Close range 6.5 Creedmoor ammo

[Canadahunt]

I hunt white tail in the woods mostly within 100 yards and never beyond 200 yards.

I am looking non-lead bullets.

If lead, I prefer polymer tip (to avoid tip getting damaged) and something that retains nearly all of its mass.

Any suggestions?

 

[Dustin B.]

I hunt white tail in the woods mostly within 100 yards and never beyond 200 yards.

I am looking non-lead bullets.

If lead, I prefer polymer tip (to avoid tip getting damaged) and something that retains nearly all of its mass.

Any suggestions?

I had good luck with the Barnes vor-tx in my 6.5 creedmoor. I also liked the Hornady American whitetail although they have an exposed lead tip. I just reloaded some swift Scirocco bullets but I haven't shot anything with them yet. Nosler accubonds would probably work good. Do you reload?

 

[MT-nuffgun]

Man, if never beyond 200, a mangled tip will mean nothing. If it were me, the bullet of choice would be the 140 nosler partition at those ranges followed by the 143 eldx, 130 tmk, 147 eldm, 140 sst. I’m not of fan of Barnes bullets personally.

 

[Dustin B.]

Man, if never beyond 200, a mangled tip will mean nothing. If it were me, the bullet of choice would be the 140 nosler partition at those ranges followed by the 143 eldx, 130 tmk, 147 eldm, 140 sst. I’m not of fan of Barnes bullets personally.

The eldm and tipped match king may not always have reliable expansion. Definitely great for long range target shooting though.

 

[MT-nuffgun]

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/6-5-creedmoor-260-for-deer-elk-and-whatever-else.244973/unread more than enough evidence in this thread proving the reliable expansion of heavy for caliber match bullets.

 

[rookieforever33]

Most non lead will expand about 1 1/2 time original diameter at that range. Get a box each of Barnes ttsx, nosler e-tip, federal trophy copper. See which shoots best. Others may know more about fragmenting non lead options like drt or cutting edge. Might be harder to find those but worth investigating from what I've read

 

[Macintosh]

Ive used barnes and federal copper in 6.5cm and 7mm08, which are pretty similar. Have personal experience with about a dozen deer and antelope taken with either of those, plus more with other cartridges. Ive never seen a bullet from those cartridges that didnt expand at those closer ranges, you’ll have plenty of velocity well past your stated maximum range. The only animals that werent incapacitated within a few seconds was a clear bad hit, cant blame the bullet for that.
I personally have been using the barnes factory loaded LRX in my 6.5cm. The lrx is supposed to expand at a bit lower velocity than the ttsx, but I dont think its possible to have too much velocity with those. They are plenty accurate in my rifle.
I personally stopped using fragmenting lead bullets because the wounds were too big and I lost too much meat, and have been blissfully using copper since. Folks on rokslide diss copper because people here by and large are heavily influenced by long-range hunting—where copper is not as good. At close ranges like you are talking about I havent had those problems. Pick a popular offering, and if it shoots in your gun, use it.

 

[Canadahunt]

Thanks for the suggestions. Since someone asked, I don't reload. I just want to buy factory ammo that will have good expansion at this range. I have read that some of the copper options don't expand well at short range, but I like the idea of copper.

 

[Honyock]

Nosler Accubond is a good option.

 

[prm]

TTSXs hitting at close range with good velocity are excellent. A 120 TTSX, or even the 100, would be great for what you describe. A 100 at ~3200 FPS would be deadly. A perfect scenario for a mono.
Edit: just saw you’re not reloading. I’d go 120 TTSX or one of the Hornady 120 CX offerings. Try a box of each and go with whatever shoots the best.

 

[Dustin B.]

Just saw you’re not reloading. I’d go 120 TTSX or one of the Hornady 120 CX offerings. Try a box of each and go with whatever shoots the best.

This is probably the best route if you're not reloading. Both Hornady and Barnes seem to be reasonably priced on Midway.

 

[Dustin B.]

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/6-5-creedmoor-260-for-deer-elk-and-whatever-else.244973/unread more than enough evidence in this thread proving the reliable expansion of heavy for caliber match bullets.

Can't argue with that. I've always heard stories about them failing to expand or shattering on impact so I've never used the myself.

 

[BPT0586]

Short range deer with a creedmoor,I'd think the 129 interlock would rival about anything else and be cheap. Whether you're buying factory or loading them.

 

[jtshuntstuff]

I've had surprising luck with Sellier & Bellot 120 grain TXRG for a cheap option.

​

 

[Rich M]

NP is t gonna let you down or lack penetration like them fancy cup & cores w poly tips.

Most of my deer are inside 250 and i shoot pro hunters a lot. 30-06 and 253 anyways.

 

[IDbrushswimmer]

We shot a couple with the 120 cx factory Hornady offering. From 20-300 yds, good blood trails and surprisingly good internal damage on the 300 yd shot.

 

[bigeyedfish]

I've killed a couple inside 200 yards with 140 gr S&B softpoints. They did the job just fine, but I could never shake a feeling of uncertainty. I don't know why.

Since then, I've killed a couple with ELD-X's at 200-250 yards. No feeling of uncertainty. They shoot really well in my rifle, and cause dramatic damage. I can't give you any scientific reason, but I would not hesitate to use them at any range that I was comfortable putting shots on target.