Moose/Elk/Black Bear/Wolf Hunt 6.5CM Bullet Selection

SPDSpappy

SPDSpappy

FNG
Joined
Mar 8, 2018
Messages
65
Location
Metro East, St. Louis
I'm going on this hunt in a couple of months and am trying to figure out which bullet to use in my 6.5CM. I had initially planned on using Hornady 147gr ELD-M bullets, but after a recent gel test, I think I need to find another option.

I'm currently loading up ladders for the Berger 140gr Elite Hunter, Hornady 143gr ELD-X, and 130gr ELD-M to see which my rifle likes best. Ideally, I'd like to settle on one bullet for all scenarios (<100 yard shot vs. 200+ yards), rather than having to carry two different options. My original thought was to load the 143gr ELD-X for shorter distances in the mag, with another mag for longer-range shots (Berger or 130gr ELD-M). I'm okay with this approach, but it does add another layer of complexity that I'd prefer to avoid.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on which bullet to choose and your reasoning behind it (I’m an engineer, so I enjoy geeking out over the details). For reference, here’s the rifle setup these are going into: Viking Armament/XLR Element 4.0 Magnesium chassis with carbon fiber components, Zermatt Origin action, Timney Elite Hunter trigger, Proof Research carbon fiber barrel, NightForce NX-8 4-32 scope, and a Titanium Pro 4-port muzzle brake.

XLR Element Magnesium 65 Creedmoor.jpg
I'm also bringing my .300WM as a backup w/ Berger 205gr Elite Hunters (similar hardware to the 6.5CM, but aluminum chassis and no carbon fiber in the stock).
XLR 300 Win Mag - 6.jpg
 
If you truly enjoy geeking out. Get off of YouTube and read through these two threads.

As in, actually read them and learn. Take breaks and come back to where you left off later like a good book.

You’ll learn things about bullet construction, impact velocities, and what the bullets actually do on/in animals.

woods89

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...
  • Like

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Wow
 
SPDSpappy said:
I'd appreciate your thoughts on which bullet to choose and your reasoning behind it (I’m an engineer, so I enjoy geeking out over the details).
Click to expand...
Id go with the 125gn Hammer HHT. The solid will expand more consistently, the mushroom petals will quickly fracture off by design and radiate outward causing their own wound channels, the base acts like a wad cutter for deep penetration.
 
mxgsfmdpx said:
If you truly enjoy geeking out. Get off of YouTube and read through these two threads.

As in, actually read them and learn. Take breaks and come back to where you left off later like a good book.

You’ll learn things about bullet construction, impact velocities, and what the bullets actually do on/in animals.

woods89

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...
  • Like

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Wow
Click to expand...
I'll give them a read, thanks!!
 
mxgsfmdpx said:
If you truly enjoy geeking out. Get off of YouTube and read through these two threads.

As in, actually read them and learn. Take breaks and come back to where you left off later like a good book.

You’ll learn things about bullet construction, impact velocities, and what the bullets actually do on/in animals.

woods89

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...
  • Like

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Wow
Click to expand...
I guess this is my answer! Still reading through more of the thread though.
1752947052589.png
 
mxgsfmdpx said:
If you truly enjoy geeking out. Get off of YouTube and read through these two threads.

As in, actually read them and learn. Take breaks and come back to where you left off later like a good book.

You’ll learn things about bullet construction, impact velocities, and what the bullets actually do on/in animals.

woods89

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...
  • Like

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Wow
Click to expand...
Seems any of the 3 will work, but the 2 heavier of the three have better penetration... 1752947748091.png
 
The 147 ELD-M penetrates deeper than the Bergers I’ve used, and seems to stay together more reliably than the 143 ELD-X, too, based on reports I’ve seen.

My hunting partners and I have killed elk, MD, WT, moose, black bear, pronghorn, etc., with various ELD-M bullets. They routinely penetrate deeply while creating moderate wound channels. Start them at 2700 fps or less, and they’re very predictable.

My personal solution for the 6.5 CM is to load the 147 ELD-M as an all-around load. If I was to specialize things a bit more, I load a 127 LRX for short- to medium-range bone smashing without getting lead frags in my meat, and a 147 ELD-M for longer shots (which, coincidentally, afford me more time for careful bullet placement to avoid bone).
 
I don't have a dog in the fight, but there's plenty of firsthand data about the effectiveness of the ELD-M for hunting. As for thinking about carrying two different loads.... WHY? That's making things more complicated than they need to be. Murphy's Law, you WILL have the "wrong" load in the rifle when the opportunity presents itself.
 
Kyguy said:
I don't have a dog in the fight, but there's plenty of firsthand data about the effectiveness of the ELD-M for hunting. As for thinking about carrying two different loads.... WHY? That's making things more complicated than they need to be. Murphy's Law, you WILL have the "wrong" load in the rifle when the opportunity presents itself.
Click to expand...
I agree w/ you and exactly why I did this post. It's been recommended to me that I use two different bullets given some concerns over the ELD-X at close range. Based on the first thread @mxgsfmdpx provided, I'm not so sure that's warranted.
 
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