6mm/6.5

[Dioni A]

Context? What setup lost zero?

Tally one piece rings and a Zeiss v4. I grouped the hits approximately 10 in right of point of aim. I fell multiple times on my rifle during this hunt and I'm somewhat making assumptions that I had lost zero. It's really hard to draw any hard conclusions though. At the time I just accepted re-zeroing my rifle as a normal thing. This was an out-of-state hunt and when I got there I checked and adjusted zero. I've since started zeroing off of much larger groups and have hardened my scope and mounting systems. All that to say it could very well be loss of zero, poor zero plus some undetected amount of wind or any combination of the above. As an aside. This rifle would require about 16 mph of wind to drift that much and I'm pretty confident I would have noticed that.

 

[Corey Paulsen (teamkabob)]

Man! I was a 7mm guy and still have one. Shot that round at everything. Shot @mcseal2 264 and decided I wanted a 6.5. Bought a 6.5 cm, wanted more fps. Sold it and bought a 6.5 prc. I enjoy it. Looking at a 243 for my son to shoot down the road probably be barreled to 6cm. Just need to find an adjustable stock for him. AR is good at 10.5 lop.

Manners needs to make an adjustable stock for the tikka like the cs2! Not a cheap youth stock but can run it for him, wife, and all the way out for me!

 

[mcseal2]

I've had great results with my 264 win mag, just mostly under 500 yards. I've taken a lot of game between 300 and 400 yards with it. I shoot a 140 grain Berger VLD Hunting bullet at 2914fps average. I'm not pushing it to hard, but that's where I found consistent velocity and accuracy. It's never given me a reason to change.

I sometimes get exit wounds, sometimes find jacket material under the offside hide. I've never lost an animal yet with the Bergers. The lack of an exit wound did concern me if I make a bad shot, but the internal damage has been sufficient that nothing has ever gone far. I've had similar good results with the 6mm 87 and 95 grain bullets. I shot the 185gr Bergers from my 300 win mag on one hunt but went back to the Nosler 180gr E tip. The Berger killed the muley just fine, but I like having my 264 set up for a Berger and my 300 set up for a tough bullet. It lets me pick what performance I want for the hunt.

Anyway, that doesn't answer the original question but it's what I can share.

 

[rokbottom]

Well, I have 5000 blem 140g fusions on their way. For roughly 12 cents a bullet, I figure I’ll use them for 100yd positional practice if they are that beat up.

Does anyone have a reliable velocity for full expansion?

 

[Formidilosus]

Well, I have 5000 blem 140g fusions on their way. For roughly 12 cents a bullet, I figure I’ll use them for 100yd positional practice if they are that beat up.

Does anyone have a reliable velocity for full expansion?

Good upset down to 1,900 to 1,800fps impact. Once you get into the 1,800fps impact range, there is some variability in most/all bullets.

 

[rokbottom]

Good upset down to 1,900 to 1,800fps impact. Once you get into the 1,800fps impact range, there is some variability in most/all bullets.

Sounds good. I appreciate the responses.

 

[Sako300]

Good upset down to 1,900 to 1,800fps impact. Once you get into the 1,800fps impact range, there is some variability in most/all bullets.

Any experience with the Longrange Accubonds 142gr in the 6.5? I know they advertised 1300 fps on these bullets still opening at the minimal speed. I’ve seen a guy on YouTube shoot thru bone, hide and a gel block at 1600 fps thru his chronograph with 20 inches of penetration in the gel after initial contact with bone and hide. Was just curious if you or anyone has ran this bullet on game in the field under 1800 fps. I have not.

 

[deserteagle99uzi]

I've been along for an Oryx hunt with 6.5CM where a bull was taken at 540 yards. No follow-up shots required which these animals sometimes need.

 

[Tannerlowe]

I have shot a white tail at 540 yards with a 6.5-06 156gr Berger. It was a full pass through couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. I hit a double lung and one rib. Don’t know if a shoulder would’ve stopped it or not

 

[gerry35]

Any experience with the Longrange Accubonds 142gr in the 6.5? I know they advertised 1300 fps on these bullets still opening at the minimal speed. I’ve seen a guy on YouTube shoot thru bone, hide and a gel block at 1600 fps thru his chronograph with 20 inches of penetration in the gel after initial contact with bone and hide. Was just curious if you or anyone has ran this bullet on game in the field under 1800 fps. I have not.

I'm curious too about the 150 gr ABLR and the 142 mentioned here. I did shoot some deer all at close range with the 129 gr ABLR just after it was released and definitely noticed bigger wound channels compared to Accubond's, Ballistic Tips and Grand Slam's. Thinking those 150 gr ABLR's would be perfect for my wife's 6.5x55 for moose and deer.

