/147ELDM combo from 475yds on antelope to 100yds now on elk.
First thing on the second morning of my elk hunt I had a quick opportunity on a really nice 6point. I spotted a bull at 1400yds and made a mad dash to get down where I thought I could get a shot on him. I made it into 368yds, in a "restricted vehicle use" area. Bull fed up to an old road and by the time I relocated him after hiking about 30mins to get into position he was at the corner of the road making his last peek around at the semi-clear ridge. I figured I had about 10-15sec to get a shot off, I ranged, threw my pack off and dialed as I was laying down for a shot. I got steady and was pressing the trigger as the voice in my head goes "You've never shot this combo at an elk before, let alone 360yds". Immediately, I get worried and decide not to shoot as I watched the bull walk off down the road. I kicked myself but I felt comfortable that I could either get back on that bull closer or see another one.
I ended up shooting a raghorn at 100 yds 30 minutes later so the hunt worked out.
And, for what it's worth, after seeing the devastation in the cavity and how the 147ELDM punched through bone, I would take that 400yd shot if it presented itself again.

The mental gymnastics can be tough until you see it for yourself.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

No pictures so you'll have to believe me. 2 yr old raghorn elk distance 100yds
6.5CM 147ELDM Impact Velocity 2475fps
Entrance broke 1 rib Approx. 1" hole
1.5-2" permanent wound channel through lungs
exit out breaking 2 ribs about 2" hole.

I'm going to tell on myself now:
I've read all 90+ pages and personally killed 4 animals over the last year with the 6.5CM/147ELDM combo from 475yds on antelope to 100yds now on elk.
First thing on the second morning of my elk hunt I had a quick opportunity on a really nice 6point. I spotted a bull at 1400yds and made a mad dash to get down where I thought I could get a shot on him. I made it into 368yds, in a "restricted vehicle use" area. Bull fed up to an old road and by the time I relocated him after hiking about 30mins to get into position he was at the corner of the road making his last peek around at the semi-clear ridge. I figured I had about 10-15sec to get a shot off, I ranged, threw my pack off and dialed as I was laying down for a shot. I got steady and was pressing the trigger as the voice in my head goes "You've never shot this combo at an elk before, let alone 360yds". Immediately, I get worried and decide not to shoot as I watched the bull walk off down the road. I kicked myself but I felt comfortable that I could either get back on that bull closer or see another one.
I ended up shooting a raghorn at 100 yds 30 minutes later so the hunt worked out.
And, for what it's worth, after seeing the devastation in the cavity and how the 147ELDM punched through bone, I would take that 400yd shot if it presented itself again.

It's wise to play it smart and ease your way into things but that one's gotta sting a little bit. *I* wish you would've taken that shot.

 

[Ozarkansas]

Whitetail buck taken with 18” tikka 6.5x55 and handloaded 140 grain Speer Gold dots.
Chrono speed 2650
Distance: 35 yards

Deer dropped at the shot and didn’t move. I clipped the front of the lungs and all the piping between the chest and neck. Bullet passed through.

Entry^


Exit^

Exit shoulder^

Under exit shoulder^

Under/In front of entry shoulder

 

[SC HUNTER]

Shot this South Ga doe yesterday morning at 289 yards as she eased across a powerline. She was quartering a little while I touched the trigger but dropped in her tracks. Entry was straight through the shoulder, lungs were a mess. I've killed a pile of deer in my life but I only remember 1 maybe 2 bigger does that I've killed. She was hefty and it wasn't much fun loading her up on the golf cart.

6.5 creedmoor 143 eldx factory load
Picture 1 and 2 are self explanatory
3. is the exit
4. Entry shoulder
5. Exit shoulder
6. Underside of exit shoulder

 

[541hunter]

Yesterday the 6.5 creed with a 147 eldm struck again. This time my 13 year old killed his first Rosie bull at 355 yards. Bull piled up in less than 40 yards.

I also took an antelope at 300 yards with the same setup. Buck went down in 20 yards and had a blood trail a blind man could follow.

 

[BigMiss]

I finally have one to contribute. Granted, this is with a PRC at 2875fps, but still the 147 ELDM. Whitetail buck at about 30 yards, slightly quartered to. I meant to place it right behind the shoulder but apparently I got trigger happy and put it right on the knuckle. The buck trotted about 30 yards on 3 legs, stopped about 20 yards from me, and stood there for close to 60 seconds. I considered a second shot, but I could see the entrance and knew it was just a matter of time. On gutting, only one lung had damage, heart and opposite lung appeared fine, onside lung was pretty mangled. I suspect hitting that much bone and high velocity really fragmented that bullet. I would like to have hit it further back to see performance there. Without a bonded bullet, I believe I got pretty standard performance on that bone hit.

 

[Mw01313]

This is I probably redundant, but my daughter killed her first deer Sunday. Being the proud dad I am, I will use the wound pics as an excuse to brag a bit.
6.5 cm pushing a 147 ELDM. Muzzle velocity is around 2670 fps. Shot was around 80 yards. Slight angle to it so it took the long way through the lungs. He did the whitetail death run for about 60 yards or so. I heard him crash within about 10 seconds. First kill shot I have ever captured on a trail camera.
Pics are:
Obligatory grip and grin
Trail cam pic of moment just after the shot
Bullet path shone inside rib cage
Lung damage
Exit wound under skin
Exit wound before skinning

 

[sierracharlie338]

This is I probably redundant, but my daughter killed her first deer Sunday. Being the proud dad I am, I will use the wound pics as an excuse to brag a bit.
6.5 cm pushing a 147 ELDM. Muzzle velocity is around 2670 fps. Shot was around 80 yards. Slight angle to it so it took the long way through the lungs. He did the whitetail death run for about 60 yards or so. I heard him crash within about 10 seconds. First kill shot I have ever captured on a trail camera.
Pics are:
Obligatory grip and grin
Trail cam pic of moment just after the shot
Bullet path shone inside rib cage
Lung damage
Exit wound under skin
Exit wound before skinning

Awesome all the way around. Brag away. Congrats to the both of you!

