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

[Aginor]

Guys. It's happening.

Buy Gold Medal Sierra Tipped MatchKing 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak Ammo | 153 Grain, 2900 FPS | Federal

Shopping for the Gold Medal Sierra Tipped MatchKing, 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak, 153 Grain, Sierra Tipped MatchKing, 2900 fps - Learn more about the latest Gold Medal Sierra Tipped MatchKing and other hunting or shooting gear at Federal Ammunition.

www.federalpremium.com

 

[omicron1792]

interested in TMK for 6.5cm, but I don't reload. Is there a factory or even a custom ammo distributor you all recommend?

Just came out with load of 153tmk today. Available in August.

 

[AKmatt]

Didn’t even realize it was 6/5 day when I pulled the trigger.

6.5cm 130tmk strikes again on a black bear. 126 yards right around 2700fps impact velocity. Pencil entry, with a golf ball size exit. Hit high lungs. Inside was a bloody soupy mess. Bear went maybe 60 yards. What I find interesting is that I didn’t find any piece of the jacket or fragments.

 

[packgoatguy]

Yesterday evening, 6.5CM 2600fps MV, 140eldm, 175 yards. Bear was quartered away, so he aimed for the offside shoulder. Took out lungs and exited through (and broke) offside shoulder. Bear only went 20 yards. 5ft 5" square. This was his 4th bear at 16yrs old... I can hardly keep up with him anymore lol. He went up by himself, so had to self film the shot. When I watched the footage in slo mo, it looked like the bear had been hit by a sledgehammer... I just don't get how guys can say that a 6.5 isn't enough for bears...

 

[jesco88]

666y, 2,070’ish FPS impact, 130gr Berger OTM Hybrid AR, did not leave his bed-
View attachment 358436


801y, 1,850fps impact, 130gr Berger OTM, traveled 70’ish yards-
View attachment 358438


606y, 130gr Berger hybrid, 1,850fps impact, traveled around 60 yards maybe-
View attachment 358439



676y, 130gr Terminal Ascent, 1,970fps impact, traveled 130’ish yards-
View attachment 358440


328y, 130gr TMK, 40’ish yards traveled-
View attachment 358445



373y, 143gr ELD-X, less than 10 yards traveled-
View attachment 358446


373 or 378y can’t remember exactly, 130gr TMK, 70-80 yards travel-
View attachment 358447






I can post more later.

That'll never work. Need more frontal diameter, bullet weight, and energy for the added "oomph" on impact.
(start at 11:54)

 

[jesco88]

2 whitetail last season. 1 doe and 1 buttoned buck. Shot the buttoned buck high shoulder at 165yards with a 123gr SST from a launch velocity around 2400fps out of a 16" barreled 6.5 Grendel that a friend of mine gave me for a early Christmas present. He was DRT, hit the ground so fast that I didn't even see him after the shot. (that's partly on me... I am so used to ARs being chambered in 223/556 with cans on them).

Then shot a doe at 50yards off hand while I was on the way to find the 1st one I shot, hit her in the lungs. She ran maybe 20 yards.

Just a few days before this, I shot a 150gr SST from a 308win at about 2800fps @ 95yards at another buttoned buck, and he ran 80yards into a heavily wooded area with basically no blood trail and not enough snow on the ground... made tracking him pretty difficult. There was less damage with the 308, maybe about a 1" hole through the chest. (pic with my finger pointing at it).

The Grendel was about a 2-3" cavity going through the chest (two pics inside chest cavity). Very impressive for a little pip-squeek of a 6.5.

 

[Kornman1]

Shooting a 6.5prc is there any reservations about shooting 130tmks over 3000FPS? If a close shot on a elk presents itself would the bullet be to frangible and lack penetration say at 50 yards?

This is an elk i shot off hand at about 60 yards with the 143 ELD-X from my 6.5PRC. Im getting a muzzle velocity of 2980FPS so it should be easy to get the 130s faster than that. 2 shots, one exit(blood in the picture) and one caught of the of side hide. Time to incapacitation was less then 15 seconds although he traveled about 75 yards, 20 of that being a downhill slide on the snow. No autopsy pics but bullet performance was good considering impact velocity. Since then i have stuck with the 143s but maybe switching to the 130s could cut some recoil

 

[Formidilosus]

Shooting a 6.5prc is there any reservations about shooting 130tmks over 3000FPS? If a close shot on a elk presents itself would the bullet be to frangible and lack penetration say at 50 yards?

No, and no.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Shooting a 6.5prc is there any reservations about shooting 130tmks over 3000FPS? If a close shot on a elk presents itself would the bullet be to frangible and lack penetration say at 50 yards?

