6.5 Creedmoor Bullet after 400yd. shot on Elk

[lifeisgoodsteve]

Hi All,

In case you were curious or for future bullet choice reference, here are some pics of a bullet taken from the opposite shoulder of a cow elk I just shot from 400 yards. Thankfully had been able to practice recently and didn't have big wind so one shot on quartering away went behind close shoulder and ended up at front end of far shoulder.

Bullet details:
Hornady Superformance
120 gr GMX (non-lead)
Muzzle Velocity 3050fps

It was interesting to see the front mushroom and the rest of the body hold its shape. I don't know if it was by design to allow better penetration along with some mushrooming. In any case, it did it's job as there was a huge blood trail (snow helped) and it ran about 50 yards before falling over.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

Ps - didn’t plan the 6.5 for elk but for deer and antelope. However didn’t draw the antelope tag so last minute picked up a leftover cow elk. Will target a 300wsm for next year’s elk rifle and beyond.

 

[OXN939]

Hi All,

In case you were curious or for future bullet choice reference, here are some pics of a bullet taken from the opposite shoulder of a cow elk I just shot from 400 yards. Thankfully had been able to practice recently and didn't have big wind so one shot on quartering away went behind close shoulder and ended up at front end of far shoulder.

Bullet details:
Hornady Superformance
120 gr GMX (non-lead)
Muzzle Velocity 3050fps

It was interesting to see the front mushroom and the rest of the body hold its shape. I don't know if it was by design to allow better penetration along with some mushrooming. In any case, it did it's job as there was a huge blood trail (snow helped) and it ran about 50 yards before falling over.

Cheers,

Steve

Thanks for posting. That's a pretty solid mushroom for a fourth of a mile out. Have had solid external ballistic results with GMX projectiles in two of my rifles, but yet to see what happens terminally. Hope mine look like that.

 

[SDHNTR]

Classic GMX performance. I’ve had great luck with them.

 

[Fisherhahn]

With results like that, why switch rifles??

 

[ramses342]

Wow yeah that looks really nice. My Hornady American whitetail rounds this year preformed pretty terribly so I am looking for something else.

 

[tdot]

Interesting to see the size of the cavity at the center of the GMX, I never woulda guessed it was that big, or are the photos skewing the size? It looks to be approaching 1/8".

 

[TimberHunter]

Wow yeah that looks really nice. My Hornady American whitetail rounds this year preformed pretty terribly so I am looking for something else.

Really? I thought those interlock bullets were classified as a poor mans nosler partition? Could you share your experience?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ramses342]

Really? I thought those interlock bullets were classified as a poor mans nosler partition? Could you share your experience?

Yeah I shot three deer with them this year and on two of the shoots they did not exit the body cavity on the far side of the deer but instead got stopped on the far side. Massive bruising on the far side with a broken rib on one of the deer but it did not exit. Because of this there was no blood at all to track which in SE is a big deal because of how thick it is. The one bullet I was able to recover was completely hollow with just the copper jacket left, I am not a super experienced hunter but that did not seem good. The OP's bullet on the other had looks like it retained most of the weight. This is using a 6.5 creedmore by the way, all the deer were shot inside of 50 yards. Someone on r/hunting on reddit reported something super similar with the bullets as well.

 

[TimberHunter]

What train weight? 129?

I’m wondering if that is the upper limit of the interlocks impact velocity (over expansion?). I would image you hit the deer with a bullet going 2800 or so FPS. At that speed, a partition or GMX may be the ticket.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Whether you go with this as a basis or not...

A 143 grain 6.5 CM pill, shot out of a 24" barrel, still maintains over 1,300 ft lbs of energy at 500 yards. A lot of hunters and guides use the 1,200 ft lb minimum to ethically kill a mature elk.

You end up with a more than capable elk rifle out to 500 yards with the 6.5 CM.

 

[ramses342]

What train weight? 129?

Yeah its the 129 grain weight.

 

[SDHNTR]

Really? I thought those interlock bullets were classified as a poor mans nosler partition? Could you share your experience?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interlocts are nowhere near a partition! They are just your standard cup and core bullet meant for light skined game, and/or lower velocities. Yes, I would think 2800 FPS muzzle velocity would be about the upper limit I would want to use one at. I think they are totally fine for deer but they are not in the category of a partition, Accubond, or any of the monos.