 

[SC HUNTER]

This is I probably redundant, but my daughter killed her first deer Sunday. Being the proud dad I am, I will use the wound pics as an excuse to brag a bit.
6.5 cm pushing a 147 ELDM. Muzzle velocity is around 2670 fps. Shot was around 80 yards. Slight angle to it so it took the long way through the lungs. He did the whitetail death run for about 60 yards or so. I heard him crash within about 10 seconds. First kill shot I have ever captured on a trail camera.
Pics are:
Obligatory grip and grin
Trail cam pic of moment just after the shot
Bullet path shone inside rib cage
Lung damage
Exit wound under skin
Exit wound before skinning

Congratulations to the young lady! That looks like a spot I've got in South Georgia just off the Flint River. I love those grown up field edges. Congratulations again!

 

[blazingangel09]

I shot my first bull during CO's 2nd rifle season and couldn't be more impressed with the 6.5 Creedmoor 140 ELDM performance.
We spotted a trio of legal bulls at about 1100 yards across a very steep canyon and watched them for several morning and evening sits hoping for an opportunity to close the distance. At the very end of the last day of our hunt I was able to get to 800 yards on flat spot that let me go fully prone with the tripod and rear bag for a very stable position.
My first shot was a clean hit through the vitals but the bull trotted about 10 yards across the hillside and stood broadside so I sent a 2nd shot and he dropped right there. Looking through the scope, it appeared that his head was still up and with legal shooting light rapidly fading I decided to send a 3rd one for insurance just in case he decided to walk off into the nasty scrub brush on that hill side. As it turns out his antlers had gotten hung up on a tree when he dropped so the 3rd shot was totally unnecessary but I wasn't taking any chances.

This hunt solidified some of the lessons I learned shooting NRL hunter earlier in the year. Notably the value of a true shooting tripod for longer shots in uneven terrain. I will always pay the weight penalty to get that advantage going forward.

Thanks @TJudeB for the adventure.

Shoutout to @hereinaz for the excellent Triple S pillow, it made glassing so much more comfortable and helped seal the deal on my shot.

SS Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor, 16.5" barrel
Hornady 140gr ELDM
Gunwerks 6IX
RokStok
UM Tikka Rings
Sightmark Presidio
Two Vets Recon V2 Inverted

 

[43.6N]

I shot my first bull during CO's 2nd rifle season and couldn't be more impressed with the 6.5 Creedmoor 140 ELDM performance.
We spotted a trio of legal bulls at about 1100 yards across a very steep canyon and watched them for several morning and evening sits hoping for an opportunity to close the distance. At the very end of the last day of our hunt I was able to get to 800 yards on flat spot that let me go fully prone with the tripod and rear bag for a very stable position.
My first shot was a clean hit through the vitals but the bull trotted about 10 yards across the hillside and stood broadside so I sent a 2nd shot and he dropped right there. Looking through the scope, it appeared that his head was still up and with legal shooting light rapidly fading I decided to send a 3rd one for insurance just in case he decided to walk off into the nasty scrub brush on that hill side. As it turns out his antlers had gotten hung up on a tree when he dropped so the 3rd shot was totally unnecessary but I wasn't taking any chances.

This hunt solidified some of the lessons I learned shooting NRL hunter earlier in the year. Notably the value of a true shooting tripod for longer shots in uneven terrain. I will always pay the weight penalty to get that advantage going forward.

Thanks @TJudeB for the adventure.

Shoutout to @hereinaz for the excellent Triple S pillow, it made glassing so much more comfortable and helped seal the deal on my shot.

SS Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor, 16.5" barrel
Hornady 140gr ELDM
Gunwerks 6IX
RokStok
UM Tikka Rings
Sightmark Presidio
Two Vets Recon V2 Inverted

Impressive.
Factory 140’s or reloads?
Any idea on impact velocity?

 

[blazingangel09]

Impressive.
Factory 140’s or reloads?
Any idea on impact velocity?

Factory 140's
I chrono-ed it at ~2500 fps muzzle velocity and the Hornady 4DOF said 1715 fps impact velocity. I knew it was riding the recommended 1800 fps limit but decided it was worth the gamble shooting at a calm target from a very stable position.

 

[blazingangel09]

Factory 140's
I chrono-ed it at ~2500 fps muzzle velocity and the Hornady 4DOF said 1715 fps impact velocity. I knew it was riding the recommended 1800 fps limit but decided it was worth the gamble shooting at a calm target from a very stable position.

On a previous morning I made a 1st round hit on a rock at 750 from the exact same spot so I was confident that my DOPE was accurate which gave me the extra confidence boost to take the shot.

 

[43.6N]

On a previous morning I made a 1st round hit on a rock at 750 from the exact same spot so I was confident that my DOPE was accurate which gave me the extra confidence boost to take the shot.

Thanks for the updated info.
I’d personally love to know what you saw for wound channels. I’ve always suspected the 140eldm would disrupt below 1800fps, but people taking good shots that far are not as many as one would think.

Way to go on a great bull and some impressive shooting

 

[blazingangel09]

Thanks for the updated info.
I’d personally love to know what you saw for wound channels. I’ve always suspected the 140eldm would disrupt below 1800fps, but people taking good shots that far are not as many as one would think.

Way to go on a great bull and some impressive shooting

I wish I had more info to share on the wound channels but we did the gutless method and were hustling to get it cut up before our headlamps all died.