This is an elk i shot off hand at about 60 yards with the 143 ELD-X from my 6.5PRC. Im getting a muzzle velocity of 2980FPS so it should be easy to get the 130s faster than that. 2 shots, one exit(blood in the picture) and one caught of the of side hide. Time to incapacitation was less then 15 seconds although he traveled about 75 yards, 20 of that being a downhill slide on the snow. No autopsy pics but bullet performance was good considering impact velocity. Since then i have stuck with the 143s but maybe switching to the 130s could cut some recoil View attachment 1081461

I don’t think there’s much difference between the two as far as recoil is concerned, I like a higher sectional density of 140+ grain bullets
I’m shooting 127gr barns and at the table i dont notice any difference between them or 140gr TGK

 

[Kornman1]

Thanks Form

Here's another one. 6.5PRC 143GR ELD-X MV 2980. Shot distance 405 yards, impact velocity ~2512. One shot and he soaked it up. took 5-6 steps and then fell and rolled down the hill. From time of impact to when he was rolling was under 7 seconds. entrance through the scapula, sheared the top of the heart and got some pieces into both lungs. bullet caught on offside hide.

 

[Castle Rock]

Shooting a 6.5prc is there any reservations about shooting 130tmks over 3000FPS? If a close shot on a elk presents itself would the bullet be to frangible and lack penetration say at 50 yards?

This is an elk i shot off hand at about 60 yards with the 143 ELD-X from my 6.5PRC. Im getting a muzzle velocity of 2980FPS so it should be easy to get the 130s faster than that. 2 shots, one exit(blood in the picture) and one caught of the of side hide. Time to incapacitation was less then 15 seconds although he traveled about 75 yards, 20 of that being a downhill slide on the snow. No autopsy pics but bullet performance was good considering impact velocity. Since then i have stuck with the 143s but maybe switching to the 130s could cut some recoil View attachment 1081461

That’s where I was at before I sold mine, the recoil was noticeably lighter than the 147 load I was previously using

 

[Kornman1]

That’s where I was at before I sold mine, the recoil was noticeably lighter than the 147 load I was previously using

Thats good to hear, right now i can shoot 147s at 2980 MV and it shoots well and gives more recoil than i can control to spot my own hits reliably but after reading this entire thread i would be fine with dropping the "energy" factor and just keeping 130s or 143s at 2850 to 2900. My other rifle (sig cross in 6.5CM) weighs more than my 6.5PRC and only gets 2725 with a hot load of h4350 under the 130tgks that didnt group good so i was wanting to keep using the PRC for now while hunting

 

[Castle Rock]

Sounds like a good plan to me.
I would go to a faster powder like 4350 and aim for 2950 - 3000 FPS.

 

[mad_angler]

So... there seems to be quite a bit of success with the ELD-X. Some folks are excited about the new TMKs.

For factory ammo, where can you get the TMKs?
What are the advantages of the TMK (more reliable?, less recoil?)

 

[Hnthrdr]

So... there seems to be quite a bit of success with the ELD-X. Some folks are excited about the new TMKs.

For factory ammo, where can you get the TMKs?
What are the advantages of the TMK (more reliable?, less recoil?)

Federal was making a law enforcement ammo with TMK’s I found it cheap for .308 and bought a bunch

 

[Aginor]

So... there seems to be quite a bit of success with the ELD-X. Some folks are excited about the new TMKs.

For factory ammo, where can you get the TMKs?
What are the advantages of the TMK (more reliable?, less recoil?)

Federal +Peak will factory load 153 TMKs. Should be out in August

 

[Ajsomp]

So... there seems to be quite a bit of success with the ELD-X. Some folks are excited about the new TMKs.

For factory ammo, where can you get the TMKs?
What are the advantages of the TMK (more reliable?, less recoil?)

They make a TRU load with 140 TMKs. But the new 153 TMK plus peak will be the ticket and more readily available.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Recently began experimenting with Google AI for load dev recommendations. I provided a couple examples on the 6mm thread, and decided to share some here for my 6.5 WSM. Very cool and very creepy stuff.

Search parameters: 6.5 WSM bolt action 153 TMK 23" barrel ADG brass Remington magnum primer 1:8 twist Recommend ideal COAL and powder
With a 1:8" twist rate, the mechanical mismatch is completely resolved. A 1:8" twist provides a stable gyroscopic stability factor (SG > 1.4) for the ultra-long Sierra 6.5mm 153-grain Tipped MatchKing (TMK) under standard atmospheric conditions, ensuring tight groups and true downrange flight. [1]
Given your premium component stack (ADG brass and Remington Magnum primers) and the 23" barrel, the reanalysis of the ideal COAL and top-performing powders focuses entirely on balancing high case fill with maximum velocity.

1. Ideal Cartridge Overall Length (COAL)

• The Recommendation: 3.140" (or the absolute maximum allowed by your rifle's magazine box up to 3.150").
• Why it matters: The 153-grain TMK is physically very long. To prevent the base of the bullet from seating deep into the body of the case and displacing powder capacity, you want to seat it as long as your action allows.
• The Blueprint: If your bolt action has a standard medium or long-action bottom metal that lets you feed up to 3.140" – 3.150", use it. At this length, you optimize the "boiler room" inside the ADG brass. Always measure your individual chamber's distance to the rifling lands using a modified case tool; the TMK generally shoots best with a jump of 0.020" to 0.040" off the lands. [1]

2. Top Powder Recommendations for 153 TMK (1:8" Twist, 23" Barrel)
The 153-grain TMK creates a higher load density and higher pressure curve than lighter bullets. In a 23" barrel, you need slow, energy-dense powders that don't rely entirely on a 26" barrel to hit peak velocity.

