Hardest hitting 6.5CM factory round?

[S-3 ranch]

When I was growing up we shot 264wm , 6.5-284 Norma and used nosler partition and barns TSX to utilize the speed they produced, the 6.5cm is slow
That’s why I think people are using the higher explosive bullets!
I personally like the 130gr TGK and 120gr TTSX to try and keep the speeds up

 

[Maverick1]

That’s why I think people are using the higher explosive bullets!

Tell us more about these explosive bullets….

 

[LongWayAround]

you can eat right up to the hole which I like.


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Is that what she said?

 

[S-3 ranch]

Tell us more about these explosive bullets….

That frangable match bullet debate has been beaten to death
Get a clue difference on thin walled match bullet and bonded & mono

 

[LongWayAround]

@Willbev14

If you're a shoulder shooter, the ELD-M and -X are probably not what you're looking for. The M wrecks a lot of meat when shot at close range into shoulders.

Put the ELD-M behind the shoulder and get your knife out.

Or, stick with a more robust projectile.

 

[bymers311]

Not saying they are any better than many of the others listed, but we have had great results with Hornady's 129gr interlocks in their American Whitetail line. Every whitetail we have shot with them dropped within 5 yards. Most of those shots being within 150-225 yards aside from a crazy situation that resulted in a button buck within 8yards. They were the only things on the shelves during the Covid times, so that is what we have been shooting for awhile. When we shoot through the last of the few boxes we have left I do plan to test some ELD-X and ELD-M loads as I have had great results with those in my other guns.

 

[Willbev14]

I would consider meat damage with the bullet you are shooting. I’ve shot some where the front shoulder was totally unusable. Not with the 6.5 though. 143 eld-x and like someone said before you can eat right up to the hole which I like.


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That is something to consider. I don’t like losing meat. I don’t especially like watching them run off after a hit either. Good to know that the ELD-X doesn’t pulverize them, maybe it’s the best of both worlds.

 

[Formidilosus]

When I was growing up we shot 264wm , 6.5-284 Norma and used nosler partition and barns TSX to utilize the speed they produced, the 6.5cm is slow
That’s why I think people are using the higher explosive bullets!

From your personal experience with them, correct? I mean you wouldn’t definitively post about something you haven’t seen or done… right?

I personally like the 130gr TGK and 120gr TTSX to try and keep the speeds up

Again- you must like them because of extensive use with them. I haven’t used the 120gr TTSX 6.5mm much- what has been your personal experience with them in the 6.5cm on animals?

 

[S-3 ranch]

From your personal experience with them, correct? I mean you wouldn’t definitively post about something you haven’t seen or done… right?




Again- you must like them because of extensive use with them. I haven’t used the 120gr TTSX 6.5mm much- what has been your personal experience with them in the 6.5cm on animals?

Dead deer & hogs , with a golf ball size exit , actually what I shoot are 120gr S&B TXRG and 129gr core-Lokt tipped 6.5 cm ( ran out of TGK unfortunately)
And Norma 130gr oryx in my .270

 

[Formidilosus]

Dead deer & hogs , with a golf ball size exit , actually what I shoot are 120gr S&B TXRG and 129gr core-Lokt tipped 6.5 cm

So you haven’t use the bullets in 6.5cm that you “like better”? Or the bullets that you don’t like?

 

[LongWayAround]

So you haven’t use the bullets in 6.5cm that you “like better”? Or the bullets that you don’t like?

Yes

 

[wind gypsy]

@Willbev14

If you're a shoulder shooter, the ELD-M and -X are probably not what you're looking for. The M wrecks a lot of meat when shot at close range into shoulders.

Put the ELD-M behind the shoulder and get your knife out.

Or, stick with a more robust projectile.

If I were a shoulder shooter Id like the idea of a more frangible bullet because the margin for error is less. But the idea of high shoulder shots and meat preservation seem to be at odds with each other anyway.

 

[Treeman_MG]

It's kind of funny how worked up people get about "meat loss", especially on whitetail deer. There just isn't a lot of meat on the shoulders to begin with, and they are a pain to trim. I'd much rather drop the animal where it stands with some "meat damage", then have it run off and potentially lose it all.

