Bear loads

[bluetick78]

So....yesterday I went to the store for toilet paper and bread. Ended up coming home with no toilet paper, no bread, and a new rifle. My wife seemed a little agitated, so I told her it was hers haha! Trouble is its a 6.5 Creedmoor. I didn't buy it for the caliber, I bought it because it's a nice light gun that looks great with a Leupold VX-6 that I aquired last time I went to the store for my wife. I have long range guns, short range lever actions and all that, what I want to use this for is for shooting baited bears. 2 of my stands are about 100 yds even to the bait can. What I'd like is some advice on which load to use for this range. I need to have 2 holes in the bear because they suck to track if you only have an entry. Bear fur soaks up blood like a sponge and it'll be 100 yds before they start leaving red on the ground unless you ventilate twice. I don't need advice on ballistic coefficient, sectional density, or all those other things that 6.5 guys get hard-ons over. I have guns for that, I want real experience with good loads that tip over bears nicely at 100 yds or so. Thanks for reading and commenting.

 

[MHWASH]

I shot my buck a couple days ago with the Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr. Based on this experience, I would use a Accubond, Partition or TTSX for shots over bait.

 

[bluetick78]

Did the 143 eld-x not perform the way you thought it would?

 

[Downeaster]

Ive pretty much gone all Accubond for my general hunting guns. Always pass through, always dead (with well placed shot ). That being said, TTSX have never failed me either. Not to diminish your quest, but any solidly built bullet in the 140ish range at 100yds is gonna pass through on a broadside shot in my experience. Btw, I like how u shop for your wife.

 

[bluetick78]

I've considered the Accubond heavily, it's a good bullet. The TTSX have always been a pain to load, they are picky about OAL. I've always used Interbonds and SST bullets for baited bears, but in bigger calibers, .280, 30-06, etc. What kind of exit holes have you guys encountered from Accubonds and Partitions in 6.5 CM?

 

[MHWASH]

I shot my buck a couple days ago with the Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr. Based on this experience, I would use a Accubond, Partition or TTSX for shots over bait.

It performed just fine in my opinion, but you shaft ranges is much closer, and your really wanting two holes.

My shot was just shy of 300. Slightly quartering away. On entrance bullet clipped the front leg, but no bone. Smashed the off side shoulder and I found the jacket just protruding out of the shoulder muscle.