Most versatile 6.5 bullet for a Creedmoor

[Brightwhite]

I have a rifle that was setup to be a short & light 8lb gun with my Ultra 7 on it for a backpack and High Country deer gun. It would also probably get the nod for sheep or goat if I ever draw a tag knowing that it will be carried long distances. I wouldn't intentionally carry it for elk, but I could have a late season deer tag and a leftover cow tag in my pocket.

So the question is for Deer/Sheep/Goat, distances ranging from 100 - 600 yards, what bullet would you load? I am hoping to get 2750-2800 FPS out of it with the 20" barrel and shoot anything in the 130-140 class bullets.

I like the idea of high BC bullets over something like the accubond because I know I will have this gun up in some windy places. I have never shot or used a Berger bullet, I know the 30 cal bullets are revered, but how about 6.5 bullets out of a slower creed?

The rifle shoots the 143g ELDX factory loads really well, just slower than I really want, and I want to tinker a little

 

[prm]

139 Scenar. Shoots great with RL16 (2800 out of my 21” barrel), and performed very well on the one muley buck I shot with that bullet. Edit: I also shot a nice 5x5 bull with a 140 Berger VLD using the otherwise exact same load as my 139 Scenar. Flip a coin.

 

[Kimber7man]

I’ll second the 139 Scenar.

 

[tdhanses]

You should be able to get somewhat close to the lower end of you desired speed shooting the Berger 156’s with RL-16 or RL-26 if you can find it.

I have a 20” barrel and I get 2621 with factory loads with the 147ELDM.

Personally I’d take a tad slower higher BC bullet over a faster lower BC combo.

 

[Kotaman]

127 gr. Barnes LRX would do the trick!

 

[6mm Remington]

With the modest velocities of the 6.5 CR you might try these.
Nosler
120 gr Ballistic tip
125 gr. Partition
130 gr. Accubond

They will all open up at the slower speeds at the farther distances and still retain weight and penetrate.

 

[codym]

130 Berger ar hybrids are one of my favorites

 

[bigburr]

142 accubond LR. Holds together up close, still opens up at distance.

 

[Brightwhite]

127 gr. Barnes LRX would do the trick!

Definitely intrigued by this bullet, but I keep reading that you need speed to get them to open. Also the BC isn’t very close to the eldx and aren’t they similar in design, just all copper?

 

[Brightwhite]

What’s the verdict on the 140 VLD and hitting a shoulder blade on say a 400-500 yard shot? Will it still do ok and make it to the vitals?

 

[cubdriver84d]

I’m planning on shooting the 124 hammer hunter in the short and light 6.5 I’ll be putting together soon.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Tough to beat 147gr eld-m

they don’t good on grizz, moose and caribou.

 

[AK Troutbum]

127 gr. Barnes LRX would do the trick!

^^^yup!


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[gbflyer]

140gr Nosler Partition. I use the same charge of Re16 powder, case, etc. with it and the 140gr Nosler Custom Competition. At 600 yards both ring 10” steel plate without moving the dial. Might be an inch or two vertical difference but in field conditions I can’t shoot well enough to know the difference. There’s no argument that the Partition is an excellent performer on game.

 

[Brightwhite]

127 gr. Barnes LRX would do the trick!

^^^yup!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why are the BC’s on this bullet so much lower than the 143g eldx, is it primarily driven by the bullet weight being 16g less? Or is it bullet design? On paper the bullet design looks good, then I get to the BC’s and get disappointed.

Also Kotaman and AK, do you guys have any load work with the 127 Barnes in a Creedmoor to point me in any d

 

[Kotaman]

Why are the BC’s on this bullet so much lower than the 143g eldx, is it primarily driven by the bullet weight being 16g less? Or is it bullet design? On paper the bullet design looks good, then I get to the BC’s and get disappointed.

Also Kotaman and AK, do you guys have any load work with the 127 Barnes in a Creedmoor to point me in any d

Sorry, I’ve only shot the Barnes Factory load in this particular round.

 

[Brightwhite]

Sorry, I’ve only shot the Barnes Factory load in this particular round.

No need to apologize! I was thinking of trying a box in my rifle first just to see what speeds I was getting and how my barrel liked the lighter bullet. Are you shooting it out of a SAAMI spec factory rifle chamber or something custom?

 

[Kotaman]

No need to apologize! I was thinking of trying a box in my rifle first just to see what speeds I was getting and how my barrel liked the lighter bullet. Are you shooting it out of a SAAMI spec factory rifle chamber or something custom?

I’m afraid I’m still no help. My 6.5 Creed is a custom Gunwerks Helios w/20” tube. And I don’t remember the velocity as I settled on the 143 ELD X as the rifle liked them better. I love the Barnes 127 gr. Bullet though. Plan on shooting them exclusively in my new Weatherby Back Country Ti in 6.5 RPM.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I just purchased my first 6.5 CM this past spring and I have yet to buy dies for it, so no reloading as of yet. I think I've shot pretty much everything that's commercially made for it and my best results/groups at the range have been with the Barnes 127's. I used that bullet on a goat a couple months ago and it performed well, although I suspect at 120 yards, just about any bullet would have been sufficient.

 

[hodgeman]

The 6.5CM and the 143 ELD-X go together like apple pie and vanilla ice cream. I've tried several other bullets and just keep coming back to that one as the sweet spot of on game performance, BC, and availability.