Sierra Heavy TMK 6MM Testing

[N2TRKYS]

Not for me. The 147gr ELD-M (all ELD-M’s at times) have a tendency every once in a while to produce narrow wounds from the bullet not upsetting fully. For 6.5mm, of what’s on the aren’t I use 130gr TMK- it also makes a mess.

10-4. I used a 140 grain Accubond on a whitetail buck this year and was happy with it. I like the Accubonds, in everything though. The 142 ABLR shoots great in my 6.5 Creed and PRC. They killed quickly in my Creed, but they were all shot inside 100 yards. I’m interested in trying them farther out, though.

 

[Jake Larsen]

No. The ELD-X tends to produce most of its damage at entrance, then a 1.5” or so wound from there on.

Well. That’s not good. Guess the 105HPBT and 95 NBT are in my future for a general purpose hunt load for 0-600.

Will be nice to have the 115s on standby for scenarios where I’m not worried about meat though. Those wounds look like DRT on just about anything they hit anywhere close to vitals.


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[Jake Larsen]

A sub 75gr .22 cal copper mono, 63gr cooper rod, 69 hammer hunter, Barnes lrx etc


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Not a legal option in some places for some game.

Also, it’s nice to find the happy medium of killing wound channel and food preservation. For many people, “food hunting” and “fun hunting” are the same hunts.


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[Gstew1930]

Well i can safely rule out this bullet for our little deer. Thats crazy

 

[Matt5266]

@Formidilosus do you expect the 107s to be causing to much damage similar to the 116s?

Seems to be for alot of people the 108 eldm was the go to in 243s and 6 creeds

 

[cq0302]

Not a legal option in some places for some game.

Also, it’s nice to find the happy medium of killing wound channel and food preservation. For many people, “food hunting” and “fun hunting” are the same hunts.


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Fair enough. **When legal


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[SloppyJ]

Well i can safely rule out this bullet for our little deer. Thats crazy

Hell, I'm looking forward to it! Keep it in the lungs and watch them drop.

 

[rharbaugh]

116gr TMK, 2,105fps impact.
View attachment 1015616



116gr TMK, 2,424fps impact.
View attachment 1015618

Confirming these are entrance wounds?

 

[Gstew1930]

Hell, I'm looking forward to it! Keep it in the lungs and watch them drop.

Lol I know you like alot of damage

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus do you expect the 107s to be causing to much damage similar to the 116s?

Yes, or close. The wounds I saw from the 107gr were excellent too. The 95gr is violent as well. TMK’s just create big wounds if you hit big bones.
But that is also a thing- put them in just lungs and ribs and they are fine, they won’t damage meat that way.

 

[Formidilosus]

Confirming these are entrance wounds?

No. Exits.

 

[Formidilosus]

Not a legal option in some places for some game.

Also, it’s nice to find the happy medium of killing wound channel and food preservation. For many people, “food hunting” and “fun hunting” are the same hunts.


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Even with TMK’s, if you keep it off bones they are fine.

 

[Kaleb]

Hell, I'm looking forward to it! Keep it in the lungs and watch them drop.

Yea I'm going to try them too. Everything I shoot is food but admit in the summer I shoot shoulders so they drop. When I loose a shoulder I just don't worry about it. Maybe the wrong attitude but most people around here leave them laying or just drag out of the field when culling so I'm getting a lot of food from them compared to most. Even if shoulders are lost. Like you said I'll try to keep them in the lungs and form my opinion from there. If it's too much I'll go back to something else.

 

[Kaleb]

Even with TMK’s, if you keep it off bones they are fine.

Good to know. Thanks.

I've never used a TMK but was having a hard time imagining a shot to the lungs being violent enough to destroy shoulders. regularly anyway.

 

[justin davis]

@Formidilosus do you think the 153 grain TMK in 6.5mm will be the same way out of the PRC? When do you think that testing will take place or has it already?

I’m gonna guess that out of PRC Speeds is gonna be some crazy carnage

 

[benconfused]

I wouldn’t necessarily choose them to shoot food with. My prediction, is that they will be the best elk killing bullet made thus far.

What about something like an Ibex, where you want the animal to stay in its place (rather than falling off a cliff).

 

[Lawnboi]

The Berger 108 EH did great on an elk, but again almost TOO MUCH wounding and meat loss near entry. A Berger 105 Hybrid with a slightly thicker jacket might be a good option, but I've never shot or seen any animals shot with it.

Info on the 108 and elk would be appreciated. Considered using them on bigger animals than deer

 

[Neil84]

What would be recommended for Fallow deer in my 6.5 prc, 130gr or wait for the 153gr TMK to arrive in New Zealand. I’m currently running 143 eld-x but prefer the tmk’s


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[JM151]

I'm looking forward to the 338 line, maybe replace the 300EH.

 

[solarshooter]

Info on the 108 and elk would be appreciated. Considered using them on bigger animals than deer

Post in thread '6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game'

Apr 1, 2025

Got an opportunity to test my 6CM on an elk damage control tag. Shooting the Berger 108gr Elite Hunter at 2760fps out of this gun. Found the herd at 150yds, ended up shooting a cow frontal at 130-150yds, impact velocity ~2540fps. She ran <100yds and piled up dead against a tree within 5mins (I don't know exact time to death, but I found her dead within 5 mins). Hit just to the right of center of chest, and slightly angled away:


Entry and first couple inches through hide and outer neck meat/front of right quarter meat was small diameter. Massive bloodshoot and bleeding...

• solarshooter

• 

You can ignore the discussion about the bullet deflecting, the bullet I recovered was not mine, mine went straight through into the body cavity.