 

[TimberHunter]

Interlocts are nowhere near a partition! They are just your standard cup and core bullet meant for light skined game, and/or lower velocities. Yes, I would think 2800 FPS muzzle velocity would be about the upper limit I would want to use one at. I think they are totally fine for deer but they are not in the category of a partition, Accubond, or any of the monos.

You are correct that comparing the cross section of a partition and interlock are very different. I didn’t say they were the same, I said they are the poor mans partition. That is not only my opinion but the opinion of many other members on this forum.

Do you have experience with the interlocks? I’m not sure how you would because you’re in California (lead free state) per our suppressor discussion.

I used a 130 interlock on a 5x5 bull this past season at 100 yards and it worked. Likely will upgraded to partitions for close shots on elk but at 300+ yards when it’s slowed down, the interlocks should hold together


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SDHNTR]

I’ve killed dozens of animals (hogs, deer, elk, lopes) with interlocts. The lead free thing in CA is still fairly new. Before that law I shot them almost exclusively. I also hunt more out of state than I do in CA.

It’s a great bullet. They were always quite accurate and effective. They just wouldn’t be my choice in an elk bullet out of a magnum rifle.

In terms of durability, I’d put them above a core loct and below a Partition. They fill a great niche and are predictable and affordable. They just aren’t my first choice out of a magnum or at high speed on a really big critter. Great bullet, but the partition will get you more pass throughs if that’s your goal.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

With results like that, why switch rifles??

Good question...well, I'm happy for an excuse to get another rifle??

Actually I'm pretty ignorant of what degree of mushrooming to expect as this is my first season big game hunting (other than local hogs last year). In looking at actual bullet results I can better understand what value there is in going bigger or not.

While the energy seems ok by the numbers, a guide buddy had a painful experience losing a huge bull with his .270, after years of successful hunting, when he thinks with a bigger gun it'd have fallen and they'd have found it. Obviously hotly debated topic, with shot placement always coming out as king.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

Interesting to see the size of the cavity at the center of the GMX, I never woulda guessed it was that big, or are the photos skewing the size? It looks to be approaching 1/8".

Here are some pics against a tape measure for reference. Looks a bit bigger than 1/8" cavity.

 

[theleo91386]

I’ve killed dozens of animals (hogs, deer, elk, lopes) with interlocts. The lead free thing in CA is still fairly new. Before that law I shot them almost exclusively. I also hunt more out of state than I do in CA.

It’s a great bullet. They were always quite accurate and effective. They just wouldn’t be my choice in an elk bullet out of a magnum rifle.

In terms of durability, I’d put them above a core loct and below a Partition. They fill a great niche and are predictable and affordable. They just aren’t my first choice out of a magnum or at high speed on a really big critter. Great bullet, but the partition will get you more pass throughs if that’s your goal.

Push an Interlock to where expansion goes past the Interlock ring in the jacket and the core will separate almost every time. They're definitely not Partitions, but they're usually a good option for sub 3,000 fps loads. I've used them in several rifles, and rounds in like a 165gr 308 win, they work great. 100gr Interlocks in my 243 come unglued almost every time. Just have to pick the bullet to match the conditions you'll be using it for.

 

[TimberHunter]

Good question...well, I'm happy for an excuse to get another rifle??

Actually I'm pretty ignorant of what degree of mushrooming to expect as this is my first season big game hunting (other than local hogs last year). In looking at actual bullet results I can better understand what value there is in going bigger or not.

While the energy seems ok by the numbers, a guide buddy had a painful experience losing a huge bull with his .270, after years of successful hunting, when he thinks with a bigger gun it'd have fallen and they'd have found it. Obviously hotly debated topic, with shot placement always coming out as king.

My buddy hit a cow with a 338 win mag and lost it ... obviously it was not a good hit but it’s the reason why I don’t chance the large calibers and stay with my .270 because I don’t love magnum rifle recoil and if a 338 won’t get it done 100% of the time why punish yourself with recoil.

But I do like the idea of a new gun! I’m in the same boat but I’m looking at a 20” carbon barrel on a 308 so I can run a suppressor. Per the dope charts, I should have 1250ft/lbs out to 600 yards at 7500’ elevation


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Shotshill]

Ive shot 3 hogs with the 308 GMX SuperFs...
with great results. High weight and spherical retention yet no pass thru.. They work well and shoot quite accurately from my LTR..