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

[Mammoth Steppe]

As someone who doesn't reload, what are the standout factory loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor? Are the EldX and EldM as good as it gets?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

As someone who doesn't reload, what are the standout factory loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor? Are the EldX and EldM as good as it gets?

I’ve had and seen excellent performance with 140-grain ELDMs. As far as value for money is concerned, I like that factory load the best.

 

[General RE LEE]

As someone who doesn't reload, what are the standout factory loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor? Are the EldX and EldM as good as it gets?

I would think the 140 ELDM and 143 ELDX factory loads would be top of the list. I had a Tikka that would shoot Hornady Match 140s into one big hole.

 

[43.6N]

@Mammoth Steppe Nothing wrong with 140’s or 143’s. Factory can be a little slow in shorter barrels.

130’s have been a really nice combo of velocity, efficiency, and recoil.

https://choiceammunition.com/product/6-5-creedmoor-130-grain-hornady-eld-m-match100-hand-loaded/

 

[TreeDog]

As someone who doesn't reload, what are the standout factory loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor? Are the EldX and EldM as good as it gets?

The Berger factory stuff is really good too. Also great brass if you ever get into reloading

 

[Hondo64d]

Yesterday’s hunt affirmed to me that the 6.5 Creedmoor is hard to beat for a long range cartridge for whitetail deer. It’s the right balance of light recoil, short action, easy to load, retained velocity and accurate.

Your .308’s gonna be jealous…

John

 

[General RE LEE]

Your .308’s gonna be jealous…

John

Love the 308, but I give the edge to the 6.5 for less recoil and less wind drift.

 

[Hondo64d]

Love the 308, but I give the edge to the 6.5 for less recoil and less wind drift.

Agree.

John

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

@Mammoth Steppe Nothing wrong with 140’s or 143’s. Factory can be a little slow in shorter barrels.

130’s have been a really nice combo of velocity, efficiency, and recoil.

https://choiceammunition.com/product/6-5-creedmoor-130-grain-hornady-eld-m-match100-hand-loaded/

I was considering that since it's a 20" barrel that I may want to look at 140gr or below to help balance that velocity. I did read somewhere that people were getting around 2,660fps using 143gr ELDX with their 20" barrels in the same rifles (Sako). If true, that's only 40 fps loss for 4" less barrel. I'll have to get ahold of one of those Garmin's to verify.

 

[wind gypsy]

I was considering that since it's a 20" barrel that I may want to look at 140gr or below to help balance that velocity. I did read somewhere that people were getting around 2,660fps using 143gr ELDX with their 20" barrels in the same rifles (Sako). If true, that's only 40 fps loss for 4" less barrel. I'll have to get ahold of one of those Garmin's to verify.

The factory hornady 140 ELD/143 ELDx i've chrono'd out of 24" tikka factory barrels has typically been around 2600 FPS muzzle velocity. They are usually slower than most.

 

[Timplant]

I am getting 2656 avg. out of a 21'' carbon six 6.5 creed barrel. Factory 143 Eldx if that helps anyone!

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

The factory hornady 140 ELD/143 ELDx i've chrono'd out of 24" tikka factory barrels has typically been around 2600 FPS muzzle velocity. They are usually slower than most.

Slower than advertised then, interesting.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I was considering that since it's a 20" barrel that I may want to look at 140gr or below to help balance that velocity. I did read somewhere that people were getting around 2,660fps using 143gr ELDX with their 20" barrels in the same rifles (Sako). If true, that's only 40 fps loss for 4" less barrel. I'll have to get ahold of one of those Garmin's to verify.

I get a very consistent 2559 from my 20” Tikka using the Hornady 140-grain ELDM factory loads. I am curious to compare that with my 22” Sauer 100 once it comes back from getting threaded.

 

[wind gypsy]

Slower than advertised then, interesting.

Yes, tikka 6.5 barrels are slower than most.

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

I get a very consistent 2559 from my 20” Tikka using the Hornady 140-grain ELDM factory loads. I am curious to compare that with my 22” Sauer 100 once it comes back from getting threaded.

And I'm assuming that Tikka and Sako share the same barrels, same twist rates etc? I bought a Sako 90 Peak for reference.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

And I'm assuming that Tikka and Sako share the same barrels, same twist rates etc? I bought a Sako 90 Peak for reference.

Yes, they are the same barrels.

 

[zrodwyo]

Dang.

Now someone on this thread has to go shoot Tatonka with their 6.5Grendel just to prove a point. ;(

Nothing more than an interesting story, but it’s been attempted.

Many years ago my dad put down the neighbor's Buffalo that busted through a bunch of fences and was far from home. This was a middle of the night kind of deal and the gun mounted to the thermal happened to be chambered in 6.5 Grendel. It was shooting Hornady Black 123 eld-m going 2,400 at the muzzle.

The first shot was to the forehead at about 30 yards. The bullet completely ricochet off doing no damage. Three follow up shots were made to the vitals and the bull was still on his feet. All sub 50 yards. Finally, one shot from a 45-70 dropped the bull. Can’t tell you what those 123s did.