But. . . .I can get 4-6 doe tags and 2 buck tags per year, so if I want more meat, I just shoot another deer.

 

[LongWayAround]

If I were a shoulder shooter Id like the idea of a more frangible bullet because the margin for error is less. But the idea of high shoulder shots and meat preservation seem to be at odds with each other anyway.

Fair enough. I'm an unintentional shoulder shooter. It seems like if you hit the flat part of the scapula the damage isn't bad but hitting the ridge or closer to the knuckle can be impressive.

 

[CMF]

Only two kills so far with our 6.5cm, both 143grn eld-x on Oryx. One made it 100-120yds, the other was DRT.

 

[PredatorX]

It's kind of funny how worked up people get about "meat loss", especially on whitetail deer. There just isn't a lot of meat on the shoulders to begin with, and they are a pain to trim. I'd much rather drop the animal where it stands with some "meat damage", then have it run off and potentially lose it all.

But. . . .I can get 4-6 doe tags and 2 buck tags per year, so if I want more meat, I just shoot another deer.

With this logic every 4 deer you shoot you are probably wasting 1/2 deer.

There is just no reason for that with the right bullet selection.

It comes down to what bullet you are using.

Also a poor shot is a poor shot and you lose the deer. High shoulder shooters aren’t immune to that.


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[Treeman_MG]

With this logic every 4 deer you shoot you are probably wasting 1/2 deer.

There is just no reason for that with the right bullet selection.

It comes down to what bullet you are using.

Also a poor shot is a poor shot and you lose the deer. High shoulder shooters aren’t immune to that.


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Not even close to wasting 1/2 a deer. . . Maybe a pound or two of meat from a direct shot through the shoulders. On that note, some of the most dramatic wounds I have seen from monos come from bone fragments after hitting a shoulder, so monos don't necessarily mean less meat damage. You nailed it in your last sentence - shot placement. Any bullet through the ribs, behind the shoulder, will not damage much, if any, edible meat. Any bullet through bone has potential to damage edible meat.

I just find it silly that people are all bent out shape about losing a little meat to a rifle bullet. I get trying to maximize the use to respect the animal, especially if you can only shoot one a year. However, where do we draw the line here? How much of the animal do we need to utilize to not "waste" any? Are we tanning/using the hide? Harvesting the sinews? Glue from the hooves? Eating organs? Saving the heart and liver would more than make up for a lost shoulder.

 

[PredatorX]

I stopped using frangibles on whitetails because I’d lose the whole shoulder. That sucked. When I went to the 143 eld x I appreciated the fact that I could shoot through the shoulder and not waste much of anything.

As I get older I make it a point to use more of the animal. Still have a bunch of sinew I’m trying to figure out what to do with though.

The heart I still cannot figure out how to prepare properly without it being chewy.

I do wish we’d get back to a place where we used more of the animals we take.


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[Treeman_MG]

I stopped using frangibles on whitetails because I’d lose the whole shoulder. That sucked. When I went to the 143 eld x I appreciated the fact that I could shoot through the shoulder and not waste much of anything.

As I get older I make it a point to use more of the animal. Still have a bunch of sinew I’m trying to figure out what to do with though.

The heart I still cannot figure out how to prepare properly without it being chewy.

I do wish we’d get back to a place where we used more of the animals we take.


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I would say that eldx's are considered "frangible", with very similar wound channels to a tmk. . . .I shot 3 deer this year, all through shoulders, with 80gr eldx's out of a 8 twist 22-250. I didn't have to throw out a whole shoulder on any of them, but the wound channels were impressive, and I did trim pretty heavily.

Using as much of the animal as possible is admirable, but if you're really worried about meat loss, shoot them with a bow. Oh, and heart- sliced thin, salt and pepper, dredge in flour, fry. Yum!

 

[nm.otter]

The heart I still cannot figure out how to prepare properly without it being chewy.

First and foremost, don't overcook it.
Cook slow and moist, in broth or milk.
Or slice thin, marinate, and pan fry.
Or grind and use in sausage/wurst.