Wifes new 6.5 Creedmore mule deer rifle ammo choice?

[HOT ROD]

Wife has been shooting Berger 130gr otm with her 6.5 creedmoor elk deer and antelope and it performed very well. So far this year she dumped a good mule deer buck at 456 yards with a Sierra Tipped Match king and I was impressed with that bullet....

 

[Macintosh]

OP mentioned barnes ttsx. You certinly dont need to for performance, but if you do go with a mono in a 6.5cm the LRX probably would be a better choice, it’ll hold velocity longer and expand at lower velocity. Factory loads in my 6.5cm 24” barrel at 1800’ DA doesnt go below 2000fps until 460 yards…so more than plenty of velocity inside 300+.

 

[devious303]

Hornady Factory 140 ELDM

 

[bojangles808]

140 or 147 eldm for me

 

[WaWox]

My LRX out of a 6.5cm went thru scapula, a rib bone behind it, another rib bone on the other side, travelling approx 45 degree angle, and lodging at the back of the femur that it almost separated in halves on a blacktail last year. This was at approx 75 yards but still, do not worry about penetration on deer.

If you care about lead free, lrx are great. Like everyone else is saying here, look for minimum expansion velocity (2000-2200 for ttsx, 1800-2000 for lrx) and these will do some damage.

Even on elk, lrx just rip through. Hit a knee bone, probably the thickest thing in an elk forwards of the h-bone?, from 500 yards with an lrx out of a 7rem mag and it turned the entire knee to powder, fully expanded, and then went into the lungs and exited into the other shoulder where I recovered it

If you don't care about being lead free, this thread and many others here show that a 77gr eld m can kill elk at ranges greater than your margin

 

[FredH]

All the new bullets are fine but until I shoot up all my 120 grain Ballistic Tips they will just have to wait.

 

[Mtndawger]

Gorilla ammunition. Or Grind Hard ammo. Doesn’t matter which. 6.5 cm with Lehigh Defense 130 controlled chaos fragmenting mono bullet. They shoot sub Moa in both of my kids t3x’s with shortened 22” factory barrels.

 

[Chris>>--->]

My brother bought that rifle for his daughter and I’ve helped them get it set up. We’ve found that it shoots the Hornady 143 grain ELDx really well. She shot a nice buck last year with it and the bullet performed very well.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

Berger Factory ammo is awesome. Much more consistent lot to lot than the hornady and has been more accurate in the rifles i have tried it in.

 

[amassi]

Berger Factory ammo is awesome. Much more consistent than the hornady and it shoots better.

And it poops out lapua brass
Win-win-win


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[PanhandlePilgrim]

And it poops out lapua brass
Win-win-win


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YES. That is my second favorite part. In my Tikka CTR it shot better than the handloads I tested. I actually quit half way though load dev because it shoots so well.

 

[Michael95]

my wife shoots the 135 grain Berger hybrid 2 deer 295 and 420 both died where they stood

 

[TN2shot07]

I don’t think it’s been mentioned but Sig loads the 130 grain game kings in some of their factory ammo, also would see how it likes the terminal ascents.

 

[EmperorMA]

I would pick up a half dozen boxes of various ammo with different bullet weights, as sometimes rifles will prefer lighter or heavier bullets. I'd start with 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips ... as fine of a deer bullet as has ever been made. Then go up to 125gr Winchester Deer Season XP. Awesome performance for the price, and they have been very accurate in my 6.5 Creedmoor. Same goes for the 129gr Hornady SST. The 130gr Sierra TGK and Federal Terminal Ascent all work well. Then the 140gr ELD-M, 143gr ELD-X and 147gr ELD-M should all get a look. They perform beautifully.

If you need copper, try the Barnes 120gr TTSX or 127gr LRX. Don't forget to try the Winchester 125gr Copper Impact ... accurate and devastating on game.

If it were me, I'd try to find the Winchester 125gr Deer Season XP and 125gr Copper Impact, 129gr Hornady SST and 140gr Hornady ELD-M. These will be the least expensive and her rifle will surely like one or more of them. Use whatever she shoots best and feels confident with. I would (and have) gladly hunt deer to 400 yards with any of these if my rifle liked them well enough. I have no problem hunting to 600 yards with the 140gr ELD-M.

 

[Snow Hunter]

I agree with some of the previous posts that you should use what shoots well out of your rifle. I personally have had great success with 143 gr ELD-X. I have used this a lot in my 6.5 Creedmoor and PRC. With the Creedmoor, this rifle has killed deer at 590, 425, 417, 350, and several inside of 300 yards. Shoot placement was good and most dropped in their tracks. None required tracking. If it shoots well in your rifle, it will definitely do the job on deer!

 

[cuerro viejo]

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139 gr Screnar or 130 TMK

 

[buckshot516]

Too many overthink what a creedmoor is capable of. My family has taken pronghorn, whitetail, mule deer, elk and even moose with mine. I’ve had great success with both the 143 eldx and the 140 Berger in handloads. Find a box her gun likes and go hunting. Also, a 140 Berger from a creed can blow through moose scapulas. A deer shoulder with a mono isn’t going to be an issue. Don’t worry about all the so called experts and their “needmoor” hate.


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[prm]

Hornady 140 ELDM factory ammo shoots incredibly well. I handload to match and the last one went through a Mule deer buck at a 30-45 deg angle leaving a great blood trail.

 

[benclimbing]

ELDM for me

 

[CorbLand]

ELDX in 143 and 162 have killed everything I and my family have hit them with.