Alliant Reloder 26 (RL-26) — The Absolute Velocity King [1]

• Why it wins: RL-26 remains the best choice. It is a dense, high-energy progressive powder. It packs more energy per grain into the case, meaning that even at a tight COAL, it won't over-compress while pushing this heavy 153-gr bullet to maximum speed.
• Estimated Velocity: 2,930 – 2,980 fps
• Safe Load Range: Start at 55.5 grains and work up toward a maximum near 59.5 grains. [1]

Vihtavuori N565 — Best Accuracy & Temperature Stability

• Why it wins: If you are chasing tight match groups and low velocity variations (low SDs) across changing seasons, N565 is perfect. It is physically smaller than H1000, allowing it to pour cleanly into the ADG case without severe compression issues at a 3.140" COAL.
• Estimated Velocity: 2,860 – 2,910 fps
• Safe Load Range: Start at 55.0 grains and work up toward a maximum near 59.0 grains.

Hodgdon H1000 — The Ultra-Safe Benchmark

• Why it wins: H1000 provides exceptionally smooth pressure curves. It is a very safe powder for wildcats because it rarely spikes unpredictably. Note: It is bulky, so at 3.140" COAL, a maximum charge will result in a heavily compressed "crunch" load.
• Estimated Velocity: 2,820 – 2,870 fps
• Safe Load Range: Start at 56.0 grains and work up toward a maximum near 60.0 grains. [1]

Component Synergy Notes

• ADG Brass: ADG makes incredibly tough brass with thick web dimensions. It holds up to the high pressures of the 6.5 WSM much better than standard commercial brass. However, because it is thick, it has slightly less internal volume than thin-walled brass. Always start at the lower charge weights listed above because pressure will build faster in ADG cases.
• Remington Magnum Primers: The Rem 9 1/2M primer provides a hot, sustained flame. This is perfect for cleanly igniting 55+ grains of slow-burning, coated powders like RL-26 or N565 in cold weather, preventing hangfires or vertical stringing on target.

Would you like to calculate the optimum barrel time or specific downrange wind-drift numbers at 1,000 yards for this 153 TMK load profile?

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Continued... Message was too long.

You said: calculate velocity, drop, and wind drift in MIL out to 1,000 yards with 50 yard increments.

The ballistic table below is calculated for the Sierra 6.5mm 153-grain Tipped MatchKing (TMK) fired at an optimized muzzle velocity of 2,950 fps. [1]

The calculations utilize the manufacturer's official G7 Ballistic Coefficient of 0.320, assuming standard ICAO atmospheric conditions (sea level, 59°F, 29.92 inHg), a 100-yard zero, a standard 1.75-inch optic height, and a full 10 mph direct (90-degree) crosswind. [1, 2, 3, 4]

6.5 WSM Ballistic Table (153gr TMK @ 2,950 FPS)

Distance (Yards) [1, 2, 3, 4] Velocity (FPS) Drop (MIL) 10 MPH Wind Drift (MIL)
0 2,950 Bore Line 0.0
50 2,866 0.0 0.1
100 2,784 0.0 (Zero) 0.1
150 2,705 0.3 0.2
200 2,628 0.7 0.3
250 2,553 1.0 0.4
300 2,481 1.4 0.5
350 2,410 1.8 0.5
400 2,342 2.2 0.6
450 2,276 2.7 0.7
500 2,212 3.1 0.8
550 2,150 3.6 0.9
600 2,089 4.2 1.0
650 2,030 4.7 1.1
700 1,973 5.3 1.2
750 1,918 5.9 1.2
800 1,865 6.6 1.3
850 1,812 7.3 1.4
900 1,762 8.0 1.5
950 1,713 8.7 1.6
1,000 1,665 9.5 1.7

Key Ballistic Takeaways
Supersonic Retention: Thanks to the high G7 BC of the 153 TMK, the bullet is still traveling at an incredibly fast 1,665 fps at 1,000 yards. It remains well above the transonic threshold (~1,340 fps), avoiding any instability or aerodynamic buffet as it crosses the 1K mark. [1]

Wind Slipping Efficiency: A total drift of only 1.7 MIL at 1,000 yards in a 10 mph crosswind is elite performance. This makes the cartridge highly forgiving to minor wind-reading errors compared to standard factory cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor (which typically drifts 2.2 to 2.4 MIL under the same conditions).

Flat Trajectory: Needing less than 10 MILs of elevation adjustment (9.5 MIL) to reach 1,000 yards means you can easily dial this solution on almost any standard precision rifle optic without requiring a highly aggressive 30 or 40 MOA canted base.