Hornady 6.5CM Ammo Choice

[HunterMc24]

Finally got my Ruger Hawkeye Predator chambered in 6.5 scoped up. Was deciding between two different Hornady loads. I’m looking at the 120GR Outfitter CX, or the 129GR Superperformance SST load. My shots will be ranging anywhere from 25-300 yards depending on the property I’m on. Just looking for experiences or recommendations between the two

Thanks in advance!

 

[Boarmaster]

Which one shoots better of of your rifle?

 

[S-3 ranch]

I lean more toward cx , my hunting buddy is 84 and I clean every deer he shoots, and the eldx make a huge mess, and has 100% core separation
I shoot sst in .308win and really didn’t like them
But shoot what the gun likes

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Finally got my Ruger Hawkeye Predator chambered in 6.5 scoped up. Was deciding between two different Hornady loads. I’m looking at the 120GR Outfitter CX, or the 129GR Superperformance SST load. My shots will be ranging anywhere from 25-300 yards depending on the property I’m on. Just looking for experiences or recommendations between the two

Thanks in advance!

As long as both are going fast enough at your maximum range, pick the one that is the most accurate.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[nobody]

140 ELDM or 143ELDX. Keep impact velocity at or above 1800 FPS and kill stuff.

 

[06 SB]

I do not shoot SSTs, ever. They break apart too easily. In your case, I’d do the CX but there are a lot of better options IMO. Hornady’s American Whitetail line is a good one.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I do not shoot SSTs, ever. They break apart too easily. In your case, I’d do the CX but there are a lot of better options IMO. Hornady’s American Whitetail line is a good one.

That’s funny! I don’t shoot SST’s because they are too tough! They didn’t expand properly on the two deer I shot with them last year.

(Obviously, it depends on the rifle chambering and range. I get better results in 6.5 Grendel from 123-grain ELDMs than 123-grain SSTs.)


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[CJ_BG]

What kind of wounds do you want?

 

[06 SB]

That’s funny! I don’t shoot SST’s because they are too tough! They didn’t expand properly on the two deer I shot with them last year.

(Obviously, it depends on the rifle chambering and range. I get better results in 6.5 Grendel from 123-grain ELDMs than 123-grain SSTs.)


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

My experience with SSTs being too soft is 150s from a 308. A couple buddies asked me to load SSTs in a 270 and a 30-06 for them. I did and then they asked if I could swap to a different bullet after one season (we can shoot 12 deer here in GA). I am a big fan of the Interlock but not the SST. Lately though I have been gravitating to Sierra bullets. I am trying the Tipped Game Kings this year in my 6.5CM and 7mmRM. I just hope they are not too soft.

 

[S-3 ranch]

My experience with SSTs being too soft is 150s from a 308. A couple buddies asked me to load SSTs in a 270 and a 30-06 for them. I did and then they asked if I could swap to a different bullet after one season (we can shoot 12 deer here in GA). I am a big fan of the Interlock but not the SST. Lately though I have been gravitating to Sierra bullets. I am trying the Tipped Game Kings this year in my 6.5CM and 7mmRM. I just hope they are not too soft.

Me and my hunting buddy both shoot TGK 140gr in 270win they are kinda soft
But do penetrate, I still like my norma 130gr 270win and 150gr in .308win better
We just got a hella good deal on a case of Sierra ammo so are just going to run it.
My new 6.5cm will definitely run barns LRX because I need some speed and B.C

The sst is good enough for head shots on hogs but agree that they are soft on shoulder shots

As a foot note his wife shoots a 270wsm and TGK’s are wildly explosive so she
Shoots 140gr ttsx to counter attack that

 

[Dave Thomas]

I've never used a mono but have killed a few deer with the 7mm 162 sst out of a 7 rem mag and I liked them. Quick kills and exits on whitetail.

 

[cowdisciple]

I would try the Barnes 127 LRX first as a factory non lead option.

Other than that, 140/147 ELDm, 143 ELDx from Hornady are the usual suspects.

 

[Pilarczyk85]

dont mean to hijack the thread but I was just about to buy the SST's for my 308. Are they that bad? I used federals (the blue box) last year and did not like them one bit. Was looking at the SST's as an alternative for whitetail.

 

[Luked]

Shoot the 143 ELDx out of mine. shoots good. No complaints yet but also havent killed anything with it yet either.
Next choice is goign to be the 130 ELDm that i want to try and see how well they shoot.

 

[Bodycamp13]

I know it isn't Hornady, but the Barnes LRX load is 100% what I would shoot. I used it on two animals before I sent short/suppressed .308 and it performed perfectly. I've used Barnes in .270 Win, .280 Rem, 7mm, .300 Win, .30-06, 6.5 Creed, .308, and my Muzzleloader. Never lost an animal with them.

 

[06 SB]

dont mean to hijack the thread but I was just about to buy the SST's for my 308. Are they that bad? I used federals (the blue box) last year and did not like them one bit. Was looking at the SST's as an alternative for whitetail.

In my opinion, yes. I won't use them from my 338Fed with a MV of 2600. There are just too many good bullets that will work 100% of the time. The mono metals on the higher end but out of a 308, I would do a 150 or 165 Hornady Interlock, Sierra GK or Pro Hunter or even Remington Core Locks before SSTs.