Pick a 6.5 Creedmoor Bullet for Elk

[HOT ROD]

6.5 prc?
Please provide barrel length, make, and cartridge

Doesn't it say 6.5 Creedmoor tikka I forgot to add barrel length 24 inch

 

[buckshot516]

I killed an old herd bull with a 143 gr eldx at 500, and my wife killed her shiras moose a smidge further with the 140 gr hunting Berger. Both bullets were impressive and very effective, but on bigger bodied animals I think the Berger is perfect. They work exactly as advertised and penetrate a few inches before turning violent. On an elk they erupt right in the sweet spot. I can tell you they’ll go right through the scapula without blowing up too. For pronghorn and deer I prefer the eldx. Bergers leave massive exit damage on smaller animals. Enough so to ruin meat and capes too


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[BearMeat]

So what does fit-lbs of energy do?

Makes you feel better and buys some insurance.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Makes you feel better and buys some insurance.

Insurance against what?

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Insurance against what?

Mayhem maybe? Don't want this guy showing up in the honey hole.

 

[BearMeat]

A less than perfect scenario or shot

 

[Q_Sertorius]

A less than perfect scenario or shot

So, if you put the bullet in the wrong spot, having more energy makes the hit lethal?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Mayhem maybe? Don't want this guy showing up in the honey hole.

View attachment 1056371

John Wick didn’t require a magnum to kill him.

 

[KurtR]

So, if you put the bullet in the wrong spot, having more energy makes the hit lethal?

The wallop factor fixes everything

 

[BearMeat]

Mayhem maybe? Don't want this guy showing up in the honey hole.

View attachment 1056371

139 scenar without hesitation

Have you used these a lot on game?

I’m the same way. In fact, I usually don’t even look at energy numbers. I’m far more concerned with impact velocity, bullet construction and SD for elk.

I must admit to being quite intrigued by newer “energy dump” bullets that are designed for less penetration via either fragmentation or rapid, violent expansion. I think Berger didn’t really design their bullets that way but found that as target shooters used their rifles and pet loads for hunting, their bullets fragmented and killed things right smartly. And newer hunting bullets designed for rapid expansion do a good job turning deer-sized game’s vitals into mush. I’ve always thought the excellent results put up by both types of bullets has more to do with a wider would channel with “shrapnel” cutting additional channels of destruction being the true killer, rather than “leaving all the energy inside the animal.” I just wouldn’t trust either to anchor a big bull with a less-than-perfect shot angle where I might need to break a shoulder or hip to plow through to the vitals.

Yep, Berger themselves said their hunting bullets are darn near a target bullet, born from guys using their target bullets for hunting. My experience and belief is that every bullet is good at something. The question is what you are most comfortable with. My son has 100% pass-throughs with bergers on whitetails. Would I use one on elk, yep, with certain expectations. I mostly place those rapid expanding bullets high on the neck. No tracking. Low meat loss.

 

[BearMeat]

The kid’s rifle LOVES the 140 ELD-M. My Creedmoor prefers the 142 ABLR, 143 ELD-X and 147 ELD-M.

Any experience with the 143 ELD-X on game? My cheap-ass 6.5 Creedmoor shoots them into ridiculously tiny little groups. I’d pop a deer or antelope with them in a heartbeat.

On a side note, I’ve killed some stuff with both the Winchester Deer Season XP 125 and the Browning BXR 129 rapid-expanding bullets (both made by Winchester). Impressive AF. I’d whack a cow or meat bull through the ribs at <400 yards with that 129 BXR without hesitation.

My boy has shot two whitetail with 143 ELDX's. Both complete pass-throughs with 2 inch holes. Both ran about twenty yards spewing blood and piled up. Maybe around 150 pound deer.

 

[BearMeat]

Mayhem maybe? Don't want this guy showing up in the honey hole.

View attachment 1056371

139 scenar without hesitation

Have you used these a lot on game?8

A barnes bullet would not be my choice for this and I love their LRX line-- the 6.5cm isn't a good cartridge choice for that bullet at distance. The creed doesn't give you velocity for expansion or energy at distance.

Why choose something that is marginal when there are much better options specifically for elk like the Partition or Accubond.

Well put

 

[BearMeat]

So, if you put the bullet in the wrong spot, having more energy makes the hit lethal?

OMG no. I'm not a subscriber to a numerical of energy to kill, per se. I think we're on the same page. It's not a bad yardstick, but completely overrated as an absolute. I've used 223 very effectively at ranges people tell me it won't kill deer at. I think it's much more the cartridge/animal/shot placement for that particular bullet design that makes it work or not. All I was saying is that If something goes less than ideal, I'd rather that hit have been with a 300 than a 6.5. That said, I'm more Jack O'Connor than Elmer Keith.

 

[Air Bear]

Ive taken elk with 143 eldx and accubonds. Both clean kills. Would do either again. Eldx was sub 100 yrds. AB 260ish yards

 

[BearMeat]

Elmer Keith would do that all the time....shoot an elk in the rear-end, then respond with,

or maybe a Berger HUNTING, Cutting Edge, Hammer or ?? I totally agree with this statement (and perfect example) though

 

[acmckeage03]

Accubond, partition, aframe or ttsx.
Leave the ELDX unless your poking out past the 300Yrd mark

Can you elaborate on this? I’m researching the same thing however my daughters hunt is during the rut so I’m expecting the potential of a sub 300 yd shot.

 

[lak2004]

Can you elaborate on this? I’m researching the same thing however my daughters hunt is during the rut so I’m expecting the potential of a sub 300 yd shot.

Those bullets work really well at ranges under 400ish yards. Out further and a cup and core is more reliable for expansion.