 

[Pilsner]

2020 bull elk with 6.5creed 147 eldm 600 yards ~2150fps impact velocity. Bull was hit in the neck/shoulder junction and dropped, dead instantly

2022 Mule deer buck with same 6.5creed cut to 20” 147 eldm 500 yards ~2025fps impact velocity, quartered away shot entered about mid rib and exit behind shoulder. Shot again but buck was dead on his feet, only traveled maybe 30 yards and down within about 40 seconds.

This is making me feel much better about my current 20" 6.5-284 Norma build using ELD-X ammo.

 

[Juan_ID]

This is making me feel much better about my current 20" 6.5-284 Norma build using ELD-X ammo.

I haven’t shot the eldx bullets at all but I’m sure they’ll work well for you.

 

[Nmaybe13]

From what I remember off hand from the last couple of years- I’m missing some, and there’s a bunch under 500y.


Elk, 860 yards, 6.5 CM 143gr ELD-X, 1,609fps impact, walked 20-30 yards and fell.

Elk, 970 yards, 6XC 115gr DTAC, one shot high lung, one shot through scapula, walked less than 20 yards, fell. This was finishing a previously wounded (300PRC) elk.

Elk, 560 yards, 6XC 115gr DTAC, center lungs, ran 20 yards and fell

Elk, 550 yards, 6XC 115gr DTAC, high lungs, dropped


Elk, 644 yards, 6XC 115gr DTAC, quartering away lungs, exit neck, ran 20 yards, facing away, second shot breaking spine in neck and collapsed.

Elk, 910 yards, 6.5 PRC 153gr A-TIP, first shot high lung, second through heart, ran 60’ish yards and fell.

Deer, 612 yards, 6.5 cm 130gr TMK, high shoulder and spine, dropped

Elk, 676 yards, 6.5 CM 130gr Terminal Ascent, fist shot through lungs and liver, turned and second shot through lungs, third shot (700’ish) in neck severing jugular. Fell and slide 20-30 yards.


Elk, 735 yards, 6.5 CM 143gr ELD-X, two shots to lungs, walked 20 yards and fell.

Deer, 606 yards, 6.5 CM 130gr Berger Hybrid OTM AR, 1,850fps impact, several shots all in lungs as it walked/trotted 70’ish years. One bullet expanded, the rest ice picked.

Elk, 801 yards, 6.5 cm Berger 130gr Hybrid OTM AR, 1,850’ish fps impact, several shots all in lungs- first standing, rest while walking 70’ish yards- one bullet expanded/fragmented


Elk, 666 yards, 6.5cm 130gr Berger Hybrid OTM AR, 2,100fps impact, bedded stood up at shot, three more in lungs, one broke scapula at “knuckle” and fell in tracks. All bullets performed correctly.

Form,

Would you recommend one of these choices over another? Am I giving up actual lethality by choosing a 6cm over a 6.5cm over a 6.5 prc?

The rifle will be a lightweight 21' barreled hunting rifle, with a can.

Is there a real reason to consider one from a terminal perspective over another?

With that barrel length I almost feel like the 6.5 PRC isn't worth choosing over the 6.5cm due to increased recoil.

If there is no difference in terminal performance, the availability of the 6.5cm is attractive and it's already very mild, but the 6cm takes the recoil factor even higher, but maybe loses out on availability.

If one has a clear edge terminally, then I'd choose that regardless of cost/availability of ammunition or barrel life considerations.

Thanks again for your input, and I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered many times over. Looking for a clear(er) edge.

 

[Duh]

Elk, 860 yards, 6.5 CM 143gr ELD-X, 1,609fps impact, walked 20-30 yards and fell.

Did you ever recover this bullet? Curious if it expanded or fragmented at all?

Reason I ask, I shot an antelope at 975 yards and the impact velocity was right at 1600 fps and the bullet didn’t open but I believe it tumbled.

 

[Formidilosus]

Did you ever recover this bullet? Curious if it expanded or fragmented at all?

Reason I ask, I shot an antelope at 975 yards and the impact velocity was right at 1600 fps and the bullet didn’t open but I believe it tumbled.

It yawed-

 

[Formidilosus]

Form,

Would you recommend one of these choices over another?

Yes- 6cm.

Am I giving up actual lethality by choosing a 6cm over a 6.5cm over a 6.5 prc?

No. More like gaining “lethality” from higher hit rates.

 

[Weldor]

564 6.5 prc. 143 norma match golden target. Coues high shoulder hit extremme up hill angle.
403 6.5 prc 140 soft point handload Cow elk. boiler room.

Those are my long shots in 50 plus years of hunting.
Most all the other were less than a 100 to 350 on average.

Big fan of 6.5 and 6mm

 

[RWT]

Texas whitetail 6.5 yrs old at a minimum. 195 lbs and run down from the rut. First time to see him during daylight hours. All other sightings were Only on camera at night. 6.5 CM 20” 1/7.5 proof. TBAc U7. Federal factory 130 terminal ascent. 516 yrds. Shot behind rt scapula and golf ball sized exit. DRT collapsed and didn’t even twitch.