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

[BagsandBullets]

For what it’s worth, I dropped a lot of deer last year with a 6.5CM using the 125gr deer season XP’s. I was pretty happy with the results using that bullet. Furthest shots were 200-250yds

 

[Throwin Darts]

This year's whitetail and mule deer exits with 6.5 ELD-M

You can see a chunk of lung on the ground in the second pic.

 

[Andouille]

This year's whitetail and mule deer exits with 6.5 ELD-M

You can see a chunk of lung on the ground in the second pic.

Range and mv? 140 and147 Eldm shoot well out of my CM, but eldx shoot fantastically, so that Leaves me debating bullet choice for maximum lethality on black bear and elk out to 400 yds.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Range and mv? 140 and147 Eldm shoot well out of my CM, but eldx shoot fantastically, so that Leaves me debating bullet choice for maximum lethality on black bear and elk out to 400 yds.

Won't matter at that range.

 

[Taudisio]

Range and mv? 140 and147 Eldm shoot well out of my CM, but eldx shoot fantastically, so that Leaves me debating bullet choice for maximum lethality on black bear and elk out to 400 yds.

Nothing wrong with the 143eldx. Watched dad drop a cow at 510 yards with that bullet. It was a prc with 3000fps MV. The creedmoor at 400 won’t be far off.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Nothing wrong with the 143eldx. Watched dad drop a cow at 510 yards with that bullet. It was a prc with 3000fps MV. The creedmoor at 400 won’t be far off.

The Best of the West guys have killed a ton of animals at long range with the 143 ELDX in the 6.5x284. If I were shooting a 6.5 CM, I’d lean towards the 143 as a great balance of BC and velocity.

 

[Andouille]

The Best of the West guys have killed a ton of animals at long range with the 143 ELDX in the 6.5x284. If I were shooting a 6.5 CM, I’d lean towards the 143 as a great balance of BC and velocity.

Thanks, I'm leaning that way, as 2660 fps with ELDX out of my 19" Tikka 6.5CM gives me 400-450yds comfortably at sea level.
Speaking of comparing 6.5mm bullet ballistics, this is an informative watch with specific discussion of popular 6.5mm bullets:

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Thanks, I'm leaning that way, as 2660 fps with ELDX out of my 19" Tikka 6.5CM gives me 400-450yds comfortably at sea level.
Speaking of comparing 6.5mm bullet ballistics, this is an informative watch with specific discussion of popular 6.5mm bullets:

That’s very similar MV as my daughter’s 18” 7-08 and 162 ELDX. She’s getting 2628 MV and that combo killed a magnum cow with authority 2 years ago at 185 yards.

 

[UnckleBob]

The Best of the West guys have killed a ton of animals at long range with the 143 ELDX in the 6.5x284. If I were shooting a 6.5 CM, I’d lean towards the 143 as a great balance of BC and velocity.

I have used the 143 ELDx from a 6.5CM to kill about 5 deer. It worked fine. if I still had that rifle, I would still be using the 143 over the 147.

I got great accuracy and the wounds caused quick deaths.

 

[Ajsomp]

Range report - Federal TRU 140 TMK 6.5 creedmoor. 10 shots out of an 18” Tikka t3x, factory stock, OG suppressor, Swfa 10x.

Average MV 2536

Looking forward to shooting some critters with it this fall in Montana.

@Formidilosus why won’t Federal make this more readily available. Between this and the 308 TRU they seem to have the magic sauce.

 

[hunterguy122]

Range report - Federal TRU 140 TMK 6.5 creedmoor. 10 shots out of an 18” Tikka t3x, factory stock, OG suppressor, Swfa 10x.

Average MV 2536

Looking forward to shooting some critters with it this fall in Montana.

@Formidilosus why won’t Federal make this more readily available. Between this and the 308 TRU they seem to have the magic sauce.

View attachment 1065474

I too have found the 308 TRU round to be hit and miss in stock anywhere. Good shooting!

 

[sierracharlie338]

@Ajsomp The same reason they discontinued the 77tmk TRU line.

They are idiots.

 

[Andouille]

Finally tested my 6.5 CM. Shot a 300lb black bear boar with 143 eld-x at 260 yds (2250 fps impact), hitting just above middle of middle, which resulted in a quick death, probably assisted by a tumble off a small cliff to really take the wind out of the bear's sails. Nice double high lung, but was in a hurry to skin and complete a hellacious solo pack out before dark, so I forgot to take necropsy photos. I have to say that the low recoil of a suppressedd 6.5CM is amazing, as i had confidence in shooting uphill off my trekking poles, and was able to keep on the bear at 14ish x zoom after the shot.

Edit: found the bullet on the outside of the opposite shoulder, buried in a thick fat layer (this bear was very fat). Complete core and jacket separarion and very little lead in the shoulder, so im guessing that the core fragmented inside the chest cavity, causing the rapid death. I'm surprised by the fragmentation and that the bullet didnt exit, given the reasonable entry velocity. Has me wondering if this bullet would be as lethal on a bull elk weighing 2-2.5x more than this bear. Would i be comfortable with a quartering shoulder shot? Hmm.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Finally tested my 6.5 CM. Shot a 300lb black bear boar with 143 eld-x at 260 yds (2250 fps impact), hitting just above middle of middle, which resulted in a quick death, probably assisted by a tumble off a small cliff to really take the wind out of the bear's sails. Nice double high lung, but was in a hurry to skin and complete a hellacious solo pack out before dark, so I forgot to take necropsy photos. I have to say that the low recoil of a suppressedd 6.5CM is amazing, as i had confidence in shooting uphill off my trekking poles, and was able to keep on the bear at 14ish x zoom after the shot.

Edit: found the bullet on the outside of the opposite shoulder, buried in a thick fat layer (this bear was very fat). Complete core and jacket separarion and very little lead in the shoulder, so im guessing that the core fragmented inside the chest cavity, causing the rapid death. I'm surprised by the fragmentation and that the bullet didnt exit, given the reasonable entry velocity. Has me wondering if this bullet would be as lethal on a bull elk weighing 2-2.5x more than this bear. Would i be comfortable with a quartering shoulder shot? Hmm.

FWIW, my daughter shot a very large cow at 185 with the 162 ELDX out of her 7-08 in the crease quartering away. It liquified both lungs, clipped the top of the heart, and shattered the far side humerus/scapula knuckle. We found the bullet under the hide on the far side. Impact velocity was roughly 2400 fps. After cleaning the flesh and bone from the bullet, the core fell out, but it was intact throughout the bullet path.

The cow took a couple steps left and right before falling over in the original spot. Total time to death was less than 10 seconds.

I would expect similar performance out of your 143 load, and wouldn't hesitate to use it on your elk hunt.

Edit: for perspective, I'm 6'1 and 230. I'm not sure what the cow weighed, but I would venture to guess at least 400 on the hoof.